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W2W4: New York Giants

The New York Giants (4-0) and the New England Patriots (2-1) conclude their 2014 preseason schedules Thursday at 7:30 p.m. at MetLife Stadium.

1. How will Eli Manning look in his final tune-up? Starting quarterbacks in the NFL typically play in three preseason games. This will be Manning's fifth of this preseason, and the main reason is that he and the first-team offense haven't looked sharp in any of the first four. The Giants' first-team offense has run the ball well in spurts, but the passing game has looked a mess except for the final drive of the first half of Friday's game against the Jets. Manning, his receivers and his pass protection will want to show in the first couple of drives against the Patriots that they're in sync to an extent they have not been throughout this training camp and preseason.

2. Can the offensive line keep Manning clean? The pass protection has been a major issue in every game thus far. Left tackle Will Beatty has looked very shaky in his first two games and will try to show he's knocked the rust off after an offseason spent rehabbing a broken leg. Rookie Weston Richburg replaces the injured Geoff Schwartz at left guard while John Jerry replaces the injured Brandon Mosley at right guard. The offensive line continues to be a trouble spot loaded with question marks, and the extent to which this new group of five can play together and keep the Patriots' pass rush away from Manning will determine a lot about how the Giants' offense looks.

3. Final decisions at wide receiver. The Giants are looking for playmakers at the wide receiver position. Fourth-quarter preseason star Corey Washington could get a chance to show what he can do earlier in the game. Veteran Mario Manningham has this one final chance to prove he's healthy and explosive enough on the outside to merit a roster spot. Jerrel Jernigan has been coasting through camp as a guy who assumes he has a roster spot locked up, but the Giants would very much like to see him perform the way he did last December, even for one drive. Lots still to sort out at these positions with a week and a half to go.