EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- The elements are in play Sunday afternoon, as winds could gust up to 40 mph, according to Weather.com.
That has the potential to even the playing field when the New York Giants host the Chicago Bears. High winds could make it difficult to throw the football at MetLife Stadium, and that would seem to be more detrimental to the Giants (6-3) than the Bears (2-7).
The Giants are so incredibly reliant on their passing game. They try to use their speed -- particularly Odell Beckham Jr. -- to hit chunk plays, and they try to use their short passing game as a supplement to their 31st-ranked rushing attack.
The Bears, meanwhile, haven’t been particularly good on offense this season. They’re in the bottom half of the league in rushing and passing, but their ground attack (23rd in the NFL) is still better than the Giants’.
The wind could alter the game plans.
“Both teams have to play in it,” Giants coach Ben McAdoo said. “We’ll be ready for it.”
Can the Giants run the ball consistently, though? They are trying to build off a strong fourth quarter Monday night against the Cincinnati Bengals.
Week 11 Cheat Sheet
Where’s DRC?
For the second straight game, don’t expect to see a ton of veteran cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie.. The Giants will use Janoris Jenkins and Eli Apple as the starting cornerbacks on the outside, with Coty Sensabaugh in the slot, according to a source. Where does that leave Rodgers-Cromartie? Probably fitting in again as a part-time player in specific packages, much like he was used Monday night.
Rodgers-Cromartie played 14 defensive snaps and was in on three special-teams plays against the Bengals. The Giants said he had tightness in his back, but Rodgers-Cromartie wasn’t on the injury report either of the past two weeks.
It just appears with all the Giants' cornerbacks healthy, his role is decreasing with the defense playing so much press coverage. Being physical near the line of scrimmage is not the strength of Rodgers-Cromartie's game.
Cruz’s playing time
Wide receiver Victor Cruz returns Sunday after missing a game with an ankle injury. It is unlikely to be in the same role as earlier this season, when he was playing every snap.
The Giants are expected to keep rotating all their active receivers again Sunday. That means Cruz will likely share snaps with undrafted rookie Roger Lewis and Dwayne Harris, as well as Tavarres King if he’s active.
Cruz, 30, will be used plenty, just not every snap like he was before the bye week.
“I expect him to be a big part of what we’re doing in the receiver room,” McAdoo said.
The Giants missed Cruz Monday night, as Lewis struggled.
Newhouse to start at guard
Sunday will mark offensive lineman Marshall Newhouse’s 53rd career start. It will be his first at guard.
Newhouse, a natural tackle, has played guard before, including Monday against the Bengals. But he’s never started a game at the position.
The Giants think he’ll be fine after what they saw late in Monday night's game.
“From Marshall, there's a versatility as a guy who'd been, for the most part, a tackle since he's been here at least. Just being able to go in and not miss a beat in terms of assignments,” Giants offensive coordinator Mike Sullivan said. “There's an athleticism that he has that translates well, particularly pulling in a gap scheme. I think when you look at someone that was pressed into service, that responded and that's expected all of our players at every position, has to be ready.”
Newhouse is needed because the Giants are without guards Justin Pugh (knee) and Brett Jones (calf). Pugh has an outside shot to be ready for next week against the Cleveland Browns, but the following week when the Giants travel to the Pittsburgh Steelers may be more realistic.
Guess the inactives
WR Tavarres King, DE Kerry Wynn, OL Justin Pugh, OL Brett Jones, DB Leon Hall, G/C Shane McDermott, QB Josh Johnson.
McAdoo is big into putting rookies back on the field immediately after their struggles; he believes it’s good for their development. So with Lewis still in the fold and Cruz back, King may be the odd man out.
As for Wynn, the Giants may have found something with their pass rush late in the game against the Bengals. They may stick with Robert Thomas, who had a sack, as a fourth defensive tackle and Romeo Okwara and Owa Odighizuwa as reserve defensive ends.
Prediction: Giants 31, Bears 18
Something tells me this Giants offense is ready to reach 30 points for the first time this season. There is no better spot than at home against a Bears team that is coming apart at the seams. The Bears were blown out last week in Tampa Bay. Eli Manning picks them apart in this one, even with the wind, and Chicago’s impotent offense fails to reach 20 points against this Giants defense.