Giants vs. Jets Preseason Preview: 10 Keys to the Battle of New York

Rex Ryan and the New York Jets come into the 2011 NFL season hungry to win the battle of New York. 

After coming within one win of their first Super Bowl appearance since the beginning of the Rex Ryan Era, the New York Jets have been one of the hottest teams in the league and are pushing to become the most relevant team in The Big Apple.

While the New York Giants are currently widely recognized as the favored team in New York, the Jets have found ways to get themselves in the news as a recent media darling. Whether they’ve been acted out through big name signings, controversial quotes or nail-biting victories, the Jets are pressing to sweep through the most populated city in the country.    

Following a disappointing season for the New York Giants last year, their mission could be realized sooner than they had ever expected. 

According to the Rex Ryan, the Jets head coach, his football team is already there and should be the clear-cut favorite for the New York fan base. The rest of the city, of course, may still need some convincing.

As the media in the Big City continues to churn out stories on a fabled clashing of these two franchises, fans across the world watch in amusement. 

New York is a city that already claims bragging rights to the most globally popular baseball team, the New York Yankees, and a basketball team that owns and supports their own television channel in the New York Knicks.

It also boasts another successful baseball franchise in the Mets and two notable hockey teams in the Rangers and the Islanders. There is certainly no room to complain about a rejuvenated and exciting rivalry.

On August 27^th the two teams will meet at MetLife Stadium – the new name of the New Meadowlands Stadium – for a week three preseason battle. In terms of exhibition football, this is certainly one of the more interesting games, and has many fans in the city (and across the nation) previewing the match. 

There might not be a decided favorite, but whichever team can win the most of these ten keys to victory should be considered the likely victor. With a win comes bragging rights, but beyond that,a sneaking preview for the 2011 season in terms of which team takes the throne in New York.

Even if we’re talking about exhibition football, this could be the biggest game of the preseason in terms of what is on the line for the winning team.

10. Home Field Advanage

In a recent interview with Justin Tuck, the Giants' defensive linemen said that the new stadium will always be known as Giants Stadium.

Jets receiver Santonio Holmes adamantly disagreed. “It’s the Meadowlands. It’s the home of the New York Jets. That’s all they’ll say about it,” Holmes said.

To borrow a quote from New York Jets defensive back Jim Leonard,  “You’re fighting over New York here. How can you consider yourself a power in the NFL if you don’t own your own city?” 

Leonard is absolutely right. While I still think it’s unfair that the NFL charges full price for “poor quality” exhibition football tickets, the home field advantage for this match is certainly going to be worth the price.

Even though the two teams now share MetLife Stadium, the game will be considered a home game for the Giants. While Jets fans will be able to buy tickets online at websites like StubHub, the priority of seating goes to Giants season ticket holders. It may seem minor, but the crowd of an NFL game often sets the tone for the type of game that will be played. 

If the crowd comes out flat, it’s only fitting for the home team to follow suit because if the fans treat the game like exhibition football then so will the players. Luckily, NFL players are a passionate bunch. 

In terms of die-hard fans in a crosstown rivalry, just ask the fans that were witnesses to the recent brawl between 49ers and Raiders fans in the Bay Area. Throw in some alcohol and team pride, and you’re in store for an insane bunch of fans for the upcoming game.

9. Plaxico Burress

Here’s the not-so-secret weapon that will immediately determine the type of game that will be played between the Giants and Jets next weekend: Plaxico Burress. 

Everyone knows the story.

Plaxico Burress was the Giants' star receiver, and helped them win the Super Bowl in one of the most improbable upsets in NFL history. While the team could have contended for another Super Bowl the following year, they were forced to rebuild following the shocking news of Burress accidentally firing an unlicensed gun into his leg at a New York nightclub. 

After being released from the club in April of 2009 due to his trouble with the law, Burress served a 20-month prison sentence. He says he felt bad for the way the situation went, and puts all responsibility on his own accord. 

In typical New York Jets fashion, they made headlines by signing the recently imprisoned receiver. By doing this, of course, they only added to the heated rivalry already in play in the Big Apple. 

Says Plaxico, “There’s not any added extra incentive or juice or whatever you want to call it,” he told the Wall Street Journal. “It’s a preseason game. I have a lot of work to do personally, as far as me getting better and contributing to this football team.”

On August 27^th, he has a lot to prove. While it’s not the most important game he’ll have of the season, it’ll set the pace for what he needs to do and certainly can send a message to his former teammates and friends that play for the Giants following his three catch performance against the Bengals.

8. Rex Ryan

Say what you will about Rex Ryan – and you probably will – but the man knows how to snag a headline. 

In his recent book, Ryan devotes an entire chapter to the ongoing crosstown rivalry. “I know it’s going to piss every Giants fan off to hear this,” he writes, “but we are the better team. We are the big brother. We are going to remain the better team for the next ten years.” 

Ryan, who I recently referred to as the loudest mouth in the New York football scene, knows how to talk up a storm. While an extraordinary fit for the New York media, as a football coach his successes are not determined by how many times he’s featured on the front page of the Daily News.

Instead, if Ryan looks to become (or remain, depending on your faith in Rex Ryan) the King of New York, his wins need to follow suit. So far, his 20-12 record has done just that as he has taken the Jets to two consecutive AFC Championship Games in his freshman and sophomore seasons as the Jets' coach. 

On August 27^th, Rex needs to show up and coach a successful football team if he wants to gain “Big Brother” status. Just ask Cliff Harris, who followed his comments in this video with a 37-20 victory over Oregon State in the 2011 Civil War. Sorry, I had to. (Go Ducks!)

Regardless, the pressure that Ryan puts on himself with his boastful comments certainly makes his job a lot harder than opposing coach Tom Coughlin, whose number one goal for the game is to not die on the field.

Seriously though, how old is Tom Coughlin?

7. Giants Secondary

Here’s how you know when things have gone horribly awry for the Giants preseason in 2011: a quick Google search of “New York Giants Secondary 2011”. 

Is there a single piece of encouraging news for the Giants' defensive backs now that they’ve lost Terrell Thomas and Marvin Austin to injuries? The guy highest on their depth chart for the cornerback position right now is arguably their first pick, Prince Amukamara, who was declared out indefinitely after receiving news of a fracture in his left foot. 

Before facing the New York Jets, getting word that you have a banged up secondary is among the worst things that a Giants fan can hear.

That and maybe, “Plaxico Burress just scored his second touchdown in five minutes”. 

While Sanchez is hardly known for having a gun of an arm for a deep threat, he certainly has enough targets. Between Burress, Holmes, Mason and Keller, the Jets could utilize the Giants poor secondary as an essential means for success in their preseason battle on Saturday. 

6. Mark Sanchez

On the topic of people that can benefit from a weak Giants secondary, have you met Mark Sanchez? 

Could there be a more perfect fit for the young quarterback than the fast paced nature of the New York media? When he does poorly, his sorrows are brushed over by whatever else is in the news. When he succeeds, his successes are blown out of proportion to make him look like he’d won the Super Bowl. 

When he’s shirtless and modeling for the cover of GQ Magazine and making snide comments about his head coach, it seems like a match made in heaven. He’s got a good football team behind him. He just needs to play his scheme.

We know the deal. Brian Schottenheimer has designed an offense that encourages Sanchez to throw between only 17 and 20 times in a given day. If Sanchez looks good, the Jets are a force to be reckoned with. 

This offseason, Sanchez has looked sharp and may be cleaning up his act on the field. He threw for six completions on seven attempts against the Bengals, and didn’t throw any interceptions. That same success would be a great help against the Giants.

A win isn’t on the back of Mark Sanchez on Saturday but it would certainly be of service to his confidence, and if he looks good, it would only be of service to the young quarterback.

5. Eli Manning

You’d think that I’d learn my lesson when it comes to criticizing a player named “Manning” after the comments that I got on this article, but you know what? I’m a man of my word. When I say something, I usually mean it. 

I think that Manning was forced into answering a bit of a trick question when he was asked if he thought he was a “top five quarterback” in the league. What was he supposed to say? No?

If someone asked me if I thought I was a top five sportswriter on Bleacher Report, I would absolutely say yes! I’d probably venture to call myself the next Bethlehem Shoals, because like Manning, I’m trying to sell my audience. (By the way, if you’re reading this, I loved your work on FreeDarko.com.)

I don’t criticize Manning for saying that he was a top five quarterback. I criticize him for not living up to that type of potential. If he wants to say that, then by all means he should have the authority to say that.

But, like Rex, he has to back up his play.

He can’t get hurt in the big games like he did last year against the Jets. 

He can’t go out and throw an interception parade in the big games like his four against the Packers last season, to put him at 30 turnovers for the year. 

He has to win the big games, which he has yet to do since his 2008 Super Bowl Victory.. 

That’s what big-time quarterbacks do. They back up their play, and they win. I fully believe that Eli Manning could be a top five quarterback. But right now? I don’t think he’s there. Prove me wrong, Manning.

Actually, on second thought, don’t do that. I’m a Cowboys fan. Keep those interception parades coming!

4. Ahmad Bradshaw and Brandon Jacobs

The New York Jets have a scary-good defense. That’s a fact.

Rex Ryan is defensive-minded and is always ready to throw in a surprise package that can stop the opposing offense, whether it’s a ginormous blitz package or a Revis coverage design.

Their secondary is borderline legendary, and their linebackers feature some of the more premier tacklers in the game. Has David Harris ever missed a tackle?

Their weakest area is the defensive line, which is composed of strong and physical defensive linemen. They make a difference when the tailback is trying to run up the nose, but they can be outrun.

If the Giants can get something started with either Ahmad Bradshaw or Brandon Jacobs, they could have a chance of scoring on the Jets early and setting the tone for a Giants victory.

The thing is, you can’t run through them. You have to run around them. If the running backs find a way to get around the line, they could be set for a successful game. If not, look for a Jets' victory.

3. Victor Cruz

Victor Cruz is the kind of player the preseason is designed for.

Last year, the Giants averaged 189.5 passing yards per game, which was good enough for 18^th in the league. Even though their rushing and scoring numbers were both in the top four in the league, their passing numbers lacked significantly. 

The Giants have two standouts with Hakeem Nicks and Mario Manningham at receiver, but players like Victor Cruz are fighting for the slot receiving position. 

Giants Nation is calling for Cruz to step up his game next season. After going undrafted in the 2010 NFL Draft, Cruz became a notable name in the NFL after a monster preseason game in which he caught six passes for 145 yards and three touchdowns. 

Who did he do this against? Why, the New York Jets, of course!

At the end of the preseason, his 297 receiving yards and four touchdowns led all receivers in exhibition games. His unreal performance earned him a position on the Giants regular season roster. 

Cruz, however, was only able to play three games before missing the rest of the season with an injury. 

Look for Cruz to try to rejuvenate his 2010 success against the Jets on Saturday. That type of performance is pivotal for success in the preseason, as he’s looking to lock in the role as slot receiver in 2011.

2. Kyle Wilson

What ever will do the New York Jets do now that Nnamdi Asomugha has signed with the Philadelphia Eagles?

Well, class, if you’ll recall, the Jets had a bit of an incredible defensive back system up and running before they entered the Nnamdi sweepstakes. Even if they were once considered frontrunners to land the highly coveted defensive back, they were hardly the team that needed him the most. 

Darrelle Revis is the textbook definition of a lockdown corner, and Antonio Cromartie is one of the fastest defensive backs in the league. While they have the one and two slots filled, there still remains to be some question for the nickel formation third corner. 

Jets fans may need to look no further than 2010 first round pick, Kyle Wilson. Wilson, an alumnus of Boise State University, comes in facing a tough position battle between Dwight Lowery and Marquice Cole. 

The Jets, however, need to remember why they used their first round pick on Wilson. Wilson is the exact type of player that Jets fans should be looking for in the preseason, and he should match up well against Giants slot receiver Victor Cruz.

1. Not the Final Score

I mentioned this earlier and I’ll say it again: the quality of preseason football significantly diminishes once the coaches elect to pull their starters.

For teams like the Giants and Jets that will play each other again this season, they won’t be looking to show their rival all of their secrets and moves. The last thing either franchise needs is a serious injury from one of their stars, so once the fans cheer on the starters for the thirty-six seconds (rough estimate) that they’re in the game, the quality of play (as well as my interest) will likely fall into the toilet. 

So for those who are expecting a bloodbath in which two New York titans fight for the Battle of New York like some trippy scene out of Transformers 3, think again. 

What actually matters in this game is how well the Victor Hugos and Kyle Wilsons look, because they’re the ones that are actually fighting for their positions as nickel backs and slot receivers.

Mark Sanchez knows he’s got the starting job locked for the Jets. Jonathan Goff might not.

The New York media keeps branding this game with the words “Bragging Rights.” Whoever wins this game doesn’t have bragging rights. This is exhibition football! You can’t brag until December 24^th, and even then the other team might go farther in the playoffs. 

This game is going to be good for some quality television and hype, but don’t look too far into the final score.

Look for how invested the crowd is, the reception Burress gets, and the way Rex Ryan manages the game. It’ll be a much more interesting afternoon for you and me if we agree on these terms.