strahan hat.jpgThe New York football Giants just completed hands down the greatest playoff run in NFL history and one that will never be topped. Since the inception of the wild card round in 1970, 9 wild card teams (including the Giants) have beat the odds and made it to the Superbowl. Five of those 9 teams went on to win the Superbowl however, three enjoyed a home game in the opening wild card round - eliminating them from consideration for the greatest run. That leaves the 2007 New York Giants and 2005 Pittsburgh Steelers as the only teams to win 3 road games en route to becoming champions of the football world.

The Steelers certainly had a tough road to reach Superbowl XL, beating divisional rival Cincinnati in a hostile wild card round matchup before upsetting Indy at the RCA dome and Denver at INVESCO field. However, Pittsburgh's run is hurt by the fact that they avoided facing the defending champion Patriots and were actually 3.5 point favorites in the Superbowl against a solid but far from dominant Seattle Seahawks squad.

While Pittsburgh's run could be described more as destiny given that Superbowl XL was played in Jerome Bettis' hometown on the heels of his retirement, the Giants run can summed up in one word: improbable. The improbability of what occured is not merely about the team's superb play or the outstanding performances from unexpected sources. The true historical brilliance of the Giants run from an afterthought in the NFC to Superbowl champions is a product of three things: 

1) How the playoff picture played out.

2) The significance of the opponents beaten.

3) The circumstances under which the Giants prevailed.

When I say the Giants playoff run will never be topped, I am not saying another wild card team can't run the table and defeat the top 2 seeds in their conference then proceed to beat the NFL's best overall team in the Superbowl. In the modern age of NFL parity, there is a distinct possibility this could happen again in the next 5-10 years. My point is that no team will ever have the oppurtunity to overcome a greater set of odds on their way to a Superbowl championship. Let's take a look back at the Giants playoff run and highlight significance of each win:

Wild Card Round - Tampa Bay Bucaneers & Jeff Garcia

The Bucs and Giants don't have much of a history; however, the Giants and Jeff Garcia sure do. Garcia's heroics led to the greatest Giants meltdown of the modern era, a 39-38 loss at San Francisco in the wild card round of the 2002-03 playoffs. Garcia continued to haunt the Giants as a member of the Philadelphia Eagles last year, beating them in the regular season at Giants Stadium before knocking them out of the playoffs. The Giants began their championship run by exacting revenge on their old nemesis leading to a date with his partner in crime.

Divisional Round - Dallas Cowboys & Terrell Owens

The Dallas Cowboys had beaten the Giants twice in the regular season and put up gaudy offensive numbers against the big blue defense both times. They entered the game loaded on both sides of the ball, well-rested and armed with Giants killer Terrell Owens. TO was a key cog in the Giants' demise at San Francisco and continued to drop monster numbers and L's on them as a member of the Eagles and Cowboys. New York would make the third time a charm against Dallas, riding two Amani Toomer touchdowns and a great defensive effort to a narrow 21-17 win. After the game, a sobbing TO confessed his love for his QB and the Giants were off to frigid Green Bay.

NFC Championship Game - Green Bay Packers - Ice Bowl Revisited

After knocking off the NFC's #1 seed, the Giants prepared to play 2007's team of destiny, Brett Favre and the Green Bay Packers. Green Bay had earned a home game by way of Dallas' surprising loss and the script couldn't have been laid out any better for Favre. The Packers had dismantled the Giants in week 2, beating them 35-13 in Giants Stadium and now got an opportunity to face them at the frozen tundra of Lambeau Field, a place where Brett Favre has been more or less invincible over his career. The game that would go down as 3rd coldest in NFL history when temps hit -4 degrees, would end on a 47 yard FG by Lawrence Tynes - the first opposing kicker to make a 40+ yard field goal at Lambeau field in the playoffs, EVER.

Superbowl XLII - New England Patriots On The Brink Of Perfection

New England had become the first team to ever reach the 18-0 mark following a win against the San Diego Chargers and now all that stood in the way of the first perfect campaign in the modern era was the New York Giants. Like the Cowboys and Packers before them, the Patriots had also beaten the Giants in the week17, a win that clinched the first 16-0 regualr season in NFL history. While the Patriots entered on the brink of perfection, the Giants were in the midst of becoming a dubious footnote to the Patriots brilliance. There was a very real possibility that the two biggest wins of the Patriots season, 16 and 19 would be at the expense of New York. Well, that wasn't to be the case as the 12 point underdogs pulled a rousing upset stunning the Pats 17-14.

OK, let's recap here at what transpired in these four games:

  • Defeated Jeff Garcia and Terrell Owens in the playoffs for the first time ever. 
  • Beat the Cowboys in Dallas after losing twice to them in the regular season.
  • Participated in the third coldest game in NFL history.
  • Beat Brett Favre at Lambeau Field.
  • Lawrence Tynes became first kicker to ever make a 40+ yard field goal at Lambeau Field in the postseason.
  • Ended the Patriots bid to become first team to go a perfect 19-0 in the modern era, defeating them in the Superbowl after opening as 14 point underdogs.
  • Overall, won 3 straight conference playoff games on the road, defeated top two seeds in conference and an undefeated team in the Superbowl.

When you add up the improbable nature of the run based on low expectations attached to the team's playoff prospects, the Giants' youthful exuberance and the magnitude of the obstacles overcome, it is safe to say that as Giants fans or may be even sports fans in general, we will never experience anything remotely close to the events of January 6th through February 3rd, 2008.

Cherish this moment big blue faithful because championships like this are often won once in a lifetime.


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by Becky on February 4 at 1:19AM
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GMEN!!!!!!!!

Seriously, whoever thought.........

GMEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!

"We're only going to score 17 points? Yeah, OK....hahaha." 
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA.

GMEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

"I'm Tiki Barber, I'm a giant douche!"

GMEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

N-B-what now?

GMEN GMEN GMEN GMEN GMEN GMEN GMEN GMEN GMEN GMEN GMEN GMEN GMEN GMEN GMEN GMEN GMEN GMEN GMEN GMEN GMEN GMEN GMEN GMEN GMEN GMEN GMEN GMEN GMEN GMEN GMEN GMEN GMEN GMEN GMEN GMEN GMEN GMEN GMEN GMEN GMEN GMEN GMEN GMEN GMEN GMEN GMEN GMEN GMEN GMEN GMEN GMEN GMEN GMEN GMEN GMEN GMEN GMEN GMEN GMEN GMEN GMEN GMEN GMEN GMEN GMEN GMEN GMEN GMEN GMEN GMEN GMEN GMEN GMEN GMEN GMEN GMEN GMEN GMEN GMEN GMEN GMEN GMEN GMEN GMEN GMEN GMEN GMEN GMEN GMEN GMEN GMEN GMEN GMEN GMEN GMEN GMEN GMEN GMEN GMENGMEN GMEN GMEN GMEN GMEN GMEN GMEN GMEN GMEN GMEN GMEN GMEN GMEN GMEN GMEN GMEN GMEN GMEN GMEN GMEN!!!

(For real, can we deal w/ the Nets, disgruntled and departed, in a day or 2? Thanks.)

BIG BLUE!!!!!!!


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Being a Mets and Giants fan, I don't concern myself with the New England sports scene. I was too young to remember Mookie Wilson's grounder roll through Bill Buckner's legs, effectively ripping the hearts out of Red Sox nation and placing a dark cloud of despair over an area stretching from Rhode Island to Maine. Living in New York and being friends with numerous avid Yankee fans I've been an outside observer to the ferocious New York-Boston rivalry, but have never had the opportunity to participate first hand.

Fast forward to last Sunday as the Giants lead by a cast of improbable heroes including a QB who was a draft bust as recently as week 15, a cornerback left for dead on the bench mid-season and a WR braving the -4 degree temps with a busted ankle, knee and pinky took down mighty Brett Favre in Lambeau in an overtime thriller for the ages. As journeyman Lawrence Tynes joined the history books becoming the first kicker to successfully make a 40+ yard field goal at Lambeau in the postseason, (it was a 47 yard FG to be exact) I lay on my living room floor hands raised to the heavens when it dawned on me: very fittingly, it was up to New York to derail the perfect season once again.

We have been there before. It was week 17 and the Giants had been given the thankless task of stopping New England's quest for the first ever 16-0 season. All week the questions loomed: Would the Giants play their starters in what was a meaningless game a week before the wild card round of the playoffs? If the starters began the game how long would they play? Would head coach Tom Coughlin be willing to risk injury to deny Tom Brady and Bill Belichick the NFL's first look at true 16 game regular season perfection?

Three road playoff wins and a Superbowl berth later and the Giants' on-field performance speaks louder than words. Tom Coughlin did in fact play his starters for the entire game and while New England achieved perfection that fateful night in East Rutherford, NJ, the Giants valiant effort and spirited play gave them the added confidence needed to get by the best the NFC has to offer and move onward to Arizona.

On February 3rd, the Giants and Patriots meet one more time in Superbowl XLII and I am prepared to say that a New York win on Sunday would dwarf any of the sports-related heartbreak the Empire State has ever inflicted on the greater New England area in the past. Forget Bucky Dent, Bill Buckner and Aaron Boone, no sports team has ever had more to lose in one game then the 2007-08 New England Patriots. 

The Giants enter the Superbowl as 14 point underdogs, picked to lose by everyone expect their fans and hopefully family members. The Patriots on the other hand arrive in Arizona 18-0, one win away from attaining absolute perfection and establishing themselves as the single best sports team of all-time. A Patriots loss in a game that has been all but handed to them by every "expert," talking head and fan in the football community would go down as perhaps the greatest upset in the Superbowl era. 

Although the Patriots stands at destiny's door, on hallowed ground never before touched by any NFL team, they also remain one loss away from going down in infamy and becoming a punchline for all eternity. In the end, New England's season will not be judged by 18-0, but rather by either 19-0 or 18-1. If the New York Giants are the ones handing them that 1 in the loss column, the ghost of Babe Ruth can finally take a breather.





    

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Taking a break from his busy schedule of judging fashion shows on Project Runway, exploting/berating ex-teammates for personal gain and being generally effeminate, Tiki Barber will attend the New York Giants-Tampa Bay Bucaneers playoff game on Sunday. In an article for his excellent Giants blog at the Star-Ledger, Mike Garafolo reports that Tiki announced his intentions to attend the game last night on his Sirius Radio Show - "The Barber Shop" - which he co-hosts with his brother, Bucs cornerback Ronde.

The article states that Tiki found himself in a "quandary" this week in regards to his rooting interest and has settled on a compromise. He will stand on the Tampa sidelines BUT also wear a Giants hat explaining to Ronde on the broadcast: "Dude, I'm rooting for you but I am a Giant. Sorry, brother..."

Well Tiki, I think I speak for most Giants fans when I say don't bother wearing our team's colors come Sunday. You showed your true colors earlier in the year when you tossed Eli under the bus to further your announcing career, tarnishing the sanctity of the locker room in the process. So while I thank you for firing up the Gmen this season and helping to improve team chemistry by retiring, you need to remember that you are no longer a Giant.  Now, you are merely another talking head... a rather large one at that.

 

 


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Although the Giants were an accessory to the Pats perfection last night, they have nothing to be ashamed of. For four quarters the Gmen battled arguably the greatest team in NFL history tooth and nail, actually leading for a majority of the game. The lead ballooned to 12, 28-16, following an impressive Eli Manning touchdown pass to Plaxico Burress with 9 minutes to go in the third quarter. However, it was all Patriots after that as they scored 22 unanswered points punctuated by Tom Brady's 65 yard TD pass to Randy Moss which put the Pats up for good while breaking several individual regular season records - most passing TDs by a QB and most receiving TDs by a WR.

The positives for the Giants could be found all over. Eli Manning played his best game since week 1 at Dallas throwing for 252 yards, 4 TDs and only 1 INT. Manning looked composed and his decision-making was crisp as he looked very comfortable running the offense. Eli's play was bolstered by a healthier supporting cast featuring a few new faces. 

The emergence of Kevin Boss (officially dubbed "The Big Bossman" last night although he does not hail from Cobb County, Georgia) really helped to balance the offense and give Eli added options in the passing game. While I respect Jeremy Shockey for playing through injury this year, his inability to run crisp routes coupled with his propensity to give up on plays was hurting this offense. Last night, Boss was able to run hard, true patterns which ultimately lead to a TD reception where he beat Rodney Harrison over the middle and he showed great hustle throughout. The latter was exemplified on a play in the second quarter when Eli eluded two tacklers near the Giants end zone, rolled left and hit Boss for a first down after Boss had followed Eli across the field. I just feel like a banged-up Shockey might not have been able to make either of those plays.

Sticking with the injury theme, Plaxico Burress looked as healthy as we've seen him in the second half of the season. He was running with good speed on his deep routes, was able to run patterns effectively and displayed good jumping ability on a long reception in the first quarter. When Plax plays well, the attention he draws opens up more space for everyone else to operate, putting Eli in a greater comfort zone. Another dinged up Giant who showed no ill effects of past injuries and played very well was Brandon Jacobs. He displayed soft hands in hauling in the first TD of the game and had some signature hard-nosed runs, running over Tedy Bruschi on a few occasions. 

Three young guys who shined yesterday and can be difference makers come playoff time include: 

  • Dominick Hixon - starting in place of Ahmad Bradshaw as the primary kickoff returner, had several solid returns including one taken 74 yards to the house against a stout Patriots special teams. 
  • Gerris Wilkinson - replaced an injured Kawika Mitchell in the first quarter and was flying all over the field. Wilkinson played well against the run and was decent in coverage given the circumstances (having to stay with Randy Moss on a few plays). 
  • Steve Smith - made some plays in the passing game, giving Eli a formidable third option to Plax and Toomer. Smith showed good hands on a few second half receptions and could be a valuable weapon both due to his solid route running and potential as a deep threat out of the slot.
Unfortunately there were also a few injuries headed by center Shaun O'Hara and Kawika Mitchell who left with knee injuries and Sam Madison who left the game with an abdominal injury in the fourth quarter. O'Hara and Madison are indispensable members of the Giants O-line and secondary respectively, we will know more about their status later in the week. If either can't go, it would be a big blow to those respective units.

I feel that I have written enough about the general negativity/cynicism of Giants fans surrounding this team. Here's to hoping that people are beginning to realize this young team's promise heading into the playoffs and beyond. Next stop: Tampa.


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The way the New England Patriots' 2007 season has played out to this point reminds me of the 1993 western Tombstone. For those of you that do not have an unhealthy obsession with the film, the plot revolves around wild west lawman Wyatt Earp (played by Kurt Russell in arguably his finest hour). The movie begins with Wyatt and his two brothers, Virgil and Morgan, moving to the up and coming town of Tombstone, Arizona with hopes of leading a simple family-oriented life free from the burden of maintaining the law in the lawless west. Being a western, this is not how things shape up for the Earp family as a vigilante group of cowboys, lead by Curly Bill Brocius and his fantastic mustache, take exception to the "law dogs" setting up shop in their town. 

The cowboys attempt to run the Earps out of town and Wyatt (the family figurehead) turns the other cheek for a while hoping to abstain from a return to a life of violence. However, two events - the shooting of Virgil and murder of Morgan - leave him with a fiery vendetta against the cowboys that can only be quenched with bloodshed. Eventually, a fully motivated Wyatt along with buddy Doc Holliday and cowboy defectors the ruthless duo of Texas Jack and Turkey Creek Johnson set out to destroy the cowboys. What follows is an improbable cameo by Charlton Heston and a montage of the fearsome foursome killing cowboy after cowboy in every way possible. 

As I watched this movie the other day, I couldn't help but think of the Patriots. This was a team up to last year's AFC championship game loss at Indy which was modest in the way they approached playing the game as well as building their roster. Now, Bill Belichick has become Wyatt Earp and the shootings of his brothers - the AFC Championship game loss = Virgil losing use of his arm and Spy Gate = the murder of Morgan - have changed the Pats focus from simply beating opponents to absolutely overwhelming them. Tom Brady is the Holliday to Belichick's Earp fully having his back and hired guns Randy Moss and Wes Welker quickly bought into Belichick's cause and have raised their games to a new level.  Aside from a close call in Baltimore and a gut check in Indy, the Patriots have been downright unstoppable beating opponents ranging from the Cowboys to the Dolphins in dominating fashion. 

Tonight at Giants Stadium is the final showdown. Just like Tombstone didn't end until Doc Holliday finished off his nemesis, defacto cowboy leader Johnny Ringo (who was in the unfortunate position of being the second fastest gun in the west to Holliday at the time), the Patriots remain one step from completing their revenge upon the NFL. 

Overall, the Giants matchup decently with the Pats. They have the ability to rush the QB with their front four and control the game on the ground with a consistent running game. Given the fact that blustery conditions are the norm at Giants stadium this time of year, the Pats pass game may be slowed a bit and the maligned running game will no doubt be tested. These factors could result in a closer game then many people expect if the Giants can take care of the ball (this means you Eli).

Tom Coughlin has shown no indication this week or from his past coaching exploits that he intends to rest the starters. With about an hour to gametime, it appears everyone from Plax to Brandon Jacobs will start and play a considerable amount. It will serve as an excellent tune up for some of the Giants youngsters, especially the guys in the secondary - Aaron Ross, Kevin Dockery and James Butler - going up against arguably the league's finest wide receiving corps and QB. Additionally, Ahmad Bradshaw has a good opportunity to further develop his game, facing a very active front 7. The experience gained tonight against one of the league's best defenses will help him to continue building on his week 16 breakout performance with an eye towards the playoffs where he will be needed.

Given that I expect a physical game tonight (Coughlin and Belichick would have it no other way) let's first and foremost hope for an injury-free game. If the Giants can play at a high level on both sides of the ball they will arrive in Tampa with added confidence when the second season begins next week.

 

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by Ben on December 25 at 12:42AM
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The Giants floundered out of the gates Sunday, finding themselves down 14-0 at the end of the first quarter. With 40-50 mph winds blowing and rain relentlessly falling on Ralph Wilson Stadium making conditions deplorable, the Giants offense struggled to consistently move the ball. Conversely, the Bills were seemingly calling all the right plays, keeping the Giants D off-balance by capitalizing on a slick turf that neutralized the team's defensive speed. Suddenly, playoffs aspirations were becoming more questionable by the minute as a showdown with the all-mighty Patriots lay on the horizon. Essentially two options lay in front of the Giants with 45 minutes to play: win today and clinch or lose and face the prospect playing a must-win against one of the finest teams in NFL history. 

Fueled by two Buffalo Bills special teams miscues - a botched punt by Brian Moorman and roughing the kicker on safety Donte Whitner - the Giants stormed back (pardon the terrible pun) to tie the score on two Brandon Jacobs TDs from 6 and 43 yards respectively. After 30 minutes of play the Giants lead 17-14. 

The second half got off to an inauspicious start as Eli Manning threw an interception on the first play, leading to a Bills TD a few plays later to make it 21-17. However, this would be the last lead Buffalo would enjoy thanks to the Giants defense which stepped up in crunch time yet again. Kawika Mitchell made arguably the biggest defensive play of the season, returning a Trent Edwards interception for a touchdown giving the Giants a 24-21. 

The nail in the coffin came following an impressive defensive hold as little used rookie RB Ahmad Bradshaw ripped off a dynamic 88 yard touchdown run putting the Giants up 10. On the next Bills possession Corey Webster closed out the Bills funeral proceedings with the Giants' second interception return for a td on the game.

Key contributions came from all over the place as this was a true team win. Amani Toomer showed a lot of fire and grit in Jeremy Shockey's absence reeling in several huge third down conversions while compiling 99 yards receiving. Osi Umenyiora's relentless pass rush forced Trent Edwards' hand on a bunch of throws and Kawika Mitchell supplemented his potential game winning interception return for a TD with two sacks and sure tackling. The biggest contribution however came from the Giants RBs and O-line who more or less dominated this game. The RBs combined for 291 yards and 3 TDs lead by Brandon Jacobs (145 and 2 TDs) and Ahmad Bradshaw (151 and 1 TD). 

The Giants fought back from a 14 point deficit on the road against a formidable foe, in wretched conditions no less, to clinch a playoff spot for the third straight year. Most impressively, this win marked the seventh straight on the road for the Giants who's lone road loss came in the shootout in Dallas on opening day. 

The Giants win combined with Minnesota's loss on Sunday night clinched the 5 seed and sets up a date at Tampa Bay in the first round. So what is with the high level of cynicism among Giants fans? Why do the newspaper articles and fan commentary throughout the web focus on negatives like Eli Manning's recent play or Brandon Jacobs' durability rather than this team's heart or inspired play on the road? If I didn't know any better, I would assume that the Giants were eliminated from playoff contention weeks ago and were preparing to make a high draft pick in April. 

In fact, it is getting to the point where Giants fans actually appear unhappy about making the playoffs because they don't want to be "disappointed again." Maybe we should ask the fans in Arizona, Detroit or Miami how to deal with these issues of consistently rooting for a playoff team. I am almost certain Lions fans will have no problem remedying our woes by lending us Matt Millen for a few seasons to decimate our roster.

Looking back at the beginning of the season, many of the "experts" predicted a last place finish for the Giants in the NFC East with about 5-6 wins. A majority of Giants fans I know and around the web set similar expectations for the team with the optimists saying .500 was a good goal in what was to be a rebuilding year after Tiki's retirement. 

Well a funny thing happened on the way to a top 10 draft pick, we OVERACHIEVED people. The running game and offense really hasn't skipped a beat after Tiki chose Project Runway over football, better acclimating himself with his feminine side. A collection of good young backs lead by Brandon Jacobs have run well behind an ever-improving young o-line and Plaxico Burress has emerged as one of the elite WR in the business. Most importantly however, a Giants defense that was soft and ineffective under the reign of Tim Lewis (creator of the swiss cheese defensive scheme with a genuine, inherent ability for ruining talented NFL defenses and alienating star players) has transformed into one of the fastest and most aggresive units in football under first year coach Steve Spagnuolo. Additionally, as is the theme throughout the roster, many of the key guys on defense are still pretty young or freaks (Strahan) who will be around for a while. Overall, this roster will continue to improve and has a chance of being good for some time to come.  

Considering all of the positives and promise displayed this season, topped off by a playoff game against a beatable opponent, it is shocking that so many Giants fans remain fixated on dissecting and trashing Eli Manning's performance. I agree that Eli has struggled late in the season; however, it hasn't all been bad. Eli played well in a win at Detroit when the Lions were playing at a high level and he engineered an improbable 4th quarter comeback in Chicago. Yes he has played terrible the last three games and the Minnesota game is inexcusable but look at the numbers for the opposing QBs in the last two games which took place in terrible conditions.

Looking around the league, analyzing the stats and game to game performances of other young QBs, it becomes apparent that there are more than a few growing pains that go into developing into a good QB. Carson Palmer has struggled with all his weapons in Cincy, Phillip Rivers has matched Eli's performance at best while Jay Cutler remain inconsistent in Denver. Additionally, other young QBs like Vince Young and Alex Smith have struggled mightily and regressed from their performance level of a year ago.  The fact is, Eli is by no means perfect and has plenty to work on; however, so do many other young, promising QBs carrying the franchise label around the NFL. 

It's important to remember that this makes three straight playoff appearances for Eli as a starter and by all accounts, he has the full respect and confidence of his teammates in the locker room due to both his late game performances and playing through a shoulder injury all season without so much as uttering a complaint or missing a game. If his teammates are content with Eli and are displaying patience and restraint with him, what more reason could the fans have to follow suit?

Saturday January 5th at 8pm the Giants will take the field for a playoff game looking for their first postseason win since 2000. Rather than focusing on petty negatives and setting impossible standards on this young team, take a step back Giants fans. Understand how far they have come since opening day and be excited that there is a lot of potential yet to be realized in the future. But most of all, sit back and enjoy the game as a devoted fan and leave the Giants bashing to trained professionals like Daryl Johnston 







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by Ben on December 21 at 7:34PM
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Last Sunday night was cold and windy at Giants Stadium. Actually it was ridiculously cold and windy. Trust me, I was in section 321 wearing every article of winter clothing known to man short of a full body latex ski suit. So you can imagine my surprise when Kevin Gilbride, pronounced Kill-Drive around the Meadowlands these days, followed up a 19 yard Brandon Jacobs run off right tackle with three straight passing plays into the swirling winds. Quite a gameplan for a team that is among the league leaders in team rushing yards and has a stellar offensive line. 

When all was said and done, Eli Manning had thrown 52 passes with 34 incompletions (2nd most all-time in a single game) and the Giants WRs had dropped around 10 of them. The Giants lost to Michigan legend Todd Collins and the Redskins setting up another win and in opportunity this Sunday at Buffalo.

The Bills were eliminated from playoff consideration last week; however, they loom as a difficult team to beat at home, just ask the Dallas Cowboys. They come into this game healthy with only Roscoe Parrish being listed on the injury report among their core players. With weather conditions calling for rain and wind that will make the artificial turf at Ralph Wilson stadium slick, this game should be Brandon Jacobs' time to shine. 

The big man flourishes in sloppy games as evidenced by his 131 yard outburst in London and it is imperative the Giants establish him early. The Giants offense has been at their best this season when they feed off of the ground game, allowing it to set up the pass rather than forcing the issue as we saw against the skins. Jacobs is the key to the Giants moving the ball effectively against the Bills and it is important to establish him early in order to allow Eli Manning to settle into a comfort zone.

On the defensive side, the slippery conditions could be detrimental to the Giants speed rushers coming off the corners. The Bills have an up and coming young QB in Trent Edwards but lack explosiveness in their passing game outside of the underrated Lee Evans. The Giants D will need to focus on Evans; however, the Buffalo offense usually goes as Marshawn Lynch goes. The rookie RB is the would be ROY if not for Adrian Peterson and is a dynamic back. If the Giants can contain Lynch, not letting him get to the corners they should be able to control the tempo of the game.

This game might be the biggest game of the Coughlin-Eli era, as most Giants fans still do not believe in this team's ability to win a big regular season game, let alone a playoff game. Their performance on Sunday will go a long way in showing what this team will be capable of as we head towards the playoffs.

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by Ben on October 22 at 4:06PM

 

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After nearly four months of silence, Giggin' On Ya is back and after much soul searching I for one have finally found religon. I haven't found the usual suspect which accompanies a fall from grace, Jesus, and I wouldn't know where to begin in my quest to find Buddha or the inspiration for 6 seasons of 24, the ever-popular Allah. No, my savior in these troubled times doesn't reside above, but rather walks among us.  

These have been tough times for the avid New York sports fan such as myself. The Mets folded like a lawn chair down the stretch, turning the entire city of Philadelphia into baseball fans for one glorious September. As I watched the white towels furiously waving in Philadelphia as a gutsy Phillies team overcame a 7 game deficit in the final 17 games to win the NL East I felt unprecedented pain and anger. A combination of the hatred Shawn Marion feels everytime he sees Amare Stoudamire lacing up his sneakers before a game mixed with Shawn Kemp's anguish when filling out his minion of child support payments each month. The demise of the Mets coupled with the demoralizing state of the New York Knicks franchise has made this a truly trying time. But I'm glad to say I have been vindicated friends as on Sunday, September 30th I put my faith in the upstart 2007 New York Giants! 

Leaving Shea Stadium that Sunday with the final nail emphatically placed in the Mets 2007 season by the Marlins, I was thoroughly demoralized. After my life was saved due to the advent of suicide windows in my 18th floor apartment and I gave up my search for rat poison, I sat down to watch the New York Giants. Twelve sacks later I was reborn! Five straight wins later I am a staunch believer in this team, even toying with the possibility of turning my cautious optimism into full-blown optimism for the first time in my Giants fanhood.

The biggest reasons for the Giants revival: the play of the defense (couldn't be any worse after the first 2 weeks) and the continued brilliance of the offensive line. The accomplishments of the defense have been well-documented - allowed 55 points in the last 5 games, lead the NFL in sacks, rivaling the rams offense in TDs - but this offensive line is doing things that are unheard of by Giants standards. If I told you two years ago that in 2007 the Giants offensive line would be in the top 5 in least penalties and sacks allowed what would you have said to me? Probably something unpleasant but yes these are the facts through 7 games! Chris Snee, Shaun O'Hara and Kareem Mc Kenzie are legitimate pro bowl candidates (especially Snee, he better make it), David Diehl has made a seemless transition to left tackle and Rich Seubert is just a nasty man in the trenches.

The sparkling offensive line play has improved all phases of the offense from Eli Manning's production (where are the idiots who were calling for Lorenzen now), Plax's ascent to a top 5 WR and Brandon Jacobs development  into one of the better young running backs in the NFL. This guy has unique size and a load of talent, it will be fun to watch as he establishes himself this year.

Beyond on-field performance, the biggest difference between this team and Giants teams of the past 5-6 years is the positive attitude that flows from these guys and the continuity in the locker room. This is a tight knit group that legitamately has each others back and Tom Coughlin deserves a lot of credit for this. In developing the player council and softening his controlling demeanor he has helped build an understanding with his players, making them willingly buy in to his philosophies. 

Finally, a bulk of the credit must also be given to Tiki Barber for a) retiring, removing a lot of tension and negativity from the locker room b) bashing the Giants in an effort to build his on-air persona resulting in the team becoming closer as a group and c) providing such transparent analysis on Football Night in America that the well-groomed Jerome Bettis looks like Bill Bellichick by comparison. Thanks again Tiki, I will never forget those magical wild card round losses you lead us to during your prime.

 


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This weekend, the NFL takes over Radio City music hall for the 2007 NFL Draft and unlike past years, I don't find myself all that excited. Being a Giants fan, I have found the past few seasons emotionally draining given the team's erratic play and propensity for coming up short. The G-men have been plagued by an overwhelming amount of injuries to key players and failed to live up to the expectations placed on them, making it a very frustrating experience to follow this team at times.

The 2006 season is a perfect example of this as the G-men got off to a hot 6-2 start and in the midst of their most dominating performance, a thumping of division rival Dallas in Big D, the injury bug began to bite. Within the next few weeks the team would lose a myriad of starters including both defensive ends, #2 WR, #1 corner, strong-side outside linebacker and left tackle among others in a season that would ultimately result in a wild card round defeat to the Eagles and an unceremonious end to the Tiki Barber era.

With the bitter taste of playoff defeat to a hated rival still fresh on every Giants fans' pallette, it appears many fans have turned the blame to Eli Manning aka the most convenient scapegoat. I for one am sick and tired of hearing that this kid is already a draft bust and is the root of this team's problems. Additionally, any Giants fan who has ever said or even considered that the Giants start Jared Lorenzen should simply stop watching football or find a new team to follow that is a better fit for their non-existant football IQ, say the Houston Texans.

I am pleased the Giants gave Eli an extension this offseason and still believe strongly that he is going to be a special quarterback. In his first 2 years as a starter, Eli has taken the Giants to the playoffs twice and shown discernable talent and inherent skill in doing so. I feel that the Giants fanbase and too oftern talent evaluators around the NFL thought he would step into the saddle and immediately morph into big brother Peyton. Well I have news for you, Peyton Mannings come along once a decade if your lucky and Eli simply needs to find his own way.

Plenty of good QBs past and present have taken 4-5 years to develop a comfort zone and shine in the NFL. Look at Drew Brees who San Diego nearly left for dead after he completed his dismal third season in the NFL. In his 4th season, he broke out throwing for 3100 yards and 27 tds en route to becoming the top 5 Pro Bowl caliber QB you see today. Eli's numbers have been on par if not better than other young starters around the league and the "step back" he took last season can be attributed to more than just his desicion-making. The ridiculous rash of injuries that plagued the Giants would have hurt the play of even the most veteran signal callers. The Giants lost Amani Toomer, Eli's go to guy at WR because lets be honest, Plax does not run intermediate routes he just makes plays down the field and his left tackle Luke Petitgout who was replaced by Bob "head bangin" Whitfield, a complete waste of life offering little protection against the blind-side pass rush.

So Giants fans I implore you to bite your tongue about Young Eli, because wouldn't you rather be in the minority that stuck with him through the bad rather than the fickle majority that will have to flip their scripts once he reaches his potential? The choice is yours Big Blue backers....

Now, onto the draft, the Giants have been surprisingly quiet this offseason and management has done nothing to improve an aging roster with several glaring holes. In fact, this roster appears to be weaker now than when we last saw it at The Stink in January. Gone is Tiki Barber and while I will refrain from bad mouthing him, let me just say Tiki's parting shots at Tom Coughlin, his incessant whining and timeline for revealing his retirement last season may potentially overshadow his on-field accomplishments . Personally, I think we are in good hands with Brandon Jacobs who is a beast in the Larry Johnson mold, big and nimble with break away speed (you'll see) who can run inside and out. Reuben Droughns was a nice addition and offers the Giants an extra back who can really pound the ball.

However, I think the guys who have left totally outweigh the talent that has been added to the roster. While Chad Morton (stinks) and Carlos Emmons (good riddance) deserved their pink slips, cutting Lavar Arrington was a poor choice. The guy is still a solid linebacker when healthy, had a favorable incentive laden contract and was showing flashes of returning to form last year. Another player who could have easily been retained was Brandon Short, a veteran linebacker with a mean streak who played at a high level last year. Short also had a cap-friendly contract however he was not resigned. Finally, the worst move of all in my opinion, was the release of Luke Petitgout. Left tackles dont grow on trees and the Giants let him go with a half-assed back up plan of moving David Diehl to left tackle. The team wants to give Rich Seubert more PT at guard due to the nastiness he can add in the trenches as the Giants pound the ball more this year with their big backs; however, weakening the most important o-line position to do so is ridiculous.

These offseason moves play a huge factor in the team's drafting strategy as not only do we need to address linebacker and cornerback but now we also must find an offensive tackle to develop. To make matters worse, this draft is weak at the tackle position with the top 2 guys Joe Thomas of Wisconsin and Levi Brown of Penn State projected to go in the top 10. That leaves many experts to believe the Giants will be taking Joe Staley (no relation to the DUCE) of Central Michigan with the 20th pick overall. While Staley appears to be a a smart and coachable tackle with good upside, im not sure he would immediately offer a significant improvement over Diehl. If the Giants don't truly believe this guy could be our left tackle for the next 5-7 years, then its my opinion we are better off addressing our most glaring weakness at outside linebacker with Joe Beason, Paul Posluszny or Lawrence Timmons. Im in favor of drafting Timmons and think his tremendous speed and athleticism in the Demeco Ryans mold would be ideal for our defense and a nice complement to the instinctive Antionio Pierce. In the second round I've grown fond of Maryland cornerback Josh Wilson who while a bit undersized at 5 foot 9 inches, is a playmaker with good speed and is a fine kickoff returner, which fills another need.

This is an important draft Giants fans, lets hope Jerry Reese can get it done.


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