New York Giants vs. Atlanta Falcons

Just about a month ago, NFL fans look towards Sunday’s matchup of the Atlanta Falcons and New York Giants at Giants Stadium with eager anticipation. As we approach the game it is just another game between two struggling teams trying to right the ship.

As we approach Thanksgiving, the New York Giants (5-4) must have been thankful that their bye week finally came. After starting the season at 5-0 and once again looking like one of the top teams in the league, the Giants lost four games in a row.

New York completely collapsed in their last game two weeks ago when they allowed the San Diego Chargers to get off the mat and drive 80 yards in the last two minutes to claim a heartbreaking 21-20 victory.

The Giants undoubtedly got away from football and enjoyed their bye week but had to take heart last Sunday when their top two rivals for the NFC East, the Dallas Cowboys and Philadelphia Eagles, both lost, putting New York right back in the thick of things.

As the weekend begins, the New York Giants sit in a second-place tie with the Eagles and both trail the first-place Cowboys by one game.

New York also relished when the Atlanta Falcons (5-4) lost their third game in four tries as they are now dead even with them for a wild-card spot and could spring in front of them with a win.

As woeful as Atlanta’s recent stretch has been, they may have to deal with heading to New York without their best player, Michael Turner.

The running back had carried the ball just nine times and already had achieved 111 yards before he was injured in the Atlanta Falcons’ 28-19 loss in Carolina. Turner had a solid first year in Atlanta last year, but had struggled early this year until running for 831 yards over his last three games before spraining his ankle.

That means Atlanta will have to rely more on Matt Ryan, who has not been having as good of a first year this season. Ryan has already thrown for 12 interceptions, including eight in his last four games, through nine games after he threw for 11 all of last year.

He will be facing a potent Giants’ defense that still ranks tops in the league despite the four straight losses and collection of big offensive plays.

The home team in the NFL wins most of the time, but that trend has not applied in this series. The road team has claimed victory in the last dozen meetings in the series, including the Giants’ 31-10 win in the Georgia Dome in 2007.

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