By Sam Garnes
Editors Note: Sam Garnes is Offering insights of the Giants and Jets for The Bronx Chronicle. The former All-City safety with DeWitt Clinton High School and Bronx native had a successful NFL career at safety for the Giants and Jets and also was an assistant coach with the Carolina Panthers
Giants @Atlanta Falcons Monday 8:15 PM
The New York Giants need a win bad. In the NFL we have a saying that goes, winning cures all. It may not put them in playoff contention or even contention for the division. But, it sure will take the focus off things like who will be the next QB, comments in the media and overall poor play.
You rarely hear about the opponent leading up to the game because of the negativity surrounding the team. It’s hard to see where this thing gets fixed and starts heading in the right direction. As Giant fans we want W’s and whatever comes along with that is fine. But, when you lose and there is seemingly more focus on internal strife than the opponent then that becomes an issue.
A win on the road when no one expects it can get things headed in the right direction. When I was with the other NY team and we were 2-5. We went on the road to beat San Diego bad and turned that into 9-7 record while beating Peyton Manning and The Colts 41-0 in the playoffs. This can happen this week vs. this team.
The Atlanta Falcons are 2-4 and have not been very good this year. They have lost both
starting safeties in Keanu Neal and Ricardo Allen. As well as their signal calling linebacker Deion Jones.
I expect Saquon Barkley to have another great game. The kid is the real deal. I also expect Evan Engram’s return to not only the 46-man roster but to his hometown to be productive. If Eli Manning and OBJ can start clicking this week then they will have a chance. But, as I always say, as goes the defense goes the G-Men.
They have shown at times that they can be good, but they have been inconsistent at best. The
front seven needs to shut the run down with out bringing Landon Collins into the box. We want to make this team one dimensional while limiting big plays in the passing game. We need the secondary including Janorris Jenkins, Eli Apple and the aforementioned Landon Collins to have a dominant game.
Consistently making the plays presented to them throughout the night. Matt Ryan, Julio Jones,
Mohamed Sanu, and rookie Calvin Ridley have been impressive. But, if they can make The Falcons one dimensional then they will have a chance.
Minnesota Vikings at The New York Jets Sunday 10/21 @ 1PM
This may be the first time in years that The Jets are involved in a game that featured two good teams and a win that can propel them to being in the playoff conversation. I will not be shocked if they win. This Jets team isn’t just competitive, they look like a Wild Card team to me. I have been saying all along that this is a young team that we need to give time to develop.
Sam Darnold is learning on the run, but he is getting better and better each week. His also young
teammates such as Robbie Anderson, Jamal Adams, Marcus Maye and Darron Lee, just to name a few are maturing right in front of our eyes. Todd Bowles and his staff has these guys coming to play each week and it’s impressive. Minnesota was everyone’s top two or three NFC team coming into the season and they may end up just that but, they have not gotten off to the start expected of them.
They have won two in a row and their offense has been good. Especially, the passing game and they received a strong performance from Latavius Murray and the run game last week. Kirk Cousins, Adam Thielen and Stefon Diggs have gotten off to a record start. I still believe in New York’s defense this week.
They just play with great intensity; exuberance and they make plays on every level. The Vikings will score their fare share of points, but The Jets can keep them blow 27 (today’s NFL and I can’t believe I wrote that).
If Sam Darnold minimizes the turnovers and Jeremy Bates keeps mixing up the run game and down field passing, they will have an opportunity to win this game at the end of the fourth quarter.
If so, The J-E-T-S will have their WE ARE HERE moment in which other teams will begin to not only notice them but also become concerned with them.
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