Week Seven Preview: Can the Offense Get Back on Track Against San Fran?

"We make no excuses. We lost the game that we didn’t play well enough to win."
- Coach Tom Coughlin after loss to Browns on Monday Night Football

You're damn right coach. There are NO excuses for the way we played Monday. Some might even call it downright horrible. Well, we have a couple of choices of how we want to look at this week's matchup.

We'll take a glance at each offensive position and their problems on Monday Night Football and see how they will translate into success against the San Francisco 49'ers on Sunday.

Look for Part II later on in the week for our defensive adjustments that will have to be made after a dismal performance.

Quarterback: Eli Manning

MNF Stat line: 18/28 ... 196 yards ... 1 TD/ 3 INT ... 57.1 QB Rating

WOW. Those are pretty...uh...Bad? Well, let's focus on the highlights on Manning's night. He hooked up once for his only touchdown with Plaxico Burress after his one game suspension but also looked to be forcing him the ball WAY to much.

The San Fran defense has racked up eight interceptions this year but currently gives up 226 passing yards per game, which ranks 20th in the NFL.

Projected Stat line against San Fran: 18/26...235 yards...1 TD/0 INT...85-90 Rating

I doubt the G-Men will throw the ball as much this week, to be honest. The ground game is at an all-time high, and we would be stupid not to utilize the success that "Earth," "Wind," and "Fire" have been experiencing lately.

Running back[s]: Brandon Jacobs, Derrick Ward, Ahmad Bradshaw

MNF Stat line [Combination of Jacobs and Ward]: 24 att ... 168 yards ... 1 TD/ 0 Fumb.

I know this might sound crazy, but even when the Giants were losing on Monday, I'm confused as to why we wouldn't use the running game a little more.

Jacobs was straight up abusing the Browns, like he has been doing to defenders all year. He averaged 5.8 yards per carry and that wasn't even close to Ward's 10.1 ypc. We seem to be using DW a little more each and every game, and I wouldn't be surprised to see him used a lot more on Sunday. I mean, he is extremely explosive and can hit the gaps extremely quickly.

San Francisco currently gives up 122 yards per game on the ground which is far below the 181.2 that the Giants are putting up. I would be shocked if we had a second-straight game with Bradshaw not getting a carry and I think the line will look a little like this...

Projected Sunday Stat Line: 31 att ... 174 yards ... 2 TD/ 0 Fumb

Offensive Line: Rich Seubert, David Diehl, Shaun O'Hara, Chris Snee, Kareem McKenzie

MNF Stat line: Surrendered One Sack

There is really not many stats to put down, but from what I saw, our offensive line was stout again last week.

As you can see, we only let one guy get through for a sack, and we gave Jacobs and Ward room to run all over yet another defense. The line has also played over 30 straight games with each other which has developed great chemistry and also set an NFL record.

However, I would be shocked if we didn't let at least one sack get through. The 'Niners currently have 13 of them, and team leader Parys Haralson has 3.5 just by himself. Look for one or at most three to escape through.

Receiving Corps: Plaxico Burress, Amani Toomer, Steve Smith, Kevin Boss

MNF Stat line: 18 receptions, 196 yards, 1 TD/1 Drop

Looking at each individual will help here to see what else we can find out about how they should fare on Sunday.

Kevin Boss, once again, had a terrible day on the gridiron and only hauled in one catch, even though it was a 24 yarder.

Amani Toomer was targeted on one of the INTs but Manning was trying to force it off his back foot. It was also the first game all year in which he didn't have even one reception.

Plaxico Burress was targeted eight times by Manning but only pulled in three. He had the only drop, but the other incompletions thrown his way were...well...not thrown his way. He was the target on the other two interceptions, but like Toomer's, the blame for those are on Eli. 

Steve Smith has been a great improvement this year and this is his second game with nine catches. He is Manning's favorite target on third down and has proven that time and time again. He racked up 91 yards and had a big gain of 21 to put the Giants in the red zone with two minutes until half time.

Verdict

The New York "Football" Giants will bounce back against the NFL's 26th-ranked defense, and I almost want to say that they do it with ease. Almost every player was criticized during last week's blowout, and they ALL have something to prove this week.

Look for the second installment, "Week Seven, Part II," sometime in the very near future!

Written By, Edited By, and Developed By Travis Rand, No. 2 Bleacher Reporter for the New York Giants