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NFL

Breaking down Giants-Steelers with NFL insider Michael Lombardi

By Michael Lombardi FoxSports
Published | Updated
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CLEVELAND, OH - NOVEMBER 27: Odell Beckham #13 of the New York Giants celebrates his touchdown with Eli Manning #10 during the fourth quarter against the Cleveland Browns at FirstEnergy Stadium on November 27, 2016 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

FOX Sports contributor Michael Lombardi is a personnel evaluator by trade who served as the Cleveland Browns general manager in 2013. Lombardi began his career with the San Francisco 49ers organization in 1984. He spent time with the 49ers (1984-86), Browns (1987-95, 2013), Philadelphia Eagles (1997-98), Oakland Raiders (1999-2007) and New England Patriots (2014-15) during his career, earning Super Bowl rings with San Francisco (1985) and New England (2014). Most recently, he served as a special assistant to the Patriots coaching staff during the 2014 and 2015 seasons, working closely with head coach Bill Belichick. Before every big NFL game, he assembles a report that breaks down the matchup from a front office perspective. He shared his three-point look at Sunday's New York Giants vs. Pittsburgh Steelers (FOX, 4:25 p.m. ET) game with us.

1. The Giants may be on a six-game winning streak, but they have allowed 36 big plays in the past eight weeks, which ties them for 29th in the NFL with Cleveland during that time frame. They have been able to win games because they are second in the NFL when they blitz opponents, with 10 of their sacks coming from their pressure package. Also, they are eighth in the NFL in converting turnovers into points.

2. The best way for Ben Roethlisberger and the Steelers to attack the Giants defense is with runs against New York's nickel package. Opponents have averaged 4.1 yards running from the shotgun formation but have had considerably less success from standard running sets.

3. On the other side of the ball, the Steelers can cause problems for Giants quarterback Eli Manning by blitzing him. The Giants rank dead last in the NFL in passer rating against the blitz, at 59.11. By comparison, the Patriots are first at 131.1. No team other than the Giants is below 70. Manning often simply throws away the ball against heavy pressure.