Giants-Panthers Preview: Why Brandon Jacobs Shouldn't Play

Brandon Jacobs will play.  Brandon Jacobs will be limited.  Brandon Jacobs will not play.  Brandon Jacobs insists he will play.  Brandon Jacobs looks ready to go.  Brandon Jacobs listed as questionable.  And so on. Over and over. 

That’s been the ongoing story all week from every possible Giants news source: the ever-shifting status of the hobbled starting RB Brandon Jacobs.  And it’s getting pretty old.  The Giants face the Panthers at Giants Stadium this Sunday night in a winner-take-all battle for the NFC’s No. 1 seed.  At this point, I have absolutely no idea if Jacobs will play. 

What’s more, I’m not sure if it’s really going to matter.

I’m not questioning Jacobs’ value to the Giants; if anything, NYG’s current 0-2 slump proves that the defending champs are a different team without their No. 1 RB in the line-up.  But they are just as different a team without their No. 1 WR in the line-up—and we all know that Plaxico Burress won’t be back this season.

So when I say that I’m not sure it matters that Jacobs plays this weekend, it’s because the Giants of December ’08 are, offensively, a significantly different team from the Giants of September ’08.  Right now, the Giants actually look more like he 2007 Cowboys than the 2008 Giants; a talented team beset by injuries and running out of gas at the wrong time of the season. 

Like any well balanced team, the effectiveness of the Giants running attack hinged on the threat of the Giants passing attack and vice versa.  With Burress gone, NYG’s passing game is less dangerous, and defensive backs are now free to cheat up to play the run. Jacobs can be a punishing runner, but with more defenders to bounce off of, he’s less likely to break and rumble through the secondary where his size is such an advantage.

The Giants still need Jacobs; he’s their best back.  And the fact that they even worked out the mouthy and over-the-hill WR Joe Horn this week proves that the Giants also realize the massive void left by “Quick Draw” Burress.  But I don’t think that Jacobs’ status is the key to this Sunday night’s game.  Here’s why...

1. The Giants need to stop the run.

The Giants should be concerned with the Panther’s rushing game, not their own.  If they slow down Panthers RBs DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart, Jacobs won’t matter at all.  In crunch time against the Cowboys last week, the Giants couldn’t stop Dallas rookie RB Tashard Choice—and Choice made them pay.

2. Jacobs is injured.

As I said before, Jacobs is the Giants’ best back.  Should he rush himself back and risk further injury when the Giants are already in the playoffs?  How healthy will he really be? Surely, Jacobs will be needed for a post-season run.  Why not let Ward and Bradshaw pick up the slack?  The Giants have the benefit of depth at that position; they should take advantage of it.

3. Does home-field advantage really matter?

Should Jacobs be risking his health to win home field advantage?  I don’t think so. As important as home field advantage is, let’s face it: it’s not critical.  Recent history has been unkind to teams with the No. 1 seed, and no team revels in the underdog role more than the Giants.

I’m not sure who’ll start at RB for the Giants this Sunday night.  But I’m sure that in this game, there are other more critical matchups that will determine the outcome. 

I’m of a mind that Jacobs should take a seat and save it for the playoffs.