- When: Thursday, October 9, 2013, 8:25 p.m. ET
- TV: NFL Network
- Radio: WFAN 660AM
- Last regular-season meeting: Oct. 3, 2010 – Giants 17, Bears 3
The New York Giants will be looking to avoid their first 0-6 start since 1976, when they finished the season 3-11. They have another tough game in front of them, however, heading north to Chicago to take on the Bears at Soldier Field on Thursday Night Football.
The Giants will be forced to quickly shake off a heart-wrenching loss to the Philadelphia Eagles last Sunday. The Bears, meanwhile, will be looking to break from their current slide, having lost two straight after starting the year 3-0.
As it stands now, the odds are against the Giants to clinch a playoff berth. Failure to make the postseason would make this year the fourth in the last five that they were unable to do so.
“We’re not thinking about the playoffs right now,” linebacker Spencer Paysinger said during a conference call with the media. “Right now we’re 0-5. We’re looking for our first win, hopefully coming on Thursday.”
Unfortunately, the Giants will be missing a handful of players, as has been the case for much of this season. They will be without six players Thursday, including starters David Wilson (running back), David Baas (center) and Corey Webster (cornerback). Tight end Brandon Myers, receiver Louis Murphy and defensive tackle Linval Joseph are all listed as questionable and could also miss Thursday’s game.
Trying to overcome an abundance of injuries, coupled with a five-game losing streak is a lot for any team to handle. But the Giants have been especially awful through this early part of the season, ranking near the bottom of the NFL in points allowed, total defense, running the football and turnovers.
Turning the football over has been one of the greatest detriments to the Giants’ success. They were very much in Sunday’s divisional battle with the Eagles before quarterback Eli Manning threw interceptions on three consecutive drives, effectively wiping out any chance for a victory.
Getting a handle on the turnover issues will be vital to their success against a very dangerous Bears defense.
“[The Bears] get good pressure on the quarterback, which leads to some interceptions,” Manning said. “They have good, aggressive cornerbacks and players, so I think you’ve got to be aware of that and know when to cover up with two hands and be smart.”
The Bears are currently 10th in the league with six interceptions. They led the league a year ago with 24.
In three games against Chicago, Manning has thrown four interceptions. He currently leads the league in interceptions by a wide margin, with 12. He threw 15 all of last season.
“You’ve got to try to make good decisions and have a great plan and execute that plan,” Manning said. “There are some plays — whether the defense does something unexpected or a play doesn’t develop how you want to — and you’ve got to make good decisions and play smart and do whatever you’ve got to do to ensure you have the ball that next play.”
The Giants tied an NFL record on Sunday, having allowed a league-worst 36.4 points per game in their first five contests.
The Bears have eclipsed 30 points three times already this season and are averaging 29 per game. They scored just 18 points a week ago against the New Orleans Saints, however, despite a franchise-record 218 receiving yards from second-year wide out Alshon Jeffery. He and All-Pro receiver Brandon Marshall have accounted for 703 of quarterback Jay Cutler’s 1,368 passing yards. The duo could spell trouble for a Giants defense that has allowed 269.2 yards per game and 12 touchdowns through the air — 31st in the NFL.
The key to the game might be to jump ahead early. The Giants and Bears have both been outscored by a combined 30 points over their last two games and have been unable to battle back in the second half.
“We’ve got to come out firing,” Giants’ receiver Victor Cruz said. “We’ve got to come out strong and hold that lead and be able to put together drives… not stall out and not get penalties and hurt ourselves. That takes us out of approachable downs and distances, and down and distances where we can convert third downs.”
Of Big Blue’s 61 third-down situations, 35 have been for 11 or more yards. As a result, New York is at the bottom of the league, having converted on just 26.2 percent of third down tries.
The Giants trail the all-time series against the Bears 21-32-2, but have won two straight. This will be the two teams’ first meeting since Week 4 of the 2010 season, when New York defeated Chicago, 17-3, at MetLife Stadium.
STAT OF THE WEEK
The New York Giants have been outscored by 100 points through the first five games of the season.
KEY MATCHUP: Giants vs. themselves
Having started the season with five straight losses, one has to be concerned about the Giants’ collective psyche. They are entering a game where they could desperately use a win. Their season is likely over, but there is no reason for them to play that way — they’re only two games behind the NFC East-leading Dallas Cowboys and Philadelphia Eagles.
So far, they have been their own worst enemy. Penalties and a league-leading 20 turnovers have cost them dearly and it shows in the loss column. Mistake-free football could yield the team’s first win of the season. Unfortunately, as the first five games have shown, that is simply easier said than done for New York.
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.