Game 16: NY Giants vs. Vikings

The Giants have clinched a bye... they are 12-3 and this game means something... to the Vikings. The Vikings, who are 9-6, need a win to clinch a playoff birth. A loss would give a lot of ground to the Bears, who are also looking at this game in need of the playoffs.

Quarterback Comparison

Name	QB Rating	Comp-Att	Comp %	Yards	TD-Int	Fumbles
Eli Manning	86.9	278-460	60.4%	3,119	21-10	5
Gus Frerotte	73.7	178-301	59.1%	2,157	12-15	4

Manning is the better QB, as Frerotte has more interceptions and TDs.

Rushing Comparison

Name	Carries	Yards	TDs	Catches	Yards	TDs
Brandon Jacobs	219	1,089	15	6	36	0
Derrick Ward	167	948	2	39	370	0
Adrian Peterson	342	1,657	9	21	125	0

The first two are the Giants and Peterson, as you should know, is a Viking. Comparing one back to another, the Vikings have the better back, but the Giants have the better rushing game.

Receiving Comparison

Name	Catches	Yards	TDs	Fumbles
Amani Toomer	46	564	4	1
Steve Smith	55	554	1	1
Domenik Hixon	39	534	1	0
Bernard Berrian	44	883	6	0
Visanthe Shiancoe	40	582	7	0
Bobby Wade	49	547	2	2

I would have to say that the Vikings appear to have the better receivers... at least on paper. Manning almost has 1,000 yards more passing that Frerotte, so I would've pegged them to have the better numbers. Interesting...

Defense Comparison

Name	Tackles	Sacks	Ints-TD	Deflections
Antonio Pierce	90	1.0	0-0	2
Justin Tuck	64	12.0	1-1	1
Corey Webster	50	1.0	3-0	23
Chad Greenway	108	5.0	0-0	5
Jared Allen	50	14.5	0-0	3
Kevin Williams	58	8.5	0-0	5

Aaron Ross also has three interceptions for the Giants, with one returned for a TD. Jared Allen has two safeties for the Vikings. I do question the pass defense for the Vikings. There aren't any strong standouts when you look at the numbers. Antoine Winfield does have 10 deflections and Cedric Griffin adds 14 more. There isn't anyone with more than 2 interceptions, though and the Vikings haven't returned a pick for a touch.

Intangibles: 1) Home Game to the Vikings. 2) Frerotte's 15 interceptions gives a passing defense edge to the Giants. I am sure if I thought hard enough, I could come up with more, but those two were the only ones to pop up off the top of my head.

Forecast: I like the Giants in this one. They don't have much to play for, but I do not think they will let this one simply slide for the Vikings. It is almost like they can flex their playoff muscles heading into the bye. Score: 31-20.

Home Field