Game Preview: Chicago Bears at New York Giants, November 20, 2016

 Posted by
Nov 182016
 
Jason Pierre-Paul, New York Giants (October 16, 2016)

Jason Pierre-Paul – © USA TODAY Sports Images

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Game Preview: Chicago Bears at New York Giants, November 20, 2016

THE STORYLINE:
Almost every New York Giants fan is thinking the same thing: the Giants should beat the 2-7 Chicago Bears and 0-10 Cleveland Browns and be 8-3 in two weeks. Clearly that is the most likely scenario if the Giants remain focused and don’t take the Bears and Browns lightly. That said, keep in mind the Giants have won six games by a total of 21 points. Every game has been a struggle.

THE INJURY REPORT:

  • RB Orleans Darkwa (lower leg) – questionable
  • WR Victor Cruz (ankle) – probable
  • WR Dwayne Harris (toe) – probable
  • OG Justin Pugh (knee) – out
  • OL Brett Jones (calf) – out
  • OL Adam Gettis (calf) – questionable

NEW YORK GIANTS ON OFFENSE:
The Bears are a well-coached 3-4 defense under former Giants defensive coordinator John Fox and former 49ers defensive coordinator Vic Fangio. Despite not having a lot of top talent, the Bears are 11th in defense (11th against the run, 12th against the pass). The good news for the Giants is the Bears are really beat up on defense. Two starting defensive linemen – NT Eddie Goldman (ankle – questionable) and DE Mitch Unrein (back – doubtful) – have missed practice this week. So has reserve CB Deiondre’ Hall (ankle – doubtful). Four more starting defenders have been limited, including LB Pernell McPhee (knee – questionable), LB Willie Young (ankle – questionable), CB Tracy Porter (knee – questionable), and CB Bryce Callahan (hamstring – questionable). Reserve NT Will Sutton was placed on IR this week.

As is the case with 3-4 defenses, the primary pass-rushing threats come from the outside linebackers. Young leads the Bears with 6.5 sacks, while top reserve and Giants 2016 Draft target LB Leonard Floyd is second on the team with five sacks. Given the depleted nature of the Bears defense, expect Fox and Fangio to play it conservatively. They will focus on preventing the big play in the passing game with extra attention of course being given to Odell Beckham, Jr. This should open up opportunities for the running game as well as other passing targets, namely Sterling Shepard, Victor Cruz, and the backs and tight ends.

What we’re about to discover is if the Giants rushing success against the Bengals was a mirage or not. If the Giants cannot consistently run the ball against the Bears, they will have to continue to live and die with a passing game that has largely been dependent on the big play. The good news for the Giants is that they have really cut down on penalties in recent weeks. But turnovers remain a problem and the blocking up front remains inconsistent. Thus, the offense has largely been feast or famine.

What we’re really all waiting for is a clean game (no turnovers) with consistent running-game performance that results in  30+ points on the scoreboard. The Giants will be very thin up front for this game. Both Justin Pugh and Brett Jones are out and Adam Gettis is questionable.

NEW YORK GIANTS ON DEFENSE:
The Bears are a middle-of-the-pack offense (16th overall, 21st rushing, 18th passing). But like the defense, the Bears are hurting on this side of the ball. Their best offensive weapon – WR Alshon Jeffery – has been suspended. Right guard Kyle Long was placed on Injured Reserve. RT Bobby Massie (concussion) is doubtful.  LG Josh Sitton (ankle – questionable), WR Eddie Royal (toe – questionable), and WR Marquess Wilson (foot – questionable) were all limited in practice.

The Bears offense has long succeeded or failed on the incredibly inconsistent play of QB Jay Cutler. There are occasional moments when Cutler looks like a world-beater, but he has the make-up of a loser who loves to bitch-and-whine when things don’t go his way. Without Jeffery, Cutler’s primary targets will likely be TE Zach Miller (44 catches, 3 touchdowns), Royal (30 catches, 2 touchdowns), and WR Cameron Meredith (29 catches, 2 touchdowns). The Giants secondary should be able to handle this group provided the linebackers and safeties can keep Miller under control.

Despite Chicago’s 21st-ranking in the run game, RB Jordan Howard is a dangerous back. He’s rushed for 605 yards on 114 carries (5.3 yards per carry). Running backs Jeremy Langford and Ka’Deem Carey are averaging 4.0 yards per carry. The focal point must be on stopping the run. If the Giants stymie Chicago’s running game and make it difficult for Miller to get open down the middle of the field, the Bears offense will be in trouble. Look for Cutler to get frustrated and start making mistakes.

NEW YORK GIANTS ON SPECIAL TEAMS:
Tom Quinn’s special teams units are giving up too many big returns. Eddie Royal is a dangerous punt returner who already has returned one punt for a touchdown this season (and has three in his career). Robbie Gould gets a chance to help or hurt his old team. Dwayne Harris (who is probable) is battling a nagging toe injury and it remains to be seen if Bobby Rainey takes over return duties this weekend. If he does, keep in mind that Rainey has had fumbling issues as a returner throughout his career.

FROM THE COACH’S MOUTH:
Offensive Coordinator Mike Sullivan on the Bears outside linebackers: “If you’re talking about the outside linebackers that become different defensive ends, obviously they’re a very talented defensive front. That’s not coach speak. You put the tape on and there aren’t too many quarterbacks that are back there that either are not getting hit or they’re having to reset and move in the pocket or they’re getting sacked. Of course with Floyd, he’s a young guy that’s really coming into his groove. McPhee is a heck of a player, he’s been on a pitch count, if you will, because of his injuries. Hicks, of course, is tremendous and young; that’s a great group. You asked about the outside guys, they become defensive ends when we go to our zebra package and so obviously we have to be aware of opportunities that we have and trying to make sure that if we want to push the ball down the field, we account for those guys, trying to help tackles when necessary and do various things because they definitely do present a challenge.”

THE FINAL WORD:
The Bears are going nowhere and banged up. They also gave the Giants a gift this week by oddly talking trash. “We’re gonna tear their ass up,” said Pernell McPhee. It’s been a long time since the Giants blew anyone out. Could this finally be the week?

Chicago Bears 27 – New York Giants 21

 Posted by
Oct 112013
 
Brandon Myers, New York Giants (October 10, 2013)

Interception on the Final Drive – © USA TODAY Sports Images

Free Falling – The New York Giants Are Now 0-6: The Chicago Bears defeated the New York Giants 27-21 on Thursday night at Soldier Field in Chicago, Illinois. With the loss, the Giants are now 0-6 with 10 games left to play in this dreary NFL season. This is the first time the Giants have started a season 0-6 since 1976.

“We’re all sick of it,” Head Coach Tom Coughlin said after the game. ”We’re all sick of losing, but we put ourselves in this position.”

The game was a closely-fought affair with the difference being three interceptions by QB Eli Manning. Eli threw interceptions on the Giants’ first two possessions. Three plays into the game, on 3rd-and-6, Eli’s pass intended for WR Rueben Randle was picked off and returned to New York’s 12-yard line. But the Giants’ defense held, including on a 4th-and-2 pass, and Chicago came away with no points. On the Giants’ second possession, after picking up two first downs, there was miscommunication between Manning and Randle as Manning’s pass was picked off and returned 48 yards for a touchdown. Chicago 7 – New York 0.

The Giants responded with an impressive 10-play, 80-yard drive on their third possession to tie the game at 7-7. RB Brandon Jacobs capped off the drive with a 4-yard touchdown run. But the Bears quickly regained the lead with an 8-play, 86-yard touchdown drive with WR Brandon Marshall catching a 10-yard touchdown pass on 3rd-and-9. Bears 14 – Giants 7.

The Giants responded impressively again, driving 80 yards in seven plays with Manning finishing the series with a 37-yard touchdown pass to Randle. The game was tied 14-14. But back came the Bears with a 9-play, 80-yard possession as QB Jay Cutler found Marshall again for a 3-yard score. Bears 21 – Giants 14.

The back-and-forth scoring ended on New York’s fifth possession with the team going three-and-out. The Bears, on their final possession of the half drove 58 yards in 10 plays to set up a 40-yard field goal. After stuffing the Bears on their first possession of the game, the Giants’ defense gave up 17 points Chicago’s other three drives of the first half.

At the half, the Bears led 24-14.

Chicago extended their lead on their first possession of the second half as they drove 40 yards in eight plays to set up a 52-yard field goal. Bears 27 – Giants 14. The Bears would not score for the remainder of the game however.

The Giants had four offensive possessions in the second half in a desperate attempt to salvage a victory. They went three-and-out on their first possession, but cut the lead to 27-21 on their second possession by driving 91 yard in nine plays. Jacobs scored a second time, this time from one yard out near the end of the third quarter.

The Giants had the ball twice in the fourth quarter. On their third possession of the half, New York punted after picking up one first down. With the game still 27-21, with 5:21 left, the Giants began their final drive at their own 11-yard line. New York picked up three first downs and with just over two minutes left in the game faced a 2nd-and-9 from the Chicago 35-yard line. But Eli’s pass intended for TE Brandon Myers was intercepted at the 10-yard line and returned 16 yards. Chicago picked up one first down and ran out the clock. Ball game.

Offensively, Manning finished the game 14-of-26 for 239 yards, one touchdown, and three interceptions. Manning now had an NFL-leading 15 interceptions, matching his total for all of 2012.

”I feel bad for my teammates,” said Manning after the game. “I feel bad for my coaches and everybody, fighting every day, and I’m fighting, too. I am trying to get a win for these guys.”

The leading receivers were WR Hakeem Nicks (4 catches for 70 yards), WR Victor Cruz (4 catches for 68 yards), and Randle (3 catches for 75 yards and one touchdown). Jacobs carried the ball 22 times for 106 yards and two touchdowns.

Defensively, the Giants gave up 372 total net yards, including 110 yards rushing and 262 yards passing. For the second week in a row, the defense forced no turnovers. And they also did not sack, and rarely pressured, QB Jay Cutler.

Video lowlights are available at NFL.com.

Injury Report: RB Da’Rel Scott left the game with a hamstring injury.

Post-Game Player Media Q&As: Video clips of the post-game media Q&As with the following players are available at Giants.com:

  • RB Brandon Jacobs (Video)
  • DE Justin Tuck (Video)

New York Giants-Chicago Bears Post-Game Notes: Inactive for the Giants were QB Ryan Nassib, RB David Wilson (neck), TE Adrien Robinson (foot), OC David Baas (neck), CB Corey Webster (groin), CB Jayron Hosley (hamstring), and S Cooper Taylor (shoulder).

DE Justin Trattou Claimed by Vikings: DE Justin Trattou, who the Giants waived on Tuesday, was claimed off of waivers by the Minnesota Vikings on Wednesday.

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