6 keys to victory in Week 17
The New York Giants host the Indianapolis Colts at MetLife Stadium in Week 17. Kickoff in East Rutherford is ready for 1:00 p.m. ET, and the Giants are determined for one thing good to occur. With simply two video games left within the season, they’re sitting on the backside of the NFL with a cloud hovering over the whole group.
In distinction, the Colts are a seven-win crew that also has hopes of constructing the postseason. Regardless of the tumultuous quarterback state of affairs, Jonathan Taylor put the Colts on his again. He’s a drive to be reckoned with this season and ranks eighth amongst all working backs with 1,129 yards and eight touchdowns. In the meantime, the Giants’ run protection is ranked thirty first within the NFL.
There’s not a number of hope surrounding the Giants proper now, it doesn’t matter what a part of the group we’re speaking about. Going through the Colts this week isn’t any completely different, however each crew has the identical alternative to win each week.
This week, there are six keys to the Giants getting a victory and altering their mindset.
Ignore the skin noise
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It wouldn’t be a New York crew if there wasn’t exterior noise, however proper now there may be much more noise than even this crew is used to. Speak of Brian Daboll being fired, which occurs with any crew that’s solely received two video games. Planes with banners flying over the stadium begging John Mara to fireside everybody, amongst different sayings. Climate allowing, there appear to be a number of within the works this week. The crew has to dam this noise out and ignore the nonsense. Give attention to the sport at hand. One of the simplest ways to counter this negativity is with a win, and nobody is successful in the event that they aren’t targeted.
Win the turnover battle
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The Giants are -10 in turnover ratio and the Colts are -2. The distinction is that the Colts are literally among the many league leaders in takeaways and among the many league-worst in giveaways. Profitable the turnover battle isn’t nearly not turning the ball over or getting a takeaway, though these are enormous elements. The larger affect is what occurs with these takeaways, the Giants should make use of the turnovers they create and put factors on the board.
Cease Jonathan Taylor
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Jonathan Taylor is, by far, the Colts’ finest offensive weapon. He ranks eighth amongst all working backs, he’s troublesome to convey down, and he’ll make you pay for each missed deal with. The Giants inside must be able to cease him and restrict what he can do. Forcing Anthony Richardson or Joe Flacco to beat them is one of the simplest ways to halt the Colts’ offensive assault. If Richardson performs, the dynamic is completely different than if Flacco is on the market, but when the Giants can cease Taylor, it received’t matter.
Grind the clock
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The time of possession battle is all the time a consider video games, however this week it’s much more necessary. The Colts are within the backside 5 within the NFL in opposition to the run, however the Giants can’t rating. The much less time Indy’s offense is on the sector the higher, which suggests Tyrone Tracy Jr. and Devin Singletary want extra touches than the receivers. That is the way to restrict the Colts’ offensive manufacturing and scale back Jonathan Taylor’s affect.
Quicker ball launch
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In six video games this season, Drew Lock has been sacked 12 occasions, thrown 4 interceptions, and has accomplished lower than 53 p.c of his passes. It’s not simply the offensive line that’s the issue right here, it’s additionally that Lock holds the ball solely too lengthy. He’s not a run-first quarterback and his scrambling potential is mediocre at finest, so he has to do away with the ball sooner. The Giants can’t afford for him to take sacks or flip the ball over.
Run, run, run
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The Colts run protection ranks close to the underside of the league. Lock holds the ball too lengthy within the pocket. Kill two birds with one stone right here and let Tracy and Singletary run the hell out of the ball. This additionally runs the clock and contributes to successful the time of possession battle. All the issues the Giants have to do on Sunday revolve across the floor sport. That must be an enormous focus for them this week.
