New York Giants Road To a Championship: Week 1: Carolina Panthers

Week 5 of 2009, the New York Giants are 5-0 and riding high. Little did they know their collapse was about to commence.

A 3-5 record down the stretch would be their fate, missing the playoffs for the first time since 2004. Bottom line, this year the Giants need to win, or Super Bowl winning coach Tom Coughlin could be on his way out.

The Giant organization has always been a ground and pound, run the ball down your throat kind of team. They've never really had premier wide receivers but they've always had top of the line tight ends, i.e Mark Bavaro, Howard Cross, etc.

Additionally, they always preached defence. Players like Michael Strahan, Jesse Armstead, and, of course, Lawrence Taylor, have become staples in the organization. This year may be a little different.

With Eli Manning becoming a top-10, possibly top five quarterback in this league, the Giants will be relying on the pass game more than ever. Steve Smith is coming off a pro bowl season and can really only get better. Hakeem Nicks now has a year under his belt and has potential to become a premier NFL wide out. Ramses Barden also has a year under his belt and he could become a threat in the red zone. Victor Cruz and Mario Manningham are both fast big play receivers that could change any game. Kevin Boss returns a year more experienced, and the offensive line really hasn't lost much.

The Giants have chosen Ahmad Bradshaw as the starter, and although he's shown flashes of greatness in the past, he wasn't doing it with weight on his back, so the Giants should be expected to rely on the air.

On defense, Perry Fewell has been making strides to return them to the level that they were at in 2007. The secondary is trying to fill the holes they had last year with the addition of Antrelle Rolle and the return of Kenny Phillips, who had two picks in two games last year. The defensive line is still premier in the league with two-time Pro-Bowler Osi Umenyora listed as the second string right end.

I don't see Carolina as much of a threat to New York. For the Giants their goal is to stop the run. Don't let DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart run the game. They have to make Matt Moore make passes and try to challenge the secondary. The Giants game plan should be the same for most of the year, bring pressure with the front four, force three-and-outs and turnovers, and let Eli do his thing.

On offense, the Giants need to have success on the ground to open up the pass game. If Carolina wants to win this game they need to stop the pass and force Ahmad Bradshaw to win the game on the ground. The defenses are going to control who wins this game, whoever wins the turnover battle Sunday will win the first regular season game at Medowlands Stadium.