Giants Daily Blitz Blog

Inside the Locker Room: Facing a Physical Team

Safety Antrel Rolle
On if the game will be a tough, physical battle… 
“That’s the way it’s been, that’s the way it’s always going to be. Two physical teams, two physical defenses going about them and that’s the way it always goes down between us.”

RB Ahmad Bradshaw
On how the 49ers defense looks…
“They’re physical, they shed blocks well and they retreat well if the ball gets behind them. They’re physical  and like I said, we’re up for that task.”

LB Mathias Kiwanuka
On what he sees from the 49ers…
“That’s what you see when you watch them on film. Defensively, they’ve got a tendency to get into a mode where they can dominate and their offense is very effective…both sides of the ball, we’ve got to make sure we play our strongest game.”

Daily Blitz: Harbaugh calls Eli a “magician”

Sacked six times, Eli Manning bounced back up after each one in the NFC Championship against the 49ers last season. From his muddied jersey to a relocated chinstrap after a hit, it left an impression on Jim Harbaugh.

The San Francisco head coach said as much yesterday on a conference call with Giants beat reporters when asked if Manning impressed him that day.

“Yes, he is a magician,” Harbaugh said. “The things that he gets out of, gets into, throws that he makes, things that he sees and the way that he’s able to execute.  That’s one of the words I would use to describe him.  Also, just a football player.  That’s pretty much the highest compliment you can give a football player.  There are just so many things, that’s the way we look at him.”

One of those throws was a 17-yard touchdown to Mario Manningham in the fourth quarter on third-and-15.

“Not a good memory,” Harbaugh said of the score that gave the Giants a 17-14 lead with 8:34 left in regulation. “I would be a bigger fan if I didn’t have to play against him.”

QUICK HITS

» Vote WR Rueben Randle the Pepsi Max Rookie of the Week

» QB Manning ready for 49ers rush unit

» Giants set for 49ers’ Manningham & Jacobs

» LB Williams moves on from NFC Championship heroics

Fantasy Preview: Thursday Night Football

The views expressed in this article are not of the New York Football Giants but those of an independent Fantasy Expert.

Ben Roethlisberger, QB, Steelers

Last Week: 209 yards, TD

Roethlisberger should have a big game against the Titans’ 25th ranked pass defense after his worst performance of the season at Lincoln Financial Field.  Mike Wallace, who only had two catches for 17 yards in week 5, and Antonio Brown, who only has one touchdown on the year, will try to exploit one of the thinnest secondaries in the league.  Throwing in the factor of a few days rest, Pittsburgh’s speedy receivers should have a productive night in Nashville.

Kendall Wright, WR, Titans

Last Week: 9 catches, 66 yards

Wright seems to be getting more involved in the Titans’ offensive game plan each week after coming off both season and career highs with nine receptions and 66 yards.  The question that remains to be answered is if Chris Johnson can start breaking tackles and getting the run game going against the 11th ranked run defense in Pittsburgh.  Polamalu will more than likely miss yet another game, forcing the Steelers secondary to play without one of the best to ever do it. It only gives Wright a better probability of catching a deep score.

Rashard Mendenhall, RB, Steelers

Last Week: 101 yards total, TD

Mendenhall proved last week in Philadelphia that there looks to be no signs of any setbacks as he rushed for 81 yards on only 14 carries.  With the Titans’ rush defense being ranked towards the bottom of the league at 28th, the Steelers running back should be back to his normal production after missing the first four games of the year due to an injured knee.