Giants vs. Falcons, point by point
Giants quarterback Eli Manning, left, will face Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan in the opening round of the playoffs this Sunday. Credit: David Pokress (Manning) / Getty Images (Getty Images)
A Giants win will mean ...
A chance at redemption, although it's unclear against whom. The Giants came away from their regular-season losses to the Packers and 49ers saying they wanted a chance to face each of them again. If they beat the Falcons they'll get that chance. Assuming a Giants win, they'll play at Green Bay next Sunday if the Saints win their wild card game this Saturday or at San Francisco next Saturday if the Lions win in New Orleans.
A Giants loss will mean ...
Another early playoff exit. Besides the Super Bowl run, the Tom Coughlin-coached Giants have never won a playoff game. Granted that's a big "besides," but losing to the Falcons would make the Giants 1-4 in opening playoff games since Coughlin arrived. While the division title saved his job, a quick departure here would be further evidence of the second-half swoons that have marked his tenure.
One-on-one: David Diehl vs. John Abraham
Diehl, the longest-tenured Giant, moved from left guard to left tackle for the last six games when starter Will Beatty suffered a detached retina. Since then he's unofficially allowed just 1.5 sacks in six games. He'll be charged with keeping Abraham, a former Jet, away from Eli Manning. Abraham, 33, had 9.5 sacks to lead the Falcons this season but 3.5 of those came in the game against the porous Jaguars.
When the Giants run ...
They're last in the NFL is rushing yards per game (89.2) and per carry (3.5), and no team had fewer than their four runs of 20 or more yards. But lately the Giants have shown some spunk, especially Brandon Jacobs who averaged 4.7 yards per carry over the final four games (he was at 3.4 through the first 12). Atlanta's leading tacklers are LBs Curtis Lofton and Sean Witherspoon.
When the Giants pass . . .
Victor Cruz has developed into one of the league's best receivers and his yards-after-catch are what make him so dangerous. Eli Manning has thrown for a franchise-record 4,933 yards. The Falcons are susceptible to the kind of big plays that the Giants have created all year; they've allowed 56 pass plays of 20 or more yards and 12 of 40 or more.
When the Falcons run . . .
In an era of two-back systems, the Falcons have a one-man show in Michael Turner. He's carried the ball on 67 percent of their carries and has 1,340 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns. The Giants' run defense can be spotty, but LB Mathias Kiwanuka has been playing well against it lately and DT Chris Canty has also been active in the middle.
When the Falcons pass . . .
Unlike their running game, they have loads of options when passing the ball. Matt Ryan has three big targets - Roddy White, Julio Jones and Tony Gonzalez - who have accounted for 23 of the team's 29 receiving touchdowns this season. The Giants have had lapses in communication in the secondary at times, but have been together as of late. They also have a pass rush that is coming together and has 11 sacks in the last two games.
Special teams
The Giants lack a dangerous return man in their kickoff and punt games, but the Falcons have Eric Weems who averages 9.8 yards per punt return and 23.5 on kickoffs. Matt Bryant has made 27 of 29 field goals this season for Atlanta while Lawrence Tynes hit 19 of 24 for the Giants, with two of the five misses coming on blocks. The Giants have had their starters on special teams lately. Jason Pierre-Paul blocked the FG against the Cowboys, and Canty and Kiwanuka have both come close to blocking punts in the last two weeks.
Intangibles
The Giants' "all in" battle cry has sparked them to convincing wins in the last two weeks and seems to have put to rest the idea that the team could come out flat as it did at so many points during the regular season. "We're swagged out right now," Antrel Rolle said. MetLife Stadium has often been a buzzless monolith during its two seasons, but on Sunday it was raucous with Giants fans and rally towels. The fans could give the Giants a home-field advantage beyond what the cold January winds of the Meadowlands will provide against the dome-based Falcons.
Giants key stat
15: Fourth-quarter touchdown passes by Eli Manning, the most in any NFL season. The previous record of 14 was held by Peyton Manning and Johnny Unitas.
Falcons key stat
95: Career touchdowns for Tony Gonzalez, the most by a tight end in NFL history. That's 19 more than second-place Antonio Gates' 76.
Lineup twist
He lost his starting job to Jason Pierre-Paul, but Osi Umenyiora has shown that he can be an impact player even when playing situationally. He came in on passing downs only against the Cowboys Sunday, his first game back from an ankle injury, and registered two sacks. The Giants have an assortment of strong pass-rushers, but having a speedster such as Umenyiora on the edge gives them a whole new dimension. He suffered a minor setback to his ankle against the Cowboys but should be available for the Falcons.
