Giants Talk: Disgraceful, fitting end

End to season should have serious ramifications


EAST RUTHERFORD – This was how the ended needed to happen.

From the time the preseason was extended into four of the first five games of the regular season, it was apparent that this Giants team was ill-equipped to handle what 2009 was going to bring.

This is why what took place in the final game at Giants Stadium should not have come as a total surprise. In fact, this was more of a case where the inevitable finally happened.

Sure, the final score was an accurate reflection of what took place on the field as Carolina did whatever they felt like doing to the Giants defense in their 41-9 smacking. In turn, the offense, forced to carry this underperforming defense for most of this season, could no longer make up for their shortcomings.

The manner in which they lost this game highlighted a team that, while short on defensive players, had more than enough to battle with and being kind here, not lay down like dogs. As Jonathan Stewart gashed them for yard after yard finishing with 204 on the day, it was the effort in which they went down that needs to have the hierarchy of Giants management seriously contemplating turnover to this roster that went from champs to chumps in a matter of nearly three months.

So here we are now. Nearly two years removed from a Super Bowl championship, the Giants find themselves out of the playoffs for the first time in five seasons. It is a precipitous fall for a team that before Plaxico Burress shot himself, were on pace to repeat as world champions.

Now, they find themselves out of the “tournament” with plenty of questions to answers and problems to correct.

How this happen so fast?

They fooled everyone one of us by winning their first five games. When asked about their flaws during these wins, we were told that was being too negative and ignoring the fact that they won and that was all that mattered at the end of the day.

Unfortunately for them, we were not stupid to fall for this line of rhetoric that the Giants attempted to present as fact. The leaks were present if you looked closely enough, just waiting for select teams to exploit.

And then it happened.

What followed was a slide that the Giants thought they could correct.

“One bad week.” is what they said to a man after the Saints dropped 48 points on them.

When they lost to Arizona, essentially they chalked it up to a fluke.

Once it got to Philadelphia and the Eagles lit them up for 30 in the first half en route to a 40-17 win, the team was in full blown crisis.

They made their game against San Diego their “Super Bowl”. Once Phillip Rivers drove the Chargers 80 yards in the final two minutes to beat them in the final seconds, the only legitimate way they were going to find themselves in the Super Bowl was by sitting in the stands.

After that loss, they would alternate wins and losses. The worst of it all came on Thanksgiving night when they lost in embarrassing fashion at Denver. If that lose did not serve as the ultimate red flag to where this Giants season was heading, you were not paying attention.

The competitive part of the season concluded that night. They were not going to go anywhere now. Making the playoffs would only serve delaying the eventual end to a season that not headed to a positive ending.

So they went out and beat Dallas and Washington, while losing to Philadelphia in a game the Giants could have taken control of the NFC East. What would that have really gotten them besides a one way ticket to nowhere?

All of this led to what took place on the field at Giants Stadium on Sunday.

The math was very simple. Win their remaining two games and have either the Cowboys or Packers lose one. The problem in that math was the Giants winning two games in a row that they had an inability to do for the last month. Each allegedly inspiring win replaced by a deflating gut-busting loss.

They were too inconsistent in all three phases of the game to consider themselves a serious contender for anything. The defense, the rock of the team through these last two seasons now had become as shell of itself, either by injury or underperformance. The same defensive front that made its living harassing quarterbacks had now gone AWOL. The linebackers were now slower and the secondary suddenly looked dazed, confused and unable to cover primarily due to not getting constant pressure.

When teams needed to get yardage, they got it. When the offense needed to get a first down on third down, the percentages showed they got. Offenses found the end zone an easy destination when you saw the Giants defense was last in red zone defense. As it became more evident their problems went far beyond what coordinator Bill Sheridan was calling, it was obvious that they simply were not good enough to get it done. You could bring back Buddy Ryan from 25 years ago and there was nothing he could have done with this group.

So with each three and out on Sunday, and with each time the defense allowed Carolina to convert third downs, accumulate chunks of yardage and touchdowns to the point where the game became uncompetitive around the middle of the second quarter with the score 24-0, the writing was on the wall.

How did the fans know? When the score became 31-0 within two minutes of the start of the third quarter, many in the crowd who came to see a farewell celebration began to head for the exits.

This was a team that lacked a sense of toughness and fight all season long. At least the offense attempted to rally, but even they ran out of gas. Whenever the defense would get hit, they would fall and not get up.

Whether they were good enough was not the issue. Perhaps they were not. But not to the point where they would give up 30 or more six times and 40 or more four times. It was beyond embarrassing and not seen by a Giants defense in over 40 years.

Now they go from a title contender to serious pretender in one season.

The problem now becomes how this team can get fixed going into 2010. Losing in this manner, their performance the last 10 games, and their inability to figure out what went wrong are clear signals that drastic change has to be made.

This is team that has an offensive line that needs retooling. Currently, between an oft-injured Ahmad Bradshaw and Brandon Jacobs, it does not equal one healthy running back. The defensive line needs to either drafting or sign new blood, specifically in the interior. Add to the list, linebackers that have speed, and upgrades at the safety position.

Can all of this be done in one off-season? Probably not.

However, more than 50 percent of these changes are necessary for the Giants to once again be established as championship contenders.

Giants Talk: Big Blue Shame

Giants embarrassed at Giants Stadium, eliminated from playoffs


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.

Giants Talk: Could be too little, too late

Without Cowboys or Packers loss, Giants out of hunt


LANDOVER – It was nice to see the real Giants make an appearance for the first time in over two months.

That same team that started 5-0 and was last seen dismantling the Raiders in a glorified scrimmage way back in early October when the sun was out and no clouds in the sky came back on Monday night.

On display was a Giants team that ran when it wanted, passed to any receiver and rarely was there a threat of resistance when they were on offense.

Then you saw them ferociously playing defense all over the field despite injuries to the secondary. The pass rush that was to be the catalyst all season and took on milk carton status was back. Even Bill Sheridan looked to be a competent defensive coordinator for one night.

The exhibition part of the Giants schedule reemerged on as the Redskins clearly showed the rest of the world that they were ready to mail in the rest of the season and continued to be a convenient whipping boy, having beaten them decisively the last four times and eight of the 10.

From the first snap of the game, they were in control. Eli Manning calmly would look for his receivers and find them open around all parts of the field. The offensive line resembled last year, and when they had to get tough yards, they got them.

The defensive line also turned the clock back. Under siege was Jason Campbell from the moment the Redskins took possession. There was Justin Tuck coming from one side and Osi Umenyiora from the other. Fred Robbins and Jonathan Goff shooting right up middle as pressure came from all angles. Running lanes were nowhere and receivers could not get open because the Campbell never had a chance.

The way they were playing, this was how it was to be all along. It never should have reached this point. However, the team has alternated wins and losses ever since their bye week that it has become difficult to gage what the “real team” is.

Are they the group that has scored 30 or more points in four of their last five games (three of them wins)?

Or, are they the team that has mixed in brilliant play with inconsistency and ineptitude? They have only themselves to blame for now not controlling their playoff destiny.

Simply “winning out” will not get it done. Not only do the Giants have to win both this coming Sunday against the Carolina in The Meadowlands and in The Metrodome against Minnesota, but also need one loss from either Green Bay or Dallas to get into the Bill Parcells famed “tournament” and set up a potential third meeting with Philadelphia.

It has become clear that the offense is playoff ready. Over the last month, with the exception of their down in game in Denver, has been productive in terms of scoring. They scored 34 against Atlanta, 31 against Dallas, and 38 against Philadelphia before topping that with 45 more on Monday.

Eli Manning is playing the best football of his career and the offense has performed proficiently despite occasional struggles. The first six possessions of the game resulted in a touchdown, touchdown, field goal, touchdown, punt, touchdown and another touchdown.

How is that for offensive efficiency?

The defense has been the undoing of this team, and if the Giants do not make the playoffs, they will be the ones to shoulder the blame.

Despite their dominant defensive performance against Washington, it is difficult to expect this group to play with that intensity and emotion the rest of the season. Carolina does not possess the multi-dimensional offense that the Giants have had problems defending all year.

Minnesota has that offense, but until the end of this coming week, no one will know if their main starters will play the full game.

Either way it goes, it appears unlikely the Giants will be winning the Super Bowl this year, so all this is simply delaying the inevitable for at least one more week. The fact they may have to rely on the Eagles (the team that has beaten them twice) possibly is about as ironic as it gets.

Whatever it takes.

First thing, the Giants need to allow themselves a chance to get to Week 17 with a chance. At the same time, the team can send Giants Stadium off in memorable fashion.

While there at it, they may want to place a “Help Wanted” ad and hope either the Redskins, Seahawks, Cardinals or Eagles answer it.

Giants Talk: Keeping hope alive

Giants dominate Skins, but need outside help


LANDOVER – With each score on offense and each stop on defense, and with the Giants playing as possessed then at any point since early in the season, the following question you had to ask as the game played out was this:

Who are these guys?

When things are down and appear to be sliding out of control, all it takes is having Washington on the schedule as a cure to their ills.

Just as the Giants have problems beating the Eagles, the same cannot be said for their success against the Redskins, who they have now beaten four straight and eight of the last 10 times.

Not since their 44-7 demolishing of the Raiders at home back in Week 5 had the Giants put together the kind of performance displayed at FedEx Field on Monday night in their devastating 45-12 victory over the Redskins. The win was their largest road margin of victory since beating them 41-7 over 16 years ago.

The win was shocking in how completely one-sided it was. Over the last month, Washington played admirably, nearly winning games against the Cowboys, Eagles and Saints, all potential playoff teams. However, it would all come crashing down in resounding fashion.

Seeking a fast start, the Giants jumped on the Redskins early and often in the first half. Scoring a touchdown on their opening drive for the first time since their victory over Oakland, they tied a season high with a 16-play drive, covering 80 yards, and ending with a three-yard touchdown run.

After a quick three-and-out, a 63-yard drive in 11 plays led to Bradshaw’s second touchdown of the game on a four-yard scamper.

A 38-yard field goal by Lawrence Tynes came after another three-and out to extend the lead to 17-0. To that point, the offense had run 36 plays to the Redskins 6.

Washington did not have a first down after three possession and the Giants drove again for a score. Led by a 45 yard catch-and-run by Hakeem Nicks, Eli Manning found Steve Smith in the right corner of the end zone for a 6-yard touchdown pass and 24-0 margin.

Before the half, the Redskins were going to attempt a field goal, but Tom Coughlin called timeout when he saw their formation completely shift to the left side. After the timeout, Washington lined up for the field goal, but again went to the same formation alignment before the timeout and sent the kicker in motion, leaving only the snapper (tight end Todd Yoder) and the punter (Hunter Smith) playing the role of quarterback. To form, Smith was pummeled and Bruce Johnson intercepted the pass, returning the ball 49 yards as Redskins fans booed mercifully.

It was all part of an ugly first half, but pretty for the Giants. The defense held them to only two first downs and harassing Jason Campbell by sacking him three times. The offense had 16 first downs and converted eight-of-10 third down attempts in nearly 22 minutes of possession.

Washington tried to make the game respectable when Campbell hit Fred Davis for an 11-yard touchdown to cut the lead to 24-6 (Barry Cofield blocked the extra point). It was the only drive of the night where the defense lapsed, allowing the Redskins to move the ball 86 yards, set up by a 51-yard reception by Rock Cartwright.

Immediately the Giants answered. Manning set up the drive with a 35-yard pass to Kevin Boss. On third-and-4, he found little used Derek Hagan wide open on a corner route for his first touchdown of the season. It was the fourth time in the last five games the offense scored at least 30 points.

The defense got into the act on the Redskins first play of their next possession. Campbell faked a screen pass to the left, and his pass to the right went over the Davis’ head, and into the waiting arms of Terrell Thomas, who returned it 14 yards for a touchdown and 38-6 ensuing rout.

Thomas, starting as the team’s number one corner with Corey Webster inactive (knee) and Aaron Ross (late scratch), has five interceptions on the season and likely has permanently wrestled the starting cornerback spot.

Campbell barely had time to throw most of the night as he was under siege by a rejuvenated Giants pass rush. Back in the second quarter, Osi Umenyiora brought him down on a sack, sending him to the locker room for the remainder of the half before returning.

Quinton Ganther’s 1-yard touchdown made it 38-12. Manning’s offense responded quickly when he fired his third touchdown pass of the game, this time a 25 yard strike to Mario Manningham as the Giants put up their second 40 point game of the season (45) and the most points scored against their division rival since 1968.

Manning finished the game completing 19-of-26 passes for 268 yards. It was his 50th victory since taking over as the starting quarterback late in 2004.

With the game out of hand, David Carr played the rest of the fourth quarter as the Giants (8-6) remained in the playoff race.

To make the playoffs, the Giants need a combination of winning their two remaining games and one loss from either Dallas or Green Bay.

Giants Talk: Coughed up

Giants allow opportunity to slip past them


EAST RUTHERFORD – Every time you think they are good enough, they should you that this season, they simply are not good enough.

Just when there appears to be a glimmer of light, darkness falls.

Going into Sunday under the light at Giants Stadium, the football gods provided the Giants with yet another gift. Less than an hour before kickoff, the Cowboys saw their December slide continue with a loss at home to the Chargers. That defeat meant that with a win over the Eagles miraculously would be back in first place despite everything that has gone on over the last two months.

Instead, they fumbled it away.

Literally and figuratively.

There have been signs all year of leaks within this team and last night was a culmination in which an interconnection of all three phases to dash any hopes of taking back the NFC East in the Giants 45-38 shootout loss to the Eagles.

It was already bad enough that the Eagles marched down the field with ease for a touchdown on their opening drive 3:32 into the game as once again head coach Andy Reid and quarterback Donovan McNabb (along with some help by Mike Vick) found the same holes in the defense that existed in the first game. It got worse when Brandon Jacobs had the ball stripped by Trent Cole and the ricochet went off Kevin Boss’ foot and into the hands of Sheldon Brown, who ran it back 60 yards for a touchdown.

The score 14-0 and the game was not even five minutes old. Just like the first game when it was 13-0 before you could blink. One common theme to these losses has been the turnovers on offense allowing the Eagles to convert them into points.

In the playoff game, Asante Samuel’s interception led to the game-changing touchdown. Another Samuel interception in November led to a touchdown. Now it was Brown with the fumble recovery.

At 17-10, the Giants punt looking to directionally kick and pin DeSean Jackson (perhaps the league most dangerous playmaker) along the sideline. Jeff Feagles’ punt pins Jackson at the 28, but poor coverage allows him to slip free and streak down the right sideline untouched for a 72-yard touchdown.

If you are scoring at home, this means the Eagles have scored a touchdown on offense, defense and special teams. It was a perfect combination for Philadelphia and severe red flag for New York.

Down 24-17 with 0:44 remaining, Osi Umenyiora comes around the end and sacks McNabb from behind, causing the ball to come out of his hands before his arm comes forward. Michael Boley has both hands on the football and nothing but open space to take it back for a touchdown and tie the game.

Instead, he drops the ball.

While this is going on, the ball remains on the ground and no one picks it up as players claim to have heard the whistle blow, stopping the play. The ruling was an unrecovered fumble that allows the Eagles to retain possession. On the next play, McNabb found a wide open Jackson and tight end Brent Celek for 44 and 23 yards down to the 1. Vick ran for a touchdown on the next play for a two score advantage.
It was a game where the Giants were moving the well with ease, but the Eagles were getting their points in an instant.

Turnovers, blown coverage and miscues all showing up at once. If it wasn’t for the magic of one of the scoreboard operators allowing the clock to roll to 0:00 after Domenik Hixon’s fumble was recovered by Philadelphia, it could have been worse.

The Giants get within 30-24 and then linebacker Jonathan Goff intercepts a McNabb pass in the middle of the field, setting up great field position. Only problem is that on the next play, Manning, while scrambling for additional yards, slides headfirst and the ball comes free, giving the ball back to the Eagles.

While it did not cost the Giants, it was another blown chance.

Even with all that, after Hixon broke away for a 61-yard touchdown catch-and-run, the Giants had the lead. There was a 200-yard discrepancy between them and the Eagles and yet the difference wasn’t reflective in the scoreboard.

One play after taking the lead, McNabb goes deep and finds Jackson again, blowing past the Giants secondary for a 60-yard touchdown to retake the lead.

From 30-17 down, they rallied to lead 31-30. Whatever initial euphoria engulfing Giants Stadium for those few moments when they held a one-point lead left in an instant. McNabb dropped back and found Jackson streaking down the middle of the field untouched past Aaron Ross, strutting to the end zone backwards for a touchdown.

In the fourth quarter, the Giants were moving the ball again and had the third-and-five on the Eagles 43, but Ahmad Bradshaw did not make the first down on a shotgun draw (gaining two yards) and rather than going for it on fourth down, elected to punt.

At no point in this game did the defense step up and make a stand against the Eagles offense. When they needed yardage, McNabb and his assortment of playmakers had no trouble doing so. Considering how they have been unable to stop them, it was unconceivable that they would do so this time.

True to form, they didn’t.

91 yards in 12 plays without so much as a third down was what it took the Eagles to march down the field for the clinching touchdown and a 45-31 lead. A disgusting performance was congruent of the entire night for a defense that has seen it fall so far in such a precipitous period.

From dominating to dominated all in a flash.

With 0:26 left, the Giants still had a chance. In reality, they didn’t have much of one. Manning scrambled to look for an open receiver, Darren Howard knocked the ball out of his hands and the Eagles recovered.

It was the fourth turnover of the game for the Giants.

It officially gave the Eagles their four consecutive win over the Giants.

What took minutes for them to score on offense; it took the Eagles mere seconds.

The game was there for the taking and seizing control of first place in the process. It did not happen.

Two games and 85 points this season scored against a defense showing to be as soft as toilet paper.
Now the Giants are in a situation where they need to win out to give themselves a chance to make the playoffs.

It is just another blown opportunity.

Giants Talk – Eagles soar again

Fourth straight loss to Birds clips Giants wings


EAST RUTHERFORD – There was a fleeting moment in the game where the Giants realistically had a chance after spotting the Eagles a 14-point lead from the outset of the game.

Eli Manning spotted a blitz from Philadelphia and found an open Domenik Hixon, who broke a tackle and withstood a tackle attempt by safety Sean Jones and sprinted 61 yards for a touchdown to give the Giants a 31-30 lead late in the third quarter.

Giants Stadium roared and the team bench enjoyed another big play. With the news of the Cowboys losing at home to the Chargers fresh in their minds, they could see the finish line of first place in the NFC East after everything they have gone through since starting the season 5-0.

All it took was 15 seconds and one play for the Eagles to dash those hopes, with DeSean Jackson backpedaling into the end zone on a blown coverage. This gave Philadelphia the lead and an eventual 45-38 shootout victory to all but eliminate the Giants from divisional contention.

The Eagles (9-4) now hold a two-game lead (three with the season sweep) in the NFC East over the Giants (7-6) with three games to play. For now, the only ticket to the playoffs would be for the Cowboys to continue their December swoon.

Needing failure from other teams at this time of year is always a dangerous proposition, but the Giants could have control their own road to the postseason. However, for the fourth straight time (third in a row in Giants Stadium) in last twelve months, they came up short to their division rivals.

Just like the first game in November, the Eagles quickly got ahead by double-digits, forcing the Giants into another early hole. On the first drive, Philadelphia marched 67 yards, scoring when Donovan McNabb found Brent Celek on a tight end screen, following his blocks into the end zone.

On defense, Trent Cole swiped the football from Brandon Jacobs and the ball ricocheted off the back foot of Kevin Boss into the arms of Sheldon Brown as he raced 60 yards for a touchdown.

With the score 14-3, Manning found rookie Hakeem Nicks who spun out of a tackled and went 66 yards for a score to make it 14-10.

A 20-yard field goal by David Akers made it 17-10, and when the Giants were forced to punt, DeSean Jackson, who punter Jeff Feagles attempted to pin along the sideline. However, Jackson saw Hixon out of position and by setting up his blocks was able to accelerate up the left side, taking it 72 yards for the touchdown.

The Giants cut the deficit to 24-17 on a three-yard touchdown run by Ahmad Bradshaw on a 67-yard drive. Philadelphia answered with help from the Giants defense in a play that caused confusion on the field.

On second-and-10, McNabb went back to throw and Osi Umenyiora sacked him from behind and the ball floated into the air. Michael Boley dropped what looked to be a sure interception for touchdown. The defense assumed the pass was incomplete and the ball remained on the ground for several moments. When no Giants defender picked up the ball, the referees moved the ball back to the point of the sack and it became nothing more than a loss of 10 yards. With time on third-and-20, McNabb found Jackson deep for a 44-yard completion. Four plays later, Mike Vick ran a bootleg to off left tackle for a score and 30-17 halftime lead.

To start the second half, the Giants drove 74 yards in 11 plays, with a fourth down touchdown run by Brandon Jacobs to make it a six-point game. Linebacker Jonathan Goff would intercept a McNabb pass on their next possession to set the offense up at the Eagles 29. On the next play, Manning scrambled and had open space up field but while sliding headfirst, he fumbled and the Eagles recovered. It was the third turnover of the game.

Philadelphia did not capitalize, allowing the Giants to get the ball back and Manning found Hixon for 61-yard catch and run touchdown to give the team their first lead of the game before Jackson got through broken coverage for a 60-yard touchdown catch.

In the fourth quarter after the Giants punted on their last two possessions, the Eagles marched to the game clinching score. Going 91 yards on 12 plays and not forced into attempting a third down, dominating the line of scrimmage as they have in the previous four meetings. Leonard Weaver’s one-yard burst for a touchdown extended the Eagles lead to 45-31 with 5:48 remaining.

The Giants closed to within seven when Manning hit Boss for a four-yard touchdown. However, the drive took 4:17 off the clock leaving them with little time left after their defense forced a three-and-out from Philadelphia.

On second down with 0:19 left, Manning looked for a receiver, but had the ball stripped from behind by Darren Howard and recovered by Joselio Hanson to seal an Eagles victory.

The loss negated one of Manning’s career performances, who went 27-for-38 for 391 yards and three touchdowns despite fumbling twice.
The Giants need a combination of wins and Cowboys or Packers losses to make the playoffs. It was all there for the taking, but fumbling four times and losing them all were too much to overcome in addition to allow a touchdown on defense and special teams.

In simpler terms, they fumbled it away.

Giants Talk: Stayin Alive

Passion, big plays keeps Big Blue afloat

EAST RUTHERFORD - Admittedly, I am not one of the believers.

When the Chargers rallied from six points down with a game winning touchdown with 0:20 left, that was for me the last straw.

The embarrassing loss on Thanksgiving was the ultimate red flag that this team did not have it this season. Nearly seven weeks of mediocre football drew the conclusion that this team could not hack it.

How could any person with an ounce of sense not declare the season over?

Of course, the NFC decides when over truly is over and as of this moment, it allows the Giants are still very much in the hunt not only for the playoffs, but can even win the NFC East if certain results fall into place.

By virtue of their 31-24 season saving victory over the Cowboys, the Giants look up at the standings and see themselves only one game out of first place.

They have even records with the team they have now beaten twice this season. It has made their showdown this Sunday night against the Eagles of even greater significance because of the new ramifications involved.

A victory over the Eagles would put the Giants in first place by way of a three-way NFC East tie that they would lead based on division record. The following two games are eminently winnable, with their last game possibly against a Minnesota resting its starters.

What a difference a week makes.

For the last eight weeks, we had seen a lethargic Giants team that lacked intensity and showed no emotion. Perhaps an extreme sense of hubris had set in with this team where they felt they no longer needed to continue to play at a high level because they were winning without playing their best.

This may work when you are facing the Redskins, Bucs, Chiefs and Raiders, all teams that rank among the dregs of the league. However, against higher-level competition, playing adequate is never good enough to succeed. The Giants found this out the hard way in blowout losses to the Saints, Eagles and Broncos.

As losses mounted, the team margin for error continued to shrink. From a 5-0 start to four consecutive defeats evaporated their division lead and then see their season in peril after the loss in Denver.

Sunday, a different team showed up.

In the first half, it appeared to be more of the same. Dallas was moving the ball and the Giants still could not get out of its own way. Trailing 3-0, Ahmad Bradshaw put the ball on the ground, turning it over to the Cowboys who quickly marched to make it 10-0, administering a body blow that it did not look as if the Giants would recover.

Getting within 10-7 before the half got them back in the game with less than two minutes remaining, but when Mathias Kiwanuka stripped Marion Barber of the ball and the Osi Umenyiora recovered, the entire team was given a gift. Capitalizing on the turnover, the Giants turned it into seven points and took the lead.

No longer was bench sulking. Energy and hustle now replaced sluggishness. The way the defense moved around amidst the changes made before the game. Kiwanuka and Chris Canty replaced Umenyiora and Fred Robbins on the defensive line and each did admirable jobs. Linebacker Jonathan Goff replaced Chase Blackburn and Clint Sintim saw more time on the field to provide more speed on defense.

The results were striking. Nothing against Blackburn or Danny Clark, but they were not able to perform at the speed needed for this Giants defense to compete with some of these offenses. Defensive coordinator Bill Sheridan was able to utilize numerous coverage and blitz schemes to move Tony Romo’s feet in the pocket.

While Romo completed 41 of 55 passes for 392 yards and 3 touchdowns, the defense sacrificed the pass at the expense of shutting down the Cowboys running game and in the end was successful.

They took another hit when Dallas took advantage of an interception to regain the lead, but all it took was one play, a 74-yard catch and run by Brandon Jacobs for a touchdown that electrified Giants Stadium.

Domenik Hixon sealed the game when he turned a routine punt return that the Cowboys appeared to have shut down, but never giving up, he maintained his balance, found space to the outside, and raced 79 yards to the end zone for a 31-17 lead.

The stadium was going crazy. The sideline was going crazy. You can see the emotion on Coach Tom Coughlin’s face after that play, pumping his fist and cheering in celebration.

For so long they have wanted to feel this way and had not been able to. Big plays were being made and their appeared to be a feeling that they had finally found themselves.

What we all have to be mindful of it is that is just one game. All of these good feeling are immediately erased if they lose to Philadelphia at home.

The playoffs are back in reach. However, they have to defeat the team that has been their roadblock the last three times. Since December of last year, the Giants have played their rivals from 90 miles away three times and have lost all three times, including the playoff game disaster in January.

No need for style points Sunday. Win the game. At the end of the day, isn’t that what we all care about?

Take advantage of the opportunity given.

Or face an off-season of regrets.

Giants Talk: Still breathing

Giants beat Cowboys to keep playoff hopes alive


EAST RUTHERFORD – They still have a pulse.

After a no-show on Thanksgiving night, it was safe to assume the Giants no longer resembled the team expected to contend for a Super Bowl, reduced instead to a team of underperformers.

With their season on the line and needing to make a stand and their hated rivals in the building for the final time, they kept hopes for a postseason berth alive with a 31-24 victory over the Cowboys at Giants Stadium.

It was a game filled with big plays and high on emotion, which is something that had been missing from this Giants team for nearly eight weeks. Only time will tell if this win has staying power.

The victory moved their record to 7-5 and one game behind the Cowboys with four games remaining and the tiebreaker after sweeping the season series. They can move into first place next Sunday night if they beat the Eagles and the Cowboys lose at home to San Diego.

For much of the first half, there was the appearance they despite all of their talk leading up to the game, they resembled a team still unable to get out of its own way as they punted twice and Ahmad Bradshaw fumbled while attempting to regain the line of the scrimmage on a play.

Dallas initially took the lead on 34-yard field goal by Nick Folk. On the Giants possession, Bradshaw took the toss play and was losing yardage, yet fought to make something out of the play and fumbled at his own 26 and Jay Ratliff recovered.

Cowboys coach Wade Phillips successfully challenged a fumble by Tashard Choice that the Giants recovered at the 1 and had the call reversed as his knee hit the ground before the ball come loose. From the Giants 4, quarterback Tony Romo’s found Roy Williams on a fade route in the back corner of the end zone to give Dallas a 10-0 advantage.

The Giants quickly answered with a 74-yard drive to get on the board. After quarterback Eli Manning hit Hakeem Nicks for a 16-yard pass, the Cowboys defense appeared to have him corralled for a sack, but with presence of mind, he found Kevin Boss on a dump off for 16 more. Bradshaw gained 16 more yards on a cutback run where Manning was blocking downfield.
With 1:54 left, Nicks hauled in a pass and poor tackling allowed him to go 21 yards for a touchdown to cut the lead to three.

Good fortune came on defense when Mathias Kiwanuka stripped Cowboys running back Marion Barber of the ball and Osi Umenyiora (who had been benched for Kiwanuka) recovered, returning the ball to the Dallas 28.

It took only four plays for the Giants to take the lead as Jacobs barreled to the goal line for a touchdown 14-10 lead at the half. The two quick scores negated the Cowboys 21:10 of possession.

The Giants looked to make it an 11-point advantage in the third quarter when from the Cowboys 25, Manning looked for Mario Manningham, but the pass was underthrown and intercepted in the end zone by Mike Jenkins for a touchback.

Dallas regained the lead later in the quarter when Romo faked out the Giants defense with a double fake and found Williams for his second touchdown of the game. The Giants needed only one play to strike back when Manning (11-for-25, 241 yards, 2 TD’s) found Jacobs out in the flat and with a great downfield block by Darcy Johnson and using nifty feet to stay inbounds and streak down the left sidelines for a score that energized the building.

Scoring came easy for the Giants offense on Sunday as their three scoring drives lasted the following – 1:28, 0:45 and 0:19

Folk would miss a 42-yard field goal to the left that would have made the game 21-20. Manning and the offense drove down the field and if not for a dropped pass by Steve Smith (six catches-110 yards) in the end zone, the Giants would have gone up 11. Instead, they settled for a 23-yard field goal by Tynes to make it 24-17.

The Giants forced the Cowboys into a three-and-out and punter Matt McBriar boomed a punt that sent Domenik Hixon back to his own 21. Getting out of two tackles and utilizing great blocking, he reversed his field and streaked down the right sideline for a 79-yard touchdown, giving the Giants a 31-17 lead.

Dallas scores a late touchdown on a 22-yard catch by Miles Austin. Romo, known for his struggles in December flourished on a day where the defense and special teams failed him. Throwing a season high 55 times, he completed 41 passes for 392 yards and three touchdowns without an interception.

The Giants gained possession on the onside kick when Sam Hurd illegally touched the ball before it traveled the requisite 10 yards.