New York Returns Home To Host Tennessee

After soundly defeating their division rival Washington on the road New York who is a member of the NFC East returns to the Meadowlands Sunday to host Tennessee who is a member of the AFC South.

New York comes into the game with a record of 5-8 while Tennessee meanwhile comes into the game with a record of 7-6.

As for New York’s previous game, they dominated Washington a week ago.

One of Pat Shurmur’s core beliefs is that individual players, even great ones, do not win football games. “according to https://www.giants.com/news/giants-fire-on-all-cylinders-in-decisive-40-16-win

“Teams beat teams,” Shurmur said. “We came down here as a 4-8 team. I feel like we’re getting better.” “according to https://www.giants.com/news/giants-fire-on-all-cylinders-in-decisive-40-16-win

That is indisputable after the beating they administered to the Washington Redskins Sunday afternoon in FedExField. The final was 40-16, but as the old cliché goes, it wasn’t as close as the score indicates. The Giants led at halftime, 34-0, and after three quarters, 40-0, before the home team got a pair of window-dressing touchdowns in the final quarter. “according to https://www.giants.com/news/giants-fire-on-all-cylinders-in-decisive-40-16-win

The Giants were in such command, their two most valuable players – Eli Manning and Saquon Barkley watched that entire quarter from the sideline. “according to https://www.giants.com/news/giants-fire-on-all-cylinders-in-decisive-40-16-win

The victory was the Giants’ fourth in five games. They are 5-8, and don’t even vaguely resemble the team that was 1-7 prior to the bye week. “according to https://www.giants.com/news/giants-fire-on-all-cylinders-in-decisive-40-16-win

We certainly did not start the year the way we wanted to,” Shurmur said. “But I think we’re playing more in a way that’s evidence that we’re getting better and were on the right track. A game like today just re-confirms what we all believe; that if you play hard and you play for the guy next to you, and you’re happy for everybody making good plays. It feeds on itself and you can have a day like today.” “according to https://www.giants.com/news/giants-fire-on-all-cylinders-in-decisive-40-16-win

The players have bought into their coach’s message. They dominated offensively in a game in which their best wide receiver, Odell Beckham, Jr. was back in New Jersey with a quad injury. “according to https://www.giants.com/news/giants-fire-on-all-cylinders-in-decisive-40-16-win

But everyone else on the roster stepped up. Five different players scored touchdowns, a first for the Giants since Dec. 20, 2015 vs. Carolina. Barkley gashed Washington’s defense for a 78-yard scoring run. Manning threw short touchdown passes to Sterling Shepard, Russell Shepard and Bennie Fowler. The defense ignited the scoring surge with Curtis Riley’s nine-yard interception return. “according to https://www.giants.com/news/giants-fire-on-all-cylinders-in-decisive-40-16-win

There’s more. Manning completed 14 of 22 passes for 197 yards and wasn’t intercepted. Evan Engram had three catches for a team-high 77 yards. Five different players had a hand in the Giants’ five sacks of Mark Sanchez. Alec Ogletree intercepted his team-high fifth pass. Aldrick Rosas kicked a pair of field goals. “according to https://www.giants.com/news/giants-fire-on-all-cylinders-in-decisive-40-16-win

“It was a great feeling,” Sterling Shepard said of the collective effort. “Everybody got a chance to shine today, and it was just a collective team effort. Everybody came with the mindset that we were going to come in and do this and we were able to execute and get it done.” “according to https://www.giants.com/news/giants-fire-on-all-cylinders-in-decisive-40-16-win

“We prepared to come out here and play Giants football,” Engram said. “That’s all it was and we executed, we had great energy, we had fun, we played for each other and when we do that then stuff like today happens.” “according to https://www.giants.com/news/giants-fire-on-all-cylinders-in-decisive-40-16-win

Of course, it helps that Barkley added another glittering performance to his luminous rookie season. He ran for 170 yards the second-highest total ever by Giants rookie, and blasted through the 1,000-yard barrier for the season (he has 1,124). Barkley typically made it a team accomplishment. “according to https://www.giants.com/news/giants-fire-on-all-cylinders-in-decisive-40-16-win

“That’s an awesome feeling to be the first one to do that, but even though my name goes down as the first Giants running back to do it, you don’t do that by yourself,” he said. “Got to give credit to the offensive line all year. Every single guy went out there and we were able to get that record together.” “according to https://www.giants.com/news/giants-fire-on-all-cylinders-in-decisive-40-16-win

Barkley also added a team-high four catches for 27 yards as he became the first player in history with at least 100 yards from scrimmage in 12 of his first 13 career games.”according to https://www.giants.com/news/giants-fire-on-all-cylinders-in-decisive-40-16-win

And the catalyst for it all might have been one of Barkley’s few mistakes, a drop of a well-placed Manning pass on the Giants’ second possession. “according to https://www.giants.com/news/giants-fire-on-all-cylinders-in-decisive-40-16-win

“After the drop I went to those guys, I went to the line, the quarterback and the wide receivers and said ‘That series is on me, I’m going to make up for it,’” Barkley said. “‘I promise you guys and we were able to do that.’” “according to https://www.giants.com/news/giants-fire-on-all-cylinders-in-decisive-40-16-win

He – and they – did, overwhelming the Redskins in a 27-0 second quarter. “according to https://www.giants.com/news/giants-fire-on-all-cylinders-in-decisive-40-16-win

It began innocently enough, with a 35-yard Rosas field goal that increased their lead to 10-0. The defense forced a three-and-out, and on the Giants’ first play, Barkley took a handoff, stepped forward, cut left and ran untouched for the longest run by a Giants back since Ahmad Bradshaw scored on an 88-yarder 11 years ago.

“We kind of had a feel for what they were doing, and the coaches made a great call on that play,” Barkley said. “First and foremost, our line didn’t let penetration, got movement. We were playing on their side of the ball the whole game, especially on that play and (Sterling) Shep came back and made an unbelievable block and created space for me. As a running back, you want those one-on-ones and the guy took a bad angle and I was able to use my speed and find a way to get in the end zone there.”

Three plays later, Ogletree intercepted a Sanchez pass and returned it 18 yards to the Washington 10-yard line. That set up Manning’s three-yard pass to Sterling Shepard. Before the quarter ended, the defense quickly exterminated two more Washington offensive series, and Manning threw a six-yard touchdown pass to Fowler and Aldrick added another field goal. “according to https://www.giants.com/news/giants-fire-on-all-cylinders-in-decisive-40-16-win

The final tally was 27 points in 10:58. “according to https://www.giants.com/news/giants-fire-on-all-cylinders-in-decisive-40-16-win

“You know, it’s fun,” Manning said. “Those don’t happen all that often in the NFL, where everything is clicking and the defense is getting turnovers. Offensively hitting a bunch of big plays in the run game and a couple in the pass game, and scoring in the red zone. They don’t happen much so you’ve got to take advantage of it, but it’s fun to be in those type of games when everything seems to be working.” “according to https://www.giants.com/news/giants-fire-on-all-cylinders-in-decisive-40-16-win

Manning threw his final touchdown pass, an 11-yarder to Russell Shepard in the third quarter. The Giants were so securely in command, rookie Kyle Lauletta made his regular-season debut by playing all four series in the fourth quarter. “according to https://www.giants.com/news/giants-fire-on-all-cylinders-in-decisive-40-16-win

The Giants scored 40 points in a victory for the first time since Sept. 25, 2014, a 45-14 rout of the Redskins in the same venue. That was a week before Beckham played his first regular-season game. He didn’t play again Sunday, but in keeping with the theme of the day, his teammates picked him up. “according to https://www.giants.com/news/giants-fire-on-all-cylinders-in-decisive-40-16-win

“Everybody was involved, everybody stepped up,” Manning said. “Hit a nice deep one to Corey (Coleman), just missed on one earlier in the game, but had a nice one to him. Got Evan Engram going on a nice shallow route in the second half, he had a nice one before halftime that got us into scoring position there. Obviously, Bennie had a touchdown on an over-route, Russell Shepard on a touchdown. Everybody was in there, everybody was playing, and­ it was good to see everybody getting involved and get going.” “according to https://www.giants.com/news/giants-fire-on-all-cylinders-in-decisive-40-16-win

If the Giants can keep it going like this over the final three weeks, it will be quite a show. “according to https://www.giants.com/news/giants-fire-on-all-cylinders-in-decisive-40-16-win

Like New York, Tennessee won their previous game as they routed Jacksonville December 9th.

Derrick Henry put on a show on Thursday night at Nissan Stadium. “according to https://www.titansonline.com/news/titans-rb-derrick-henry-roll-over-the-jaguars-in-30-9-win

And the Titans got another important win – 30-9 over the Jacksonville Jaguars. “according to https://www.titansonline.com/news/titans-rb-derrick-henry-roll-over-the-jaguars-in-30-9-win

Henry broke the franchise record for most rushing yards in a game (238) while turning in one of the best individual performances in the stadium’s history. The Titans running back also ran for four touchdowns on just 17 carries. He electrified the crowd with stiff-arms and speed, while wreaking havoc on the Jaguars. “according to https://www.titansonline.com/news/titans-rb-derrick-henry-roll-over-the-jaguars-in-30-9-win

Chris Johnson previously held the single-game total with 228 yards in a game against the Jaguars during the 2009 season. “according to https://www.titansonline.com/news/titans-rb-derrick-henry-roll-over-the-jaguars-in-30-9-win

“I’d probably put this at No.1,” Henry said of his top performances. “But it’s not really about me – it’s about those guys blocking. So credit to them.” “according to https://www.titansonline.com/news/titans-rb-derrick-henry-roll-over-the-jaguars-in-30-9-win

Henry scored on runs of three, 16, 54 and 99 yards as the Titans pulled away in an AFC South battle. The Titans improved to 7-6 with the win. They’ll return to action on December 16 at the New York Giants. “according to https://www.titansonline.com/news/titans-rb-derrick-henry-roll-over-the-jaguars-in-30-9-win

“I’m speechless, man,” Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota said of Henry. “I had a front row seat to it, and it was pretty awesome.” “according to https://www.titansonline.com/news/titans-rb-derrick-henry-roll-over-the-jaguars-in-30-9-win

The game featured one of the most memorable plays in team history -- a 99-yard touchdown run by Henry in the first half. “according to https://www.titansonline.com/news/titans-rb-derrick-henry-roll-over-the-jaguars-in-30-9-win

Henry exploded up the middle on the carry, and then he put his powerful stiff-arm to use. In space, Henry stiff-armed Jaguars cornerback A.J. Bouye, before racing downfield, where he threw Jaguars linebacker Leon Jacobs off of him and to the ground. Further downfield he squared off with Jaguars linebacker Myles Jack, and stiff-armed him away as well before running into the end zone. “according to https://www.titansonline.com/news/titans-rb-derrick-henry-roll-over-the-jaguars-in-30-9-win

“They didn’t want to tackle him – they’re scared of him,” fellow running back Dion Lewis said of Henry, and the Jaguars. “They didn’t want nothing to do with him today. He was on fire. They didn’t want to tackle him, and he was running hard, aggressive, and physical. It was fun to be a part of history.” “according to https://www.titansonline.com/news/titans-rb-derrick-henry-roll-over-the-jaguars-in-30-9-win

The 99-yard touchdown run was only the second in NFL history. “according to https://www.titansonline.com/news/titans-rb-derrick-henry-roll-over-the-jaguars-in-30-9-win

The other: Tony Dorsett’s 99-yard run for the Cowboys back in 1983. “according to https://www.titansonline.com/news/titans-rb-derrick-henry-roll-over-the-jaguars-in-30-9-win

“It’s so crazy, because before we went in the huddle, it was like: You have to go break a 99-yarder,” Henry said with a smile. “My main focus was to get positive yards. When I had the ball, I hit it and my stiff-arms worked. But it started up front with (the offensive line). … Everybody was going crazy. It was a crazy play.” “according to https://www.titansonline.com/news/titans-rb-derrick-henry-roll-over-the-jaguars-in-30-9-win

It was demoralizing for the Jaguars, who dropped to 4-9. “according to https://www.titansonline.com/news/titans-rb-derrick-henry-roll-over-the-jaguars-in-30-9-win

"I've never been a part of a guy running like that," Jaguars safety Tashaun Gipson Jr. said. "I mean, it was like little league out there. Every time he touched the ball, he was scoring, it felt like. ... He could have run for 300 on us today, if we're being honest. “according to https://www.titansonline.com/news/titans-rb-derrick-henry-roll-over-the-jaguars-in-30-9-win

"If I was his coach, I would have let him break the (NFL) record." “according to https://www.titansonline.com/news/titans-rb-derrick-henry-roll-over-the-jaguars-in-30-9-win

Henry’s run gave the Titans a 13-2 lead, and it followed a big goal-line stand by the Titans, who got a big stop from linebacker Rashaan Evans on Jaguars running back Leonard Fournette on a fourth-and-goal from the one. “according to https://www.titansonline.com/news/titans-rb-derrick-henry-roll-over-the-jaguars-in-30-9-win

The run was a sign of more to come for Henry, who owned the night.”according to https://www.titansonline.com/news/titans-rb-derrick-henry-roll-over-the-jaguars-in-30-9-win

On their first possession, the Titans capped a six-play, 73-yard drive with a three-yard touchdown run by Henry, which made it 7-0. The Titans came out flying on defense, too, as safety Kevin Byard ended Jacksonville’s first possession with a sack. “according to https://www.titansonline.com/news/titans-rb-derrick-henry-roll-over-the-jaguars-in-30-9-win

The Titans appeared to be on the verge of adding more points, but Mariota was intercepted when a throw sailed over intended target Tajae Sharpe, and into the arms of Jaguars safety Ronnie Harrison. “according to https://www.titansonline.com/news/titans-rb-derrick-henry-roll-over-the-jaguars-in-30-9-win

Later, disaster struck when return man Cameron Batson muffed a punt, and then was tackled into the end zone for a safety, making it 7-2. “according to https://www.titansonline.com/news/titans-rb-derrick-henry-roll-over-the-jaguars-in-30-9-win

But the game swung back to the Titans on the goal-line stop, and the Henry run that followed. “according to https://www.titansonline.com/news/titans-rb-derrick-henry-roll-over-the-jaguars-in-30-9-win

The Titans added a 33-yard field goal by kicker Ryan Succop to make it 16-2 at the half. “according to https://www.titansonline.com/news/titans-rb-derrick-henry-roll-over-the-jaguars-in-30-9-win

In the third quarter, Henry exploded for a 16-yard touchdown run to make it 23-2. “according to https://www.titansonline.com/news/titans-rb-derrick-henry-roll-over-the-jaguars-in-30-9-win

Henry then busted off a 54-yard touchdown run, which gave the Titans a 30-2 lead and sent Nissan Stadium into a frenzy. The Jaguars scored a touchdown in the fourth quarter to account for the final margin. “according to https://www.titansonline.com/news/titans-rb-derrick-henry-roll-over-the-jaguars-in-30-9-win

The Titans will watch results unfold over the weekend before returning to work next week. “according to https://www.titansonline.com/news/titans-rb-derrick-henry-roll-over-the-jaguars-in-30-9-win

The race for a playoff spot continues. There's work to be done. “according to https://www.titansonline.com/news/titans-rb-derrick-henry-roll-over-the-jaguars-in-30-9-win

“We have to keep stringing these things together, and winning games to give yourself a chance,” Titans coach Mike Vrabel said. “I think there’s a bunch of teams bunched up and hopefully this week there’s some movement. “according to https://www.titansonline.com/news/titans-rb-derrick-henry-roll-over-the-jaguars-in-30-9-win

“But if not, we understand we have to win games. You can’t sit there and hope for a whole bunch of help when there’s five or six teams all bunched together.” “according to https://www.titansonline.com/news/titans-rb-derrick-henry-roll-over-the-jaguars-in-30-9-win

Kick-off is set for 1:00pm from Metlife Stadium in East Rutherford New Jersey. The game will be televised on CBS.