EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) -After a game against the pass-happy Arizona Cardinals, the New York Giants’ defense is looking forward to returning to normalcy with an NFC East contest against Clinton Portis and the Washington Redskins this weekend.
Like the Giants, the Redskins use balanced offense – and it might even be a little more run-heavy with Portis, who leads the league with 1,206 yards rushing.
A week ago, the Giants (10-1) faced a totally different attack from Kurt Warner and the Cardinals. Arizona put the ball in the air on 52 of 68 plays from scrimmage in the Giants’ 37-29 win.
“I kind of like running teams more than I like passing teams, so I am kind of excited about it,” Giants defensive end Justin Tuck said. “But it is a total difference. This might be the reverse. They might run the ball 52 times, but that is the beauty of the NFL, that is the beauty of playing in this system and playing different teams.”
Linebackers Chase Blackburn and Danny Clark smirked when asked about last week’s game.
sing five and six defensive backs most of the time, Clark was on the field for 15 plays, two more than Blackburn. Both usually average about 40 plays, Clark said.
“We understood what it took to go against the Cardinals because they are not normal,” Clark said. “They went with three, four and five wides at times. It will be definitely a good feeling to get back in and contribute a little more.”
Portis, who has been bothered by a knee problem in recent weeks, seemingly is back in gear after gaining 143 yards on 29 carries in the Redskins’ (7-4) win over the Seattle Seahawks last week.
“With Washington, what they do is try to pound the ball, run it,” Blackburn said. “Lately with Clinton Portis, they have a great running game going, two-back, one-back, and we just have to take care of it.”
The only defenders who seemed disappointed with this week’s expected changes were cornerbacks Corey Webster and Aaron Ross.
“I kind of like the 52 passes in the air,” Webster said. “You get more opportunity to get your hands on the ball. Fifty-two routes means it’s 52 times you get a chance for an interception. For a DB, I like that.”
Ross couldn’t agree more.
“That’s what we want, actually,” he said. “I would rather be in an all-passing game, than all rushing. I was pretty happy.”
ampbell has only thrown three interceptions all season and he has combined with receivers Santana Moss, Antwaan Randle El and tight end Chris Cooley for 152 receptions and eight touchdowns.
The Giants dominated the Redskins in the season opener, limiting them to a season-low 209 yards in Jim Zorn’s first game as Washington’s coach. Portis had 84 yards on 23 carries and Campbell was limited to 133 yards passing.
“They are completely different,” defensive tackle Barry Cofield said. “They are a completely different team, a completely better team. At the same time, I think we are a better team than when we saw them in week one. We’ll see who grew most this Sunday.”
The game is the first of three straight division game for the Giants. The Super Bowl champions will play host to Philadelphia a week from Sunday and then head to Dallas to play the Cowboys.
Middle linebacker Antonio Pierce had no problem with the schedule.
“It is going to be fun playing divisional foes back to back on the road, at home, and on the road,” he said. “You can’t ask for anything better at the end of the month of November and the beginning of December.”
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