Maybe This Will Be Eli's Week

The Giants travel to Baltimore on Sunday to play the Ravens for the first time since the two teams met in Super Bowl XXXV. The Ravens won that one going away, 34-7, and this week’s game ought to have a similar result.

Although the Giants are still alive for a playoff berth, it is seeming increasingly less likely as this team can’t seem to find a way to even remain competitive. The Ravens’ playoff hopes, however, are much more realistic and this is a game that they simply have to have. With road games against Pittsburgh and Indianapolis on the horizon, the Ravens, who are coming off a loss to Cincinnati, can not afford a let down against the woeful Giants.

Expect Giants quarterback Eli Manning to continue to be forced to run for his life. His first few starts have come against tough defenses that love to get to the quarterback and this Ravens squad is no different. Manning’s N.F.L. career is off to an 0-3 start, but there is a part of us that thinks that Eli is due for a breakout game one of these days. Former number one pick Carson Palmer torched the Ravens this week, maybe Eli can too. We’re not going to hold our breath or anything, but we have to give ourselves a reason to watch.