New York Giants
New York Giants When the New York Giants face-off against the Carolina Panther tonight at 8PM in East Rutherford, New Jersey, we could be seeing an exciting playoff preview. For the first quarter anyway.

Both teams will be looking to bounce back from early playoff exits from a year ago. The Giants and the Panthers each won their respective divisions in 2008, but neither won a playoff game.

Odds makers are calling the Giants a 3 point favorite at home with the total in the game sitting at about 32.5.

Just days after quarterback Eli Manning inked one of the largest contracts in NFL history, the New York fans will get to see him in action. Manning and the Giants offense will try to be productive despite the loss of wide receiver Plaxico
Burress.

Last season, the team started 10-1 but, after Burress shot himself, lost four of six, including the playoff loss to Philadelphia. Whether or not Burress's absence was the most important factor in the Giants' late-season struggles can be debated, but it certainly didn't help.

For the Panthers, quarterback Jake Delhomme did not have a good year last season he passed for only 15 touchdowns, and threw 12 interceptions.

If Delhomme can step up his game in 2009 with the help of Steve Smith and the Panthers can run the way they did last year with Jonathan Stewart, Carolina should be able to put up points in 2009.

As for the Monday night match-up, since it is the first preseason game for both teams, most of the reserve players will play the majority of the game.