Michael:
The loser of the Giants-Eagles game on Sunday will determine which team plays the Rams in London next season. What are the pros and cons of playing overseas?
-David
Dear David:
Football teams and coaches are creatures of habit and routine, so nothing that occurs during the season will be as significant a break from the norm as a trip across the pond. But the teams leave early enough to adjust to the time change. On the practice field and on game day, it's just football as it always is. The NFL has been doing this for several years now, so the entire experience from departure to return is very smooth. Perhaps the biggest benefit for players is the bonding experience – you're in a foreign country for several days, so you might have extra time to spend time with and get close to your teammates. But it's important to keep in mind that the primary objective of the trip is to win a football game.
Michael:
Which positions need the most improvement heading into the offseason?
-John
Dear John:
I don't presume to be a general manger or personnel expert. But a quick glance of the NFL statistics provides some clues. The Giants' defense is ranked 32nd overall and against the pass, 31st in sacks and opposing third down percentage, and 25th against the run. All of the eight-lowest ranked defensive teams will be home for the playoffs this season. It's not a trip out on limb to say the defense must be improved.
Keep an eye on these five players as the Giants face the Eagles on Sunday
WR ODELL BECKHAM JR. The standout wide receiver returns from a one-game suspension imposed by the NFL for his actions in the Carolina game two weeks ago. With 91 receptions for 1,396 yards and 13 touchdowns, Beckham is looking to become just the second player in Giants history to record 100 catches in a single season (Steve Smith had 107 in 2009). He is also 26 yards away from surpassing Randy Moss (2,726) for most receiving yards in a player's first two seasons. Additionally, Beckham needs one touchdown for most in a season by a Giant (tied with Homer Jones) and 141 yards to break Victor Cruz's single-season franchise record of 1,536. "Actually, there's a lot that's been going on and I'm really just happy to be back," Beckham said when asked about the records. "I really haven't thought about much besides Philly."
![QB ELI MANNING
The franchise quarterback is at a point in his career where he's either surpassing a Hall of Famer on an all-time list or is about to in every game. And the season finale is no different. Manning needs 16 completions to surpass Fran Tarkenton (3,686) for 10th place on the career completions list and three touchdowns to tie Y.A. Tittle's single-season franchise record of 36, which he set in 1963. But first and foremost, Manning wants to end the season on a high note with a victory.
"Obviously, you're disappointed [in not making the playoffs], but kind of have that last memory to be something to be proud of," Manning said. "All you can do is handle the circumstances that you're in. This is our circumstance, so try to make the best of it and get a win."](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album_2x/t_lazy/f_auto/giants/xe0h8u07lqdy9lwhblzu.jpg)
QB ELI MANNING The franchise quarterback is at a point in his career where he's either surpassing a Hall of Famer on an all-time list or is about to in every game. And the season finale is no different. Manning needs 16 completions to surpass Fran Tarkenton (3,686) for 10th place on the career completions list and three touchdowns to tie Y.A. Tittle's single-season franchise record of 36, which he set in 1963. But first and foremost, Manning wants to end the season on a high note with a victory. "Obviously, you're disappointed [in not making the playoffs], but kind of have that last memory to be something to be proud of," Manning said. "All you can do is handle the circumstances that you're in. This is our circumstance, so try to make the best of it and get a win."
DE ROBERT AYERS JR. With 1.5 sacks of Minnesota's Teddy Bridgewater last week, Ayers has recorded at least one sack -- 6.5 total -- in the last four games. As he approaches double digits with a team-high 8.5 on the season, the seventh-year pro has already broken his personal best of 5.5, which he had in 2013 with the Broncos.
RB RASHAD JENNINGS Time of possession has been a key to success for the Giants this season, and that is especially true when facing the fast-paced Eagles. The Giants are 5-0 when controlling the ball for at least 30 minutes. The best way to do so is with a strong running game, which Rashad Jennings has shown down the stretch. Jennings has run for 262 yards in the last three games after having just 431 in the first 12.
DE JASON PIERRE-PAUL While he deals with an ankle injury this week, Pierre-Paul is showing "signs" of shifting his game into gear, defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo said. In seven games back from suffering serious hand injuries in a July 4 fireworks accident, Pierre-Paul has 20 tackles, seven quarterback hits, four tackles for loss, four passes defensed, two fumble recoveries and a sack. "We've all talked about it, it took a while to kind of get in gear," Spagnuolo said. "I think you see signs of that. I think he would probably tell you he'd like to consistently do that a little bit more. I'm not one to speak for him, but it can't be all that easy when you're playing with a club on your hand."
