EAST RUTHERFORD – Before the game, it appeared New Meadowlands Stadium was going to play against the Giants with the winds howling around up to 35 MPH.
In reality, it was the Redskins only chance.
Any real chance Washington may have had going into the game when away amidst their own internal dissension, the pounding administered by the Giants running game and an unrelenting defense in a thorough 31-7 beating to win their second straight.
“Good team win for us,” said Head Coach Tom Coughlin.
“We added to our two core goals – the goal of playing solid, trying to get four solid quarters in, winning the physical battle and winning the turnover battle, and I was glad we were able to do that today.”
The win was their eighth in the last nine meetings against the division rivals. It also allowed them to keep pace with the Eagles in the NFC East and continue their edge over the Packers for the Wild Card. It was an impressive victory for a team still playing without its two starting wide receivers and offensive lineman.
Winning while those players were out loom large now as the Giants go into Coughlin’s self-described “fourth quarter” of the season with most of the healthy players expected back for next Sunday’s game at Minnesota.
“That would give us some more options,” said Eli Manning.
The combination of Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw gashed the Redskins from the opening possession to the tune of 197 yard, making the wind a non-factor. It was the fourth time this season the rushing attack ran for at least 185 yards or more.
Said Manning, “When it comes to December in Giants Stadium, you are going to have to run the ball.”
A big part of the reason for the success was the loss of defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth, who was a late scratch prior to the game by Head Coach Mike Shanahan after reportedly feeling sick late in the week and not practicing on Friday. The loss in the middle of their already porous run defense created plenty of lanes that patchwork offensive line, led by second year man Will Beatty and Kevin Boothe on the left side was able to find from the opening drive of the game.
On the second play from scrimmage, Jacobs took the handoff left tackle and go around the corner, exploding for a 39-yard run that set the tone of the game. Five plays later, his eight-yard touchdown run gave the Giants their first touchdown on an opening possession this season.
“That is a big help, just to set the tempo for the game,” Manning said.
The second drive was just as easy. Bradshaw ripped off a 21 yard run as part of a seven play, 59 yard drive ending in him powering his way for a four-yard touchdown to increase the lead to 14-0 just over nine minutes into the game.
Only the Giants themselves could keep the game from reaching blowout proportions in the first half as Eli Manning threw into triple coverage on a first-and-goal from the Redskins 4 and had the pass intercepted by London Fletcher.
It was one of the few blemishes in an otherwise mistake-free game. Four plays later, Redskins receiver Anthony Armstrong would fumble that was picked up by Keith Bulluck at the Giants 49. He would have gone in for a touchdown if his momentum did not keep him from stumbling to the ground.
“I blame it on myself,” Bulluck said afterwards. “I have a handful of NFL touchdown off scoops, but that was the first time that had ever happened to me.”
However, there was no worry as Bradshaw scored his second touchdown of the game five plays later to make it 21-0.
The swirling winds affected a field goal by Graham Gane late in the first quarter. With the Giants running the ball the way they were, there was not a need to put the ball in the air as much. Instead, the offense resorted to short, quick passes, many of them going to Derek Hagan, who finished with seven catches for 65 yards and was getting so open that Shanahan has to bench his cornerback Phillip Buchanon at halftime.
Coughlin felt the wind was a factor during the game saying after, “both ends from the 30 in you could feel it, but in the middle of the field, it didn’t seem too bad.”
Manning only finished the game 15-of-25 for 161 yards, playing the role of “game manager” to a tee. The offensive line gave him plenty of time to throw when they wanted, not allowing a sack for the fifth consecutive game, a Giants team record
The defense, armed with the lead, the wind and an inept Redskins offense went to work, harassing their former tormentor Donovan McNabb, sacking him four times, two of them by rookie Jason Pierre-Paul, who recovered a fumble and appears to be growing into a force on the field.
“Coaches tell me, “Just go out and make plays”, said Pierre-Paul. “That is what I was able to do today.”
Jacobs capped off his day in the third quarter with a pretty 28 yard touchdown run to make it 28-0. On the play, he found a hole up the middle and put a shifty move on safety Reid Doughty, bouncing to the outside and strolling into the end zone for the seventh time this season.
“Just coming out and reading what I had to read, making a lot of one-cut runs,” Jacobs said after finishing the day with just eight carries, but for 103 yards. “(Ahmad) and I just had to come out, go downhill, no dodging, come right down the hill and whoever is in the way is going to feel it.”
Washington could not get out of its own way, turning the ball over five times in the second half on their final seven possessions, their only positive coming on a blown coverage that saw Anthony Armstrong wide open for a 33-yard touchdown for the Redskins only points of the afternoon.
Said Pierre-Paul, “We would have like to have had the shutout.”
Thankful for them, if they need it, the final game of the season is against this same Redskins team.
Perhaps then, they can get their shutout.
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