Aaron Feldstein - AccuScore Analyst

Monday Night’s battle on paper looks like a mismatch. The New York Giants are at the top of nearly every statistical category, while the Cleveland Browns have once again hit rock bottom. It’s an amazing turn of events considering where these two teams were a year ago.

When Week 17 finished last year, both teams finished with identical 10-6 records. However, the Browns played in the tough AFC and just missed the playoffs. The Giants played in a weaker NFC and were able to make the playoff and eventually win the Super Bowl.

At the beginning of the season, a week six match-up between the Browns and the Giants seemed ideal – a couple bruising running backs, some dynamic receivers and two young quarterbacks on the rise. Fast forward six weeks, and this game looks more like a massacre than a masterpiece.

The Giants come into Monday night with the No. 1 offense in yards per games, rush yards per game and points per game. Defensively New York is sixth or higher in every category.

Quarterback Eli Manning is having a better year than his Hall-of-Fame bound brother Peyton. He has 1032 yards, six touchdowns, and only one interception. The man that led the league last year in interceptions is leading a team that has only turned the ball over once. Manning has a plethora of receivers to throw to, as he has hit six different receivers for each of his touchdowns. Monday night shouldn’t be different, as AccuScore projects the Ole Miss grad to throw for at least 206 yards and another touchdown.

On the defensive side of the ball, the Giants may have a field day. Browns’ are 31st or worse in three of the four offensive categories. Offensive Tackle Kevin Shaffer is questionable with a concussion, which means either Justin Tuck or Mathias Kiwanuka could add to their 15 sacks this season – third in the NFL.

Offensive line troubles will mean problems for an offense that has had problems all season.

Derek Anderson was the hot new quarterback last year. Fantasy players rejuvenated their teams after the Oregon State alum emerged in that 54-45 shootout with the Bengals. But the start of this season doesn’t quite mirror last year. Anderson has 543 yards, three touchdowns, and six interceptions in his first for games of ’08. The Browns quarterback had 328 yards and five touchdowns in that one game against Cincinnati. Anderson should continue to struggle as AccuScore forecasts Anderson to throw for at least 181 yards, but he has a 69.2 percent chance of throwing one or more touchdowns.

Cleveland’s attempt to turn it’s season around shouldn’t happen in primetime this week. The Giants have won this game in 75 percent of the simulations and the average score has New York winning 27.1-17.1. Manning and his squad have an impressive 51.8 percent chance of winning big, and sending the Browns to 1-4.

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