Pretty ugly (and exciting) Giants game vs. the Cowboys with some good signs
Very exciting win!
To me the best sign is that the Giants wide receivers are plenty skilled. Smith and Manningham rock.We know from last year that Hixon can play and I think it’s just a matter of time until he comes up big this season. Let’s hope he’s OK along with Tuck and the other injured Giants. Anyway, that’s 3 good young receivers.
In the first half, I only half agree with the announcers who said we got dominated. The Dallas lines were beating our lines but in terms of yardage the Cowboys weren’t really dominant (plus they had one more possession than the Giants in the first half). I think the big problem for them was turnovers and for us it was crappy play in the red zone. Did our lines get pushed around? Sure. Did the Giants get dominated? Didn’t seem that way to me. I’m not saying we played well – we especially sucked in the red zone. And I’m not saying we didn’t get lucky on the scoreboard – we did.
One thing that certainly hurt our defense was Flozell Adams. Not with superior play but with a trip that injured Justin Tuck. In the second half he almost tripped up Osi. Flozell Adams, you are a dirty player. Beware of karma.
Things looked good starting the second half. We had some big runs. Manningham had a nice catch and run. Then we got to the red zone where we went back to looking like crap, especially when Tynes missed a 29 yard field goal attempt. The defense got us the ball back and looked pretty good in the process despite giving up some rushing yards.
The Giants second drive was depressing until a Cowboys penalty gave them a first down on 3rd and 8. That penalty was there but was kind of a nitpicky call. More luck perhaps for the Giants. Then a pass interference call gave us 30+ yards. We couldn’t pick up a 1st down on our own and had to punt. The Cowboys looked like they were starting to dominate – quick TD, got the ball back, driving again, then Romo throws a bad interception (his third of the game) to Kenny Phillips.
Then the game got exciting – huge bomb to Manningham and eventually a Steve Smith TD catch where he left his cover guy on his ass with a sweet route. Then at the end of the game we’ve got Dallas 31 (having just scored a TD running easily against the Giants after a clutch 3rd down catch from Witten) and the Giants 30. 3:40 left on the clock and the Giants need points.
The officials had a couple of pretty weak calls on the Giants first play of that drive so it was 1st and 20. After a few nerve-wracking passes, the Giants got the 1st. Thank you Steve Smith. The Giants were in hurry up at this point obviously – less than 2 minutes to go in the 4th. With 40 seconds left the Cowboys had to take a time out. It was 3rd and 4 for the Giants. The giants convert, go a few more yards, set up a 37 yard field goal attempt. Tynes makes it twice (last second timeout from the Cowboys staved off their defeat by about a minute). Giants win an intense game that was sloppy at times but damn exciting!
