Giants Talk: One for the dogs

Giants lay down in season finale


MINNEAPOLIS – After last week’s dismal performance at home that ended their playoff hopes, the Giants talked all week that they wanted to use the final game against the Vikings as a way to restore some pride from this lost season.

It was all lip service.

With the Vikings needing the game to enhance their chances for a bye week, the Giants made sure that would happen, starting their vacation early as they rolled over for the second straight game, losing 44-7, mercifully finishing the season a disappointing 8-8.

The dog nature in which they lost again one week after being humiliated at home last week is sure to have repercussions throughout the organization. Losing their last two games by a combined score of 85-16 is a black mark on a proud franchise. Anything not resembling serious change before the start of next season would be insulting to its own paying customers.

Why they bothered to make the trip to Minnesota for this game is anyone’s guess. Forfeiting would not have been a bad option if such a thing existed. However, on a day where other teams around the league also eliminated that played with effort, this Giants team showed none of it, leading many to believe that run that they have had with this group of players needs to be broken up and that simple tweaking will not be enough.

Brett Favre and the Vikings offense to march quickly down field for a touchdown against a Giants defense showing little resistance. Going 60 yards in five plays, Favre found former Giants Visanthe Shiancoe for a 10-yard touchdown pass to jump on top early.

With the score 10-0 in the second quarter, Minnesota started with possession at the own 9 and drove 91 yards, culminating in a one-yard touchdown to up the lead to 17-0. The lead would later grow to 24 when Sidney Rice hauled in a perfect Favre pass in the corner of the end zone despite good coverage from Terrell Thomas.

Things would snowball when Eli Manning short pass over the middle to Kevin Boss deflected into the air, intercepted by Chad Greenway at the Giants 40. With 0:11 left in the half, Favre found Rice again for a 12-yard touchdown to increase the whipping to a laughable 31-0 at halftime.

It was the fourth time this season the defense allowed 30 or more points in a half and seventh time allowing that amount in a game. When it was over, the 41 points given up increased the final season total to 427, was the most points allowed by the franchise since 1966 when they gave up 501.

Minnesota racked up 343 yards of offense in the half and Favre was 19-of-23 for 271 yards. The only silver lining was Steve Smith got the three receptions needed to reach the century mark.

The score was 37-0 and still Manning was in the game, presuming for him to reach the 4,000 passing yard barrier despite a heavy, consistent pass rush. At his own 15, Jared Allen sacked Manning and forced a fumble that would eventually recover. Three plays later, the Vikings were at the one-yard line facing fourth-and-goal. With the Giants not showing any ability to stop them, Minnesota elected to go for it. Whether it was disrespectful of not is irrelevant, because the defense had yet to make a stand all season. True to form, Favre on a play-action found Tahi wide open in the end zone for a touchdown as the lead ballooned to 44.

It was the fifth time this season the Giants yielded 40 or more points in a game. Not since 1971 had the team allowed at least 40 points in back-to-back games.

How bad was the defense? Similar to games against the Saints, Eagles and Panthers, the drive summaries were ugly. Minnesota scored on eight of its nine possessions.

Manning finally eclipsed the 4,000-yard passing mark in the fourth quarter as the offense scored for the first time when Danny Ware scored on a one-yard run as the Vikings had already removed most of their starters.

Chances are that even if Minnesota did not play its starters, the Giants likely had no chance anyway.

It was a fitting end to the season.

Dogs.