Read the arguments by Bleacher Fan and Sports Geek.
We’re approaching the point of the NFL season where the contenders start to separate from the pretenders. In today’s debate, I am going to focus on a huge game that has substantial wild card implications. The top of the NFC has straightened itself out, as the Saints and Vikings have huge leads in their respective divisions and have set the bar high for other teams in the conference. The Cardinals look like they are the team to beat in the West, and despite the ugly loss to Green Bay last week, it appears Dallas still has the edge in the East. That leaves a plethora of teams (Packers, Falcons, Giants, Bears, 49ers, Eagles and until last night possibly, the Panthers), to duke it out for those two wild card positions. That makes the battle in the Meadowlands between the Falcons and the Giants very critical.
Both teams come in struggling. The Falcons let one get away in Carolina last week. I have not heard this term used yet in this situation, but I am going to throw it out there anyway. Perhaps Matt Ryan, the NFL offensive rookie of the year last season, is experiencing a sophomore slump. He has thrown twelve interceptions already this season after only throwing eleven all of last season. Granted he has thrown the ball more this season because of an inconsistent running game early on, but he has been high with a lot of his deep passes and just seems to get out of rhythm very early in games. He figures to throw a lot this weekend as the Falcons could possibly be without running back Michael Turner, who suffered a high ankle sprain in last week’s loss to the Panthers. No pressure Matt! With games against the Eagles and the Saints coming up, this is almost a must win for the Birds.
The Giants also come in struggling, having lost four games in a row, quickly falling from legitimate Super Bowl contenders to fighting for their playoff lives. Where have all of the feel good articles about the Giants receivers gone? Have not read many of those lately! The Giants have not won in over a month, though I they have lost to some good teams. Look at their schedule, and it becomes apparent that the only team with a winning record they have beaten is the Dallas Cowboys back in week two. Steve Smith and Mario Manningham have tailed off somewhat since their blistering starts. Smith is still getting his catches (he comes into the game with 61) but he is not making big plays like he did earlier in the season. Like the Falcons, the Giants have some tough games coming up with a trip to Denver on Thanksgiving night followed by home games against the Cowboys and Eagles. It does the Giants that they are coming off of a bye week, which is huge in the NFL this season. Amazingly, this will also be the fourth time this season the Falcons are playing a team coming off of a bye (they are 2-1 thus far).
It is getting to be crunch time in the NFL. It will not be long before it is time to start looking at playoff scenarios and tiebreaker possibilities. A win in this game would be huge down the line if playoff positioning is determined by head-to-head matchups. Win this game and a team has put itself into good position to make a run at the wild card.
