The New York Giants have little time to get healthy
as they take to the road Thursday to face the Carolina Panthers. New
York rallied from a 14-point deficit in the second half and pulled out a
thrilling 41-34 home victory over Tampa Bay on Sunday as Eli Manning
threw for a career-high 510 yards and three touchdowns, including two in
the fourth quarter. But the win came at a price: running back Ahmad
Bradshaw (neck), wide receivers Hakeem Nicks (foot) and Domenik Hixon (concussion) and tackle David
Diehl (knee) will not play Thursday.
Carolina is coming off an exciting win of its own as it held off the
New Orleans Saints for a 35-27 triumph, the Panthers' first victory over
their NFC South rivals since 2009. Carolina carried a 15-point lead
into the fourth quarter but needed an interception by Jon Beason with 31
seconds remaining to keep New Orleans winless after two weeks. The
Panthers and Giants last met in Week 1 of the 2010 season, when New York
posted a 31-18 victory in its inaugural game at MetLife Stadium.
Carolina does have the distinction of being the last team to play New
York at Giants Stadium as it cruised to a 41-9 win in Week 16 of the
2009 campaign and eliminated the Giants from playoff contention.
TV: 8:20 p.m. ET, NFL Network. LINE: Giants -1, O/U 52.
ABOUT THE GIANTS (1-1): Manning erased his three-interception
first half by throwing for 295 yards after halftime, three shy of Phil
Simms' club record. He passed for 243 of those yards during a 25-point
fourth quarter, the team's biggest since 2006. Manning shattered his
previous career high of 420 passing yards set last season against
Seattle. Nicks and Victor Cruz were Manning's favorite targets.
Nicks had 10 receptions for 199 yards and a TD while Cruz hauled in 11
passes for 179 yards and a score.
ABOUT THE PANTHERS (1-1): Receiver Steve Smith, who battled a
knee injury, caught three passes for 104 yards against the Saints. It
was the 39th time in his career he has amassed at least 100 receiving
yards. Being interception-free is key for Cam Newton as Carolina is 6-1
over the past two seasons in games in which he has not been picked off.
Newton led the Panthers' rushing attack against New Orleans with 71
yards, two more than DeAngelo Williams on one less carry.
EXTRA POINTS:
1. New York's 604 total yards against the Buccaneers fell five shy of
the franchise record set on Dec. 3, 1950, in a 51-7 triumph over the
New York Yanks.
2. After rushing for a dubious franchise record-tying 10 yards
against Tampa Bay in their season opener, the Panthers gained 219 yards
on the ground versus New Orleans.
3. The Giants became the second team in NFL history to have a
500-yard passer and two 150-yard receivers in a game, joining the 1951
Los Angeles Rams.
PREDICTION: Giants 33, Panthers 17