Howard Cross ran through a litany of concerns about the way the Giants had been playing before their bye week, but he concluded the interview with one major caveat.
“After saying all that, don’t be surprised if they win the Super Bowl,” the former Giants tight end turned YES Network analyst said. “When they are healthy and they are clicking, they are the best team in the league, but they have a lot of issues right now. Hopefully, they can figure it out.”
Those issues stood out as the Giants went from 6-2 to 6-4 with losses to the Steelers and Bengals before having a much-needed week off leading into their Sunday night showdown with the 7-3 Packers.
Cross was not willing to chalk it up as just another November swoon as many have. Or that Eli Manning is suffering a tired or dead arm as some analysts have suggested, but the “This Week in Football” co-host does sense one problem for the Giants quarterback going forward.
“Basically, their interior offensive line is struggling with pressure up the middle,” Cross said. “A couple of times, their tackles are getting blown up. So, Eli being tired isn’t an issue so much as Eli being sore. He went from games where he wasn’t getting sacked or hit to getting hit on every play, so that’s an issue. How are they going to fix that? I am not sure, maybe more running plays.”
In the seven games following the season-opening loss to the Cowboys, the Giants allowed three sacks — or one less than they gave up to the Bengals in the embarrassing, 31-13 thrashing they suffered two weeks ago. The beleaguered offensive line also allowed two sacks against the Steelers. More pressure has led to more mistakes by Manning, who has three interceptions and three fumbles (one lost) in those two defeats.
“It’s the pressure up the middle that’s the big worry,” Cross said. “If it comes from the end you can step up in the pocket, you can’t do that when it comes from the middle. Eli can’t step into his throws, when he can do that he’s one of the best quarterbacks in the league. When he’s chucking and ducking it makes him as average as anyone else. … I think it’s more, he’s got hit a lot in a short period of time and he has to readjust your body to that. It’s tough. It doesn’t make you skittish, but it makes you change your delivery and a lot of things.”
And that won’t get it done against a Packers team that has won five straight after a 2-3 start. Aaron Rodgers has thrown 17 touchdowns during that stretch as Green Bay looks to avenge last year’s Divisional Round playoff loss. The much-hyped game between the past two Super Bowl champions provides both an opportunity to re-establish themselves as conference favorites.
“Remember what they did in San Francisco?” Cross said of the Giants’ 26-3 Week 6 thrashing of the 49ers. “Did you think they were the best team in the league then? We can point out their problems, but you can’t predict what next week will hold.”