The 2014 season hasn’t gone according to plan for Eli Manning and company in the big apple. Seven straight losses have ensured that the Giants will miss out on the playoffs, though for Tennessee the outlook isn’t any brighter. Jake Locker’s time as a starter seems to have come to an end as the Titans have turned the reigns of the offense over to Zach Mettenberger, a sixth-round pick, in order to see what they have in the rookie. He’s not been all bad, and how he finishes this season will surely have an impact on Tennessee’s drafting strategy come spring.
The Giants have simply repeated the formula of recent years. Inconsistent quarterback play and a depleted offensive line have hamstrung the offense. The defense hasn’t fared much better in the injury department, but if there’s one promising aspect of this team next year, it’s that they couldn’t possibly be any less healthy, right?
Playoff implications won’t be anywhere to be found, but the progression of Mettenberger and the human highlight reel Odell Beckham should be reason enough to make this a worthwhile contest. Let’s look at a few other players that will help decide the outcome.
New York Giants
Jason Pierre-Paul – His work rushing the passer leaves something to be desired, but his +15.7 run defense grade and his 34 defensive stops both lead the team. His 8.7 Run Stop Percentage is fifth at the position.
Larry Donnell – After some early-season heroics, Donnell has all but disappeared down the stretch. He’s at just 1.34 Yards per Route Run and hasn’t topped six catches or 60 yards since Week 7.
Johnathan Hankins – Having already played more than twice as many snaps as he did in Year 1, the second-year defensive tackle has graded out negatively this year just three times, the worst of which was -1.2. His +21.0 overall is sixth best among defensive tackles.
Tennessee Titans
Delanie Walker – Never overly impressive in his first season in Tennessee, Walker has turned it up a notch this year. He has the second-highest run-blocking grade of all tight ends (+7.4) and has complemented that nicely with 14 missed tackles forced as a receiver.
Jurrell Casey – Against an injury-depleted line, Casey will have a chance to show off his pass rushing skills. His 14 quarterback knockdowns (five sacks, nine hits) lead the team and are nearly double that of the next closest Titan.
Bishop Sankey – While his yards per carry figure (3.9) is none too impressive, Sankey has done well for himself earning a solid 2.5 of those yards per carry after contact. He’s forced a missed tackle in 10 straight games despite not always getting a lot of touches and is up to 25 total on the ground.
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