Giants dominate in win over Texans
HOUSTON – What a difference two weeks make?
After their embarrassing loss to Tennessee, there were many questioning the Giants leadership and whether the season was about to unravel.
Now, the question becomes whether they may be the best team in the NFC.
Such is the crazy world week-to-week in the NFL, and right now, the Giants are riding high. It was never more so than their stunning wire-to-wire 34-10 victory over the Texans at Reliant Stadium.
The win was the first time since last October where they won two consecutive games, and the win vaults them into first place in the NFC along with the Redskins.
"Two wins in a row,” said Head Coach Tom Coughlin. “Let's keep it going."
“We talked about having to play better,” we talked about having to improve. We talked about this being a very important game, that we did rise in our performance.
We did show the quality of our team in all three phases, the way we might be able to operate together. So hopefully were in that direction."
What we saw was a team with incredible energy and control. It was a coming out party for wide receiver Hakeem Nicks, as he dissected a porous Texans secondary.
For the defense, their performance against a high-powered Texans offense was arguably their best in several seasons.
The first half saw the Giants play their most complete game in recent memory, jumping up to a 21-0 lead in the game’s first 17 minutes, eventually take a 24-3 lead into the half.
An eight play, 85-yard drive early in the first quarter ended with an Eli Manning six-yard touchdown pass to Nicks, who was able to get his feet over the pile-on for the first score of the game.
“We stayed in good rhythm,” said Manning, who is now 18-4 in October. “We didn't have a whole lot of negative plays, moving backwards and penalties.
On the Texans ensuing drive, cornerback Corey Webster had great coverage and stepped in front to intercept the pass from quarterback Matt Schaub intended for Andre Johnson at the Texans 40.
Nicks nearly scored on catch-and-run from 28 yards, but the officials marked him down at the Texans 1. Brandon Jacobs would score on the next play to make it 14-0.
Another three-and-out deep in their own territory gave the Giants the ball at their own 45. It took only six plays to stick it in the end zone as it became apparent that they had a mismatch with Nicks against both of the Texans starting corners Brice McCain and rookie Kareem Jackson. On a third-and-four from the 12, Manning found Nicks all alone in the end zone to increase the margin to 21.
"We just went out there and played to the game plan,” said Nicks. “Coach (Kevin Gilbride) put together a very good game plan for us and we just wanted to go out there and execute."
In all phases, the Giants dominated the first half, outgaining them in yards 254 to 74 in addition to having 17 first downs to the Texans 4.
For whatever reason, leading by 21 points, the Giants began to go away from a running game that they had some success running the ball and began to throw incessantly. Manning had one pass intercepted by Sherrick McManis and on the next drive on a third-and-15 deep in their own end, threw an inexplicably interception to Jackson that led to a touchdown by Derrick Ward to make it 24-10.
At one point in the third quarter, the Giants threw the ball eight consecutive times despite the sizable lead. Many of them came with Manning checking out of running plays due to coverage matchups they had with the Texans secondary.
Said Manning, “We've got to stay out of those situations.”
There was no need to do it considering the way the defense was playing. From the outset, they set out to systematically break down an offense averaging 31.5 points per game coming in and they did that, limiting them to only 195 total yards and only 2-for-11 on third down.
Counting the win over Chicago, opponents are now 2-for-24 the last two games.
Of the 11 drives Houston had, the Giants defense forced them into seven punts, six of them coming in five plays or less. Arian Foster, the NFL’s leading rusher had nowhere to run, gaining only 25 yards on 11 carries and was not on the field for most of the second half.
“I think the thing we did was we squared up on them a little bit more,” said Justin Tuck. “We took away their angles as far as him cutting back. We just made a flat line."
Schaub was under pressure from the Giants defense, sacking him three times, forcing two fumbles, and recovering one. They also did a great job of disrupting their timing by batting down numerous passes at the line of scrimmage and make Johnson, the league’s best receiver, a non-factor.
Johnson had only five catches for 95 yards, but Webster had great coverage on him the entire afternoon when you consider he was targeted 13 times.
“We're doing a great job of taking steps in the right direction,” said Corey Webster. “We're going to go back Monday, keep working hard and hopefully we can build off of this."
The Giants would finish off the Texans in the fourth quarter, completing a nine-play, 73 yard drive, ending with Manning’s third touchdown pass of the day, this time a four-yard pass to Steve Smith (his first of the season) for the game’s final margin.
It was their fourth red zone touchdown of the game in four attempts. They also seized full control of time of possession, having the ball for nearly 39 minutes.
Despite his two third quarter interceptions, Manning finished the day 27-of-42 for 297 yards. Twelve of those completions went to Nicks, who finished with his career high 130 yards.
Next Sunday, the Giants are back at home to take on the Detroit Lions, losers of their last 23 road games. It is important that they do not suffer a letdown.
Right now, things may be going too well for that to happen.
HOUSTON – What a difference two weeks make?
After their embarrassing loss to Tennessee, there were many questioning the Giants leadership and whether the season was about to unravel.
Now, the question becomes whether they may be the best team in the NFC.
Such is the crazy world week-to-week in the NFL, and right now, the Giants are riding high. It was never more so than their stunning wire-to-wire 34-10 victory over the Texans at Reliant Stadium.
The win was the first time since last October where they won two consecutive games, and the win vaults them into first place in the NFC along with the Redskins.
"Two wins in a row,” said Head Coach Tom Coughlin. “Let's keep it going."
“We talked about having to play better,” we talked about having to improve. We talked about this being a very important game, that we did rise in our performance.
We did show the quality of our team in all three phases, the way we might be able to operate together. So hopefully were in that direction."
What we saw was a team with incredible energy and control. It was a coming out party for wide receiver Hakeem Nicks, as he dissected a porous Texans secondary.
For the defense, their performance against a high-powered Texans offense was arguably their best in several seasons.
The first half saw the Giants play their most complete game in recent memory, jumping up to a 21-0 lead in the game’s first 17 minutes, eventually take a 24-3 lead into the half.
An eight play, 85-yard drive early in the first quarter ended with an Eli Manning six-yard touchdown pass to Nicks, who was able to get his feet over the pile-on for the first score of the game.
“We stayed in good rhythm,” said Manning, who is now 18-4 in October. “We didn't have a whole lot of negative plays, moving backwards and penalties.
On the Texans ensuing drive, cornerback Corey Webster had great coverage and stepped in front to intercept the pass from quarterback Matt Schaub intended for Andre Johnson at the Texans 40.
Nicks nearly scored on catch-and-run from 28 yards, but the officials marked him down at the Texans 1. Brandon Jacobs would score on the next play to make it 14-0.
Another three-and-out deep in their own territory gave the Giants the ball at their own 45. It took only six plays to stick it in the end zone as it became apparent that they had a mismatch with Nicks against both of the Texans starting corners Brice McCain and rookie Kareem Jackson. On a third-and-four from the 12, Manning found Nicks all alone in the end zone to increase the margin to 21.
"We just went out there and played to the game plan,” said Nicks. “Coach (Kevin Gilbride) put together a very good game plan for us and we just wanted to go out there and execute."
In all phases, the Giants dominated the first half, outgaining them in yards 254 to 74 in addition to having 17 first downs to the Texans 4.
For whatever reason, leading by 21 points, the Giants began to go away from a running game that they had some success running the ball and began to throw incessantly. Manning had one pass intercepted by Sherrick McManis and on the next drive on a third-and-15 deep in their own end, threw an inexplicably interception to Jackson that led to a touchdown by Derrick Ward to make it 24-10.
At one point in the third quarter, the Giants threw the ball eight consecutive times despite the sizable lead. Many of them came with Manning checking out of running plays due to coverage matchups they had with the Texans secondary.
Said Manning, “We've got to stay out of those situations.”
There was no need to do it considering the way the defense was playing. From the outset, they set out to systematically break down an offense averaging 31.5 points per game coming in and they did that, limiting them to only 195 total yards and only 2-for-11 on third down.
Counting the win over Chicago, opponents are now 2-for-24 the last two games.
Of the 11 drives Houston had, the Giants defense forced them into seven punts, six of them coming in five plays or less. Arian Foster, the NFL’s leading rusher had nowhere to run, gaining only 25 yards on 11 carries and was not on the field for most of the second half.
“I think the thing we did was we squared up on them a little bit more,” said Justin Tuck. “We took away their angles as far as him cutting back. We just made a flat line."
Schaub was under pressure from the Giants defense, sacking him three times, forcing two fumbles, and recovering one. They also did a great job of disrupting their timing by batting down numerous passes at the line of scrimmage and make Johnson, the league’s best receiver, a non-factor.
Johnson had only five catches for 95 yards, but Webster had great coverage on him the entire afternoon when you consider he was targeted 13 times.
“We're doing a great job of taking steps in the right direction,” said Corey Webster. “We're going to go back Monday, keep working hard and hopefully we can build off of this."
The Giants would finish off the Texans in the fourth quarter, completing a nine-play, 73 yard drive, ending with Manning’s third touchdown pass of the day, this time a four-yard pass to Steve Smith (his first of the season) for the game’s final margin.
It was their fourth red zone touchdown of the game in four attempts. They also seized full control of time of possession, having the ball for nearly 39 minutes.
Despite his two third quarter interceptions, Manning finished the day 27-of-42 for 297 yards. Twelve of those completions went to Nicks, who finished with his career high 130 yards.
Next Sunday, the Giants are back at home to take on the Detroit Lions, losers of their last 23 road games. It is important that they do not suffer a letdown.
Right now, things may be going too well for that to happen.
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