almost two decades, the New York Giants are facing a week of distractions.
There is going to be more talk about Eli Manning's heel,
his first NFL game in his hometown of New Orleans and the Giants' first game
against former teammate Jeremy Shockey since the disgruntled tight end was dealt
to the Saints last year.
And if that isn't enough, well, the Giants (5-0) are
facing the Saints (4-0) in a battle of two of the NFC's three unbeaten teams.
"It is going to be a real big test for us," middle
linebacker Antonio Pierce said Monday. "Obviously we took care of business with
the first five games. Going there, the Saints are coming off a bye week — I know
they are going to be well prepared. They are a well-coached team. They are
playing very well on offense and on defense. So I think for our whole team,
offense, defense, especially, is going to be one of obviously our biggest
challenge so far."
There is no doubt about that. The Giants' five wins have
come against Washington, Dallas, Tampa Bay, Kansas City and Oakland, teams with
a combined 6-19 record. The last three opponents — the Bucs, Chiefs and Raiders — are a combined 1-14.
The Saints are off to a tremendous start with quarterback
Drew Brees leading the league's highest-scoring offense. Their 144 points have
been scored in just four games.
Manning, who did not aggravate the injury to his right
heel in the Giants 44-7 win over Oakland on Sunday, refused to label this
weekend's game as a measuring stick.
"It is an important game and an NFC team," he said.
"We know they are very talented. Their defense is playing outstanding. Gregg
Williams, the defensive coordinator, we faced when he was at Washington a few
years ago. Their offense is very explosive, they score a lot of points. It is a
big game and they are playing very well this year."
Manning didn't want to debate the merits of beating a
couple of cupcakes early in the season.
"We don't really have to worry about where we stand
against other people," he said. "We have to worry about going out there and
playing the game each week and trying to find a way to get wins. We have to look
at ourselves and see where we can improve from day to day and every week from
the games. I think that is something we take a lot of pride in."
Manning said he hopes to practice every day this week,
saying he felt good 24 hours after playing less than a half and throwing two
touchdowns.
"I am able to move around and I didn't have a setback by
any means," Manning said. "It felt like it is getting better every day and
getting to feel better by the end of this week."
The MVP of the 2008 Super Bowl also is excited about
going to back New Orleans, where his father, Archie, played quarterback for the
Saints.
Manning was supposed to play in the Superdome in 2005
but the game was moved to Giants Stadium after the city flooded in the aftermath
of Hurricane Katrina.
"It is always fun to go to your hometown and play a
game, especially since I was a Saints fan growing up," Manning said. "I've seen
many games in the Superdome. So, I am excited about the opportunity to go in
there and get to play in the Superdome and expect a big game going against the
Saints. They are playing extremely well this year, two undefeated teams, it
should be a great atmosphere."
The other issue will be the Giants' first game against
Shockey, who was shipped to the Saints after pretty much requesting a change of
scenery. The trade was made days before training camp opened last year.
Pierce and Manning both said they enjoyed playing with
Shockey, though the tight end frequently upset the quarterback by not working
out with him in the offseason and then complaining on the field when passes
didn't come his way.
"I love the way he plays football," Pierce said. "He
plays with the passion that I think you should play football with. They are
playing against us. He is going to be riled up. He is going to want to obviously
prove a point that they made a mistake. But like I said, it is not Shockey
versus the Giants, it is the Saints versus the Giants."