Following their miracle win against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday, the New York Giants had little time to celebrate. After one day of practice and team walk through, the Giants were on a plane to North Carolina to take on the Panthers on Thursday night.
The Giants had a rough first half against Tampa, with quarterback Eli Manning throwing three interceptions that led to 21 points, including a 60-yard touchdown return by Eric Wright right at the end of the first half.
"Nobody wants to start 0-2, so it was a big win, especially after the first half playing poorly," Manning said.
The team overcame long odds and scored 25 points in the fourth quarter to get the win.
But the Giants will be without a group of key players who were injured in that game as they get set to take on the dual running and throwing threat of Cam Newton.
Running back Ahmad Bradshaw, wide receiver Hakeem Nicks, offensive lineman David Diehl and receiver Domenik Hixon all were ruled out of the game on Wednesday by the team and will not make the trip to Charlotte.
Bradshaw suffered a neck injury in the game, while Diehl sprained his MCL. Nicks, who caught 10 balls for 199 yards against Tampa, will sit with a foot injury. He had been looking forward to a homecoming of sorts, as Nicks is from the state and played his college football at North Carolina. Hixon has a concussion after taking a hard hit against Tampa.
Coach Tom Coughlin and the Giants decided to be cautious with the injured players due to the short week after Sunday's game.
Running back Andre Brown, who replaced Bradshaw after he was hurt, will start against Carolina. He also played his college ball in the area, starring at North Carolina State. Against the Buccaneers on Sunday, Brown rushed for 71 yards on 13 carries and scored the go-ahead touchdown in the fourth quarter. It will be his first career start.
"I just needed a shot and took advantage of my shot (Sunday)," Brown told the team's official website. " ... I'm going to continue to work hard and continue to go out here and do whatever coach wants me to do and be ready whenever my number is called."
Brown could be poised for a big game, as the Carolina defense is giving up an average of 5.2 yards per rush.
The Giants will need to explosive to beat the Panthers, much like they were against the Buccaneers. Wide receiver Victor Cruz was fantastic on Sunday, catching 11 balls for 179 yards, including an 80-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter. Cruz was playing with a heavy heart after losing his grandmother earlier in the week.
The Panthers will come into the game riding high after defeating their division rival New Orleans on Sunday 35-27. Cam Newton had a great game, passing for 253 yards and rushing for a career-high 71. He also has one passing touchdown and a rushing touchdown. Newton will look to use his arms and his feet against the Giants.
"You do read option, read option, read option and then get them to play seven or eight in the box and you've got so many variations of plays and passes you can run off that," Newton said.
Carolina rushed the ball extremely well against the Saints, gaining 219 yards after only getting 10 against Tampa in week one. The team will try to exploit the Giants run defense, which is ranked 16th in the league.
The Panthers will look to take advantage of a depleted Giants secondary, but New York is expected to get back injured corner Prince Amukamara, who has missed the first two games after hurting his ankle in the preseason.
The starting receivers for the Panthers played very well against the Saints, with Steve Smith catching 3 balls for 104 yards and second-year receiver Brandon LaFell catching six for 90 yards.
Both teams have had to deal with short weeks in preparing for the game.
"It's tough for the players and the coaches, but it's all part of it," Carolina coach Ron Rivera said. "We've got to be able to develop a feel and have a good understanding of what (the Giants) want to do and when they want to do it."
The last time the two teams played the Giants prevailed 31-18. Manning had three interceptions in that game as well, but also threw three touchdowns. This is the first time in the last four meetings that the game will be in Carolina.
Out of three games this year, the Giants have played two during the week. They opened the season no a Wednesday against the Cowboys, played Tampa Bay on Sunday and now will play a Thursday game.
The Giants hope to get two victories in five days after dashing the possibility of going 0-3 after beating Tampa in week two.
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