ORCHARD PARK – Even at its best, the Giants defense was not particularly adept at causing turnovers, but lately, there has been a stark decline that no one on that unit is happy about heading into today’s game in Buffalo, where rain and wind could make for a slippery football.
There hasn’t been an interception since the Giants were in Detroit, a span of four games. There’s been just one forced fumble in the past four games, when Justin Tuck separated Brian Westbrook from the football and cornerback Sam Madison recovered the loose ball. That helped turn a 10-6 deficit into a 13-10 lead and sent the Giants on their way to a victory in Philadelphia, once again showing how a forced turnover can turn a game.
“Sometimes I think when you overemphasize it, it doesn’t get fixed,” defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo said. “It is kind of a natural thing. But I have spoken with the guys in the last two weeks that playing fast and sticking with what we talked about way back, about being arrows through snow and tackling physically. And if you do that, those things will happen. They will fall into place. I don’t think you can manufacture turnovers. I think if you play fast and you are in the right place and it is a physical, aggressive mindset, then they will take care of themselves.”
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Not many of the Giants are familiar with the sights and sounds of Ralph Wilson Stadium, considering the Giants haven’t made the trip here since 1999. One member of the Giants who knows his way around is Plaxico Burress, who spent his first five NFL seasons in the AFC with the Steelers.
“It’s definitely one of the tougher places to get a win,” Burress said. “The fans out there are crazy, they’re crazy about football, it’s loud. It’s a wild place up there. The fans are right on top of you.”
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Bills third-year TE Kevin Everett suffered a cervical spine fracture back in the season-opener while tackling Domenik Hixon of the Broncos. Everett continues to undergo rehabilitation and is expected to return to the stadium today for the first time since the accident. Hixon was released by the Broncos and now plays special teams for the Giants.
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Two players in this game were selected as Pro Bowlers, and they will line up across from each other: Giants DE Osi Umenyiora vs. LT Jason Peters of the Bills.
“Am I looking forward to it? I guess,” Umenyiora said. “He is an outstanding player, he has had a very, very good year. I feel like I have had a pretty good year myself, so I think it is going to be a nice little matchup between me and him. For the most part, I am going to be lined up there by myself but I guarantee they won’t leave him by himself the whole game.”
Three Giants did not make the trip: WR David Tyree (personal reasons), CBKevin Dockery (hip) and DTManny Wright (ankle).