December 25, 2005
Giants lose
Watching the Redskins offense outperform the Giants defense wasn't fun, but the officiating made this game almost unwatchable.
I blame the Giants for this loss, because the Giants were outplayed. However I just don't understand why the NFL can't find better officials. Calling back Toomer's TD with a phantom holding penalty was stupid. And this sort of thing is bad for the NFL because what should have been an xciting game pretty much ended early due to poor officiating.
I'm also not too crazy about roughing the passer on Alonzo Jackson. No hit, no foul. He touched the guy but that's about it. The call against Tyree on the Giants first punt was wrong. Tyree was forced out. Officials who didn't see this should be fired. They suck at their jobs. The non-call when Shockey was interfered with on the Redskins interception was also plainly visible.
But like I said, the Redskins outplayed the Giants. The Giants offense came up small, starting with the first play of the game and Plaxico Burress dropping a well thrown ball from Manning. Burress for probowl? I didn't vote for him and I think everyone can see why. Without much of a running game, did anyone think the Giants could win? They just got beat by Washington's front 7.
Meanwhile on defense, the Giants front 7 got beat. Not as badly as the offense but when your team's strength is invisible (Osi Umenyiora especially). The decimated linebacking corps is no excuse. I don't know who decided that Will Allen should cover Snatana Moss one on one, but that was a mistake. I don't blame Will Allen either. He got beaten by a superior player. The coaches are to blame for letting it happen.
Then we have special teams. How many times did Chad Morton let the Redskins down a punt near the goal line? I give the Redskins coverage team credit and the Giants blockers some of the blame (they were totally outclassed by the Redskins coverage units) but Morton has to see the situation and catch the ball. Letting it bounce around with all the Redskins there to down it was a stupid mistake. He made the same stupid mistake again and again. Feely made a nice tackle on the blocked field goal, but why do I have to watch the Redskins block a field goal?
All in all while the first thing on many Giants fans minds was the very poor officiating, the Giants were outplayed today. If you're the religious type, say a prayer for Chase Blackburn.
Posted by James Trotta at December 25, 2005 7:08 AMI think that's a great summation of the day, but I'm actually a little more frustrated about the officiating than you. They had several phantom calls go their way (you missed a couple drive-extending PI calls on us - Deloatch, Allen) and we had several fouls go uncalled on the road against the D.C. team. I've never been a conspiracy theorist, but I believe that game demands an explanation, if not an investigation.
We also had three out-of-postion linebackers and and I think they got away with well more than acceptable physicality on pass coverage. So in many ways that game should have gone very differently.
$.02
Posted by: Ben at December 25, 2005 4:41 PMGiants are soft!
Posted by: ACE at December 26, 2005 6:57 PMI think that it is big of you to separate the giants loss from the officiating. That was not a phantom hold on the late TD, it was a holding call. As a skins fan we have literally lost some games as direct results of bad calls. (tampa bay's 2pt conversion)
Bad calls are part of the game, but you are right that your coaches lost you this game. The skins just wanted this one more.
See ya in the playoffs!! (I hope)
Posted by: Tony at December 28, 2005 11:28 AMThis comment is directed at Tony.
So Tony, if as a Skins fan, you know how it feels to have your team lose to poor officiating, then you'll realize that this game stood much more of a chance of going in the Giants' favor, had they had decent officiating.
I will concede to the fact that the Skins wanted it more, and even to the fact that they outplayed the Giants, but I will not concede to the fact that the outcome of the game was very definitely adversely affected by extremely poor officiating.
Nobody will ever know who could have won if the officiating was better, but you must concede to the fact that the Giants would have stood a much better chance, had they been given a fair shake by the well paid off officials in DC.
The Giants actually competed against the 'Skins and the Refs in that game.
Posted by: Bruce at December 29, 2005 2:50 AMI agree that the oficiating was awful and it is possible that a well called game may have ended differently. But I think the flag on Tyree was valid because the rule states that after being forced out he must return inbounds asap. I believe he ran at least 15 yards out of bounds and on that point, unfortunately, the flag was correct. However,...
1. On the Redskins interception in the second quarter which led to a touchdown, Shockey had illegal contact by the Redskins. The pick should have come back.
2. In the 3rd qtr after Blackburn left the game, a Roughing the Passer foul was called that led to a touchdown. Reply showed the call was questionable – Ramsey wasn’t knocked down, just got a hug.
3. On Tiki’s long run with 6.33 left, Tiki was tackled out of bounds but the ref was injured and couldn’t call it.
4. The holding call on Chris Snee that negated Toomer’s touchdown was not holding. If it was, they should have given Buress an interference call on the next play. Redskins took over on downs.
Well, we're used to sucky calls, too [San Francisco].
At the beginning of the season my call was 10 and 6 for this year. We've won 10 and we're in the palyoffs. Life is good. Ruling the NFC East is gooder.
Posted by: Lou at December 31, 2005 8:42 AMPhantom T.D calls @ Quest field... "SHOCKEY"
Posted by: Jane at December 31, 2005 4:32 PM