MARQUEE MATCHUP

Giants QB Eli Manning vs. Browns pass defense

Eli Manning is the toast of New York after being named Super Bowl MVP in the Giants’ first championship in 17 years and opening this season with four straight wins.
Just 11 months ago, he was a month-old onion bagel headed to the dumpster.
“It can turn around in a hurry,” Browns quarterback Derek Anderson said.
Anderson, mired in a terrible slump to start the season, can only hope he has the same reversal of fortune. Manning was on the bottom Nov. 25 after throwing four interceptions in a home loss to Minnesota, including three returned for touchdowns. He also threw 28 incompletions.
“You just continue to fight,” Anderson said. “It wasn’t always pretty at times. The next thing you know they start winning a few games and win the dang Super Bowl.”
Manning has plenty of tools — strong arm, quick release and great genes — but he was also burdened by expectations. He was the No. 1 overall pick in 2004, then demanded a trade out of San Diego. He’s also the son of Archie and the little brother of Peyton, which brings its own pressures.
Eli, who lacks Peyton’s natural charisma, finally silenced the critics with a playoff run that culminated with a last-minute drive to win the Super Bowl. He has stayed on that elevated plane to open the season, and even holds the edge in statistical comparisons with Peyton. He’s fifth in the NFL with a 99.7 rating, has six touchdowns and only one interception and is sixth with a 101.2 rating on third down.
“You can see the improvement, you can see his reads have gotten better,” Browns safety Mike Adams said. “He’s the engine that runs that whole team.”
The Browns rank 10th in pass defense (187.0 yards) and have allowed just nine plays of 20 yards or more — compared with 24 in the first four games last year. They also have five interceptions in the last two games.

NICKEL COVERAGE

(Five points of interest in tonight’s game)

1. Jacobs the target

Giants running back Brandon Jacobs (6-foot-4, 264 pounds) ticked off the Browns in the preseason with a cheap shot on safety Sean Jones and non-stop trash talk. The Browns got under Jacobs’ skin this week when defensive lineman Corey Williams questioned his toughness.
Regardless of the personal feelings, Jacobs will be a handful — he’s averaging 5.8 yards a carry. The Browns are coming off their best game against the run (69 yards vs. Cincinnati) in Romeo Crennel’s tenure but will likely be without starting end Shaun Smith (hand), who’s been downgraded to doubtful.

2. Start fast

The alternative is frightening: an early deficit, a restless crowd, an unrelenting Giants pass rush. The Browns need to get off to a good start for multiple reasons, but perhaps none greater than boosting their confidence.
The crowd will surely be fired up early, so the Browns must feed off the energy and stoke the fire with a positive start. Joshua Cribbs is finally healthy, and a big kick return would go a long way toward a great start.

3. Donte … finally

Receiver Donte Stallworth will make his Browns debut after missing four games with a quadriceps injury. He and some in the front office have downplayed his significance to the offense, but he better make an impact after signing for $10 million guaranteed.
Stallworth may not be 100 percent, but he’s still a deep threat and can use his quickness to turn a short crossing route into a big gain. The Browns rank 32nd in yardage (210.8) and 31st in scoring (11.5) and haven’t gained more than 261 yards in a game. If Kellen Winslow can’t play, Stallworth becomes even more important.

4. Corner market

Cornerback Eric Wright was embarrassed against the Giants in the preseason — “I was looked at as, like, the worst corner ever,” he said. “And obviously I’m not the worst corner ever. I’m a pretty good corner in my opinion.” — and that was with receiver Plaxico Burress on the sideline. Burress is back tonight and remains the favorite target of Eli Manning.
Wright isn’t fazed by the rematch or his regular-season debut on “Monday Night Football.”
“Luckily throughout my years, I’ve played my best games on big stages,” Wright said.

5. Jamal, Jamal, Jamal

The offense has struggled to find an identity as the wide-open passing attack of 2007 has sputtered. Running back Jamal Lewis can be that identity.Lewis said he’s finally feeling healthy, so the Browns should rely on him to consume the clock, take pressure off Derek Anderson and keep the Giants offense off the field. Ryan Tucker’s return at right tackle adds toughness that should help the running game.

GAME INFO

WHERE: Cleveland Browns Stadium
WHEN: Today, 8:30 p.m.
RECORDS: Browns 1-3; Giants 4-0
LAST WEEK: Browns had bye; they beat Bengals 20-12 on Sept. 28 in Cincinnati. Giants beat Seahawks 44-6 in New Jersey.
SERIES: Browns lead 25-19-2; tied at 1 in playoffs
SERIES AT CLEVELAND: Browns lead 13-10
LAST MEETING: Giants won 27-10 in New Jersey on Sept. 26, 2004
COACHES: Romeo Crennel is 21-31 with Browns and overall; Tom Coughlin is 39-29 with Giants and 107-89 overall, not including 8-6 in postseason
TV/RADIO: ESPN, Channel 8,
with broadcasters Mike Tirico, Ron Jaworski and Tony Kornheiser; WMMS 100.7-FM, WTAM 1100-AM
NFL RANKINGS (OUT OF 32 TEAMS): Browns — offense 32nd (25th rushing, 32nd passing), defense 15th (22nd rushing, 10th passing); Giants — offense 1st (1st rushing, 6th passing), defense 3rd (6th rushing, 2nd passing)
BROWNS UPDATE: The defense has held the last three opponents under 300 total yards. Last year, the defense held its final three opponents under 300 yards — the only times all season — making it six out of the last seven.
• WR Braylon Edwards has 11 catches for 95 yards and a touchdown. His high game is three catches for
32 yards.
• QB Derek Anderson’s 28.5 rating on third down ranks 30th in the league.
• The last time the Browns beat the Giants was in 1985.
GIANTS UPDATE: New York is 4-0 for the first time since 1990.
• Coughlin is 8-2 versus the Browns.
• The Giants’ 342 first-half yards last week were the most in the NFL this year.
• The 38-point margin of victory against Seattle was New York’s largest in the regular season since 1972.
• K John Carney, 44, has been perfect filling in for Lawrence Tynes, who had been injured. Carney is 12-for-12 on field goals and has made all 13 extra points.
•  From 1950-69 the Browns and Giants were Eastern Conference foes.
BROWNS INJURY REPORT: Doubtful: TE Kellen Winslow (illness); T Kevin Shaffer (concussion), DL Shaun Smith (hand); Questionable: S Sean Jones (knee), OL Ryan Tucker (hip); Probable: S Mike Adams (foot), WR Donte Stallworth (quadriceps), DT Shaun Rogers (shoulder), RB Jason Wright (knee).
GIANTS INJURY REPORT: Questionable: LB Antonio Pierce (quadriceps); Probable: WR Domenik Hixon (concussion), DE Jerome McDougle (knee), T Kareem McKenzie (concussion).
THE PICK: The Giants are clearly the superior team, but something tells me the Browns are going to keep it close and might even pull out a win. Giants 24-23.
— Scott Petrak

In order to comment, you must agree to our user agreement and discussion guidelines.
You must be registered and logged in to post a comment. If you aren't already registered, click here.
If you are registered, click here to log in.
Need help? Email Us.