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In the 2013 NFL draft, The New York Giants selected Damontre Moore in the 3^rd round out of Texas A & M. Initially, many viewed the selection as a steal as Moore was projected by many experts to go in the 1^st round.  In his rookie season, Moore was a non-contributed mostly due to injuries and lack of experience. Fast forwarding to the 2014 season, Moore was healthier and ready to be a major contributor for the Giants defensive unit. Unfortunately, Moore has not been the player the Giants had envision as he only has 12 tackles and 2 sacks through the first 6 games.

With the departure of Justin Tuck and the lack of production thus far from Jason Pierre Paul, the Giants desperately need a player with Moore’s abilities to make an impact on the pass rush. Although the verdict is still out on Moore, he must develop sooner and become one of the main cogs in the Giants DL if this team has any expectations of making the playoffs. Moore can’t do this alone, as it would take a team effort on both sides of the ball. However; during the Giants last two Super Bowl Championships; one of the main reasons for their success was their ability to get to opposing quarterbacks. Creating constant pressure and causing the opposition to turn the ball over at crucial times.

In the 2014 draft, the Giants selected Devon Kennard out of USC in the 5^th round.  Perhaps Kennard’s stock fell due to the fact that he played four different positions (DE, MLB, SSLB,WSLB) at USC and never really established himself as a bona fide NFL prospect.  After a solid pre-season, Kennard has been hampered with nagging injuries and has not been able to fully contribute thus far.  However, all the ingredients are in place for Kennard to develop into a solid defender and pass rusher for the Giants.

There is still time for Moore and Kennard to be that type of impact players the Giants are envisioning and the Giants could have something very special in the foreseeable future. This team needs to get back to what made them champions in the first place and that is a power running game to go along with ferocious  pass rush. With Moore and Kennard, it’s a good start.

In the 2013 NFL draft, The New York Giants selected Damontre Moore in the 3^rd round out of Texas A & M. Initially, many viewed the selection as a steal as Moore was projected by many experts to go in the 1^st round.  In his rookie season, Moore was a non-contributed mostly due to injuries and lack of experience. Fast forwarding to the 2014 season, Moore was healthier and ready to be a major contributor for the Giants defensive unit. Unfortunately, Moore has not been the player the Giants had envision as he only has 12 tackles and 2 sacks through the first 6 games.

With the departure of Justin Tuck and the lack of production thus far from Jason Pierre Paul, the Giants desperately need a player with Moore’s abilities to make an impact on the pass rush. Although the verdict is still out on Moore, he must develop sooner and become one of the main cogs in the Giants DL if this team has any expectations of making the playoffs. Moore can’t do this alone, as it would take a team effort on both sides of the ball. However; during the Giants last two Super Bowl Championships; one of the main reasons for their success was their ability to get to opposing quarterbacks. Creating constant pressure and causing the opposition to turn the ball over at crucial times.

In the 2014 draft, the Giants selected Devon Kennard out of USC in the 5^th round.  Perhaps Kennard’s stock fell due to the fact that he played four different positions (DE, MLB, SSLB,WSLB) at USC and never really established himself as a bona fide NFL prospect.  After a solid pre-season, Kennard has been hampered with nagging injuries and has not been able to fully contribute thus far.  However, all the ingredients are in place for Kennard to develop into a solid defender and pass rusher for the Giants.

There is still time for Moore and Kennard to be that type of impact players the Giants are envisioning and the Giants could have something very special in the foreseeable future. This team needs to get back to what made them champions in the first place and that is a power running game to go along with ferocious  pass rush. With Moore and Kennard, it’s a good start.

With Rashad Jennings sidelined with a sprain MCL going into week 6, the Giants are going to lean on a rookie RB by the name of Andre Williams to help carry the load.  Who is Andre Williams? Well unless you’ve been in exile for the past year, Williams was the leading rushing (2,177 yards) with 18 TDS and a solid 6.18 yards per carry with Boston College last season.

Despite his success in college, Williams was overlooked by every team through the 1^st 3 rounds of the draft and then in the early 4^th round was selected by the Giants.  There were 10 RB’s selected ahead of Williams, most notably Carlos Hyde, Tre Mason and Bishop Sankey. Although the verdict is still out on all these RB’s, landing the leading rusher in college football in the 4^th round can be considered a steal.

During his rookie pre-season, Williams displayed the power and surprising speed that made him the leading rusher in college football. With Rashad Jennings cemented as the starter, the Giants could slowly groom Williams into a solid 2^nd tier option as a rookie.  In the past two games, Williams has seen his playing time increase and has responded with 60+ yards in each game with 2 TD’s.  Expect those numbers to improve over the next several weeks as Williams should be seeing more action and plenty of touches.

 What I like about Williams running style is that he runs with authority and although he will never be a take it to the house type RB, Williams will hardly be taken down with arm tackles. He has great vision and hits the hole quickly, to go along with his excellent balance; which makes him hard to bring down on 1^st contact. Also, let’s not overlook his ability to pass protect; which is essential in the NFL and also his leadership qualities.

The biggest rap against Williams during his college career has been his inability of catch the ball. I firmly believe that most of this was in part of the offensive scheme Boston College implemented. Williams didn’t need to be featured as a receiving RB due to his success running the ball. I believe he will improve as his NFL career progresses.

This week, Williams will have the opportunity to show not only the teams that passed him by in the draft, but also the Giant fans that he is very capable of handling the load. He will be tested against the Eagles and then the Cowboys over the next 2 games. With a bye in week 8, perhaps Jennings will be ready to assume his starting duties for week 9. If not, Williams will be the featured back against the Colts. These next few games are pivotal for the Giants in their quest for a playoff spot. Williams needs to contribute in order for the Giants to succeed. I believe he will and help this team to a 2-1 record in that stretch.

Of course, I could be wrong, and trust me as I've been wrong lots of times, but I definitely think that Williams has the opportunity to succeed and I believe he will take full advantage of it starting this week against the Eagles.

With Rashad Jennings sidelined with a sprain MCL going into week 6, the Giants are going to lean on a rookie RB by the name of Andre Williams to help carry the load.  Who is Andre Williams? Well unless you’ve been in exile for the past year, Williams was the leading rushing (2,177 yards) with 18 TDS and a solid 6.18 yards per carry with Boston College last season.

Despite his success in college, Williams was overlooked by every team through the 1^st 3 rounds of the draft and then in the early 4^th round was selected by the Giants.  There were 10 RB’s selected ahead of Williams, most notably Carlos Hyde, Tre Mason and Bishop Sankey. Although the verdict is still out on all these RB’s, landing the leading rusher in college football in the 4^th round can be considered a steal.

During his rookie pre-season, Williams displayed the power and surprising speed that made him the leading rusher in college football. With Rashad Jennings cemented as the starter, the Giants could slowly groom Williams into a solid 2^nd tier option as a rookie.  In the past two games, Williams has seen his playing time increase and has responded with 60+ yards in each game with 2 TD’s.  Expect those numbers to improve over the next several weeks as Williams should be seeing more action and plenty of touches.

 What I like about Williams running style is that he runs with authority and although he will never be a take it to the house type RB, Williams will hardly be taken down with arm tackles. He has great vision and hits the hole quickly, to go along with his excellent balance; which makes him hard to bring down on 1^st contact. Also, let’s not overlook his ability to pass protect; which is essential in the NFL and also his leadership qualities.

The biggest rap against Williams during his college career has been his inability of catch the ball. I firmly believe that most of this was in part of the offensive scheme Boston College implemented. Williams didn’t need to be featured as a receiving RB due to his success running the ball. I believe he will improve as his NFL career progresses.

This week, Williams will have the opportunity to show not only the teams that passed him by in the draft, but also the Giant fans that he is very capable of handling the load. He will be tested against the Eagles and then the Cowboys over the next 2 games. With a bye in week 8, perhaps Jennings will be ready to assume his starting duties for week 9. If not, Williams will be the featured back against the Colts. These next few games are pivotal for the Giants in their quest for a playoff spot. Williams needs to contribute in order for the Giants to succeed. I believe he will and help this team to a 2-1 record in that stretch.

Of course, I could be wrong, and trust me as I've been wrong lots of times, but I definitely think that Williams has the opportunity to succeed and I believe he will take full advantage of it starting this week against the Eagles.

With Rashad Jennings sidelined with a sprain MCL going into week 6, the Giants are going to lean on a rookie RB by the name of Andre Williams to help carry the load.  Who is Andre Williams? Well unless you’ve been in exile for the past year, Williams was the leading rushing (2,177 yards) with 18 TDS and a solid 6.18 yards per carry with Boston College last season.

Despite his success in college, Williams was overlooked by every team through the 1^st 3 rounds of the draft and then in the early 4^th round was selected by the Giants.  There were 10 RB’s selected ahead of Williams, most notably Carlos Hyde, Tre Mason and Bishop Sankey. Although the verdict is still out on all these RB’s, landing the leading rusher in college football in the 4^th round can be considered a steal.

During his rookie pre-season, Williams displayed the power and surprising speed that made him the leading rusher in college football. With Rashad Jennings cemented as the starter, the Giants could slowly groom Williams into a solid 2^nd tier option as a rookie.  In the past two games, Williams has seen his playing time increase and has responded with 60+ yards in each game with 2 TD’s.  Expect those numbers to improve over the next several weeks as Williams should be seeing more action and plenty of touches.

 What I like about Williams running style is that he runs with authority and although he will never be a take it to the house type RB, Williams will hardly be taken down with arm tackles. He has great vision and hits the hole quickly, to go along with his excellent balance; which makes him hard to bring down on 1^st contact. Also, let’s not overlook his ability to pass protect; which is essential in the NFL and also his leadership qualities.

The biggest rap against Williams during his college career has been his inability of catch the ball. I firmly believe that most of this was in part of the offensive scheme Boston College implemented. Williams didn’t need to be featured as a receiving RB due to his success running the ball. I believe he will improve as his NFL career progresses.

This week, Williams will have the opportunity to show not only the teams that passed him by in the draft, but also the Giant fans that he is very capable of handling the load. He will be tested against the Eagles and then the Cowboys over the next 2 games. With a bye in week 8, perhaps Jennings will be ready to assume his starting duties for week 9. If not, Williams will be the featured back against the Colts. These next few games are pivotal for the Giants in their quest for a playoff spot. Williams needs to contribute in order for the Giants to succeed. I believe he will and help this team to a 2-1 record in that stretch.

Of course, I could be wrong, and trust me as I've been wrong lots of times, but I definitely think that Williams has the opportunity to succeed and I believe he will take full advantage of it starting this week against the Eagles.

The game between the Falcons and the Giants is about as even a contest in the NFL this week that you will see.

A solid set of receivers on the Falcons roster, facing an improved secondary in the Giants defense. Two quarterbacks that can sling it all over the field – one in Eli Manning looking to find his stride in a new offense, the other in Matt Ryan, who is just coming into his own as an elite passer.

The defense for the Falcons is improved, yet injuries have done harm to the starting secondary. The Giants have shown improvement in the pass rush and the secondary is as solid as it was two seasons ago.

You never see equality in the NFL, rather you hope for it. This game could prove equality exists.

These clubs have met 21 times, with the Falcons holding a one-game edge (11-10) in the all-time series. Falcons head coach Mike Smith owns a 1-1 regular season record against the Giants, including a 34-0 shutout win at the Georgia Dome in 2012. Under Smith, the Falcons are 7-5 against NFC East opponents and 24-26 on the road.

Here are a few things to know regarding a Falcons win on Sunday, according to the team’s website and Reid Ferrin.

Top Matchup: Falcons T Jake Matthews vs Giants DE Jason Pierre-Paul

If the Falcons are going to win the Week 5 matchup, QB Matt Ryan is going to need to be protected, especially from his blindside, a responsibility Matthews embraces at left tackle. The team's top pick in the 2014 NFL Draft will see plenty of Pierre-Paul, who enters the contest with 22 tackles and 1.5 QB sacks. "He's a really good player, really explosive, long and powerful," Matthews said. "He's got arms for days, so he's going to be a really good challenge for me."

Under the Radar Player to Watch: Falcons S Kemal Ishmael

Ishmael is being asked to help fill the big shoes of Falcons S William Moore, who is out for the next 6-8 weeks with a shoulder injury. As if his tireless work in the offseason isn't proof enough that he's ready, Ishmael's pick-six against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 3 is just a glimpse of the playmaking ability the team needs from its secondary, especially against the likes of Giants TE Larry Donnell, who leads the team with 25 receptions and four TDs.

On the Radar Player to Watch: Falcons QB Matt Ryan

When you're the NFL's second-leading passer like Ryan is, throwing for 1,263 yards, you're always on the opposition's radar. The team's signal-caller has completed 101 of 152 throws, including 10 TDs in 2014, good enough for a passer rating of 100.3. For the season, he's thrown five INTs, all away from the Georgia Dome, but during the two-career games Ryan faced the G-Men in the regular season, he completed 49 of 74 passes for 538 yards and five TDs, with no INTs.

Number of the Game: 341

The Falcons have worked all week to improve in all three phases, including their run defense. Giants RB Rashad Jennings already has 341 rushing yards in 2014, including 2 TDs; if Falcons defensive coordinator Mike Nolan's crew plays disciplined football and up to its potential, limiting Jennings' yards could help lead to a third victory of the year.

THREE KEYS TO VICTORY

1. Win the Turnover Battle: The Falcons turnover ratio is minus-three, while the Giants are at plus-one; if the Falcons want a victorious plane ride home, they have to avoid the turnover bug, instead forcing Giants QB Eli Manning to commit a few of his own.

2. No Dancing Allowed: Giants WR Victor Cruz is one of the best slot receivers in the game, also potent on the outside; known for breaking out his salsa-dance celebration with every TD he scores (1 so far this season), the Falcons will benefit by preventing the ball from being in Cruz's hands.

3. Convert Third Downs: Too many three-and-out drives have proven costly for the Falcons in their two road defeats this season. In 2014, Atlanta is 27 of 49 (55 percent) on third down, while New York is 24 of 53 (73 percent). The Falcons offense is high-powered, but only when it's allowed to stay on the field: moving the chains on Sunday would open the door for the Falcons up-tempo style of play, hopefully quieting the 80,000-plus fans than will be cheering against them.

The game between the Falcons and the Giants is about as even a contest in the NFL this week that you will see.

A solid set of receivers on the Falcons roster, facing an improved secondary in the Giants defense. Two quarterbacks that can sling it all over the field – one in Eli Manning looking to find his stride in a new offense, the other in Matt Ryan, who is just coming into his own as an elite passer.

The defense for the Falcons is improved, yet injuries have done harm to the starting secondary. The Giants have shown improvement in the pass rush and the secondary is as solid as it was two seasons ago.

You never see equality in the NFL, rather you hope for it. This game could prove equality exists.

These clubs have met 21 times, with the Falcons holding a one-game edge (11-10) in the all-time series. Falcons head coach Mike Smith owns a 1-1 regular season record against the Giants, including a 34-0 shutout win at the Georgia Dome in 2012. Under Smith, the Falcons are 7-5 against NFC East opponents and 24-26 on the road.

Here are a few things to know regarding a Falcons win on Sunday, according to the team’s website and Reid Ferrin.

Top Matchup: Falcons T Jake Matthews vs Giants DE Jason Pierre-Paul

If the Falcons are going to win the Week 5 matchup, QB Matt Ryan is going to need to be protected, especially from his blindside, a responsibility Matthews embraces at left tackle. The team's top pick in the 2014 NFL Draft will see plenty of Pierre-Paul, who enters the contest with 22 tackles and 1.5 QB sacks. "He's a really good player, really explosive, long and powerful," Matthews said. "He's got arms for days, so he's going to be a really good challenge for me."

Under the Radar Player to Watch: Falcons S Kemal Ishmael

Ishmael is being asked to help fill the big shoes of Falcons S William Moore, who is out for the next 6-8 weeks with a shoulder injury. As if his tireless work in the offseason isn't proof enough that he's ready, Ishmael's pick-six against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 3 is just a glimpse of the playmaking ability the team needs from its secondary, especially against the likes of Giants TE Larry Donnell, who leads the team with 25 receptions and four TDs.

On the Radar Player to Watch: Falcons QB Matt Ryan

When you're the NFL's second-leading passer like Ryan is, throwing for 1,263 yards, you're always on the opposition's radar. The team's signal-caller has completed 101 of 152 throws, including 10 TDs in 2014, good enough for a passer rating of 100.3. For the season, he's thrown five INTs, all away from the Georgia Dome, but during the two-career games Ryan faced the G-Men in the regular season, he completed 49 of 74 passes for 538 yards and five TDs, with no INTs.

Number of the Game: 341

The Falcons have worked all week to improve in all three phases, including their run defense. Giants RB Rashad Jennings already has 341 rushing yards in 2014, including 2 TDs; if Falcons defensive coordinator Mike Nolan's crew plays disciplined football and up to its potential, limiting Jennings' yards could help lead to a third victory of the year.

THREE KEYS TO VICTORY

1. Win the Turnover Battle: The Falcons turnover ratio is minus-three, while the Giants are at plus-one; if the Falcons want a victorious plane ride home, they have to avoid the turnover bug, instead forcing Giants QB Eli Manning to commit a few of his own.

2. No Dancing Allowed: Giants WR Victor Cruz is one of the best slot receivers in the game, also potent on the outside; known for breaking out his salsa-dance celebration with every TD he scores (1 so far this season), the Falcons will benefit by preventing the ball from being in Cruz's hands.

3. Convert Third Downs: Too many three-and-out drives have proven costly for the Falcons in their two road defeats this season. In 2014, Atlanta is 27 of 49 (55 percent) on third down, while New York is 24 of 53 (73 percent). The Falcons offense is high-powered, but only when it's allowed to stay on the field: moving the chains on Sunday would open the door for the Falcons up-tempo style of play, hopefully quieting the 80,000-plus fans than will be cheering against them.

For these Atlanta Falcons, it would seem to be déjà vu all over again.

Injuries to the offensive line, amongst other areas of concern on the roster, have prompted changes which have included many starters being placed on the Injured Reserve list.

That is not something this team wanted to face this season, and certainly did not want to deal with before facing a New York Giants team that may have found its offensive stride last week.

Mike Tice, the Falcons offensive line coach, has a different take on the revamped line and the thought that he believes the team will be fine and able to move on.

It's not just the number of years Tice has been in the league, according to atlantafalcons.com, but also the players he's coached, including Carimi, while serving as the Bears offensive line coach in 2011. Fast forward to 2014, when Tice has since reunited with Carimi and relied on his versatility, having seen him play four different positions this season.

"I like where he's at physically," Tice said of Carimi. "I've always liked where he's at mentally; he brings a toughness and a work ethic. We're going to be fine with Gabe; a lot of people forget that he was a first-round pick (Chicago's 29th overall pick in 2011) and an Outland Trophy Winner."

Can these Falcons get back on track after losing to the Vikings and give the Giants all they can handle?

Here are five things to know about this game.

BLALOCK, DOUGLAS WILL NOT PLAY

Head coach Mike Smith has ruled out guard Justin Blalock (back) and wide receiver Harry Douglas (foot) for Sunday's game at New York, as the two were not able to practice at all this week.

Blalock will be missing his first start in 102 games as the longest current streak among Falcons comes to an end. The likely replacement for Blalock in Sunday's game is Harland Gunn, who played in three games in 2013 and started 2014 on the team's practice squad.

Douglas will be missing his second straight game with a foot injury suffered in the Week 3 win over Tampa Bay.

WR Devin Hester, WR Julio Jones, S Kemal Ishmael and LB Prince Shembo, all part of the Week 5 injury report, are listed as probable for Sunday.

BECKHAM REMAINS A QUESTION MARK BUT COULD SEE PLAYING TIME

According To BigblueView.com, Offensive coordinator Ben McAdoo will be happy to add Beckham to Eli Manning's arsenal of pass-catching weapons if Beckham suits up on Sunday.

"He's looked good, it's nice to have him out here," McAdoo said on Thursday. "He has a unique skill set, we like the way he can get in and out of routes. He has some explosiveness to him, he plucks the ball pretty well. It will be his first game action, so it will nice to see him out there and we will take it slow with him."

MANNING MUST COME THROUGH, AGAIN

After a slow start to the 2014 campaign, the New York Giants look to be clicking and Eli Manning starting to play better football, but can they keep with the current success?

For weeks, Manning has looked out of sorts with the new Giants offense that has been designed by Ben McAdoo after former offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride retired from the job. Now, Manning – who caught fire against the Redskins – must show he is past the honeymoon stage and can do it again for a second straight game.

TURNOVER BATTLE

The Falcons must take care of the ball.

The Giants won the turnover battle last week and won the game. Each of their two wins have been situations where the defense won the turnover game.

The Giants had four interceptions and two fumble recoveries in the win over Washington. They also had three interceptions against the Texans.

GIANTS WIN

Playing in New York is tough enough. The injuries continue to mount for the Falcons. I still think this is a close game, but in the end, Manning’s sudden rise makes New York a team to watch. Matt Ryan may work miracles, but in the end, the defense of the Giants will prevail.

GIANTS 28 FALCONS 24

For these Atlanta Falcons, it would seem to be déjà vu all over again.

Injuries to the offensive line, amongst other areas of concern on the roster, have prompted changes which have included many starters being placed on the Injured Reserve list.

That is not something this team wanted to face this season, and certainly did not want to deal with before facing a New York Giants team that may have found its offensive stride last week.

Mike Tice, the Falcons offensive line coach, has a different take on the revamped line and the thought that he believes the team will be fine and able to move on.

It's not just the number of years Tice has been in the league, according to atlantafalcons.com, but also the players he's coached, including Carimi, while serving as the Bears offensive line coach in 2011. Fast forward to 2014, when Tice has since reunited with Carimi and relied on his versatility, having seen him play four different positions this season.

"I like where he's at physically," Tice said of Carimi. "I've always liked where he's at mentally; he brings a toughness and a work ethic. We're going to be fine with Gabe; a lot of people forget that he was a first-round pick (Chicago's 29th overall pick in 2011) and an Outland Trophy Winner."

Can these Falcons get back on track after losing to the Vikings and give the Giants all they can handle?

Here are five things to know about this game.

BLALOCK, DOUGLAS WILL NOT PLAY

Head coach Mike Smith has ruled out guard Justin Blalock (back) and wide receiver Harry Douglas (foot) for Sunday's game at New York, as the two were not able to practice at all this week.

Blalock will be missing his first start in 102 games as the longest current streak among Falcons comes to an end. The likely replacement for Blalock in Sunday's game is Harland Gunn, who played in three games in 2013 and started 2014 on the team's practice squad.

Douglas will be missing his second straight game with a foot injury suffered in the Week 3 win over Tampa Bay.

WR Devin Hester, WR Julio Jones, S Kemal Ishmael and LB Prince Shembo, all part of the Week 5 injury report, are listed as probable for Sunday.

BECKHAM REMAINS A QUESTION MARK BUT COULD SEE PLAYING TIME

According To BigblueView.com, Offensive coordinator Ben McAdoo will be happy to add Beckham to Eli Manning's arsenal of pass-catching weapons if Beckham suits up on Sunday.

"He's looked good, it's nice to have him out here," McAdoo said on Thursday. "He has a unique skill set, we like the way he can get in and out of routes. He has some explosiveness to him, he plucks the ball pretty well. It will be his first game action, so it will nice to see him out there and we will take it slow with him."

MANNING MUST COME THROUGH, AGAIN

After a slow start to the 2014 campaign, the New York Giants look to be clicking and Eli Manning starting to play better football, but can they keep with the current success?

For weeks, Manning has looked out of sorts with the new Giants offense that has been designed by Ben McAdoo after former offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride retired from the job. Now, Manning – who caught fire against the Redskins – must show he is past the honeymoon stage and can do it again for a second straight game.

TURNOVER BATTLE

The Falcons must take care of the ball.

The Giants won the turnover battle last week and won the game. Each of their two wins have been situations where the defense won the turnover game.

The Giants had four interceptions and two fumble recoveries in the win over Washington. They also had three interceptions against the Texans.

GIANTS WIN

Playing in New York is tough enough. The injuries continue to mount for the Falcons. I still think this is a close game, but in the end, Manning’s sudden rise makes New York a team to watch. Matt Ryan may work miracles, but in the end, the defense of the Giants will prevail.

GIANTS 28 FALCONS 24