Giants at Falcons: 4 key matchups
Giants WR Victor Cruz vs. Falcons CB Robert McClain: Cruz leads the Giants in receptions with 76 catches for 1,004 yards and nine touchdowns. The Falcons held him to two catches for 28 yards in the playoff meeting last season. McClain has continued his fine play this season. He has eight pass breakups and 52 tackles, according to coaches’ film review.
Giants DE Jason Pierre-Paul vs. Falcons LT Sam Baker: Pierre-Paul leads the Giants with 6.5 sacks. He spent most of the playoff game in the Falcons’ backfield. He finished with eight tackles and made two tackles for losses. Baker missed the last meeting after undergoing back surgery.
Giants RB David Wilson vs. Falcons MLB Akeem Dent: Wilson, a rookie from Virginia Tech, had his first 100-yard rushing game last week against the Saints and had two touchdowns, including a 52-yard run in the fourth quarter. With Ahmad Bradshaw nursing a sprained knee, Wilson could become the main ball carrier. Dent has to step forward and become an enforcer in the run defense. He played 32 of 69 snaps (46%) last weekend against the Panthers.
Giants CB Prince Amukamara or Jayron Hosley vs. Falcons WR Roddy White: Amukamara was a first-round pick in 2011 (11th overall), but got off to a slow start. He left the win over the Saints in the second half with a hamstring injury and did not return. He’s started in 10 straight games. Hosley, a rookie from Virginia Tech, will likely be targeted if he has to start. But he said he plans to get physical with White, who was followed around by Corey Webster is last season’s playoff game. Hosley is 5-foot-10, 178 pounds. White 6-foot, 211. White, who has a sore knee and will be a game-time decision, had 117 yards receiving last week against Carolina. Teams have done a good job recently of taking him away on third downs.
LATEST NEWS
Panthers hold on to defeat Falcons 30-20
Report card: Falcons grades for loss to Panthers
Falcons quoteboard after the 30-20 loss to the Panthers
Run defense goes back to the drawing board
NBC’s Rodney Harrison is not a big fan of the Falcons
OTHER RECENT NEWS
Cornerback Asante Samuel, safety William Moore are questionable for Panthers
Falcons at Panthers: 3 key matchups
Q&A with Falcons wide receiver Julio Jones, who’s closing in on his first 1,000-yard season
Falcons amused by tough talk from Panthers defensive end Greg Hardy
Offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter not worried about dip in Matt Ryan’s numbers
Get instant updates on Twitter at AJCFalcons and you can join the Facebook Fan page at AJC Falcons.
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
21 comments Add your comment
ShaneOmac
December 14th, 2012
10:23 am
We got a hell of task on our hands and the match up with Roddy may be moot if he doesn’t suit up
Ryder
December 14th, 2012
10:54 am
This game comes down to one matchup, the Falcons offensive line vs. the Giants pass rush. If the Giants begin to set up camp in the Falcons backfield like they did last January, it will be yet another long day.
Steve
December 14th, 2012
11:19 am
Another huge matchup will be the Giants fans vs the Falcons fans. Will the Giants fans take over the dome? Might be discouraging to the Falcons and get the Giants fired up when the “Let’s go Giants” chant is rocking the dome.
Whadda Ya Know?
December 14th, 2012
11:22 am
Giants WR Victor Cruz vs. Falcons CB Robert McClain – I hope they use more than just McClain to stop Cruz. Linebackers need to help our by hitting Cruz off the line and safeties roaming over top
Giants DE Jason Pierre-Paul vs. Falcons LT Sam Baker – Baker does not have the technique or footwork to deal with JPP’s speed of the edge. The Falcons better bring in another OLman to help block the middle of the line (A Gaps) where we’ve been weak against the Giants. Koetter needs to have plays that gets the ball out of Ryan’s hands quickly and goes away from the rush.
Giants RB David Wilson vs. Falcons MLB Akeem Dent – This is not one-on-one matchup. It takes everyone on defense to stop the run. The DL is the first line of defense I don’t expect them to allow Wilson to get beyond them. Spoon and Nicholas will be on point as well. We want to shut him down just like the Little Hamster Boy in Tampa (Doug Martin).
Giants CB Prince Amukamara or Jayron Hosley vs. Falcons WR Roddy White -They won’t be able to handle Roddy one-on-one if he’s healthy. They need to worry about Julio and Chase Coffman (who needs to be back in the game). Use Antoine Smith as well. But most importantly, leave Turner on the bench and bring him in for late 4th quarter clean-up.
If we play smart, physical, fundamentally sound (wrap-up and tackle) football we can beat this team. Nolan should have a good gameplan ready to confuse Eli and get pressure/sacks on him. Please, please, please I don’t want to see anyone standing around while one of our guys struggles to take down the player by himself (gang tackle). Prime example was Peters had Cam for a loss and no one came to help him light Cam up for a loss. Team Effort and Kick Butt!!
FalconPride66
December 14th, 2012
11:29 am
Whaddya know, I agree … some creative running plays will take the pressure off Matt. He should not be afraid to tuck it and run if the Giants Dline over-pursues. We have a very strong advantage with our receivers over their LBs and Dbacks. But Matt needs time to throw. On defense we have got to get pressure on Eli, wrap up and tackle. Our special teams also needs to play solid. Bryant should be PERFECT, you are in a dome man!!! Should be a good game.
PMC
December 14th, 2012
11:37 am
Dled, how do you not include virtually anyone the Giants play inside vs, Konz, McClure and Blaylock?
If anyone is in trouble in this game it’s the interior of the Falcons line. Of the teams weaknesses, the middle of the offensive line is undoubtedly the weakest point on the team.
crackbaby
December 14th, 2012
11:38 am
DOL,
The individual matchups make for a nice story but the battle at the line of scrimmage should determine the winner on Sunday. O-line needs to run block and not allow pressure up the middle on pass plays. That applies to both teams.
Jim
December 14th, 2012
12:08 pm
wHADDAYAKNOW you make way too much sense for them to listen to you!
lowdownjj
December 14th, 2012
12:22 pm
My most important match-ups are Rowdy vs his sore knee (does his streak of NEVER missing a start continue?), Willy Mo vs his hammy (is Willy Mo really “Always Ready?) and Asante vs his sore sholder(we need Dabba Deuce’s swag and agressive play back in the line-up)
old falc
December 14th, 2012
12:42 pm
wHADDYAKNOW you left out one fair catch FRANKS to show them how tough we are he starts us off n the 5 or 10 yard line. not sure if he knows we don’t have to fair catch.
Esquire is in the HOUSE
December 14th, 2012
12:47 pm
I’ll be happy if we can at least get a field goal this time. Come on Bryant, you can hit a long one!
We need to keep our offense very vanilla this week. We don’t need to show them anything, save that for the playoffs. Just keep feeding Turner the whole game, then in the playoffs, we can unleash our offense like we did last week!
mark
December 14th, 2012
1:02 pm
I would like to see Kotter really try and make 1st down a critical play last two games we have been in long 2nd and 3rd downs. I think Rodgers is the key he may not be a “home run” guy but he has the moves to make people miss and with him in the game makes the pass rush less effective. I don’t care how we get 5 yards on first down but we have to break the two deep shell by the defense and TURNER IS NOT THE ANSWER. Not saying it is all his fault, I think we still need better line play which is on Dimitroff not anyone else, but since personnel is fixed scheme is only way to make a difference. W/O White need Douglas to step up and maybe someone else. GO FALCONS!
Weatherspoon likes hearing voices inside of his helmet | Atlanta Falcons
December 14th, 2012
1:18 pm
[...] Linebacker Sean Weatherspoon take over as leader of the defense Giants at Falcons: 4 key matchups [...]
LDawg
December 14th, 2012
5:30 pm
Okay – I have to know why someone cuts and pastes a section of the article with the name of the article. It’s stupid.
Falcons fantasy injury report: White, Moore don’t practice, listed as questionable | Atlanta Falcons
December 14th, 2012
8:06 pm
[...] Linebacker Sean Weatherspoon take over as leader of the defense Giants at Falcons: 4 key matchups [...]
Esquire is in the HOUSE
December 15th, 2012
12:29 am
5-6-7-8
Everywhere we goooO,
Everywhere we goooO,
People wanna knooOw,
People wanna knooOw,
Who we aaa are,
Who we aaa are,
So we tell theem, So we tell theem,
We are the FALCONS!! We are the FALCONS!!
MIGHTY MIGHTY FALCONS, MIGHTY MIGHTY FALCONS !!
OHH AHH OHH YEEAHH
5-6-7-8 WHO DO WE APPRECIATE???? GOOOOO FALCONS!!!!!!
WHERE’S MIKE’S COX????? I NEED IT BAD TONIGHT!!!! Please???
True Falcon Fan
December 15th, 2012
1:40 pm
@12:29 Child-Please — You are not the “Esquire”! Who are you tryin’ to kidd, Kid???? You are another one, You must be related to the ZERO/JSS,,,, ZERO, is that you??? —- “Get your ashes back in that GROTTO” and don’t come until we say you can!!!!!! Take all your head demons with you……….
Go Falcons — G-men next
Inactives: Falcons wide receiver Roddy White will start vs. Giants | Atlanta Falcons
December 16th, 2012
12:16 pm
[...] Linebacker Sean Weatherspoon takes over as leader of the defense Giants at Falcons: 4 key matchups [...]
Falcons look ‘Super’ in rout of the Giants, 34-0 | Atlanta Falcons
December 16th, 2012
7:46 pm
[...] Linebacker Sean Weatherspoon takes over as leader of the defense Giants at Falcons: 4 key matchups [...]
Report card: Falcons earn high marks in win over Giants | Atlanta Falcons
December 17th, 2012
8:21 am
[...] Linebacker Sean Weatherspoon takes over as leader of the defense Giants at Falcons: 4 key matchups [...]
Atlanta Falcons: Safety William Moore misses practice | Atlanta Falcons
December 18th, 2012
8:07 pm
[...] Linebacker Sean Weatherspoon takes over as leader of the defense Giants at Falcons: 4 key matchups [...]