It was almost a year ago that the Giants were humiliated by Minnesota to close out the 2009 season. It brought an end to one of the worst seasons ever by a Giants’ defense. Tom Coughlin is probably reminding his players of that 44-7 shellacking every chance he gets.
So expect the Giants to be motivated when they head into Detroit and it sounds like they will also be a lot healthier (if tired from the traveling!). David Diehl should definitely play; restoring the starting left tackle to an offensive line that has been playing very well. Hakeem Nicks and Steve Smith are listed as questionable, but both have vowed to play. That would give the Giants their two starting wide receivers back and open up the passing game.
That may not matter if the Giants can run the ball like they did last week. With Brandon Jacobs back to his old self and Ahmad Bradshaw doing a better job of securing the ball, New York has been gaining huge yardage on the ground. A lot of those yards came against defenses keying on the run, something they will not be able to do if Nicks and Smith are playing.
Minnesota has played much better since jettisoning coach Childress. That won’t matter tonight as New York will avenge last year’s loss and improve to 9-5 setting up an enormous game next Sunday against Philadelphia.
