Monday night game plan

GIANTS GAME PLAN

• Pound it between the tackles. The return of Brandon Jacobs gives the Giants a formidable running game to lean on. Against the Falcons' undersized front, the combination of Jacobs and Derrick Ward should find plenty of running room between the tackles. Look for the Giants to stick to the smash mouth game plan that has helped them win three games in a row.

• Rattle Joey Harrington. After last week's unexpected benching, Harrington will enter the game lacking confidence. The Giants will pounce on his uncertainty by coming after him hard with their speed rushing defensive line (Osi Umenyiora, Mathias Kiwanuka, Justin Tuck and Michael Strahan). Expect to see the Giants use multiple stunts and games to keep defenders in Harrington's face.

FALCONS GAME PLAN

• Re-establish the tempo. Despite being pulled in the Falcons' last outing, Harrington has posted back-to-back solid performances by using a quick rhythm passing game to get into a groove. Roddy White and Michael Jenkins played well in those games, so look for the Falcons to go back to their up tempo attack as they attempt to rebuild Harrington's confidence.

• Match DeAngelo Hall on Plaxico Burress. After watching Burress terrorizes man coverage, defenses are reluctant to put eight defenders in the box to defend the Giants' power running game. But the Falcons' Pro Bowl corner has the cover skills to challenge Burress without safety help over the top. By using the match strategy, Lawyer Milloy should be free to help in the running game.