Vin+ 3,121 Posted September 20, 2013 http://hosted.stats.com/fb/preview.asp?g=20130922029&home=29&vis=19 (AP) -- Reeling from a pair of ugly season-opening losses and facing a hole that's proved nearly impossible to overcome, the New York Giants can only hope a Week 3 matchup with the Carolina Panthers goes as well as it did in 2012. The Giants visit the Panthers for the second consecutive year, this time with both teams winless and already trying to salvage their seasons. New York (0-2) fell 41-23 to Denver last week, getting plagued by turnovers for the second consecutive game. The Giants, who had six giveaways in a 36-31 loss to Dallas on Sept. 8, added four more against the Broncos. All of them came from Eli Manning, whose four interceptions gave him an NFL-leading seven. The inability to protect the ball is only one of the Giants' major problems. The running game was again nonexistent last week, managing 23 yards on 19 carries as New York fell to last in the league with 73 rushing yards. The Giants have also allowed a league-high 77 points and have only two sacks. Perhaps worst of all, at least one key veteran sees something even more critical missing. "I don't know where the lack of emotion comes from, especially during the course of a game," safety and captain Antrel Rolle said. "This is something you love to do, this is something you should have passion about doing and the one thing I say, you can always control your effort and you can control how you approach the game." New York needs to find that element quickly if it wants to have a realistic chance of making the playoffs. The last time a team made the postseason after starting 0-2 was 2008, and no team opening 0-3 has qualified for the playoffs since 1998. "In this situation, you've got to have a little sense of urgency," said Manning, last in the league in passer rating at 75.9. "I don't think there's anything wrong with that. If you make it a must-win, sometimes that's what you need to be put in those situations. It is a big game. We're 0-2 right now. We're looking for our first win. Guys just have to keep their heads up and look at the good things and look at where we've got to make improvements." Manning and his teammates are hoping history repeats itself Sunday, almost exactly one year after the Giants were able to make plenty of improvements in a Week 3 trip to Charlotte amid a similarly shaky start. New York came into the game 1-1 after a disheartening season-opening loss to Dallas and a comeback win over Tampa Bay, then routed the Panthers 36-7 that Sept. 20. Manning threw for 288 yards and a touchdown with no interceptions and the Giants rushed for 125. The defense, which had given up 51 points in the first two weeks, allowed only 327 yards and intercepted a frustrated Cam Newton three times. Carolina (0-2) hasn't gotten better results than New York so far, scoring 30 points, though the Panthers have been more competitive. They led Seattle in the fourth quarter of their opener before losing 12-7 and suffered a heartbreaking 24-23 defeat to Buffalo last week on a two-yard touchdown pass from EJ Manuel with 2 seconds remaining. That capped an 80-yard drive during which the Bills had no timeouts. "It's time to get over the hump," coach Ron Rivera said. "We've been through this - and that is the thing that is disheartening. You'd like to believe that we've gotten to the point where we've learned from these things and now it's about getting things done." Since Rivera took over in 2011, the Panthers have lost 10 games in which they've held a lead in the fourth quarter - tied with Philadelphia for most in the league. Newton was sacked six times Sunday, and he's struggled in the early going with an 86.4 rating. "With us being in so many tight games, you would think we would know by now, but it's still a learning and maturing thing for us," Newton told the team's official website. "In tight situations, we have to somehow make a play. "We will scratch and claw and find a way to win games." The defense has allowed 403.0 yards per game, including 293.5 passing, and now must play without Charles Godfrey for the rest of the season after the starting free safety tore his right Achilles tendon last Sunday. One area in which Carolina has succeeded is running the ball, as the Panthers are among the NFL leaders with 259 rushing yards. DeAngelo Williams has led the way with 171, and he'll face a Giants team that gave up 109 and two touchdowns on the ground last week. New York has won two straight and four of the last five meetings, including the past two road matchups. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Thanatos 2,847 Posted September 20, 2013 (edited) Two teams with their backs against the wall. One knows how to win. The other needs a coaching change. 27 24 Edited September 20, 2013 by Thanatos19 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
KempBolt 498 Posted September 20, 2013 I'm gonna say that Eli quits turning the ball over so much this week. 24 17 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BigBen07 285 Posted September 21, 2013 unless Carolina learns how to protect a late lead. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Vin+ 3,121 Posted September 21, 2013 The Panthers will start UDFA Robert Lester at strong safety in Week 3 against the Giants. Lester is an undrafted free agent out of Alabama, where he caught a bunch of interceptions but displayed painfully stiff hips and very little speed. Carolina has the NFL's most banged-up secondary. The Panthers will start box safety Mike Mitchell at free, and either Josh Norman (MCL sprain) or in-season free-agent signing Drayton Florence at corner opposite Captain Munnerlyn. Source: Charlotte Observer Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
theMileHighGuy 656 Posted September 21, 2013 This is a game for a good New York team to put it together. The Panthers seem a little directionless atm, but it will be a good contest. 27 18 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Vin+ 3,121 Posted September 21, 2013 Giants CB Corey Webster (hip) has been ruled out for Week 3 against the Panthers. Aaron Ross will start in his place opposite Prince Amukamara. What was already a juicy matchup for Cam Newton and Steve Smith gets even better. Source: Ohm Youngmisuk on Twitter Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DonovanMcnabb for H.O.F 2,241 Posted September 22, 2013 21-20 Panthers Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BradyFan81 404 Posted September 22, 2013 Panthers secondary is beat up badly. Giants 31-23 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Vin+ 3,121 Posted September 22, 2013 Giants declared RB Michael Cox, CB Corey Webster, T David Diehl, TE Adrien Robinson, OL Brandon Mosley, QB Ryan Nassib, and DT Johnathan Hankins inactive for Week 3 at Carolina. There are no surprises here. Cox is the Giants' No. 4 tailback behind David Wilson, Brandon Jacobs, and Da'Rel Scott. Panthers declared RB Kenjon Barner, CB D.J. Moore, CB Josh Thomas, SS Quintin Mikell, CB James Dockery, DE Frank Alexander, and DT Dwan Edwards inactive for Week 3 against the Giants. Josh Norman and Captain Munnerlyn will be Carolina's starting corners. Mike Mitchell and undrafted rookie Robert Lester will be the first-team safeties. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Favre4Ever+ 4,476 Posted September 22, 2013 I think I picked the Panthers, which means the Giants are going to get off the snide. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Thanatos 2,847 Posted September 22, 2013 All I needed to do was pick against them apparently. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BradyFan81 404 Posted September 23, 2013 Greg Hardy is an absolute stud. That front 7 is ridiculous. Hardy, Star, Johnson, Kuechly, Davis, Beason. Wow. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
