Atlanta's pass defense has its work cut out for them against Manning and New York's receivers. (Getty Images)

By Ryan Wilson

Brent Grimes is one of the most underrated defensive backs in the league and when the Falcons face the Giants in Sunday's wild-card game, they'll be without him, according to CBSSports.com Rapid Reporter Knox Bardeen.

This is especially troubling given Victor's Cruz's emergence this season as Eli Manning's favorite target. The task of slowing Cruz and Hakeem Nicks will fall to backup Dominique Franks and veteran Dunta Robinson who is already established as one of the league's top cornerbacks.

Franks, a second-year player out of Oklahoma, has started four games this year, has five passes defended and two interceptions.

Football Outsiders ranks the Giants as the seventh-best offense in the league (fourth in passing, 20th in rushing) and the Falcons are the sixth-best defense (10th against the pass, third against the run).

Given those numbers and Grimes' absence, we fully expect to see Manning throwing early and often Sunday afternoon.

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