Surgical offense and stifling defense point the way for the Road Warriors in St. Louis
ST. LOUIS – It was difficult to believe that with 10:58 left in the fourth quarter, the St. Louis Rams had actually made this game relatively competitive.
Quarterback Marc Bulger had just thrown a 45-yard touchdown pass to Torry Holt that appeared initially to be intercepted in the end zone by Giants rookie safety Kenny Phillips. The score was 20-13 and the Edward Jones Dome, where good seats were available from where I was sitting, finally had hope.
The game that was being played on the field was a much different from what the scoreboard had read. The Giants, who been dominating again for the second straight week, found themselves somehow faced the specter of defeat with one mistake.
In previous years, this could have been a sense of worry, but these are not “those” Giants (2-0). Methodically, they broke down the Rams and later in the fourth quarter, they took their heart out and forced them to quit en route to an eventual 41-13 thrashing.
After punting on their first possession, Eli Manning and his offense started at their own 36. Seven plays later, Manning found Plaxico Burress (5 catches – 81 yards) who embarrassed safety O. J Atogwe for a 33 yard touchdown reception.
The Rams only points in the first half game on two field goals of 53 yards by kicker Josh Brown. Had the game not been played indoors, those kicks likely would have missed.
Once against, the defense was tremendous in the first half, limiting the Rams to 58 total yards and five first downs. Many of Bulger’s passes were short out patterns and slants designed to negate the Giants pass rush that would eventually sack him six times,
Despite the 195-58 yardage disadvantage, the Rams amazingly found themselves trailing only 13-6.
After the Rams went three-and-out to start the third quarter, punter Donnie Jones backed the Giants up to their own three-yard line. The crowd had come to life hoping to spark their defense.
Not on this day.
Keyed by the running of Brandon Jacobs (15 carries – 93 yards) and Derrick Ward (8 carries – 58 yards) along with accurate throws of Manning, the Giants marched down the field. The referees nearly ended the drive when initially they ruled that Burress had fumbled the ball at the Rams 10 after a completion of 16 yards. However, Coach Coughlin challenged the obvious non-fumble and was able to get the play reversed.
On the tenth play of the drive on first-and-goal, Manning found Toomer (6 catches – 67 yards) in the middle of the end zone for a 10-yard touchdown pass to increase the lead to 20-6.
The “Goal Line Play Action” has been a staple in the offense for several seasons and teams have yet to figure a way to stop it.
In the fourth quarter, the Giants defense gave up their first touchdown of the year.
Bulger’s deep pass into the end zone was ruled a catch by wide receiver Torry Holt. Rookie safety Kenny Phillips, who was into the game for the injured Michael Johnson, was tested by the Rams and appeared to deflect it.
Unfortunately, the ball was able to cradle into Holt’s possession while he was lying on his back and the Rams were now only trailing 20-13.
A game that should have not been as close was now a ball game. 10:58 was left and the ball rested on the Giants 21 yard with the game now in the balance.
It was in this moment when the Giants showed maturity and executed like assassins.
Seven plays were all it took. Domenik Hixon, who starred in the preseason when the other receivers were injured, hauled in a 32-yard reception down to the Rams 18.
On the next play, Manning found Ahmad Bradshaw, who went untouched for an 18-yard catch and run for a touchdown to extend the Giants lead to 27-13. For the day, Manning was 20 for 29 for 260 yards and three touchdowns.
The knockout blow came from the defense. On a second down play, Bulger’s pass was tipped and intercepted by Justin Tuck, who would race 41 yards down the right sideline for a touchdown to put the game out of reach. Tuck is likely to win the NFL’s defensive player of the week with his two sacks, interception and touchdown performance.
As the Rams fans headed to the exit, the Giants were not finished yet. A 50-yard punt return by Hixon was followed up three plays later by Bradshaw’s 31-yard touchdown run. It was his second of the day.
The final statistics backed up the dominance on the field. St. Louis was out gained 441 to 201, and the Giants ran for an even 200 yards.
As the final minutes counted down, only Giants fans remained in the building to cheer on the defending champions who have won twelve consecutive games away from the Meadowlands. Even backup quarterback David Carr made an appearance with less than two minutes left.
They are now 2-0 and headed back to Jersey to get ready for Sunday’s game with the dreadful 0-2 Cincinnati Bengals at Giants Stadium.
Quarterback Marc Bulger had just thrown a 45-yard touchdown pass to Torry Holt that appeared initially to be intercepted in the end zone by Giants rookie safety Kenny Phillips. The score was 20-13 and the Edward Jones Dome, where good seats were available from where I was sitting, finally had hope.
The game that was being played on the field was a much different from what the scoreboard had read. The Giants, who been dominating again for the second straight week, found themselves somehow faced the specter of defeat with one mistake.
In previous years, this could have been a sense of worry, but these are not “those” Giants (2-0). Methodically, they broke down the Rams and later in the fourth quarter, they took their heart out and forced them to quit en route to an eventual 41-13 thrashing.
After punting on their first possession, Eli Manning and his offense started at their own 36. Seven plays later, Manning found Plaxico Burress (5 catches – 81 yards) who embarrassed safety O. J Atogwe for a 33 yard touchdown reception.
The Rams only points in the first half game on two field goals of 53 yards by kicker Josh Brown. Had the game not been played indoors, those kicks likely would have missed.
Once against, the defense was tremendous in the first half, limiting the Rams to 58 total yards and five first downs. Many of Bulger’s passes were short out patterns and slants designed to negate the Giants pass rush that would eventually sack him six times,
Despite the 195-58 yardage disadvantage, the Rams amazingly found themselves trailing only 13-6.
After the Rams went three-and-out to start the third quarter, punter Donnie Jones backed the Giants up to their own three-yard line. The crowd had come to life hoping to spark their defense.
Not on this day.
Keyed by the running of Brandon Jacobs (15 carries – 93 yards) and Derrick Ward (8 carries – 58 yards) along with accurate throws of Manning, the Giants marched down the field. The referees nearly ended the drive when initially they ruled that Burress had fumbled the ball at the Rams 10 after a completion of 16 yards. However, Coach Coughlin challenged the obvious non-fumble and was able to get the play reversed.
On the tenth play of the drive on first-and-goal, Manning found Toomer (6 catches – 67 yards) in the middle of the end zone for a 10-yard touchdown pass to increase the lead to 20-6.
The “Goal Line Play Action” has been a staple in the offense for several seasons and teams have yet to figure a way to stop it.
In the fourth quarter, the Giants defense gave up their first touchdown of the year.
Bulger’s deep pass into the end zone was ruled a catch by wide receiver Torry Holt. Rookie safety Kenny Phillips, who was into the game for the injured Michael Johnson, was tested by the Rams and appeared to deflect it.
Unfortunately, the ball was able to cradle into Holt’s possession while he was lying on his back and the Rams were now only trailing 20-13.
A game that should have not been as close was now a ball game. 10:58 was left and the ball rested on the Giants 21 yard with the game now in the balance.
It was in this moment when the Giants showed maturity and executed like assassins.
Seven plays were all it took. Domenik Hixon, who starred in the preseason when the other receivers were injured, hauled in a 32-yard reception down to the Rams 18.
On the next play, Manning found Ahmad Bradshaw, who went untouched for an 18-yard catch and run for a touchdown to extend the Giants lead to 27-13. For the day, Manning was 20 for 29 for 260 yards and three touchdowns.
The knockout blow came from the defense. On a second down play, Bulger’s pass was tipped and intercepted by Justin Tuck, who would race 41 yards down the right sideline for a touchdown to put the game out of reach. Tuck is likely to win the NFL’s defensive player of the week with his two sacks, interception and touchdown performance.
As the Rams fans headed to the exit, the Giants were not finished yet. A 50-yard punt return by Hixon was followed up three plays later by Bradshaw’s 31-yard touchdown run. It was his second of the day.
The final statistics backed up the dominance on the field. St. Louis was out gained 441 to 201, and the Giants ran for an even 200 yards.
As the final minutes counted down, only Giants fans remained in the building to cheer on the defending champions who have won twelve consecutive games away from the Meadowlands. Even backup quarterback David Carr made an appearance with less than two minutes left.
They are now 2-0 and headed back to Jersey to get ready for Sunday’s game with the dreadful 0-2 Cincinnati Bengals at Giants Stadium.
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