For the New York Giants and the Jacksonville Jaguars, losing has become quite a habit. The two squads have already combined for 18 defeats this season and we’re only in Week 13. One of them will emerge with that all-important win this coming Sunday as they square off in a showdown at EverBank Field.
Can Manning rediscover his old form and deliver the win that will snap their six-game losing streak? Or will Blake Bortles spoil his plans and lead the Jaguars to that ever-elusive W?
Read on for a complete preview of this matchup and while you’re at it, you can check out our previews of Bears vs. Lions and Eagles vs. Cowboys.
[sc:Football ]New York Giants vs. Jacksonville Jaguars Betting Preview
When: Sunday, November 30, 1:00 PM ET
Where: EverBank Field, Jacksonville
Line: New York Giants (-2.5) at Jacksonville Jaguars (+2.5); total: 44.0 – view all NFL lines
Betting on the New York Giants
The New York Giants may have slumped to their sixth consecutive defeat with that heart-breaking 31-28 loss to the Dallas Cowboys but there were still plenty of positives to take for Tom Coughlin’s men heading into their clash with the Jacksonville Jaguars this coming Sunday.
[sc:NFL240banner ]First and foremost is the play of wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr., who you may have heard brought in the greatest catch in the history of football last week. Here’s the thing: that’s hardly the only good play he’s made lately.
Beckham has recorded 100-yard games in three of the Giants’ last four assignments as he has cemented his status as the no. 1 wide receiver in the team following the season-ending injury to Victor Cruz. His best performance came last Sunday against the Cowboys where he caught 10 passes for 146 yards and two touchdowns, including the one that turned him into an instant superstar.
Another encouraging sign for the Giants is the improved play of Eli Manning. A week after throwing five interceptions in a 16-10 loss to the 49ers, Manning had a much better showing this time around completing 29 of 40 passes for 338 yards and three touchdowns with a pick in the game against the Cowboys.
That’s critical going forward as questions continue to abound concerning Manning’s ability to adapt to offensive coordinator Ben McAdoo’s West Coast offense. With the emergence of Beckham, though, Manning may have been given a new lease of life.
The duo will be licking their chops at the prospect of facing a Jaguars secondary that is allowing 257.5 yards per game this season. The Jaguars have also allowed 19 passing touchdowns this year, 10th-worst in the NFL.
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Betting on the Jacksonville Jaguars
Can Blake Bortles be the franchise quarterback Jacksonville envisioned him to be? The answer to that question is still up in the air but things are definitely not looking good for the 22-year-old rookie after another disappointing performance Sunday against the Indianapolis Colts.
Bortles had his worst performance in a Jaguars uniform as he completed just 15 of 27 passes for 146 yards and an interception with no touchdowns. As a result, the Jaguars were miserable on the offensive end as they posted season-lows in points (3), completions (14) and passing yards (114). Their total offense mark of 194 yards was their second-lowest output in that department this season.
Head coach Gus Bradley didn’t mince words when he was asked about Bortles after the game. Two key points came out namely Bortles holds the ball a little too long and his decision making isn’t as quick as they need it to be.
So what’s wrong with Bortles? In the game against the Colts, he seemed to be passive as he hesitated to throw the big passing plays that we’ve seen from him earlier this season. Part of the reason behind that change is the high number of interceptions he has thrown this year. He currently leads the NFL in that department throwing 15 this season, three more than the next player on the list.
Also, his leading receiver Allen Robinson is done for the season after suffering a stress fracture in his foot. Knowing this fact, the Colts dared Bortles to throw the football but he opted to go with the running game which produced a measly 80 rushing yards.
Fortunately for Bortles, he gets to face the Giants this week, one of the worst teams defensively in the NFL this season. The Giants are 31st in total defense this season, allowing 396.5 yards per game. It’s vital for Bortles to start believing with his passing game again especially with New York allowing 19 touchdowns via the aerial route this season (10th-most in the NFL).
Writer’s Prediction
The Giants (-2.5) pile more pressure on Bortles and the rest of the Jaguars as they cruise to a double-digit victory.
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