10-sack performance leads ugly Big Blue win 
EAST RUTHERFORD – There was a point in the second when the suddenly resurgent and overpowering Giants defense sacked Bears quarterback Jay Cutler for what appeared to be the 100th time when you probably felt sorry for him.
The Giants sure did not, and so they kept coming and coming some more.
By the time the carnage was complete, Cutler had to leave the game at halftime with a reported concussion. His replacement Todd Collins would fare no better, knocked out of the game late in the fourth quarter and having third stringer Caleb Hanie in to finish the mess.
It was a night where with former great Giants of the past watching with smiles on their faces, the current squad played defense reminiscent of those old days, pummeling the Bears offense into the ground for a 17-3 victory at New Meadowlands Stadium.
“A great win for our team tonight,” said Head Coach Tom Coughlin. “A win that we really needed.”
The other parts of the game were not aesthetically pleasing, specifically the offense and the continued porous play of the special teams. However, the incredible play by the defense took the spotlight.
“Those guys in the back end did an outstanding job,” said Osi Umenyiora, who played his best game in nearly three years registering three sacks and two forced fumbles while referencing the secondary. “They made the quarterback throw the ball.”
Part of that was Chicago’s own game plan to be aggressive and throw the ball on the Giants, particularly having Cutler using five and seven step drops.
This would prove to be fatal with terrible consequences. The coverage was so good all over the field, Cutler held on to the ball looking to make a play and wound up on his back.
“Our D-line did a great job,” said cornerback Terrell Thomas. “We were in a great position a secondary, and were allowed to make great plays.”
Statistics did not lie. In addition to the 10 sacks, of which nine came in the first half, the Giants held the (up to this point) potent Bears offense to only six first downs. Chicago did not convert on one third down in 13 attempts and held to only 110 yards.
It was amazing that the game was even in the balance going into the fourth quarter. Most of that was due to the ineptitude of the Giants offense and their inability to take advantage of numerous opportunities the defense gave them on turnovers deep in Bears territory.
The first half may have set back offensive football 70 years as both teams combined for six total first downs (Giants 4, Bears 2). Relentless pressure from the defensive front got to Cutler, who was sacked more times (9 – an NFL record) than he had completions (8) as the Bears were held to only 22 yards of offense (-13 yards passing) and two turnovers in the first 30 minutes.
Unfortunately, the Giants were not able to take advantage. After a 22-yard field goal by Lawrence Tynes in the first quarter gave them an early lead, Terrell Thomas intercepted a Cutler pass at the Bears 28. After three plays did not yield a first down, Tynes missed a 38-yard field wide left.
“We have to find ways to take advantage when we get great field position,” said Eli Manning. “Our defense was playing outstanding, getting us turnovers.
Another Chicago turnover came when Osi Umenyiora sacked Cutler from behind and Deon Grant recovered the loose ball at the Bears 29. Once again, the Bears defense held the Giants offense to another three-and-out, forcing a punt. They were only 1-for-7 in a half where they amassed only 98 yards.
Said Manning, “We didn’t have any positive plays once we got down there.”
In the third quarter, the Giants offense got into gear for the first time in the
game. Starting at their own 10, they would march 90 yards in eight plays,
highlighted by two completions by Eli Manning to Hakeem Nicks for 21 yards and Travis Beckum for 25 more. Ahmad Bradshaw sprinted down 25 yards to the Bears 3 before punching it into the end zone to take a 10-0 lead into the fourth quarter.
“We had a good mix,” Coughlin said. “We hit some passes to get the things going and we made some outstanding runs.
“It seems at times like we were a little tentative like we were trying not to make an error instead of just playing the game.”
Bradshaw would finish the game with 129 yards on 23 carries.
“We just knew we had to keep fighting,” said Bradshaw.
Without Cutler in the game and Collins in, Chicago stood little chance. Their porous offensive line could not open up any holes for their running game (59 yards total) and with Collins under siege on nearly every play, the Giants continued to bring pressure, eventually coming up with an interception by Grant on an overthrown pass at the Giants 8.
However, the offense continued to keep the Bears in the game despite the play of the defense. At their own 33, a bad exchange between Manning and Brandon Jacobs led to a fumble Chicago would recover at the Giants 29. This led to a 40-yard field goal by Robbie Gould for their first points of the night.
“That is something we have to fix,” said Manning. “(The fumble) is the last thing you can do in that situation.”
Later in the fourth, Bradshaw was on his to a 36-yard touchdown run to seal the game. Instead, he would commit his third fumble of the season as cornerback Zach Bowman stripped away the ball from him and recovered it at the Bears 1.
The defense forced a punt on three straight plays to give the offense advantageous field position at the Bears 32 where Manning would find Nicks for a diving catch at the 2 before Jacobs would pound it into the end zone to point the way the Giants second victory of the season.
“We are right back in the thick of things,” said Chris Snee. We just have to play smart football from here on out.”
It was a gut-check for this Giants team. They needed to respond after the questions surrounding their head coach and the team’s mental psyche.
At least for one week, they will not have to answer those questions.
EAST RUTHERFORD – There was a point in the second when the suddenly resurgent and overpowering Giants defense sacked Bears quarterback Jay Cutler for what appeared to be the 100th time when you probably felt sorry for him.
The Giants sure did not, and so they kept coming and coming some more.
By the time the carnage was complete, Cutler had to leave the game at halftime with a reported concussion. His replacement Todd Collins would fare no better, knocked out of the game late in the fourth quarter and having third stringer Caleb Hanie in to finish the mess.
It was a night where with former great Giants of the past watching with smiles on their faces, the current squad played defense reminiscent of those old days, pummeling the Bears offense into the ground for a 17-3 victory at New Meadowlands Stadium.
“A great win for our team tonight,” said Head Coach Tom Coughlin. “A win that we really needed.”
The other parts of the game were not aesthetically pleasing, specifically the offense and the continued porous play of the special teams. However, the incredible play by the defense took the spotlight.
“Those guys in the back end did an outstanding job,” said Osi Umenyiora, who played his best game in nearly three years registering three sacks and two forced fumbles while referencing the secondary. “They made the quarterback throw the ball.”
Part of that was Chicago’s own game plan to be aggressive and throw the ball on the Giants, particularly having Cutler using five and seven step drops.
This would prove to be fatal with terrible consequences. The coverage was so good all over the field, Cutler held on to the ball looking to make a play and wound up on his back.
“Our D-line did a great job,” said cornerback Terrell Thomas. “We were in a great position a secondary, and were allowed to make great plays.”
Statistics did not lie. In addition to the 10 sacks, of which nine came in the first half, the Giants held the (up to this point) potent Bears offense to only six first downs. Chicago did not convert on one third down in 13 attempts and held to only 110 yards.
It was amazing that the game was even in the balance going into the fourth quarter. Most of that was due to the ineptitude of the Giants offense and their inability to take advantage of numerous opportunities the defense gave them on turnovers deep in Bears territory.
The first half may have set back offensive football 70 years as both teams combined for six total first downs (Giants 4, Bears 2). Relentless pressure from the defensive front got to Cutler, who was sacked more times (9 – an NFL record) than he had completions (8) as the Bears were held to only 22 yards of offense (-13 yards passing) and two turnovers in the first 30 minutes.
Unfortunately, the Giants were not able to take advantage. After a 22-yard field goal by Lawrence Tynes in the first quarter gave them an early lead, Terrell Thomas intercepted a Cutler pass at the Bears 28. After three plays did not yield a first down, Tynes missed a 38-yard field wide left.
“We have to find ways to take advantage when we get great field position,” said Eli Manning. “Our defense was playing outstanding, getting us turnovers.
Another Chicago turnover came when Osi Umenyiora sacked Cutler from behind and Deon Grant recovered the loose ball at the Bears 29. Once again, the Bears defense held the Giants offense to another three-and-out, forcing a punt. They were only 1-for-7 in a half where they amassed only 98 yards.
Said Manning, “We didn’t have any positive plays once we got down there.”
In the third quarter, the Giants offense got into gear for the first time in the
game. Starting at their own 10, they would march 90 yards in eight plays,
highlighted by two completions by Eli Manning to Hakeem Nicks for 21 yards and Travis Beckum for 25 more. Ahmad Bradshaw sprinted down 25 yards to the Bears 3 before punching it into the end zone to take a 10-0 lead into the fourth quarter.
“We had a good mix,” Coughlin said. “We hit some passes to get the things going and we made some outstanding runs.
“It seems at times like we were a little tentative like we were trying not to make an error instead of just playing the game.”
Bradshaw would finish the game with 129 yards on 23 carries.
“We just knew we had to keep fighting,” said Bradshaw.
Without Cutler in the game and Collins in, Chicago stood little chance. Their porous offensive line could not open up any holes for their running game (59 yards total) and with Collins under siege on nearly every play, the Giants continued to bring pressure, eventually coming up with an interception by Grant on an overthrown pass at the Giants 8.
However, the offense continued to keep the Bears in the game despite the play of the defense. At their own 33, a bad exchange between Manning and Brandon Jacobs led to a fumble Chicago would recover at the Giants 29. This led to a 40-yard field goal by Robbie Gould for their first points of the night.
“That is something we have to fix,” said Manning. “(The fumble) is the last thing you can do in that situation.”
Later in the fourth, Bradshaw was on his to a 36-yard touchdown run to seal the game. Instead, he would commit his third fumble of the season as cornerback Zach Bowman stripped away the ball from him and recovered it at the Bears 1.
The defense forced a punt on three straight plays to give the offense advantageous field position at the Bears 32 where Manning would find Nicks for a diving catch at the 2 before Jacobs would pound it into the end zone to point the way the Giants second victory of the season.
“We are right back in the thick of things,” said Chris Snee. We just have to play smart football from here on out.”
It was a gut-check for this Giants team. They needed to respond after the questions surrounding their head coach and the team’s mental psyche.
At least for one week, they will not have to answer those questions.
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