Barring a minor health miracle, the heavily anticipated Darrelle Revis-Odell Beckham Jr. showdown won’t take place.
But that doesn’t mean Sunday’s Jets-Giants game won’t feature an intriguing battle of elite wide receivers against top defensive backs — it just won’t happen when Big Blue have the ball because of the concussion that will likely keep Revis out.
Instead, it will be a tag-team affair when the Jets have possession — Brandon Marshall and Eric Decker against Prince Amukamara and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie. Though Marshall and Decker have posted impressive numbers, combining for 122 receptions, 1,631 yards and 17 touchdowns, Amukamara said he is confident the Giants don’t need to give them help against the Gang Green duo.
“I think me and DRC can guard any receiver in this league one-on-one,” Amukamara said Thursday. “I think we’ve put that on film.”
Defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo wasn’t giving any hints about how the Giants will try to attack the Jets’ receivers, and who will match up with Marshall and Decker, though odds are Rodgers-Cromartie sees more of the 6-foot-4 Marshall because he’s the bigger of the two Giants corners at 6-foot-2. They plan to “mix it up,” Spagnuolo said, meaning there will be some safety help, and they may play some zone. But also there will be times when the Giants’ corners will be left out on an island against Marshall and Decker.
“I think there are going to be times when we’re going to have to do that,” Spagnuolo said. “I do think both Prince and DRC are competitive guys and somewhere in the game they’re going to find themselves covering a pretty good threat.”
Amukamara said he is up to the challenge.
“I think I match up great with both of them,” said Amukamara, who made his return to the Giants lineup last weekend after missing five games because of a pectoral injury.
Though the Giants are comfortable with how their top corners match up against the Jets receivers, getting a pass rush would be a welcome addition to the defense. Big Blue has just 12 sacks this season, tied for last in the NFL with the Falcons. Spagnuolo is hopeful defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul, in his fourth game since returning from the assortment of serious injuries to his right hand he suffered during the July 4 fireworks accident, is ready to make a difference.
“We hope with his third game under his belt, maybe we start to see the guy that I know he wants to be,” the defensive coordinator said.
Amukamara was effusive in his praise of both the Jets’ wideouts, in particular Marshall, who has 71 catches for 931 yards and nine touchdowns. He faced him once before, two years ago, when Marshall was with the Bears, but the Giants didn’t play much man coverage. Marshall did have nine catches for 87 yards and two touchdowns in the game.
“He’s just big and physical at the line. I love to press, and I think he loves press corners,” Amukamara said. “I think he’s been playing like one of the best wide receivers in the league so far. He’s definitely a threat. … Both Marshall and Decker are guys we’re going to be very aware of on the field. They’re both on our high-priority list.
“We know that they’re both great receivers, both have a lot of touchdowns, and we’re going to have our work cut out for us.”