EAST RUTHERFORD – It has been years since the Giants found themselves humiliated in the fashion they were on Sunday.
In the final game in the history of Giants Stadium and needing to win to keep their slim playoff hopes afloat, the Giants did little to help their own cause, and in the process suffered their worst home loss in nearly 15 years 41-9 to the Panthers, leaving their fans shamed.
When the Cowboys defeated the Redskins 17-0 at FedEx Field later that night, the Giants officially were eliminated from the playoffs for the first time since the 2004 season when they lost their final eight games after starting 4-4.
From the naked eye, you would have thought they simply did not show up to the game, an odd thought considering they knew their playoff scenario before the game ever started. However, this was a team, which since starting out 5-0 lost their next four games and alternated wins and losses after beating Atlanta in November proving to be a team mired in inconsistency and unable to get out its own way.
The fact the lost to Carolina is not nearly as surprising as the nature of the defeat. Watching the Giants offense unable to move the ball after turning the ball over on the first possession and then seeing Jonathan Stewart (playing for the inactive DeAngelo Williams) tear apart what has been an underachieving and uninspired defense to the tune of 204 yards.
While the lead the continuing domination grew, the fans who were looking to celebrating the closing of the stadium they have called home the last 34 years grew angry. So angry in fact that many began to leave early in the third quarter when it was obvious that not only the game, but also likely the season was nearing its conclusion.
Early on the Giants appeared to be “starting fast” as they did in their 45-12 win in Washington last Monday night. Eli Manning connected on eight of his first nine passes on the teams opening drive. Manning connected with Steve Smith for a 26-yard touchdown pass, but a holding penalty on Madison Hedgecock nullified the score. Three plays later, Manning hit Mario Manningham on a third-and-14 for 16 yards, but fumbled the ball and the Panthers recovered at the Giants 17.
Carolina converted the turnover into three points and that would end up being the Giants best offensive drive of the game. On the Panthers second possession, they drove 67 yards, culminating in a 29 yard touchdown run by Jonathan Stewart, who followed several blocks before bursting to his right and finding open space to make it a 10-0 game.
With the Giants offense held to only one total yard in its three possessions following the fumble, the Panthers continued move the ball downfield. Up by 10 at the Giants 22, quarterback Matt Moore found Mushin Muhammad who beat cornerback Terrell Thomas down the right sideline for a touchdown and a 17 point lead as the Giants Stadium crowd serenaded the home team with boos.
It worsened on the Giants next possession. On second-and-9, Manning looked to hit Smith on a slant, but the cornerback Richard Marshall stepped in front to pick off the pass at the Giants 29 yard line.
On third-and-11, Moore hits Marcus Goodson on an uncontested 13-yard pass to the right flat and two plays later, Moore play-faked and found a wide-open Jeff King, who scooped the ball up for a wide-open touchdown and 24-0 Panthers lead.
The ultimate symbolization of the half and even the season came on the last play when Manning looked to throw a Hail Mary into the end zone. However, while stepping up in the pocket he started to run, but ended up beyond the line of scrimmage and an attempted lateral failed as defensive end Julius Peppers recovered as the chorus of boos were too loud to ignore now.
Whatever said at halftime did nothing to stop the now potent Panthers offense. They started the second half just as they played the first, marching the ball at will against defense that clearly was not ready to compete. After a 30 yard run by Stewart, Moore (15-of-20, 171 yards, 3 TD’s) threw his third touchdown of the game when he found “the other” Steve Smith for a 27 yard touchdown pass while taking a vicious hit from Michael Johnson to make it 31-0.
Smith wounded up with a broken arm on the play as the fans slowly began to file out of the building for the last time.
With the score 34-3 after each team exchanged field goals, the Giants finally got a touchdown when Manning found Smith for a two-yard touchdown to trim the swollen lead to 34-9. Carolina quickly responded with Stewart making a run that symbolized the day for the defense.
At the Panthers 47, Stewart looked to have a minimal gain on a run. However, the Giants again showed an inability to wrap-up as he was able to escape five different defenders attempting to arm tackle and all of them missed, allowing the runner to sprint up the field 52 yards before the referees ruled him down at the Giants 1.
Fullback Brad Hoover gained the final yard to make it 41-9. For the defensive coordinator Bill Sheridan and his defense, it was the fourth time this season they had allowed 40 points or more and sixth time allowing at least 30. Carolina ran the ball for 247 yards, converted 10-of-15 third downs and forcing three turnovers.
As the final minutes ticked the away, Giants Stadium felt and sounded like a funeral procession. Not only was the place of business going away, but the season as well. They became the first time in the history of the NFL to start a season 5-0 and miss the playoffs.
Figure that many changes will be made to revamp the deficiencies in this club, particularly on defense. A season that started out with much promise is now coming to a very unhappy conclusion.
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