Big Blue vs. Gang Green: Heat Rising in the New York Preseason Clash
The New York Giants are heading into Week Two and have a lot ahead of them, as they are playing one of their biggest rivals, the New York Jets. The Giants have a lot to work on, and it’s not on one side; both sides need work. They have a strong defense, but the offensive line is questionable, especially because, at the moment, they don’t have Malik Nabers playing with them. He won’t return to the field until the season begins in September, but he will continue to be part of practice. There is a lot to expect from the Giants in this game.
As the preseason games continue, star players will see limited action. However, many of these practices have gone over, and they expect a harder edge with more aggressive plays for the upcoming season. This was worked on in a joint practice with the Jets on Wednesday. Though this practice did not go as planned. The Giants worked on 11-on-11 drills, but they found themselves in a struggle. Russell Wilson and Jaxson Dart worked on 7-on-7 practice, but the unit continued to struggle with penalties, sacks, and the execution of certain plays. The only bright spot they had in this joint practice was that Wilson made a touchdown to Theo Johnson in the red zone.
The Jets have shown offensive flashes, but not by much. They played small 7-on-7 segments and executed touchdown plays. This is an area that they have struggled with for a while now. They also tossed around a few two-minute drills to work on their running ability, among other areas. The team worked on their defensive line, which could use some work, alongside the rest of the offensive line.
The Giants had a major defensive surge during the offseason, and there have been no problems in that area. There have been plenty of highlights for rookie Abdul Carter, who had a great first week in the preseason along with the front seven. He pulled out all the stops when the Giants took on the Bills, which means there should be no problems playing against the Jets this week. With the Giants’ defensive line being as strong as it is, they may be able to expose weak spots in the Jets’ offensive line. It wasn’t only Carter who stood out; the Giants also have Dexter Lawrence and Brian Burns, who are just as heavy as he is.
This matchup is already heating up as one of the top preseason games. With the two already having joint practices this past week, there is something to look forward to for both teams. The Giants are already in favor over the Jets, but that may not mean they both don’t have a fighting chance to come out on top after this week's practices. The rivalry is already there and stronger than ever. These two teams are scheduled to play on Saturday, August 16th, at MetLife Stadium in the Meadowlands.
