Panthers at Giants: Preview, Prediction

The Carolina Panthers and New York Giants face off Sunday night for a game with serious playoff implications. The winner will earn the number one seed in this year's NFC playoffs. Kickoff will be around 8:30 and the game can be seen nationally on NBC.

Injuries: Lots of news this week and almost all of it is good. Running back Brandon Jacobs will play this Sunday (commence celebrations). As will RBs Derrick Ward and Ahmad Bradshaw, tackle Kareem McKenzie, defensive end Justin Tuck and safety Kenny Phillips.

The "Maybe" list will be full up until Sunday evening. Wide-outs Dominek Hixon and Sinorice Moss as well as defensive tackle Fred Robbins are all expected to be game-time decisions. Needless to say, the Giants could really use that first round bye in the playoffs.

The Giants will win...

because they can't possibly play that badly in three straight games.

Anybody who has listened to New York sports talk radio the past 48 hours is sure of two things.

1. Brandon Jacobs is healthy

2. Brandon Jacobs cannot wait to play some meaningful football

It may surprise you to learn that the Panthers give up an average of 111 yards on the ground a game. Don't forget that, in games that Brandon Jacobs is healthy, the Giants have the number one rushing attack in the NFL. You should also remember that this game is being played in New Jersey in December at night.

Perfect weather for a hard-nosed running back like Brandon Jacobs.

New York's wide-outs have got to get it together. We get it. The Giants miss Plaxico Burress. These guys aren't getting beat because of the two d-backs Burress always drew. They're dropping perfectly throw balls, running less than stellar routes and missing blocks.

This is the perfect game for veteran leadership on the field and the sideline. This is the perfect game for Amani Toomer to carry the wide receiving core. Look for the Manning to Toomer connection early and often.

The Giants will lose...

when DeAngelo Williams runs for 150 yards and two scores. The Giants stopped the run with ease for three quarters against the Cowboys last week. New York isn't facing Tashard Choice this week, though. DeAngelo Williams is arguably the best running back in the NFL right now. If Giants fans are telling themselves that the weather is ideal for Brandon Jacobs and company, they have to concede the fact that Williams could also run wild for four quarters.

Sunday night could be one of those "make or break" Eli Manning games. Lots of "experts" are pointing to Eli's past struggles in cold weather. Perhaps you all remember Manning's performance against the Patriots in late December of 2007. The Giants didn't beat the Pats then but that game started the run that allowed the G-Men to beat New England in a slightly bigger game in February.

Manning has showed some signs that the "Bad Eli" may be reemerging. A few overthrows here and there are enough to make me bite my fingernails all the way down. If Manning goes 22 of 32 and throws four touchdowns tomorrow night, Big Blue will win by two scores.

Prediction:

With the holidays upon us, I'm going a different route with my game predictions. For the next week, members of my immediate family will have their say regarding Big Blue and the NFL in general. Oh, the joys of writing these pieces while back in my hometown. Here are the thoughts of my fiancée's 18-year old sister on this week's Panthers-Giants game.

With Brandon Jacobs coming back, I'm going to predict a win for the Giants. 34-28 New York wins.

Thanks, Liz. I like your positive thinking. Go Big Blue.

Giants 26

Panthers 21