Eli Manning
Some laughed at Manning when he said before the 2011 Season that he was an elite quarterback. After his second Super Bowl MVP, Manning has proven he’s a top five quarterback in the league. He may also be the most clutch quarterback in the entire NFL. Reuters

The New York Giants and Chicago Bears are set to square off on Friday night in what will be each team's third NFL preseason game of 2012.

The contest is set to get underway at 8 p.m. ET at MetLife Stadium. It will air nationally on CBS. If you can't get to a television, you can watch a live stream online at preseason.nfl.com.

At 1-1, the Giants have played fairly well in the preseason. They dominated their contest with the Jaguars, until the third-string players blew a large lead. Last week, they beat the Jets easily, 26-3.

New York's defense didn't allow the Jets to move the ball, registering seven sacks and nine tackles for a loss. Tim Tebow and Mark Sanchez combined to throw for just 128 yards.

The Giants had success, despite an injury-riddled defense. Tackle Chris Canty and cornerback Terrell Thomas will be forced to sit out again. Linebacker Michael Boley won't suit up, either. He likely won't be ready for the team's opener against the Cowboys.

On the offensive side, quarterback Eli Manning will be without Hakeem Nicks, once again. The wide receiver has yet to play in the 2012 preseason, but should be ready in time for the regular season.

The Bears quickly turned things around after being blown out in their first preseason game. They followed a 31-3 loss at the hands of the Broncos with a 33-31 defeat of the Redskins.

Jay Cutler was solid in his second game since a season ending injury in 2011. He went 7-13 for 122 yards against Washington.

Newly acquired Brandon Marshall made a few plays, catching two balls for 61 yards. Rookie Alshon Jeffery led the team in receiving for the second straight game, hauling in three balls for 62 yards.

The struggling Chicago defense took another hit this week. Free safety Chris Conte dislocated his shoulder and will be out until the regular season. The team is still without star linebacker Brian Urlacher.

Prediction: Both teams are banged up defensively, but the injuries haven't affected the Giants as much as the Bears. Expect Chicago to have some trouble getting the ball in the end zone.

Predicted Score: New York 24, Chicago 10

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