NFL Picks Week 16: Jets Will Jolt Giants in Battle for New York

Forget about the extracurriculars—the jabbering between Rex Ryan and Tom Coughlin, the quarterback battle between Mark Sanchez and Eli Manning, the hype over the heart of New York.

Sunday's game between the co-tenant Jets and Giants will be all about Gang Green's defense, which will keep Big Blue's receivers in check and stand tall against an inconsistent ground game.

Both of the Big Apple's teams are coming off embarrassingly disappointing performances in Week 15. The Jets caught a jab-hook combo from the Eagles on the way to a 45-19 stinker, while the Giants were busy turning the ball over against the Redskins like it was going out of style. 

The younger Manning, who'd enjoyed a banner year up until that point, was the biggest culprit, tallying three interceptions without a touchdown on the way to a 23-10 trouncing. Keep in mind, the Redskins' secondary had only nine picks through the first 14 weeks of the season.

My Spidey Sense tells me that things won't get any easier against the Jets, whose corner combo of Darrelle Revis and Antonio Cromartie is still the best in the business. If Manning's throws don't get caught by the opposition on Revis Island, then they'll at least get knocked down.

The Giants should run the ball, you say? A quick look at the stat sheet will show that the ground game isn't really Big Blue's forte—they rank dead-last in the NFL in rushing yards per game and rack 'em up at just 3.4 yards per attempt. Granted, things have been better on the ground for the G-Men of late and will improve with Ahmad Bradshaw back in the swing of things.

But better enough? Ehhh, not likely, even with Bradshaw and Brandon Jacobs staring down the Jets' 21st-ranked rush defense.

Of course, the Jets offense is hardly a juggernaut, though it may well look like one against the Giants' 28th-ranked defense. All Mark Sanchez needs to do is not turn the ball over like he's Eli Manning in Week 15 and the Jets should get through this one fine...just fine.

It'll be close, to be sure. These teams aren't particularly fond of each other and, more importantly, both are competing for their playoff lives.

Ultimately, though, the Giants are lucky to find themselves so close to the postseason, given all the injuries they've suffered through this season, while the Jets expected to be back on the precipice of playing for the Super Bowl.

That much will be clear when this game is over and the Jets emerge with a close, hard-fought victory.

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