Rick Havner / ASSOCIATED PRESS

Julius Peppers and the Panthers face the Giants on Sunday night on NBC.

New York, which still leads the league in rushing, was limited to a season-low 211 yards in its loss to Philadelphia, then held to 218 last weekend against Dallas in a game in which Manning was sacked eight times.

The key for New York this week is halfback Brandon Jacobs is expected back in the starting lineup after missing the last six quarters (left knee).

“We have a lot of appreciation for what Brandon gives us, which is a very physical style of running,” offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride said. “It has been the hallmark of what we do as an offense. We’re a very physical, tough football team and certainly he is a big contributor to that.”

The other problem for the Giants has been making plays downfield since Plaxico Burress was suspended for the rest of the season following a nightclub shooting.

Opposing teams have dropped a safety closer to the line of scrimmage and that has hurt the running game and put New York in way too many third-and-long situations.

“It’s just a combination that we haven’t been playing our best football the last two weeks, but that’s kind of the way football goes sometimes,” Manning said. “You go through some ups and downs and you just kind of have to find your groove again and that’s what we’re trying to find.”

For the team that finds itself on Sunday night, the prize will be knowing the NFC road to the Super Bowl will go through either East Rutherford or Charlotte.

“I think it is very important because it dictates the playoff picture for you,” said Giants placekicker John Carney, who at 44 is the NFL’s oldest player. “Everybody wants to be playing at home. You have an advantage at home, and the bye week is a big deal, too. It is a very pivotal game for both teams.”

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