2009 New York Giants NFL Predictions

The New York Giants were playing like the best team in the NFL and appeared to be well on their way to another Super Bowl title until wide receiver Plaxico Burress shot himself in the leg. While the organization would never fess up to it, the incident seemed to cause a distraction, or at least expose New York’s need for a big play threat at the wide receiver position. The Giants will try to put Burress and the 2008 season behind them as they go after a second straight division title in 2009. Find out where I have the G-Men finishing in the loaded NFC East in this NFL betting preview. The New York Giants are listed at +1200 to win Super Bowl XLIV.

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Offense – Eli Manning will once again head under center for the New York football Giants. While he led the G-Men to the promise land in the 2007-08 season, he is yet to realize his full potential in my opinion. I know I’m being a tough critic here, partly because I can’t help but compare him to his brother. Eli Manning fans can, of course, throw in my face that he made the Pro Bowl for the first time last season while connecting on 21 touchdown strikes against just 10 interceptions. This is true, but he closed out the year on a sour note with his passer rating dropping some 30 points over the last month of the season. Eli Manning praisers keep praising, but he still has some work to do before I’m ready to put him in the same category as his brother, Tom Brady, Ben Roethlisburger, Phillip Rivers, Kurt Warner, Donovan McNabb, and Drew Brees.

The New York running game was its key to success a year ago with Brandon Jacobs and Derrick Ward both breaking the 1,000-yard barrier. Jacobs is back, but Ward has moved on to Tampa Bay. That leaves Ahmad Bradshaw as Jacobs’ complimentary back.

With both Amani Toomer and Plaxico Burress gone, we should see Steve Smith’s numbers increase again. He led the G-Men with 57 catches in 2008 and has proved to be a reliable possession guy. That’s fine, but someone is going to have to step up and fill Burress’ shoes as a big play threat. Domenik Hixon has shown flashes. Mario Manningham, Hakeem Nicks, and Ramses Barden will also have the opportunity to step up. Manning has a nice target in tight end Kevin Boss and daft pick Travis Beckum has a big upside as well.

The offensive line, led by Pro Bowlers Shaun O’Hara and Chris Snee, is as good as any in the NFL and that’s why the Giants will remain in the hunt for another Super Bowl title.

Defense – It was a super charged pass rush, led by Michael Strahan and Osi Umenyiora, that helped the Giants rise to the top of the NFL in 2007. What a blow it was, though, when Strahan retired and then Umenyiora went down with a season ending injury before the 2008 season? Umenyiora will be back healthy and he will team with Justin Tuck, who emerged as a Pro Bowler last season. Plus, the Giants brought in Chris Canty from the Cowboys who can play both tackle and end. The Giants should be bringing the heat off the corner in 2009.

Middle linebacker Antonio Pierce is the quarterback of the defense and is flanked by Michael Boley and Danny Clark. In the defensive backfield, expect to see Aaron Ross and Corey Webster at the corners and Michael Johnson and Kenny Phillips at the safeties.

Prediction: 2nd NFC East – Division titles in 2005 and 2008 did not produce Super Bowls, but a wild card bid in 2007 did. I have the Giants finishing second in the NFC East and taking one of the NFC wild card spots. Find out who I have ahead of the Giants in my NFC East predictions.  If a young group of receivers can step up, and if the defensive line can continue to live in the backfield, the Giants could get back to the big one. The Giants are listed at +165 to win the NFC East.

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