"I want to be out there practicing," Jacobs said. "I want very badly to play on Sunday."

Jacobs did practice Wednesday, but whether he'll play Sunday remains to be seen. If he can't go, look for Ward to start and Ahmad Bradshaw to get more work.

PLAYER NOTES

--NT Fred Robbins, who has been dealing with a bruised, jammed shoulder and missed last week's game in Dallas, didn't practice on Wednesday. If he isn't available, his bulk combined with improbable agility will be missed in attempting to shut down Panther running backs DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart.

--LB Gerris Wilkinson, WR Sinorice Moss, WR Domenik Hixon and RB Derrick Ward did not practice, but at the moment all are expected to be available. If Ward can't go and team doctors determine RB Brandon Jacobs isn't ready, Ahmad Bradshaw and rookie Danny Ware might be the only two running backs available.

--The Giants held a tryout for veteran WR Joe Horn, but he left after his morning trial and was headed home -- obviously the Giants decided to pass on him. Horn is the same player who embarrassed the team when he played in New Orleans in 2003. He hid a cell phone in the padding on one of the goal posts, promising to call his wife from the field if he got into the end zone. He did, and the Giants, who lost the game, 45-7, were hardly amused.

--LG Rich Seubert, who left the game in Dallas in the second half with flu-like conditions, had been running a fever and vomiting the day before. Now he says he's fine. "Bed rest and some antibiotics," he said, "did the trick." He is expected to play Sunday night.

--Despite two incredibly sub-par weeks, the Giants are still ranked first in the NFL in rushing offense. "I think Carolina's guys (DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart) are doing a great job," said RB Brandon Jacobs, "but who's leading the league in rushing? We are; let's try to remember that."

--The Giants placed rookie LB Jonathan Goff (back, hamstring) on injured reserve and replaced him on the roster with LB Edmond Miles, from the Miami Dolphins' practice squad. Miles, 6-0 and 242, was signed as a rookie free agent by Miami last year and saw action in all 16 games on special teams. He joined WR Derek Hagan, who was signed as a free agent from Miami on Tuesday.

GAME PLAN: This is the big one for the Giants, the one that will lock up home field advantage if they win, and their intent is to force QB Jake Delhomme to throw the ball as often as possible. That will require shutting down two outstanding running backs, veteran DeAngelo Williams and rookie Jonathan Stewart, who have combined for 1,980 yards and 23 rushing TDs so far this season.

It would be critical to get DT Fred Robbins (shoulder) back after two weeks, since he is the team's only true run-stopper. He combines size (6-4, 320) with quickness (51/2 sacks) and would test 6-2, 290-pound center Ryan Kalil.

MATCHUPS TO WATCH: Giants LT David Diehl vs. Panthers RDE Julius Peppers - Diehl must find a way to neutralize Peppers, who has 12.5 sacks, 24 QB pressures and five forced fumbles. He is a Pro Bowl DE and, at 6-7 and 285, a "freak of nature" combining size and killer speed. The Giants will probably slide a fullback or a running to help Diehl, who gave up three sacks last week to Dallas LB DeMarcus Ware.

Giants LDE Justin Tuck vs. Panthers RT Jeff Otah: Tuck, a Pro Bowler, gets to play against a rookie. Otah has been surprisingly effective, but he has also battled injuries for part of the season. He might not be quite ready for the likes of Tuck, who has 12 sacks, 61 tackles and 12 QB hits. The Panthers will probably figure on double-teaming Tuck.

Panthers QB Jake Delhomme and WRs Steve Smith and Muhsin Muhammad vs. Giants CBs Corey Webster and Aaron Ross and nickel back Kenny Phillips: Delhomme will try to get the ball to his wide receivers, who will put pressure not only on Webster and Ross but also on Phillips in the nickel package. This might be the matchup of the game, assuming the Panthers can't simply run the ball.

Giants run defense vs. Panthers RBs DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart: The Giants' defensive line and linebackers will be assigned, first and foremost, the job of shutting down Carolina's two outstanding running backs.

INJURY IMPACT: If RB Brandon Jacobs (knee) can't play, the edge clearly swings to the Panthers. WR Domenik Hixon (leg, ankle) would be missed but not dramatically. More serious would be the loss of ORT Kareem McKenzie (back spasms). WR-KR Sinorice Moss (calf) might be a game-time decision.