NFL Playoff Picks: Falcons vs. Giants Will Be Decided Through the Air

If you want to know how and where Sunday's Wild Card Round matchup between the Atlanta Falcons and the New York Giants will play out, just look up. Chances are you'll see the football flying there.

Unless, of course, either team's pass rush has its way.

The Falcons have been the most consistent team in the NFL this season, with their principle players all putting up good, but not great, numbers while avoiding serious injury. As nice as Michael Turner's stats look on paper, Atlanta is still a pass-first team, its offense predicated on Matt Ryan spreading the ball around to a star-studded receiving corps including the likes of Roddy White, Julio Jones and Tony Gonzalez.

The Giants don't have the defensive backs or the linebackers to cover Matty Ice's targets, thanks in large part to a rash of injuries that hit before and during the season.

But if Tom Coughlin's pass rush is on its game, then New York's deficiencies in the second and third level won't matter. The Giants' defensive line ranks 10th in the league in adjusted sack rate, according to Football Outsiders, but has proven itself to be as inconsistent as any of Big Blue's units, at least those that don't include Victor Cruz. Jason Pierre-Paul has emerged as a force to be reckoned with and Justin Tuck has finally returned to some semblance of health amidst an injury-plagued season. The real key, though, may rest with Osi Umenyiora, who returned from a high ankle sprain in Week 17 only to re-aggravate the very same injury in practice this week.

In any case, getting to Matt Ryan will be no easy task, not against a Falcons offensive line that Football Outsiders rated as seventh-best in pass protection. If the G-Men can pressure Ryan consistently, they'll have an excellent chance to keep Atlanta underwraps. If not, it could be a long day for New York's defense.

On the other side of the coin, the Giants will look to Eli Manning throw the ball early and often, just as he has all season. New York finished the 2011 season ranked sixth in passing attempts and just 22nd in rushing attempts, resulting in the NFL's least productive ground game. Ahmad Bradshaw and Brandon Jacobs have been equal parts ineffective and injured this season, putting the onus on Manning to carry the team to the NFC East crown.

Luckily for Eli, his receivers have (usually) stepped up. Jake Ballard filled in beautifully for the departed Kevin Boss and should be back at full strength for Sunday's game. Hakeem Nicks posted his second consecutive 1,000-yard season. Mario Manningham battled through injuries but was solid in the slot when he was on the field.

But the real breakout star was Victor Cruz, who finished third in receiving yard, sixth in touchdowns and ninth in catches. Of course, for every 99-yard or 74-yard touchdown, there was another tipped pass for an interception or a particularly untimely fumble.

For the Giants offense, then, it fate will likely rest with the hands of its Jekyll-and-Hyde pass catchers. If New York can squeeze any blood from the stones it runs out of the backfield, then Eli's life will be that much easier.

And if the same Giants team that dominated the Jets and the Cowboys at the end of the season shows up on Sunday, then there will indeed be reason for excitement in the Big Apple once again.

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