I, like you, am excited to see the Giants and Saints square off against each other this Sunday. I would consider this the first actual "measuring stick" game the Giants have to play this year. The game against Dallas in Week 2 was too early on in the season for us to know enough about either team. But I'd like to bring to light some of the stats for us to get a glimpse of the Giants team and the Saints team thus far.

The opponent winning percentage against the Giants this year is an abysmal .240; in other words, the opponents haven't won 25% of the games they played, coming out to being about 1-4. Compare that with New Orleans strength of schedule thus far, and you will find that theirs hasn't been that much more difficult: .420. Their competition still has a winning percentage under .500, coming out to about 2-3.

On defense, the Giants have a slight advantage. Giants are 2nd in the league in average points against with 14.2 and 1st in the league in yardage allowed with only 210.6 average yards per game. Granted, going against some of the worst offenses in the league (TB: 26, KC: 30, OAK: 32) in consecutive weeks does help their cause. New Orleans has competed against some mediocre competition as well (DET: 21, BUF: 25, NYJ: 24), and put up some nice numbers. They are 7th in the league in average points allowed with 16.5 and 6th in the league in average yards allowed with 295.3 yards allowed.

Both teams have gone against one elite offense this year with the Giants facing #1 ranked Dallas and the Saints going up against a #7 ranked Eagles team. It is important to note, however, that the Eagles were minus the starting QB, Donovan McNabb, and Kevin Kolb put up almost 400 yards against them. He did get intercepted 3 times but Eli Manning won't be making mistakes like Kolb, forcing a ball into coverage on multiple occasions, the way he is playing this year. On defense, the edge goes to the Giants.

On offense, the Giants have earned an average of 30.2 points per game, good enough for 4th in the league. Drew Brees and the Saints, truly an elite NFL offense, average an astounding 36 points per game. The impressive part of this for the Big Easy is that they scored their highest point total of the season against the Eagles' 3rd ranked defense. This tells us that they can do whatever they need to in order to win. They can win games both on the ground (2nd) and through the air (12th), just like the Giants (4th and 10th, respectively). The Giants average just a bit more yards per game (almost a moot point, based on what was already stated) with 417.3 (2nd), versus the Saints 414.3 (3rd).

This could be the most highly regarded Giants game this season, depending on how the Broncos fair in the coming weeks. I am looking forward to this match up because this will be a REAL battle; a true test of class in the NFC. The story lines have been nice, too, talking about how this is a sort of homecoming for Eli. Of course, we cannot forget Jeremy Shockey wanting to stick it to the organization who traded him after their Super Bowl win without him, most likely considering it an addition by subtraction roster move.

Here's to an instant classic...or the Giants beating the garbage out of them for 60 minutes. That would be nice, too.

All right, I'm a little upset about all the Brandon Bashing "tip-toeing" comments this week. The fact is, we all know what Jacobs is capable of. He's shown us what he's capable of through his seasons as the starter here in NY.

However, even after a 3-0 start, his own fans are complaining about his work ethic/ passion/ strength/ conditioning/ physicality. WHY? Jacobs has never been anything other than a powerful runner and a bruising power back. He's shown us time and time again that he is willing to lay his health and well being on the line to provide us and the team everything they need for a win.

This has GOT to stop. Now, I'm coming to his defense but I know that he wouldn't appreciate why I am coming to his defense. Here's why: I want Brandon Jacobs healthy in weeks 12-15 and the playoffs. I don't care what Brandon Jacobs does during an easy game against Tampa Bay. Ahmad Bradshaw did fine and Jacobs really wasn't needed against an inferior opponent. I'd much rather see a bruising power back against Eagles on week 14 at full speed than week 3 against Tampa Bay.

As upset as I am at the way we questioned BJ's determination, I am just as upset that Brandon Jacobs is now going to be playing angry...in week 4 against...Kansas City??? Folks, is there a less important match up this season. Maybe, against Oakland. But, COME ON! LAY OFF THE BIG MAN!

I want the guy healthy in the playoffs. WHO CARES ABOUT WEEK 4?? If he has a tweak or something, let him play with it for a while as he recovers. I don't want him to reinjure it. I want a strong, healthy backfield in DUE time and when the time is right. Whatever happens now, the Giants have shown they have a championship team, with or without a healthy backfield. We've got to be patient.

I heard the Giants players saying earlier this year: an NFL season is a marathon, not a sprint. Let him take the time now he needs to recoup from whatever before we jump to conclusions that the Juggernaut has gone soft.

The score and stats are not indicative of what truly occured on Sunday; I think we all could agree that the Giants dominated the Redskins. The first touchdown the Redskins scored was on a trick play that really should've been defended better (note that the next time the Redskins kicked a field goal, our defenders did not rush on the edge to protect against such gadgetry). The second touchdown was probably considered an afterthought after a dominating performance and was more an act of desperation by the Redskins than good play and playcalling.

Let's think, though, about what the Giants really did in Week 1. First, they have already placed themselves into first position in the East. Though the same could be said about the Eagles' and the Cowboys' dominating wins, the Giants did it in the division. And we can't forget that this team they played was considered a dark horse in the Beast. Some outsiders couldn't pin this team in the division, not knowing where they may end up at the end of the year.

Like Ed said, Corey Webster was unbelievable yesterday. Santana Moss isn't a first tier #1 WR in this league, but he is close. He plays hard and finds ways to get open. Campbell couldn't find him yesterday...at all. Corey Webster is already a star in this league, it's just not common knowledge yet. Before mid-season, Webster will have punched his ticket to the Pro Bowl.

I am really looking forward to what the Giants will do this year. Barring injuries, the Giants could show that last year was a fluke. It's exciting to see after just one week, what could happen this year.

Redskins vs Giants coverage

Leger Douzable was really the hero...he got to the back of Cantwell with the offensive guard yanking on his jersey the entire way. Knowing he was going down with the guy on his back, though, he gave the interception up to Hill so he could jaunt in for the score as time expired. It's important to know because the practice squad/53-man roster will be set mainly because of preseason action. Douzable was on the practice squad last year...hard to imagine both of them still with the team, however at the end of it.

With the Broncos recently losing their franchise quarterback, you would've thought that off-season commotion for them would be finally over. It appears, however, that Josh McDaniels does not mind rubbing more than one franchise player the wrong way.

Now, I know the Giants are "happy" with their wide receiver situation but getting a guy like Brandon Marshall, despite off field antics, would sure be an interesting idea. According to the Denver Post, this might very well be a serious situation, as Marshall was seen leaving "carrying packed boxes."

There is a market for him I am sure but if the Giants were unwilling to trade for Anquan Boldin nor Braylon Edwards, this is an extreme long shot. I threw it out there for kicks, though, so I want to hear your opinion.

On February 3, 2008, Plaxico Burress was officially a hero in the metropolitan-NYC area. He finally found the right "fit." He finally found a place where he was loved, accepted, and valued for being the receiver he always knew he was in his heart of hearts. That was the beginning of his problems.

Plaxico became demanding. Demanding to the organization which was so willing to forgive and allow his irresponsible and negligent behaviors from Monday through Saturday to continue while his job performance flourished on Sunday. The organization eventually, and literally, bought in to Plax: Plaxico accepted a deal for $35 million for 5 years. I'm sure he thought "this is only the beginning of what I will do." He had all the good intentions in the world, but "the road to hell is paved with good intentions."

Plaxico quickly lost himself. It seems after the contract, he wasn't the same guy. He got what he wanted...think of it as a man (Organization) on a donkey (Plax) holding a carrot on a string...if he gave the donkey the carrot, the donkey doesn't have anywhere else to go in the donkey's mind. The money, it seems, disillusioned Plax. Instead of competition driving Plax to succeed, money became the motivation; once he got it, nothing else mattered.

If we JUST look at numbers, it is plainly obvious. From 2005 to 2007, he averaged about 69 yard per game. In that same time, he averaged .6 TDs per game. In 2008 post-contract, Plaxico averaged about 45 yards per game and .4 TDs per game. JUST based on those numbers alone, Plaxico was not the same.

Now, we can argue that he drew more double coverage or the passing game was not as important as the running game, and some of that might be true. We know that Eli made 50 less attempts last year, however, the fact that Plaxico only played 10 games would cause an obvious limitation on the offense for the remainder of the season. There were certainly plays that were drawn up specifically for Plaxico. For a player who has been a focal point in the offense to just disappear like that demonstrates my point.

Now, I don't know if anyone else is feeling this way but I am getting tired of all the talk and hub-bub over Plaxico Burress. Plaxico has done nothing since the Superbowl but further humiliate and alienate himself from all social and professional organizations. He has lost all credibility. He has lost all the hope and promise he had gained after that Superbowl win. In what could have become a Hall of Fame career, I truly believe that the gunshot wound he sustained was merely one big crunch in between many of a high speed slalom skier tumbling over and over down a steeply pitched hill. Unfortunately, it is still going. I long for the day when I do not have to see his name anymore about his court case, or even about football for that matter. What a sad, sad waste of talent.

This week has been one of intrigue. It is impossible really to tell what will happen this week and the upcoming draft day. When the Giants said "adios" to Plaxico Burress, there really started to be more questions than answers, and those questions that are yet to be answered will most likely not be answered until at least the 7th pick in the draft.

The good news is that Tom Cable is looking to rebuild...a lot. This may allow the Giants to throw a good number of picks his way so that they could jump on the much heralded young receiver, Jeremy Maclin. A lot in his scouting report says the guy may even be a safer bet for the Giants than the other guy. However, as the prevous links state, Al Davis rarely moves down in the draft...he brings his team down, instead (ouch). Well, besides that point, there might be a possibility of this but the Giants would probably have to pay a king's ransom for it and it may not be seen as worth it.

Of course, we've heard rumors about the Giants trading for either Chad Ochocinco, Braylon Edwards, or Anquan Boldin by draft day. So far, nothing's happened (or we wouldn't be talking about it) but I would like to briefly hit on these options.

First of all, everyone has ragged on the Giants for even considering Chad 8-5. This all may be moot but it must be noted that the receiver does not have a criminal record (a plus at this point), is a big time player, and does not put up a fuss if he doesn't get the ball. He consistently draws double coverage (partly why T.J. was able to get the big deal in the first place at the age of 32) which is what the Giants need to open up the running game, and at his age (31) he is still a versatile play maker. While he is a prankster, Coughlin would gladly put up with that so long as the guy shows up on time and is respectful to his coaching staff and teammates (we've heard of no problems there in Cincinnati).

Braylon Edwards...let's be honest, he's dropped a lot of perfectly catchable balls. But unlike Johnson, he's got plenty of prime years ahead of him and if we can't look at it any other way, he's an upgrade over Amani Toomer (who also had cement hands on and off in his career). He also is a silky smooth route runner who can quickly break away from the second level; he requires press, bump and run coverage; and he often requires a safety to roll coverage over the top. This would be ideal for the Giants system. Just like the Raiders' option, it might look too rich for the Giants but with Cleveland picking fourth and Crabtree most likely there for the taking, it may be a win-win for the Jints and the new-look Browns staff.

Of course, we cannot overlook the idea of Boldin trading in his red sweater for a nice shade of blue but this seems least likely. While most Giants fans are licking their chops to have him join Big Blue, according to most articles, he might be too expensive (both in draft picks and in a contract) for the Giants to be willing to trade for him. Not only this, but with rumors about a lingering hip problem, he may not have as many prime years of playing time ahead of him to outlive his contract. He's also not a prototypical, "stretch the field" #1, with most of his potential coming from yards after the catch. This would lead to dump-offs, screens, and leading plays where defenders will have him play in front of him. This is not what the Giants are looking for when/if they trade for a WR.

Lastly, the Giants may choose not to address the WR position with the 1st round pick, and instead throw it at a still available ILB/OLB. These guys are hoping on that. Who could blame them? Besides, Smith has been Mr. Clutch, and if Hixon didn't drop what could've been a wide open TD pass in an extremely poorly played game (Hixon aside) against Philadelphia, Giants fans might be, instead, thinking of this flashback as his future painted in blue.

Thankfully, we will see soon, and the questions we've all been pondering will be answered. Until then, what do you think?