NFL

CATCHING UP: GIANTS

When your biggest problem is figuring out a way to get the ball to all three of your talented running backs, things are pretty good. Such is life for the defending Super Bowl champion Giants.

CATCHING UP: GIANTS (PHOTOS)

Big Blue has darted out to a 2-0 start after putting away the Rams 41-13 in St. Louis on Sunday. And the upcoming schedule is loaded with the NFL’s worst – the Bengals. Seahawks, Browns and 49ers are all that stand in the way of the Giants and a 6-0 start. That group of teams has one win combined, and that was the 49ers beating the Seahawks.

Brandon Jacobs, Derrick Ward and Ahmad Bradshaw will look to have their way with a Bengals defense that is susceptible to the running game. The Ravens ran for 229 yards in a 17-10 victory and the Titans gained 177 in a 24-7 trouncing in Cincinnati.

“We are blessed as an organization to have three backs who can come in and play and do whatever you ask them to do,” Jacobs said. “You don’t have defensive linemen that can come in like that in the fourth quarter. Nine times out of 10, the guy who is in there in the fourth quarter is the guy who started, and he’s getting very tired.”

Plaxico Burress agrees that the defense is too tired to handle the three backs in the game’s final stages.

“Those guys don’t want to tackle these guys once they get past the line of scrimmage with a full head of steam,” Burress said. “You’ve got three different styles of running coming at you, and it definitely can work to our advantage.”

Sunday, Jacobs had 15 carries for 93 yards, Ward eight carries for 58 yards, and Bradshaw five carries for 52 yards and an 18-yard touchdown reception.

“We all know Brandon is the starter and me and Ahmad are the cleanup hitters,” Ward said. “He is going to continue to get his share and we’re going to get our share. There is no reason to change it. We all have one role. That’s to help the team win. It doesn’t matter who gets the ball.”

When Bradshaw scored one of his two touchdowns against the Rams, Jacobs and Ward were among the first to greet him with a celebratory hug.

“We all have a good relationship and respect each other on and off the field,” Jacobs said.