Giants at Titans
Adelphia Coliseum, Nashville, Tenn.
Sunday, Oct. 1, 2000
AT A GLANCE: The Giants and Titans are each expecting to make a
serious run at the playoffs this season, but in order to do so, they will have to rebound
from less-than-stellar Week Four games.
|
| OVERVIEW: While each of these teams have just one loss,
neither is coming off an impressive effort in Week Four. After jumping off to a 3-0
start, the Giants were humbled last week in their home stadium by the Redskins. The G-men
boasted a very productive offense in the first three weeks of the season, but Washington
frustrated Kerry Collins & Co., holding the team to just one touchdown.
In Week Four, the Titans needed a late fourth-quarter touchdown and a missed
Steelers’ field goal in the waning seconds to escape Pittsburgh with a win.
Last season, en route to their first Super Bowl appearance, the Titans remained
remarkably healthy. This year they are paying the price. Tennessee has been snake-bit in
2000, losing WR Kevin Dyson and CB Donald Mitchell for the season. But the injuries
don’t stop there. As usual, WR Yancey Thigpen has been bothered by injuries, the most
recent of which is a hamstring that prevented him from starting last week. QB Steve McNair
has missed time with a bruised sternum, and QB Neil O’Donnell was knocked to the
sideline in Week Four. Also, check the status of DE Jevon Kearse (hip), TE Frank Wycheck
(concussion) and DL Joe Salave’a (neck).
The Giants currently hold a one-game lead in the NFC East over the Redskins. The Titans
enter this contest in second place of the AFC Central.
The Giants have covered in six of their last seven games vs. AFC teams. They are 5-1
straight-up vs. the Titans/Oilers in the all-time series. Tennessee is 0-3 vs. the spread
this season.
WHEN THE GIANTS HAVE THE BALL:
Don’t expect the Giants to stray far from the offensive strategy that earned them
victories in their first three games. This team has a plethora of weapons, and they like
to use them all.
Offensive coordinator Sean Payton likes to get things going with the 1-2 RB punch of
Tiki Barber and Ron Dayne. After racking up 562 rushing yards in their first three games,
the Giants managed just 93 in Week Four. Like the Redskins last week, if the Titans win
the battle up front vs. a revamped Giants offensive line, they will put themselves in good
shape. |
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|
| Adelphia Coliseum |
| Nashville, Tenn. |
| Date: Sunday, October 1, 2000 |
| 12:00 p.m. Central Time |
| Type Of Turf: Natural |
| Meeting Of The Year: Only |
| Season Record: |
| |
New York Giants |
3-1-0 |
| |
Tennessee |
2-1-0 |
| Season Record Vs. Spread: |
| |
New York Giants |
2-2-0 |
| |
Tennessee |
0-3-0 |
| Home/Road Record: |
| |
New York Giants (R) |
2-0-0 |
| |
Tennessee (H) |
1-0-0 |
| Home/Road Record Vs. Spread: |
| |
New York Giants (R) |
2-0-0 |
| |
Tennessee (H) |
0-1-0 |
| Record On Natural Turf: |
| |
New York Giants |
1-1-0 |
| |
Tennessee |
1-0-0 |
| Record On Natural Turf Vs. Spread: |
| |
New York Giants |
1-1-0 |
| |
Tennessee |
0-1-0 |
|
|
| The Titans feature an aggressive, attacking style of defense. They will blitz from
anywhere, which will put added pressure on the Giants’ linemen and FB Greg Comella,
who will have to help protect QB Kerry Collins. However, because of that blitzing
style, Collins may be put in a position to take advantage of single coverage on WRs Amani
Toomer and Ike Hilliard. The Titans cornerbacks, Samari Rolle and Denard Walker, are
sometimes left out on an island without safety support. Until last week, Collins had been
accurate and was making good decisions. He also had been hard to sack, going down only
three times in the first three games. However, the Redskins sacked Collins four times for
42 yards, proving that the new line may not be as good as originally thought.
Assuming he is able to play, Kearse will provide a tough challenge for second-year ORT
Luke Petitgout. Kearse, though, could give other Giants linemen headaches, as the Titans
like to move him around to take advantage of his big-play ability.
WHEN THE TITANS HAVE THE BALL:
The key to the Titans offense is RB Eddie George, a hard-nosed runner who can take and
give a beating. The Titans like to establish George’s running in hopes that he can
open things up for the passing game. Under new offensive coordinator Mike Heimerdinger,
the Titans are looking to throw down the field more.
That strategy, though, took a hit when Dyson was lost for the year with a knee injury.
That means Carl Pickens, Thigpen and Chris Sanders need to step up. All are capable but
have yet to produce regularly while wearing a Titans uniform. They will be facing a Giants
secondary that was repeatedly victimized last week. The Giants gave up several passes of
more than 20 yards vs. the Skins, including plays of 53, 48 and 46 yards.
Tennessee’s offensive line is solid from one end to the other, but it has suffered
some lapses early this season. In each of the first two games, the Titans surrendered four
sacks. They tightened up the protection last week, allowing Pittsburgh just one sack.
A key battle in the trenches will feature veteran ORT Fred Miller, in his first season
with the Titans, vs. Giants DLE Michael Strahan, a Pro Bowl player who is itching to add
to his sack total of just 1½.
All game previews and depth charts were compiled as of Sept. 24, 2000 |
|
Giants
schedule
All times Eastern |
| Pointspread shown refers to New York |
| Date |
Opponent |
Spread |
Score |
| Sept. 3 |
Arizona |
(-7) |
21-16 |
| Sept. 10 |
At Philadelphia |
(+3) |
33-18 |
| Sept. 17 |
At Chicago |
(+2) |
14-7 |
| Sept. 24 |
Washington |
(-2) |
6-16 |
| Oct. 1 |
At Tennessee |
|
|
| Oct. 8 |
At Atlanta |
|
|
| Oct. 15 |
Dallas |
|
|
| Oct. 22 |
BYE |
|
|
| Oct. 29 |
Philadelphia |
|
|
| Nov. 5 |
At Cleveland |
|
|
| Nov. 12 |
St. Louis |
|
|
| Nov. 19 |
Detroit |
|
|
| Nov. 26 |
At Arizona |
|
|
| Dec. 3 |
At Washington |
|
|
| Dec. 10 |
Pittsburgh |
|
|
| Dec. 17 |
At Dallas |
|
|
| Dec. 23 |
Jacksonville |
|
|
|
|
Titans
schedule
All times Eastern |
| Pointspread shown refers to Tennessee |
| Date |
Opponent |
Spread |
Score |
| Sept. 3 |
At Buffalo |
(0) |
13-16 |
| Sept. 10 |
Kansas City |
(-8.5) |
17-14* |
| Sept. 17 |
BYE |
|
|
| Sept. 24 |
At Pittsburgh |
(-6.5) |
23-20 |
| Oct. 1 |
New York Giants |
|
|
| Oct. 8 |
At Cincinnati |
|
|
| Oct. 16 |
Jacksonville |
|
|
| Oct. 22 |
At Baltimore |
|
|
| Oct. 30 |
At Washington |
|
|
| Nov. 5 |
Pittsburgh |
|
|
| Nov. 12 |
Baltimore |
|
|
| Nov. 19 |
Cleveland |
|
|
| Nov. 26 |
At Jacksonville |
|
|
| Dec. 3 |
At Philadelphia |
|
|
| Dec. 10 |
Cincinnati |
|
|
| Dec. 17 |
At Cleveland |
|
|
| Dec. 25 |
Dallas |
|
|
| * Overtime |
|
OFFENSE |
| WR |
81 TOOMER, 84 Jurevicius |
| OLT |
76 BROWN, 74 Zeimann* |
| OLG |
62 G. PARKER, 78 Rosenthal |
| C |
52 ZEIGLER, 69 Engler |
| ORG |
65 STONE, 66 Whittle |
| ORT |
77 PETITGOUT, 74 Ziemann* |
| TE |
87 CROSS, 83 Mitchell, 89 Campbell |
| WR |
88 HILLIARD, 86 Dixon*, 82 Davis |
| QB |
5 COLLINS, 17 Garrett, 18 Cherry |
| RB |
21 BARBER, 27 Dayne*, 33 Montgomery |
| FB |
34 COMELLA, 45 Walendy |
DEFENSE |
| DLE |
92 STRAHAN, 97 Griffin* |
| DLT |
99 PETER, 93 Hale |
| DRT |
75 HAMILTON, 96 Williams |
| DRE |
94 JONES, 79 J. Parker* |
| OLB |
91 PHILLIPS, 53 Short* |
| MLB |
58 BARROW, 51 Monty |
| OLB |
98 ARMSTEAD, 90 Golden*, 59 Lewis* |
| LCB |
41 THOMAS, 28 Stephens, 35 Weathers |
| RCB |
31 SEHORN, 26 McDaniel, 22 Brown*, 26 McDonald |
| SS |
20 GARNES, 37 West |
| FS |
36 WILLIAMS, 23 Stoutmire |
| SPECIALIST |
| P |
9 MAYNARD |
| PK |
3 DALUISO |
| H |
9 MAYNARD, 17 Garrett, 18 Cherry |
| PR |
21 BARBER, 81 Toomer |
| KR |
86 DIXON*, 28 Stephens, 26 McDaniel |
| LS |
66 WHITTLE, 52 Zeigler |
| * Rookie |
|
|
OFFENSE |
| WR |
86 PICKENS, 85 Mason |
| OLT |
72 HOPKINS, 73 Sanderson |
| OLG |
74 MATTHEWS, 69 Piller |
| C |
60 LONG, 74 Matthews |
| ORG |
75 OLSON, 66 Dinapoli |
| ORT |
71 MILLER, 76 Mathews |
| TE |
89 WYCHECK, 88 Kinney*, 83 Leach* |
| WR |
81 SANDERS, 82 Thigpen, 84 Yamini* |
| QB |
9 McNAIR, 14 O'Donnell, 12 Volek* |
| RB |
27 GEORGE, 22 Thomas, 20 Green* |
| FB |
41 NEAL |
| DEFENSE |
| DLE |
90 KEARSE, 96 Embray*, 93 Frisch* |
| DLT |
78 THORNTON, 98 Smith* |
| DRT |
97 FISK, 95 Salave'a |
| DRE |
99 HOLMES, 92 Ford |
| LLB |
51 FAVORS, 53 Bulluck*, 50 Killens |
| MLB |
56 GODFREY, 57 Chamberlin* |
| RLB |
55 ROBINSON, 59 Sirmon* |
| LCB |
25 WALKER, 37 Sidney |
| RCB |
21 ROLLE, 38 McCullough, 33 Booker |
| SS |
23 BISHOP, 35 Phenix, 28 Morris* |
| FS |
31 ROBERTSON, 32 Myers* |
| SPECIALIST |
| P |
15 HENTRICH |
| PK |
3 DEL GRECO |
| H |
15 HENTRICH |
| PR |
85 MASON |
| KR |
85 MASON, 22 Thomas |
| KC |
74 MATTHEWS, 60 Long |
| * Rookie |
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