The Jets-Giants preseason rivalry has been one of the most grueling since MetLife stadium opened in 2010. Bloodied faces, season-ending injuries and all-around strange play-calling have made the annual “Snoopy Bowl” one of the only must-see preseason games.
Snoopy Bowl V: The 5th preseason game between the New York Jets and the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium (with MetLife mascot Snoopy awarding a trophy to the winner of the game) takes place on Friday between the only two teams in professional sports to share a stadium for the same league.
The Giants first-offense has a lot to prove after QB Eli Manning finished last week’s game against the Colts with more passing attempts (7) than passing yards (6). The team is also trying to determine who the starting RB will be: veteran Rashad Jennings or rookie sensation Andre Williams.
The Jets first-team defense has just as much at stake after being trounced in the first quarter against the Cincinnati Bengals. With multiple defenders hurt and the secondary in dire straits, the team needs to find out immediately if the bad performance was a flue or part of a bigger problem they can address before the season starts.
The preseason Jets-Giants game has gained a reputation for being one of the most fierce in the preseason. In 2010, Eli Manning suffered a major cut to his forehead during a sack and required stitches. In 2013, former Jets QB Mark Sanchez went in during the 4th quarter and was hit so hard during a pass that it broke his shoulder and ended his season, and eventually his tenure with the team. In that same game, Jets backup QB Matt Simms, the son of Giants legend Phil Simms, led the game-winning drive against his father’s former team..
The two teams have alternated wins and losses since 2010, and since the Jets won in 2013, it is reasonable to expect based on the trend that the Giants will win in 2014.
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