- When: Sunday, September 22, 2013, 1:00 p.m. ET
- TV: FOX
- Radio: WCBS 101.1 FM, Sirius 86
- Last regular-season meeting: Sept. 20, 2012 – Giants 36, Panthers 7
With their backs against the wall following a pair of disappointing losses to start the season, the New York Giants are hopeful a trip to play the Carolina Panthers in Week 3 can revive their season once again.
The Giants will visit Bank of America Stadium for the second year in a row with an unexpected start to the season. Last year, the G-Men were 1-2 and in need of an ego booster. They got it in the form of a 36-7 blowout victory over the Panthers that included 138 receiving yards from fourth-string wideout Ramses Barden.
This year, New York is 0-2—as is Carolina. Both teams are looking to salvage their season before it’s too late. Only three teams have started the season 0-3 and still made the playoffs in the 23 years since the NFL expanded its playoff field (h/t Athlon).
“There’s no reason to panic,” Giants’ center David Bass said earlier this week. “We just have to do things better and we will. Obviously a couple of years ago we heard the same song and dance… we were last in the league in rushing, whatever it was, and we won the Super Bowl.”
Baas and his teammates are hoping history may repeat itself, but will need to overcome an equally hungry Panthers team striving to find something that works.
The Panthers are currently sixth in the NFL, averaging 129.5 yards per game. However, they are averaging just 15 points per game; the Giants scored more in the second half of their Week 1 matchup with the Dallas Cowboys. Carolina quarterback Cam Newton has been a decisive factor in the Panthers’ running game. His threat to take off with the football or throw one down the field is always a difficult weapon against opposing defenses.
“You’ve got to close him in there and put pressure on him if you’re going to be able to control the pass aspect of the game as well,” New York head coach Tom Coughlin said. “You can’t sit there and let him throw the ball.”
The G-Men did a good job of that last year. They held him to just six yards on six carries (with one touchdown) and kept the pressure on him in the pocket, sacking him twice and forcing him to throw three interceptions.
“They had a strong pass rush and it kind of affected our offense very early,” Newton said. “When we looked up, it was a large lead and we had to come from behind.”
This year, it’s been the Giants who have been playing from behind. They have surrendered a league-high 77 points, 23 of which have come in the first half. In each of their first two games, they were battling from behind in the second half. Much of that could be credited to 10 giveaways by the offense (six vs. Dallas, four vs. Denver). And the large majority — an NFL-leading seven interceptions — can be attributed to quarterback Eli Manning.
Despite struggles with the interceptions, Manning and the Giants’ passing game has been electric. He leads the league with 812 passing yards, and receiver Victor Cruz has posted two consecutive 100-yard performances.
Still, the Giants’ defense must improve if they are going to be successful. They are currently allowing an average of 275.5 yards per game through the air, and Broncos’ running back Knowshon Moreno tore them up for 93 yards and two touchdowns of 20-plus yards on just 13 carries.
“I don’t know where the lack of emotion comes from, especially during the course of a game,” safety Antrel Rolle said during a radio interview on WFAN earlier this week. “This is something you love to do, this is something you should have passion about doing and the one thing I say, you can always control your effort and you can control how you approach the game.”
Not making the trip to Charlotte will be cornerback Corey Webster, who is out with a hip injury. Aaron Ross — who did not play a single snap last week against the Broncos — will be starting in Webster’s place.
The Giants have not started a season at 0-3 since 1996 under head coach Dan Reeves. They finished 6-10 that year and Reeves was fired.
INJURY REPORT
New York
OUT: OT David Diehl (thumb), TE Adrien Robinson (foot), CB Corey Webster (hip)
PROBABLE: WR Hakeem Nicks (DNP Friday), QB Ryan Nassib (ankle), G Brandon Mosley (back)
Carolina
OUT: RB Kenjon Barner (foot), S Quinton Mikell (ankle), CB Josh Thomas (concussion), CB D.J. Moore (knee)
QUESTIONABLE: DT Dwan Edwards (thigh), CB James Dockery (thumb/shoulder)
PROBABLE: FB Mike Tolbert (knee), OLB Thomas Davis (leg), TE Ben Hartsock (foot), ILB Jon Beason (knee), CB Josh Norman (thigh)
STAT OF THE WEEK
The Giants are last in the NFL, averaging 36.5 rushing yards per game and 2.2 yards per carry. Last week versus the Broncos, they ran 19 times for 23 yards (1.2 yards per carry).
KEY MATCHUP: Giants’ defense vs. Cam Newton
Last year’s victory over the Carolina Panthers was predicated on dominant defensive play. The Giants knew going in that if they shut down Cam Newton, the Panthers’ offense would falter.
It’s the same story this season. Carolina’s offense has struggled to score points, but has done a good job of running the football. Shut down Newton early, however, and the offense will come to a screeching halt.
Newton’s success running the football dictates the offense’s success. If the Giants struggle to stop him, opportunities open for running back DeAngelo Williams to find some open space carrying the football and the passing game gets a boost late in the game.
Louis Musto is a reporter and sports talk host for the Sports Journey Broadcast Network. He is a member of the Pro Football Writers of America. All quotes were acquired first hand or via team press releases unless otherwise noted. You can follow him on Twitter @LouisMusto.