NFL-Giants: NY Giants football news

A lot of Giants fans, myself included, didn’t have high expectations for this game. The Giants have a lot fo big injuries and needed a lot fo help to win last Monday. And the Eagles are supposed to be good.

This Sunday, the Giants were just plain better. They averaged 4 yards per rush and Eli had time to throw. The offensive line did its job. The offense did not turn the ball over.

The defense (thanks Aaron Ross) earned the Giants some turnovers. Despite being on the field for 36 minutes, they held it together.

By the way, as Michael the dog killer Vick whines and cries about the ‘late’ hit from Canty that took him out, why don’t we make some noise about the helmet to helmet hit on Ballard as he was going out of bounds? The Eagles have been a dirty team for a long time – now I have to listen to them whine while they continue to rack up illegal plays that go unpenalized against the Giants?

In an emotional game on the anniversary of the terrorist attacks on NYC, the Giants looked like the weaker team and came away with the loss they deserved.

The supposed strengths of the team, the offensive and defensive lines, were unable to get the job done. The offensive line struggled in pass protection and the running game. The defensive line couldn’t put enough pressure on Rex Grossman. Man it’s embarrassing to lose to that guy and we really did lose to that guy because the Giants defense was good enough against the run. They obviously missed Juston Tuck and Osi Umenyiora. Although JPP should clearly be the starter – a bright spot for the Giants today performing well against double teams and making plays.

But we can blame the offense more than the defense because they had fewer injuries and played worse. Sucking on third down is bad – that’s when you need your high paid QB to earn his salary. And being unable to convert a 4th and 1 is a sign of weakness.

Finally, how long can our special teams suck before we get a new special teams coach?

I won’t argue with much of this list of overpaid NFC East guys despite there being too many Giants for my liking. But I will argue with David Diehl being on there – how can a guy who plays 4 positions on the offensive line well enough to be a quality starter – including the all important left tackle spot – be overpaid?

Injuries? Man, lots of players get hurt now and again – doesn’t make their contract a bad one. Diehl has been a friggin bargain.

It’s tempting to place some of the blame on the Giants defense for giving up big running plays in the second half but the story of this game was the turnover battle.

When the Giants defense came up with a turnover and the Giants went ahead 17-16 things looked good. Manning had been excellent in the second half (unlike in the first half). But turnovers continued to plague the Giants and Eli Manning’s near the end of the game was especially annoying. You pick and a 4th and 6 on a QB run and then lose the ball with no bad guys making contact? Pretty weak play from a guy who is supposed to be one of the NFL’s best quarter backs.

The Giants beat the Cowboys today despite a number of turnovers from the offense (5, 3 interceptions and 2 fumbles) and a special teams breakdown (punt return for TD). The defense was stout and knocked another starting QB out (Romo with a broken collarbone). You hate to see guys get hurt but you like to see your defense bringing it to the bad guys.

Other than giving up a Dallas 73 yard drive in 8 plays and 1:15 (that cut the lead to 41-35 with under a minute to play) the Giants defense saved the day. They were able to keep getting their jobs done despite watching the offense and special teams try to give the game a way a few times.

Tynes had a nice night (did anyone seriously expect him to make the 53 yarder?). Most Giants did, really, mistakes from Eli Manning, Ahmad Bradshaw, and Brandon Jacobs notwithstanding.

I am pleasantly surprised. Or shocked and elated. The Giants look like a good football team again – on both sides of the ball – in the same game!

The Redskins offense had been coming alive the past few weeks but the Giants defense suddenly figured out what they need to do.

Manning was accurate, we had room to run, and the offense didn’t kill the team with turnovers.

All in all it was a beautiful day. Can we expect more of the same? Can the Giants win out? Can they get the help they need and end up with a wild card berth? Can they bring a competent defense and offense into the playoffs?

“Giants in a near desperate position for tonight’s game against the Redskins” is a quote that raises some doubts. The Giants should have been desperate a long time ago if they wanted to make the playoffs. Sure they could win out and get in if the right things happen. I understand that losing to Washington wouldn’t even be mathematically eliminating.

Speaking of strange quotes, Coughlin says: “We have enough motivation right here. We have all the motivation we need. We have had it that way for quite some time. Look at a graph of our season. We have to realize that there are an awful lot of things that these players, if they just stopped and thought about it, have to be proud of.”

You’re telling me the Giants defense has been motivated for a while? And they have something to be proud of? They were #28 – let’s see if they make us proud in Washington and move up a few ranks…

Because right now, if defense wins playoff games the talk about desperation and motivation is all moot.

Mike Garafolo analyzes the play (and coaching) of a bunch of Giants and a few Cowboys. I can’t help but agree with the criticism of Manning. Sometimes he plays lights out but considering the percentage of the cap he takes up, it should be pretty much every game. Like the playoff stretch leading up the Super Bowl win when he played awesome all the time.

Someone has to stop this bush league scum bucket before he ends a career. This article discusses the possibility of a suspension.

“It’s extra special against Dallas. That’s absolutely a team I can’t stand. I’ve been hating Dallas ever since I knew anything about football.”

A win is extra special against Dallas. And the Giants season may not be over just yet – although it is hard not to get my hopes up after a sweet win, the Giants defense is still not looking so hot (the fumble recovery/return by Osi helped but can we can’t stop the pass). At least the defensive line is looking better.

Let’s hope Chris Snee is OK – knee injuries are pretty scary…