The Peyton MaęĻĻnning touchdown passes kept coming, an NFL-record seven in all for the Broncos in a 49-27 nationally televised rout of the Ravens in the NFL opener on Sept. 5, and the reactions of those watching ranged from awe from fans to fear from upcoming Denver opponeāšnts.
The Giants defensive players who were watching the game feltđ neither awe nor fear knowing they would be facing Manning and the Broncos in Sundayâs home opener at MetLife Stadium.
They saw opportunity.
âWhat was it like watching it on TV? I loved it,ââ cornerback Antrel Rolle said Thursday. âI love going up against the best of the best. It only allows me to go out there and test myself and see where I am as a defender, and to test our entire defense. [Mannđing] is going to give us everything.
âBut his game is not abđ¯out Peyton. Itâs about us as a defense.ââ
The Giants defense was not exactly dominant against thā˛e Cowboys in a 36-31 loss, but one must be careful judging that unit considering the fact the offense turned the ball over aęĻ ridiculous six times, putting the defense in unmanageable positions for most of the night.
âThis is a bâig match-up for us at home, start of our home season, and we donât want to be 0-2,â cornerback Terrell Thomas said. âIâm excited. Everybody is claiming them to be whatever they are â Peyton Manning and seven touchdowns. What better for us than if we go out there and shut them down?ââ
Thđomas, who likely will spend much of his day covering Wes Welker in the slot, knows the outcome of Sundayâs game will have everything to do with how the Giantsâ defense handles Manning and his band of proliđfic receivers.
âThey have a great offense, but weâre looking to be a gęĻreat defense,ââ Thomas said, âso this is a perfect challenge for us.ââ
Both Thomas and Rolle insisted they relish the chance to play the cat-and-mouse head game at the line of scârimmage that Manning plays, changing calls or calling out fake ones tđ°o try to confuse the defense.
âWe have to takeđ our shots,ââ Thomas said. âItâs going to be a chess match. We are not going to sit back there and let Peyton pick the perfect call for our defense. đ If he audibles, weâre going to audible and match what he matches. We have great personnel and weâre looking forward to the challenge.ââ
Giants defensive coordinatorđ Perry Fewell was one of the millions watching as Manning picked apart the Ravens.
âAs a defensive coach, youâre saying âWow,â because theyâre so explosive and Peyton is the typāĩŠe of player that he drives the offense and he puts the pedal to the metal to make thđ¯em go faster to push them to score points and he just doesnât let up,ââ Fewell said. âHe goes for the jugular every time heâs on the field. Heâs relentless in his pursuit of perfection.ââ
The Giants defense is hoping Manning is like a golfer attempting to follow up a career-low round by going low againđ´ the next day â something traditionally very difficult to accomplish. Professional golf tournaments are littered with stories of players shooting 64 one day and 76 the next. The Giađnts hope they can force Manning into one of those 76 rounds on Sunday.
âThatâs an alarming number, seven touchdowns passes,ââ safety Ryan Mundy said. âBut the NFL is weīˇēek-to-week. He can throw seven touchdown passes one week and hopefully this week he might have three or four interceptions. Itâs not relative. We have to go out there and do our jobs.ââ
What was lefęĻt of the once-proud Ravens Super Bowl defense (with Ray Lewis retired and Ed Reed gone via free agency) was not only unable to do its job last week, it looked more like the Baltimore Orioles trying to slow Manning and his teammates down in Denver.
What will the Giantđs defense have in store for Manning on Sunday at MetLife Stadium?
â[Manning] throwing seven touchdowns against Baltimore has nothing at all to do with this week, nothing to do with the New York âGiants,ââ Rolle said. âThat was Baltimoreâs defense. I have all the faith in the world in this defense. Everything will be judged on Sunday.ââ