Gameday Blog: Are You Ready For Some Football, New York Style?

It’s a beautiful October day for football in New York, and don’t let the players fool you, this one means a lot to both teams.

Some of the Giants are currently going through their pregame warm ups on the field. Eli Manning and Amani Toomer are getting in some work around the 40-yard line. Jared Lorenzen is tossing with Sinorice Moss and Jeremy Shockey – both have yet to catch a touchdown this season

On my way into the stadium today, the parking lot was packed with Giants blue with some Jets green mixed in. We’ll see how much home field advantage the Giants have come kickoff.

NOTES:

The Giants and Jets have shared Giants Stadium for 25 years. They’ve played 10 times during the regular season and the Giants lead the series 6-4. The Jets lead the preseason series 20-18-1.

The last Giants/Jets meeting was in 2003, a thrilling OT victory for the Giants on Brett Conway’s 29-yard field goal. Will Allen blocked a 51-yard field goal attempt from the Jets’ Doug Brien.

Sacktastic!

On the same day that Michael Strahan broke Lawrence Taylor’s franchise record for career sacks, it was another defensive end, Osi Umenyiora who stole the show for Big Blue Sunday, leading the Giants to a 12-sack, 16-3 victory over the Eagles.

From a fan’s perspective, this was one of the better games I’ve ever attended. Nothing gets a stadium more jacked up than a sack in a big spot. The Giants had 12 of them on Sunday. Twelve! Add to that a defensive touchdown and two punts downed inside the five and you’ve got a formula for success. The offense stalled a bit (see interception inside the red zone, missed 34 yard field goal, missed extra point), but if we’ve learned anything as Giants fans, solid defense wins games. Period.

Is this the same Giants D that gave up 80 points in the first two weeks?

Granted the Eagles looked like a high school team without Brian Westbrook and a slew of pro-bowlers – so I’m not entirely sold on the Giants D just yet – but they sure have looked impressive over the last two weeks. Our attacking defense has arrived…maybe.

And here’s another thing – is Plaxico Burress playing like a man possessed or what? This guy has come down with a big TD catch for the Giants every week, despite ailing from ankle and thumb injuries. We’ll see if he can keep this up. I’d also like to see Eli getting the ball to Shockey in rollout situations a little more.

What do we think about a possible return of “thunder and lightning,” with Brandon Jacobs coming back from injury and Derrick Ward flashing some Tiki-like moves over the last few weeks?

Starting this Sunday we’ll be starting something new on WNBC.com. I’ll be covering the Giants-Jets game from inside the press box, so make sure to check in for some in-game blogs and a game story following this Sunday’s “Metro Bowl.”

Should Anyone Play Against New England?!?!?!

Receiver Plaxico Burress did not practice on Tuesday and his status for Thursday’s preseason finale against the New England Patriots is uncertain because of a lower back injury.

Coach Tom Coughlin said that Burress worked with the trainers inside Giants Stadium.

Burress missed the first two preseason games because of a sprained ankle. He sat out last weekend’s contest against the Jets with the flu.

“We will see,” Coughlin said of Burress’ availability on Thursday. “I am going to say he is (out) for now, but who knows?”

Starting weakside linebacker Kawika Mitchell will not play on Thursday because of a groin injury suffered against the Jets.

(AP)