It's Brandon Jacobs who puts Big in Blue

It's Brandon Jacobs who puts Big in Blue
December 19
New York Daily News columnist Tim Smith
"The weather at Giants Stadium can be frightful in December and January. Snow, freezing rain and frigid winds make passing the ball more treacherous than a rush-hour stroll across the Long Island Expressway.

That is what visiting teams can expect if the Giants get home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. That weather element, and a three-week breather, is what the Giants are playing for when they host Carolina on Sunday night.

All year long the Giants have been playing for that home-field advantage, even though they did just fine going on the road as a wild-card team last year. Until the last two losses, the Giants' offense demonstrated that it was built for January in the Northeast, rushing for a league-leading 148.7 yards a game behind Brandon Jacobs, a human battering ram.

"That's certainly been part of the thought process when we put the thing together," said Giants offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride.

Some of those frosty elements will greet Carolina. Like the Giants, the Panthers have a bruising rushing attack, averaging 146.1 yards a game (fourth in the NFL).

Will the Panthers be able to turn the tables on the Giants?

Even though the Giants rushing attack has been more bruised than bruising without Jacobs, don't count on the Panthers to trample the Giants. Instead, expect the Giants to live up to their brutish credo.

A couple of things are going on here this week: The Giants offensive line, mixing and matching against the Cowboys due to injuries, is still smarting from giving up eight sacks to Dallas last Sunday night. And Jacobs, although he's not 100%, is back in the lineup with something to prove. It's sort of like that Baltimore game when Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis made that "tiptoe" comment.

"I bring a certain presence to the team," Jacobs said. "When I'm not in there, there's something missing emotionally."

Tom Coughlin admits that Jacobs, who practiced this week, is limited. But the coach said it's important that he plays, regardless of for how long.

"It's very important. He helps us set the physical stage. He's a big part of that," Coughlin said.

The Giants' offensive line is eager to get back on the field after that debacle in Dallas. What better way to reestablish its dominance than by punching the Panthers in the snout with a little smash-mouth, late December football at Giants Stadium.

"It's important that we have every man possible," Kareem McKenzie said. "Teams are making that playoff push, and it's important for us to get back to being physical and doing the things that we did earlier in the year.""
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