~~Still searching for their first victory of the 2014 season, Eli Manning and the New York Giants will host the undefeated Houston Texans Sunday at the New Meadowlands. The Texans look to be embarking on a resurgent campaign after they had the worst record in football in 2013; whereas the Giants strive to escape a level of mediocrity encompassing every facet of their game.
Arian Foster will be more than ready to dominate a rushing defense that is allowing 100 yards per contest. Similarly, Ryan Fitzpatrick and Andre Johnson will lead the Texans against a Giants’ crew giving up 242 yards in the air and 342 total yards per contest. Houston is averaging 324 yards on the ground in their two victories, and should continue to dominate in this department on Sunday.
Trying to keep pace with a dominant Texans’ ground game will be a struggling group in the New York Giants’ offense. Managing just 67 yards rushing per game to match an average of 202 yards passing, the Giants’ offense is a picture of incompetency. While Houston is no dynamic defense in terms of yards allowed with 368 per game, J.J. Watt leads a front-seven capable of dismantling the Giants’ hopes of their first victory.
A model example of New York’s struggles this year is the team’s passing attack. Unknown tight end Larry Donnell leads the team in receiving with only 12 receptions for 137 yards after two showings. On the other hand, Victor Cruz has just seven receptions for 84 yards in the same span. Cruz must have the football in his hands for this offense to succeed, the team cannot rely on Donnell to carry the receiving load or the team’s hope for contention could be over before it even began.
New York has yet to manage more than 14 points, and has surrendered more than 25 points per game. Though Houston’s wins came against the Raiders and Redskins, the Texans are no team to take lightly, a far cry from their identity in 2013. Regardless, based on the level of play each of these teams are currently exuding, the Texans will have no problem finding a victory on Sunday in New York.