Week 8: New York Giants vs. Pittsburgh Steelers

Manning vs. Roethlisberger takes a backseat to Spagnuolo vs. LeBeau as two dynamic pass rushes clash

Giants vs. Steelers Overview:

The NFC East and AFC North are homes to two great quarterbacks just reaching their primes in Eli Manning and Ben Roethlisberger. These divisions are two of the toughest in football, and the winner of these could be the Super Bowl team for the AFC and NFC. The New York Giants (5-1) are coming off of an impressive win against the San Francisco 49ers while the Pittsburgh Steelers (5-1) crushed the Cincinnati Bengals in NFL Week 7. The meeting of these two powerhouses will set up the remainder of the 2008 NFL season and could be a Super Bowl preview.

New York Giants Offense:

With a Super Bowl ring on his finger and a monkey off his back, QB Eli Manning has rewarded fans with New York Giants tickets for their faith and can focus on gaining even more regular season success. Eli Manning has the ability to throw all over the field thanks to a wide variety of receivers in Plaxico Burress, Steve Smith, and Amani Toomer. With a great defense on the other side, the New York Giants prefer to pound the football more than letting Eli Manning throw. The great New York Giants offensive line opens holes for titanic RB Brandon Jacobs and speed RBs Ahmad Bradshaw and Derrick Ward.

New York Giants Defense:

Fans with New York Giants tickets and football fans in general love to see the New York Giants defense on the field. With perhaps the best pass-rush unit assembled in years, the New York Giants destroy any QB they face. DE/DT Justin Tuck was a big reason the New York Giants won the Super Bowl and is the best pass rusher on the team. DTs Fred Robbins and Barry Cofield have combined for seven sacks already and bring ridiculous pressure up the middle along with DE Mathias Kiwanuka off the edge. Defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo is a master of the 4-3.

Pittsburgh Steelers Offense:

Through the history of their franchise, the Pittsburgh Steelers have always used the power run to force the ball right down their opponents’ throat. Injuries to RBs Willie Parker and Rashard Mendenhall have done little to stop this as backup RB Mewelde Moore has stepped up big. Even with a shaky offensive line in front of him QB Ben Roethlisberger has been dynamite so far. WR Hines Ward is the favored target of Big Ben and has brought in many touchdowns along with being a key possession receiver. WR Santonio Holmes continues to develop as a deep threat.

Pittsburgh Steelers Defense:

The iconic Dick LeBeau version of the 3-4 defense has been a stalwart of the Pittsburgh Steelers for years and is the No. 1 defense in the NFL. The zone-blitz scheme of the Pittsburgh Steelers has made OLBs James Harrison and LaMarr Woodley both reach the Top 5 in the NFL in sacks with a combined 16 takedowns on the quarterback. ILB Lawrence Timmons is another pass rusher for the Pittsburgh Steelers linebacking corps. S Troy Polamalu is probably the best safety in the NFL and is the glue that holds the “Blitzburgh” defense together.

New York Giants Keys to Victory:

With Pittsburgh Steelers NT Casey Hampton still nursing an injury, the New York Giants should have some success running up the middle. The sheer size of Brandon Jacobs can wear down a defense, and he will get the ball early and often. Establishing the run will also help keep the pass rush at bay. The New York Giants need to maintain the pocket on all passing plays as the Pittsburgh Steelers like to blitz from the outside. TE Kevin Boss could have a big game as Eli Manning looks for him on the checkdown since Troy Polamalu will be roaming the deep routes.

Fans with New York Giants tickets can look forward to a pass rush of epic proportions in Week 8. The Pittsburgh Steelers offensive line has struggled to protect Ben Roethlisberger all year, and the New York Giants pass rush can have a field day. To do so though, the New York Giants must shut down the Pittsburgh Steelers running game. Willie Parker may return to the Pittsburgh Steelers lineup, and that would present a big problem for the New York Giants. If the New York Giants can stop the run, their pass rush will win the game for them.

Pittsburgh Steelers Keys to Victory:

Establishing the run for the Pittsburgh Steelers has never been more important. The Pittsburgh Steelers offensive line has allowed a ton of sacks already, and they have not faced the monster that is the New York Giants pass-rushing system. The Pittsburgh Steelers hope that RB Willie Parker will be back, but Mewelde Moore is a serviceable runner. Like Kevin Boss, TE Heath Miller will need to have a big day as a checkdown receiver as Ben Roethlisberger will have little time in the pocket. Mewelde Moore’s receiving skills will also be put to the test on screens.

If the Pittsburgh Steelers can stop the New York Giants ground attack early, then they have a great chance to win the game. The New York Giants offensive line is much better than that of the Pittsburgh Steelers, but the Steelers have the advantage of Dick LeBeau calling up blitzes. OLBs James Harrison and LaMarr Woodley need to continue with their success. ILB Lawrence Timmons is on the verge of a career breakout game, and this meeting would be a great time for it. Eli Manning is not always careful with the football and Troy Polamalu has to make a play to win.

Giants vs. Steelers Outlook:

The top defense in the NFC belongs to the New York Giants, but the Pittsburgh Steelers have the best defense in the NFL. The pass rush of both teams has no equal in the NFL, and every player in their respective front seven is an expert of hunting the quarterback. Strong running games are also a common theme in this game, with the New York Giants owning the No. 1 rushing attack in the NFL.

Many times an NFL game rests on the arms and shoulders of quarterbacks. Eli Manning and Ben Roethlisberger both have Super Bowl rings and are equal in talent. This game does not rest on the quality of the quarterback but on the offensive line. Neither of the offensive lines will be able to hold back the impressive pass rushes, but the New York Giants line will buy a few more plays for their quarterback. Fans with New York Giants tickets will again see a big game awarded to their team thanks to their record-setting pass rush.