New York Giants-New Orleans Saints: Preview of NFC Showdown in the Big Easy

The moment all NFL fans have been waiting for has finally arrived—the New York Giants first real test of the season. 

Now, you may be wondering what I mean since they needed a last second field goal to beat Dallas. Well, that game was full of emotions and caused the Cowboys to play at a much higher level then they are capable of.

You'll see what I mean when Dallas comes to New York—barring any major injuries to the Giants.

Big Blue travels to New Orleans to take on the fellow undefeated Saints in what is sure to be a battle for NFC supremacy (home field advantage is at stake as well).

Let's delve deeper into this match-up and see what will turn the game in each team's favor.

Key Match-ups (Not to be confused with the ESPN commercial)

New Orleans Pass Defense vs. New York Passing Offense

The New Orleans Saints have been wrecking havoc on QBs all season long. The Saints are fourth in passing yards allowed per game, lead the NFL with 10 interceptions, are tied for second in passing touchdowns allowed with three, and have held opposing quarterbacks to a paltry 51.3 passer rating.

The Giants have been confusing defenses as well, often passing in obvious running situations. The Giants are ninth in yards per game, are tied for second with 10 touchdowns, have thrown only two interceptions (both of which were tipped off the hands of receivers), and Manning is second, only to his brother with a rating of 111.7.

Something's gotta give.

Darren Sharper has historically been bad news for Eli Manning. When he was on the Vikings in 2005 and 2007, Manning threw four interceptions in both contests.

In the 2005 game, the Vikings won despite not scoring an offensive touchdown—Sharper started the scoring with a 92-yard interception return. Manning finished with one touchdown, four interceptions, and a 39.5 rating. The Giants lost 24-21.

The 2007 meeting was much more of a beat down. Manning had the same numbers as in the other game, but this time his rating was 33.8 and the Giants lost 41-17. Guess what? Sharper had an interception return for a touchdown in this game too.

So even though both of these games occurred before the apparent awakening of Manning during the 2007-08 playoff run, I still have to give the edge to the Saints in this department.

They are playing at home and will be fired up.

Edge—Saints

New Orleans Passing Offense vs. New York Pass Defense

The counter for the first match-up is surprisingly in New York's favor in terms of numbers.

The Giants have the league's best pass defense by far, allowing only 104.8 yards per game. That is a staggering number, but is inflated by the four inept offenses the team has played so far (Bucs, Raiders, Chiefs, Redskins). Still, the secondary has been dominant.

The key stat for the Giants is that they have given up the fewest passing plays of 20 yards or more with only seven in five games. The bread and butter of the Saints offense is the ability to strike quickly with these types of plays.

That being said, Drew Brees is still deadly accurate and can also methodically move the team up the field with the short passing game. The onus will be on the linebackers to keep Jeremy Shockey from beating them down the middle, as well as spying Reggie Bush out of the backfield.

The Saints had the league's No. 1 passing attack in 2008, but are only ranked 11th this year in terms of yards per game.

One thing that will change the outcome of this game is the ability of the Giants' front four to get pressure without blitzing because, in reality, Brees is better when the opposing team brings extra guys at him, but struggles with just a four-man rush.

This one was the hardest to measure up because there are so many factors that could swing the edge to either team, so I have to call this one a toss up.

Edge—Even

New York's Rushing Attack vs. New Orleans' Front Seven

You had to know this was coming, given the recent dominance of the Giants in this department as well as the inefficiencies of the Saints' defense in the past.

The Giants bring the No. 4 rushing attack to the table and have a player who is going to be my X-Factor for this game—Ahmad Bradshaw.

Bradshaw has been getting better and better as the season goes on. He is lighting teams up in the first quarter which had been a luxury for the Giants as they have been able to build early leads and keep their defense rested.

The task will not be easy by any stretch, as the Saints have drastically improved their rush defense from last year and rank No. 7 in that category.

That number could be inflated due to them pretty much blowing out every opponent and those teams being forced to turn to the passing game. They have yet to face a rushing attack higher than 16th in the league.

Expect the Giants' offensive line along with Brandon Jacobs and Bradshaw to wear down the Saints defense, opening up the passing game in the process.

Edge—Giants

New Orleans' Rushing Attack vs New York's Front Seven

The biggest surprise of the season has to be New Orleans being the second best rushing team in the league. They were No. 28 last season in that category, so to say that have improved would be an understatement.

They have faced the 13th, 19th, 21st, and 28th rushing defenses in the league so far, but averaging 166 yards per game is not an easy task.

The Giants, on the other hand, have the 16th ranked rushing defense—allowing 105.8 yards per game (one yard more than their pass defense). That number is inflated by the 251 yards they allowed to the Cowboys when Justin Tuck had to leave the game.

So while it's hard to get a handle on how each team will fair against each other, I have to believe the edge will go to the Giants.

Pierre Thomas has had only one good game against Buffalo and they are 28th in the league.

Reggie Bush has never scared anyone in terms of running the ball inside, but if he can get out in space he is very dangerous. I expect Danny Clark and Chase Blackburn will have an answer to that question.

Edge—Giants (only slightly)

I know I'm a Giants fan and I am going to have a certain agenda when analyzing the game, but I think I was as unbiased as I could possibly be.

Big Blue will have their hands full in the Big Easy.