Originally written January 7, 2008
Even though the clock had under two minutes remaining, there was still a nervous feeling that the impossible could still happen.
From the Minnesota game 10 years ago to the San Francisco debacle five years to the day, my eyes have been trained not to believe the game is over until the clock had two zeros on it.
Jeff Garcia’s final pass floated deep down the right sideline into the hands of R.W McQuarters. Just to add a little more drama, the referees had to check to see if both feet were inbounds, but neither he nor the Giants would be denied on this day.
Call it “Liberation Day” if you will. It was eliminating the stink of the last seven years. 60 minutes (more like 45) of football on a hot and muggy afternoon in Tampa, Florida is where the Giants and squashed the demons of their recent past and look to write a new future potentially.
The first quarter looked like a horror show. Offensively, the team did not resemble the same one that played near flawless the previous week at home against the New England Patriots. Breakdowns in the offensive line were the cause for not converting short yardage plays. Relentless pursuit by the oncoming Buccaneers defenders left the Giants with minimal gains with the run and near nothing from the passing game.
On defense, they were not able to get a handle on Jeff Garcia, an old Giants nemesis. When it appeared he was in trouble, he would artfully get away and find an open receiver. Other times, it was running back Earnest Graham finding different lanes to run to in the Giants defense. It took them ten plays and 51 yards for the Bucs to score near the end of the quarter.
Bucs 7, Giants 0
The entire season has been marked with inconsistent play. Looking like a championship football team one moment and a junior varsity team the next. All year it seemed as if there would be procrastination in getting the correct offensive play call. Often this would lead to delay of game penalties, unnecessary usages of timeouts and thorough confusion among the offensive line and other members of the team.
Needing a spark, the Giants decided to put the ball in the hands of Eli Manning. It was no secret as to what Tampa Bay was doing. Eight and nine men were stacking the line to take away the run and no holes were opening up. Manning completed two quick passes to Plaxico Burress and Amani Toomer for first downs. Toomer later hauled in two more third down receptions. First at the Bucs 20 and then another to set up a first and goal at the five yard line. Suddenly the offense was moving the ball. On the next play, Brandon Jacobs caught a middle screen that Tiki Barber made famous and bulled his way to the end zone for a touchdown. All the bad play that had marred the first quarter, and now they had righted themselves and could officially settle into the game.
Giants 7, Bucs 7
You hear through the television that there was a large contingent of our fans that had found tickets to Raymond James Stadium for the game. During the week, the Bucs, fearful of our fans turning the stadium into a de facto home game, tried to restrict the sale of tickets to people only in the state of Florida. As if that was going to work. Nothing was going to keep us away. Besides, what does that say about that team when on Friday, you could go on Ticketmaster and still find decent seats to the game if you were willing to pay the $200. Worry about your own fans filling the stadium and you would not have this problem.
Michael Strahan then roared the Giants crowd with a sack on Garcia. What followed next made me cringe. He got up and did the imitation of a jump shot that the team did last season. A craze that took on a life of its own. So much so that opposing teams became offended and began doing it in retaliation. The rip comes from a rap song called “Ballin” by local Jim Jones. He even made a remix specifically for the Giants. After how last year played out, I wanted to part of anything that resembled the 2006 season.
The offense got the ball back again after the defense forced a punt and once again started to move the ball on their defense. Needing one yard on third down, Manning found Steve Smith at the Bucs 18-yard line for a 23-yard catch and run. It was good to see him not dropping passes anymore. Perhaps I can stop calling him “Butterfingers”. Two plays later, Jacobs went off left guard and followed the lead block of fullback Madison Hedgecock seven yards for another touchdown. One quarter of bad play was made up for with one great quarter and the Giants had taken control of the game.
Halftime – Giants 14, Bucs 7
One thing that was becoming noticeable was that Garcia was under pressure consistently. Even if he was not sacked, many of his throws were being made under duress. When he would throw, a Giants player would hit him and he was being taken to the ground. Playing without cornerback Sam Madison and Kawika Mitchell had not played any role to this point. It was interesting that Corey Webster, who was starting, was matching up the Bucs best player Joey Galloway. I should be upset about this, but it is not like there is that much depth on the roster for me to bitch about it. Do I think Kevin Dockery is going to do a better job? Probably not. Webster is making plays out there today. Maybe he can emerge from the doghouse to just having a leash.
The entire complexion of the game changed right at the start of the third quarter. With Tampa Bay receiving the kickoff, their kick returner Michael Spurlock was making his move to toward the right sideline when the football was dislodged and Webster (yes, him again – I know, I could not believe it either) recovered at the Bucs 30.
Unfortunately, only a field goal came out of the good fortune, but that was ok. Having a ten-point lead against an offense that was not doing much of anything was valuable. Sure, I wanted to go up 21-7, but I will take it.
Giants 17, Bucs 7
In control of the game, Garcia was going to be forced to make plays throwing the ball. This did not seem like a bad thing. Garcia was no Tom Brady. Galloway was a threat, but he was no Randy Moss. Ike Hilliard is a nice player, but he was not in the same league as Wes Welker.
On second down, Garcia would move to his left and lofted a pass for Galloway in the end zone. The pass was underthrown and intercepted by…Corey Webster! Yes, him again. Who could have predicted this? It was as if he was a man possessed out there. This could not be the same guy who has been stealing money the last two years? Maybe someone else had taken over his body or he ate some of that Popeye spinach that gives you super human abilities. Whatever it was, it was working. I take back my insults now. All of what I was saying to him was out of love because I know there is a talented player inside that body just ready to burst out but has been MIA all along.
The time was now to put this game away. Up by ten, it was time to make one final statement. A punt would leave the ball at the seven-yard line with 1:37 in the third quarter. Getting a field goal would not be the objective. This would be like Mike Tyson in his prime going for a knockout and looking to send the opponent to the hospital.
Methodically and masterfully, they would march down the field. Ahmad Bradshaw was getting first downs. Kevin Boss was contributing. Toomer and Burress were doing their part. Fourteen plays and 88 yards later, they found themselves at the Bucs five-yard line. It was third down and goal. Manning would work from the shotgun with four wide receivers. Toomer would motion himself left just slightly. At the snap, Manning looked to his left. He pump faked the ball in order to get cornerback Ronde Barber (who did more talking than tackling), who was on the opposite side, out of position. Barber bit on the fake and he was able to come back to the right with enough room to find Toomer in the end zone.
Touchdown.
TKO.
Giants 24, Bucs 7
You could not ask for better execution. Great play calling. Tremendous blocking and expert decisions by the quarterback who showed that last week’s game was not a fluke. Maybe that game really did have a positive effect on him. It certainly has appeared that way the entire game. Considering I was an advocate for resting all the players last week, it looks as if they have emerged with more confidence than anyone could have ever imagined.
I see Strahan slow to get up with just under six minutes to go and the training staff is out on the field checking up on him.
“Nooooooo!”
This was too good to be true. Something was bound to happen to screw this up. He was able to make it to the sideline and is doing some stretching exercises. It looks like it is not too bad. I hope that it does not linger into next week (assuming everything with game works out).
Garcia would try to lead his team down the field. Each play would run and the clock continued to tick. It took them though just over five minutes of time, which I was willing to exchange for a touchdown.
Giants 24, Bucs 14
Two things I was hoping for now. No idiocy and no fumbles. As long as they do not mess anything up, this game is ours.
Both would be accomplished.
It seemed that the clock would not move fast enough. Tampa Bay had one more possession. However, with 1:53 left, R.W McQuarters would officially clinch the game intercepting Jeff Garcia’s final pass of the day.
Final – Giants 24, Bucs 14
Amazingly, this would be their eighth consecutive road victory. Maybe they should just play all of their games on the road.
Las Vegas odds may have listed the Giants as favorites (-3), but it sure did not feel that way. Maybe it was the burden of all these years that weighed on not only my mind, but also the others around me watching the game. Having this fatalistic approach somehow has made us paranoid. We see things that others do not and can predict trouble where others cannot.
However, on this day, it was okay to feel positive and have a sense of gratification. Not only were they winners, but their reward for victory is a trip to Dallas next Sunday afternoon to face the Cowboys at Texas Stadium for Round 3. This is what I wanted all along. One more chance against that team to make amends for the two prior losses. Perhaps, the third time can be the charm.
FOX showed a graphic that it would be the first time these rivals have ever met in the postseason. This just adds to the hype that this week will bring.
We have gotten over the hump. Bring on Dallas.
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