Week 11– New York Giants
(6-4) @ Jacksonville Jaguars (5-4)
Opening
Line: Jaguars - 3
Monday, 8:30 pm Eastern
ESPN
The New York Giants (6-4) face the Jacksonville Jaguars (5-4)
in what could be a rare entertaining Monday night game. ESPN
has not had many of them this season, but this could be the
exception. New York Giants head coach Tom Coughlin faces the
team he helped guide to two AFC Championship games for the
first time on Monday. Coughlin coached the Jaguars from their
birth in 1995 through the 2002 season. In those eight years,
they made the playoffs four times, losing in the AFC championship
game to New England in 1996 and Tennessee in 1999. Despite
all the history carried into this game, SBG Global reports
that the public doesn't care - taking the favored Jaguars
at home.
Jacksonville is a 3 point favorite with a total of 38.5 at
SBG Global.
Both the Giants and the Jaguars come into this Monday night
contest banged up. Jacksonville is without Reggie Hayward,
the team's best pass-rushing end, and middle linebacker Mike
Peterson, for the year. Pro Bowl defensive tackle Marcus Stroud
has missed the last four games with a groin injury, wide receiver
Matt Jones has been bothered by hamstring problems, and quarterback
Byron Leftwich has been hobbled by an ankle injury. Leftwich
appeared ready to return last week, but Del Rio decided to
stick with the more mobile David Garrard as his starter but
Garrard was intercepted four times in last week's 13-10 loss
to Houston. It was the Jaguars' first home loss of the season.
The Giants are 3-1 on the road, including a Monday night
win at Dallas on October 23, but New York has been hit by
injuries as well. They are already without five starters due
to injury - defensive ends Michael Strahan (foot) and Osi
Umenyiora (hip), outside linebackers Carlos Emmons (groin)
and LaVar Arrington (torn Achilles) and wide receiver Amani
Toomer (torn ACL).
The Giants also lost starting left tackle Luke Petitgout
to a broken left leg in the first quarter against the Bears.
Umenyiora and Emmons may be able to play Monday. Pro Bowl
running back Tiki Barber even suffered a thumb injury against
the Bears, but he is expected to play on Monday. Barber leads
the NFL with 971 rushing yards. Barber rushed for 101 yards
and two touchdowns in the last meeting between the teams in
November 2002 as the Giants posted a 24-17 win.
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