Sid Rosenberg: Jets and Giants clash offering up great storylines

It may only be August, but this Saturdayin East Rutherford the New York football faithfulwill be out in regular season form as the Giants and Jets square off in the sixth annual “Snoopy Bowl” at MetLifeStadium. There has been no love lost over the years between the bitter rivals and though it isonly the preseason expect emotions to be running high.

Week 3 of the preseason is usuallythe last time NFL teams will run their starters out there before the regular season starts and with that in mind you can bet we are in for some top notch football. What will make this game even more interesting to watch is the return (and debuts) of some ofboth teams’ most dynamic players.

For the Giants it will hopefullybe the much anticipated return of wide receiver Victor Cruz.Cruz has been plagued by knee and calf injuries over the past two seasons and that has kept him on the sidelines. All signs are pointing to him being able to get some action on Saturday.

All eyes will be on Cruz this season to see if he can stay healthy and get back to his All-Pro form, and it all may start this Saturday against the Jets.No doubt the Jets will be looking to remind Cruz of the physicality of the NFL – so expect some chippinessfrom both sides.

The Jets will be looking to seethe return of All-Pro defensive lineman Muhammad Wilkerson and the debut of their new starting running back Matt Forte.Wilkerson broke his leg in the 2015 season finale against the Buffalo Bills and spent the entire season rehabbing the injury while alsowaiting to get paid by the Jets.Luckily for both sides, an agreement was reached and the Jets organization and Wilkerson are excited to have put the long contract dispute to rest.

As for Forte, the Jets are lookingfor him to be the All-Pro that he was in Chicago with the Bears.One of the league’s best all around backs, Forte has been dealing with a hamstring injury that has kept him sidelined for most of training camp and the preseason.When Forte returns he willbring a much needed veteran presence and safety net to a Jets backfield behind Ryan Fitzpatrick.

Other than these returns and debutsmentioned above we can expect the usual from both teams on Saturday.

The Giants are coming off a 21-0loss to the Bills last week and first year head coach Ben McAdoo was visibly upset with the loss. You can bet that Eli Manning will be slinging the ball in the direction of Odell Beckham Jr. early and often to prove that last week’s goose egg was a fluke.

On the defensive side of the ball, the Giants will be looking for former Jet Damon “Snacks”Harrison to dupe Gang Green’s offensive line and cause some mayhem in the backfield.

The Jets will see the usual chemistrybetween Fitzpatrick and his Pro Bowl wideouts Eric Decker and Brandon Marshall on the offensive side. On defense, Leonard Williams and the Jets’ young, fast front seven will be looking to disrupt Eli Manning in every way possible.

Strap in for a good one Saturdaynight.