SuperFan: Giants vs. Falcons (12/18/12)

Theoretically Aligned

By Superfan

            When we all wished they’d repeat what they did last year, I don’t think we all meant we wanted it to happen in the exact same fashion.  Seems to be the case.  And despite it all, despite the ugliness and frustration and dumbfounded face-palming, I’m really not that worried.  I have a theory.  If you follow me on Facebook, please forgive me for basically rewriting my post-game rant, but here goes:

            After our loss to Washington several weeks ago, I made a mistake paralleling it to the previous year’s late-season loss to the Skins.  This miserable spanking we just experienced in Atlanta, this is the equivalent of that 2011 embarrassment.  Regardless of the situation last week, our backs are truly against the wall from here on out.  Every week is an absolute must-win.  The rest of the country will quickly forget about our impressive victories this year over pretty much any opponent we may see if we make it to January (sans the Falcons) and will place us back in the bubble.  The lack of respect (albeit somewhat warranted after such an ugly loss) will pick up, and shoulders will be duly chipped.  Just the way we like it.  This season isn’t over, and it’s scary how much it seems like the Gmen are going out of their way to position themselves for the post season exactly the same way they did last year.  All we can do is be optimistic and hope it pays off, until this head-scratching method gives us reason think otherwise. 

            Though I’m sure this blind optimism of mine is making most Giants fans sick right about now.  So, let’s review that ugly blowout, as quickly as possible.

The View From Home

            Joe was out, so once more it was JJ, Vandy, and myself.  We did everything we were supposed to.  I got up and had my NYBD breakfast, JJ ate his bagel and lox at my place.  No wallet on the table.  We made sure Vandy was sitting on the couch with me, while JJ took the recliner.  Everything was as it was the week before.  But you know the rest.  None of it worked.  It was a miserable experience, but at least Fox cut out of the game near the end of the third quarter, putting us out of our misery.  Well actually, watching Washington put Cleveland away on my laptop REALLY put us out of our misery.  It got so bad at one point during our game that my dad had to ask me to stop texting.  I don’t blame him.  He’s the first guy I vent to, and the one I vent to most, uh, “eloquently.”  I’m sure it just brought him down.  Come to think of it, he was watching the game with my mom.  I hope she didn’t read any of my texts.  The horror…

           

I still haven’t watched Sunday’s “Homeland.”  I’m pretty sure it was the season finale, but I was in no mood to watch something so epic.  It was that kind of a day.

Atlanta Kicked Our Ass

            We left a lot on the field.  I will say the refs didn’t help things in a couple key situations in the first half - blowing the whistle too early on a play where Wilson’s knee might not have touched the ground, and blowing the whistle so soon that we couldn’t challenge what looked to me like a backwards pass from Matty Ice.  But we didn’t help ourselves either.  Three fails on fourth and short.  We get the ball to the 12-yard line, and Tynes misses a field goal (which I actually think had a bigger affect than most think, because suddenly you may change your offense, unable to rely on settling for three).  By the way, that’s now three straight weeks our kicker has missed a field goal of less than 40 yards.  Game-winners or not, this guy is and always has been a liability.  I’m amazed he made the flight home.  Honestly, I’d rather let Weatherford just give place kicking a shot.  I bet he’d do better. 

            But like I said, this was a flush game.  So let’s just leave it alone.

Non-Gmen Thoughts of the Week:

• ·      Now Goodell wants to expand the playoffs?!  The guy’s like a struggling artist who won’t stop “fixing” the same painting.  Eventually, you’re going to change the picture entirely.  I’m afraid Roger won’t stop until he does.
• ·      I can’t begin to describe my thoughts on Friday’s tragedy.  It’s hard not to get teary-eyed just thinking about it.  I’m not going to debate about gun control or anything like that, but I will say Obama’s speech was incredibly impactful and genuine, and I can only hope it moves the right people in the right way to fix what has become a horrible problem.
• ·      On a much lighter note, I saw The Hobbit over the weekend, and LOVED IT.  Don’t worry about what many of the critics are saying - it’s not slow. Is it as good as the previous trilogy?  Too soon to tell, and besides - it’s different.  But I loved it.  And Gollum steals the show (bigger role this time around).
• ·      Isn’t it great not being Jets fans?  As bad as things may look at times for the Giants, at least we’re not starting a 3^rd stringer this week.  Yowsa.
• ·      Don’t mind the Youk deal too much.  Think about the precedent for former Red Sox players coming to the Yankees in the “twilight” of their careers - Babe Ruth (okay, nowhere near twilight, but it’s always fun to remind everyone), Roger Clemens, Wade Boggs, Johnny Damon.  Pretty good company if you ask me.

Looking Ahead

            Make or break time.  Two games left.  Have to win them both.  This weekend in Baltimore won’t be easy, but it can be done.  This is what we do, hate it or love it.  We make it as excruciating as possible.  It’s what makes the Gmen the Gmen.  Can’t ever lose hope!  To talk all things Giants, you can e-mail me at gmensuperfan@gmail.com, find me on Facebook under the name “Gmen Superfan,” or follow me on Twitter under the user handle “@gmensuperfan1.”  Until next week, GO GMEN!  

                

SuperFan: Giants vs. Saints (12/12/12)

Are You an Idiot?  No, Sir, I’m a Dreamer…

By Superfan

            I was watching an old episode of Scrubs recently, and the above was an exchange that I felt fit perfectly for any and all Giants fans.  Pretty accurate, right?  How else would you explain any sane person “expecting” the outcome the Gmen gave us last Sunday against the Saints?  Didn’t really surprise me. 

In fact, I thought we should’ve beaten them by more.  Despite the analysts ragging on our defense at halftime for not being able to stop the run, the fact was they only gave up six offensive points the entire first half - the touchdown was scored on an interception return.  We blowout the Packers one Sunday, get embarrassed by the Redskins the following Monday night, and follow that with another blowout of a top tier offense?  Yeah, you’d have to be an idiot to have as much faith in the Giants as we do.  I won’t speak for everyone else, but I’ll come out and say I’m fine with looking like an idiot most of the football season.  Our team isn’t usually pretty, but we absolutely win when it matters most. 

The View From Home

            Started out as a great Sunday gameday in sunny California.  Went out and bought my usual - an everything bagel with cream cheese, lox, capers and onions from N.Y. Bagel and Deli to enjoy while watching the early games.  Got off to a great start in both my fantasy and picks leagues (Ray Rice and Anquan Boldin alone could’ve carried me to victory, it seemed, and for the moment I stood alone atop my picks league’s rankings). 

Then, just before kickoff of the Giants game, the picks side of things fell apart.  In the span of what felt like only a few minutes, the Cowboys, Redskins and Eagles all came from behind to win in the last seconds of their respective games.  It also meant the Gmen had no option but to win this game.  JJ was over just in time to watch those collapses.  But, like me, he was surprisingly calm.   

Joe had plans, so he was gone shortly after kickoff, leaving JJ, Vandy, and myself.  Vandy has a thing for jumping on the lap of whoever’s sitting in the black recliner (where JJ was sitting).  JJ and I know, from past experiences, that the Giants don’t play well when Vandy sits on JJ’s lap if he’s on said recliner.  But Vandy was persistent, got up there anyway, and Eli threw a pick six.  I’d also had my wallet out on the table (it’s usually in my room).  So as soon as this happened I tossed my wallet onto my bed and JJ put Vandy on the couch next to me.  JJ leaned back, I sat back down, and Vandy perched himself like a cat near me on the couch.  Just in time for David Wilson’s game-tying kickoff return for a touchdown.  Despite the Saints making a game of it in the third quarter, that first quarter kickoff return for a touchdown erased the Saints lead for the rest of the day. 

They’re Still the Saints…

            In case some time traveler is reading this for whatever reason, that’s a good thing now (and has been for a few years).  These aren’t the ‘Aints again, despite what some have said.  I get that they have an interim coach and a lot of their players have been in and out of league-issued suspensions (you know, where “guilty until proven innocent” still reigns supreme).  I don’t care.  They still have Drew Brees behind center, and are still capable of putting up A LOT of points in any game.  And we beat them into submission.   What’s better, we beat them without our pass rush playing very well at all, forcing turnovers however we could get them.  What’s better than that, we actually scored points off those turnovers.  Win the turnover battle, score points when given opportunities, have somewhat decent referees who aren’t hungry for TV time, win the ballgame.  Simple. 

            Then again, I am a die-hard Giants fan.  Which means even though we won handily, there’s still plenty to nitpick about.  For starters, despite his pretty good numbers, Eli had a bad game.  He threw two picks, which would’ve been four or more if the Saints corners had better hands.  He’s not supposed to be making such bad decisions this late in the season.  There was one throw that stood out, late in the game, when we should have been running the clock out.  Eli threw it to Cruz in the end zone, who was double covered.  Somehow, the ball landed incomplete.  But what could Eli possibly have been thinking there?  Let’s hope he’s just getting this stuff out of his system.

            Another week, another bad miss on a very makeable field goal for Mr. Tynes.  Don’t let the fact that we won distract you from this fact.

            As great as our defense played in the first half, they really started to worry me near the middle to end of the third quarter.  As soon as we put up 35, it was like they were trying to make a game of it.  First play after that kickoff, Drew Brees hits a backup receiver for 62 yards.  Two plays later, Sproles runs 13 yards for a touchdown.  After they got the ball back from a mind-numbing Eli pick, they promptly drove 68 yards on six plays for another touchdown.  What looked like a blowout was suddenly a one-score game. 

            Luckily for us, we had David Wilson and Stevie Brown dressed to play.  And they both went bananas.  And we won the game handily (50 SPOT!), 52-27. 

Offensive Player of the Game - David Wilson.  All anyone’s talking about this week is how electric he was returning kickoffs.  But he also rushed for 100 yards and a touchdown, lifting our offense mightily with Andre Brown out and Ahmad battling a bad knee most of the game.  Glad he’s out of the doghouse.

Defensive Player of the Game - Stevie Brown.  Stevie Brown has put up some incredibly impressive defensive numbers this year.  His two interceptions on Sunday gave him a total of seven for the season.  Just one behind the league leader, Chicago’s Tim Jennings.  Don’t forget, Stevie Brown only moves into the starter’s role when Kenny Phillips can’t fill it.

Special Teams Player of the Game - David Wilson.  Yeah, there’s a reason to give this award out this week.  WOW!  We finally have ourselves a dominant kick returner (this millennium).  This guy’s gonna be fun to watch for a long, long time I hope.  Mr. Wilson, welcome to the spotlight.

Non-Gmen Thoughts of the Week:

• ·      I forgot to mention this in my anger last week, but my league’s fantasy playoffs have begun.  I didn’t make the cut.  However, like all good elementary sports leagues that enjoy giving everyone a participation trophy, we have a “consolation ladder” to keep us losers happy.  Normally, I wouldn’t care.  However, I was matched up against my roommate.  And having lost to him head-to-head in my last regular season matchup, I really wanted to win.  For our league, the playoff rules are weird, where it’s a combined two-week score to determine the winner for each round.  He’d outscored me 89-86 in the first week, and I really, really wanted to beat him at least one time in the last 2 seasons.  I did, big time, the final combined two-week score being 206-175.  Go me! 
• ·      I’ve really gotten into the BBC show “The Hour.”  It’s basically The Newsroom meets Mad Men with some early Cold War espionage thrown in.  Stars Ben Wishaw (Skyfall) and Dominic West (The Wire).  Has anything I’ve mentioned so far not sounded awesome?  Exactly.  Definitely worth a viewing.
• ·      As a Giants fan, I have to say Silver Linings Playbook was AWESOME.  It doesn’t hurt that I’m head over heels in love with Jennifer Lawrence (in a totally not crazy stalker way, I promise).  Her and Bradley Cooper are great in it, but De Niro steals the show as a die-hard OCD-riddled Eagles fan with a gambling problem.  Never bad for a Giants fan to watch a film whose protagonists spent most of their time miserable about how badly the Eagles suck (**SPOILER ALERT** most of said misery brought on by our very own Gmen).  Chris Tucker also made a pleasantly surprising appearance in the film.
• ·      CAN’T WAIT for Zero Dark Thirty to come out. 

Looking Ahead…

            We maintained our one-game lead in the division.  We have three to go.  The next two are on the road in very hostile environments, before ending with the Eagles at home.  Seems to me like it’s about that time for the Gmen to take Sunday’s victory and stretch it into another magical late-season run.  To talk all things Giants, you can e-mail me at gmensuperfan@gmail.com, find me on Facebook under the user name “Gmen Superfan,” or follow me on Twitter under the handle “@gmensuperfan1.”  Until next week, GO GMEN!!

SuperFan: Giants vs. Redskins (12/4/12)

Following Protocol?

By Superfan

            Are they doing this to us on purpose now?  Of course not, but you can’t fault Giants fans for feeling that way.  I mean, come on.  Impressive showings against San Francisco and Green Bay, but falling apart in our own division.  A huge, momentum-turning win followed by an ugly, inexplicable loss to the Redskins the very next week near the end of the regular season.  I understand football’s full of routines and superstitions, and I certainly have my fair share of both, but this is getting crazy. 

Then again, we’re all Giants fans, aren’t we?  As soon as the experts started hailing the Giants as the supreme overlords of the football universe following our demolishing of Green Bay a week ago, I think we all started getting that uneasy feeling.  That feeling of, “uh-oh, people respect us.  We’re not underdogs.  Backs aren’t against any walls.  Crap.”  And that’s exactly what appeared to play out last night in that devastating loss at Washington on Monday Night Football…

The View From Home

            I was back in California for the game, the first weekday primetime game since our Thursday night matchup against Carolina.  Remember what a great game that was?  Relaxing, dominant, stress-free…  Anyway, JJ and I watched that one at his place.  Time Warner cable had yet to reach an agreement with the NFL Network at the time, and JJ has DirectTV.  And with the results we got, why not try the same thing this time around? 

So we did.  And despite the weekday afternoon kickoff, we both were at his place ready to go by 5:30.  All was as it was the previous time.  I had two hats, neither worn, side-by-side on the couch next to me, facing JJ’s kitchen.  The last time I had come straight from work, and had my laptop open on the couch.  Not the case this time around - no laptop.  Doubt that had anything to do with it, but it was one noticeable difference from the last time.

           

Still, the first half ended and things were going smoothly.  Took the lead late, were getting the ball to start the second half, and like the time before we had our half-sausage, half-anchovies pizza delivered and ready for halftime devouring.  All was right with the world.

           

And then the second half happened.  I can’t get into too much detail, for the sake of everyone involved, but let’s just say the viewing arrangement changed somewhat in quarters three and four.  By the time the ship was righted, it was too late.  Our defense continued not remembering how to cover or tackle, they got the first down they needed to run the clock out, and I was out the door before the clock hit zeroes.  I know I’m absurd.  But aren’t life’s disappointments much easier to take when you find yourself blaming it all on the superfluous?      

Playing to the Level of Our Competen-- err, Competition…

            Which isn’t really fair to the Redskins, because this isn’t the same group that inexplicably swept us last year.  These guys can play.  But so could San Francisco and Green Bay, yet we didn’t seem to have any trouble wiping the turf with them.  I really don’t understand what it is with this team.  The Redskins were lucky we were only up by three at the half.  Our first two drives totaled twenty-four plays, yet we managed just three points out of them.  While Tynes has had a great season, I wouldn’t blame the missed field goal entirely on DeOssie’s bad snap (but man, how many chances is this guy gonna get).  Weatherford got the ball set in time, Tynes shanked it.  (Though I should watch myself…criticizing the kicker is what got me in trouble with the Giants in the first place…sure hope Lawrence isn’t scanning the blogosphere to check if anyone’s saying mean things about him.  He’s a little defensive, even if he has missed at least one field goal at some point of nearly every game he’s ever hit a “game winner” for us.) 

           

Before I go any further, I have to talk about Jon Gruden for a bit.  Could you fans believe what you were hearing from this guy?  You’d think we were watching the game on mute, with the Redskins radio call playing over it.  That absurdly lucky first touchdown Washington scored, when an RG3 fumble bounced right into Josh Morgan’s hands to be run in for a touchdown, sounded like it was drawn up that way according to Mr. Gruden.  RG3 made a mistake on that play!  And you’re giving him credit for the TD?  I get it, ESPN - you rarely only get a player like RG3 on Monday Night Football each season, so you want to make the most of it.  But come on.  Let’s not put the kid into the Hall of Fame in his rookie season.  He can run a triple option, I get it.  Wonderful.  So can anyone who’s ever played quarterback at Navy.  Again, I don’t want to knock RG3.  He’s extremely talented.  Mostly because his arm is just as dangerous as his legs.  I just wonder if ESPN gave Gruden some mandate that he had to say “RG3” at least 20 times per minute.  Because that’s what it felt like.   (On that note, what is it with everyone having to say either RG3 or Robert Griffin the third?  Is there any other quarterback in the league that needs his entire name or acronym said every time he’s referenced?  I could be wrong, but I don’t think I’ve heard anyone refer to him as plainly Griffin, Griffin III, or Robert.  Osi called him Bob early in training camp, but that was as a joke.  Anyway…)  Not to mention most of their big yards came from Alfred Morris, not RG3.  But Gruden would never give another offensive Redskin player any credit. 

And it’s not just this game.  I’ve never seen a commentator who was more hyperbolic in my life.  I could only imagine the things he’d say in a meaningless late-season matchup of backup QBs --

“You know, Mike, watching these two tonight…  They’ve been holding clipboards since training camp.  They’ve been practicing with the 2’s all season.  But here, now, given their shot (with the rest of the field also filled with backups), to give these performances here tonight?  Is there anyone in the country braver than backup quarterbacks?  I don’t want to hear about the Army, the Navy, the FDNY, or any of it.  These guys are my heroes.  These backups have more tenacity, more spirit, more heart than any Marine I’ve ever met.  God bless backup quarterbacks, Mike.  Each and every one.”

            To reiterate, that’s not a legit quote, though I don’t blame you if you thought it was.  Bottom line - the guy’s terrible in the booth.  And Jon, it’s Monday Night Football.  Primetime, meaning more average NFL fans than die-hards.  So save your nonsensical insider-football comments for an analysis show.  Hate on Madden all you want, but America loved him because he was simple and easy to listen to.  He didn’t sound like an insane person wandered into a booth and found a microphone to use as his own soundboard.  Well, actually…  Though it does make you appreciate guys like Collinsworth, to be honest. 

            Okay tangent over.  Back to the game.  It really felt like the refs didn’t do us any favors, but at the same time, it always feels that way.  The refs didn’t blow the call on Locklear’s false start that turned a promising opening TD drive into just 3 points.  The refs didn’t give up 52 yards in just three plays on the Redskins following drive, setting up the absurd fumble-recovery touchdown.  And yet, we were still ahead to start the second half.

            I don’t know what it is with Gilbride, but sometimes he gets so complacent with a lead it drives me crazy.  Three times in the first half we came THIS CLOSE to hitting a receiver on a deep route after he’d burned Washington’s secondary.  And outside of the first play of the second half being an incomplete deep ball to Nicks, we never seemed to go back to it.  AND FOR THE LOVE OF GOD STOP CALLING HB SCREENS ON THIRD AND TWENTY!  I don’t know if it was called, or audibled into, or simply checked to by Eli, but it has to stop.  What Ray Rice did was special, but not common.  As Mike Ditka would say - STOP IT!  

           

Ahmad ran the ball well.  The offensive line, banged up though it was, did its job well for the running game and Eli.  Without Andre Brown, Bradshaw saw a bigger workload, and responded with over 100 yards rushing.  Still, our offense couldn’t do enough.  Hate on the defense for giving up that first down to let them kneel out the clock, but all-in-all they played well.  They gave up only 17 points to a talented, well-coached offensive unit.  And six of those points came on a wild, lucky play.  Our offense had the ball twice in the fourth quarter, and we didn’t move it into their territory once (I just got that.  Trying to move into their territory.  We were playing the Redskins.  Ha!  Race joke.)  The only first down we got that quarter came via a horse-collar tackle against them.  To have that time of possession with only 16 points to show for it is UNACCEPTABLE.  We had the ball for more than half the game!  And only one touchdown?  Embarrassing. 

No awards this week.  Or Non-Gmen Thoughts.  Too frustrated.

Looking Ahead…

            As negative as this all may seem, we’re still in first place in the division and control our fate.  We’re heading into the (real) final stretch of the season - the last quarter.  And it won’t be the easy.  We host the Saints next week, then are in Atlanta and Baltimore, and finish at home against Philly.  Don’t let the opponents’ records for those bookend home matchups confuse you.  Those will be very tough games.  We all remember the last time we hosted Philly in the last game of the season, don’t we?  Then again, doesn’t this schedule seem ideal for the Giants?  Our backs are against the wall (in a sense), and we’re the inconsistent team you can’t rely on to win each week (once more).  Just where we want to be, right?  I wonder how much longer before they start including blood pressure medication with season ticket packages.  Better be soon…  To talk all things Giants, you can send an e-mail to gmensuperfan@gmail.com, find me on Facebook under the name “Gmen Superfan,” or follow me on Twitter using the handle “@gmensuperfan1”.  Until next week, GO GMEN!!    

SuperFan: Giants vs. Packers (11/28/12)

Recipe for a Blowout

By Superfan

            Hey Giants fans!  Hope everyone had a great holiday break.  The Gmen certainly did their part to help make it so.  What a huge win that was!  Really shows you how important that bye week is.  You could start to see the wear on our Giants from having such a late bye, not to mention the Sandy mess being thrown in there.  But with two weeks rest, we looked FANTASTIC.  What stood out most of all was the improvement of our offensive line.  Yes, the Packers had starters watching on the sideline.  But, they also had plenty of guys hurt the year they won the super bowl.  As did the Gmen last season.  Don’t care.  They have depth on D, and our line made great holes for Ahmad and Andre and equally great pockets for Eli.  The result was a 38-10 blowout of the Pack at the Meadowlands Sunday night, bringing their five-game winning streak to a screeching halt.

And, (with the help of an inspiring fan’s visit - I’ll get to that later) it reminded the country of two very important factors:  (1) a few losses in November are a VERY small thing to a Giant, and (2) we’re STILL the defending world champs, and until proven otherwise, will always be the team to beat in the NFL.  Let’s go back and review a great finish to a great holiday weekend --

The View From Cold

            I’ll admit it - living in California for nearly five years has turned me into a COMPLETE AND UTTER WUSS.  I don’t do well in cold weather.  Period.  But I’m okay with it - not really a factor anymore for the most part.  But when I do come back east to visit around the holidays, I’m a non-stop whining machine.  I’d love to say I admire my friends and family for putting up with it, but they don’t put up with it.  So the whining is met with rational hostility, which in turn is met with defensive aggression, and the whole thing turns into a cycle of bitching.  There you have it.  My visits home during the cold weather months in a nutshell - a cycle of bitching.  That sounds like the title of a book for dealing with menstrual cramps, but I’m getting off topic…    

            As I just mentioned, I went back east last week for the Thanksgiving holiday.  Had a lot of fun seeing friends and family, and of course stuck around for the game Sunday night.  With family in town, our normal seats went to my aunt’s family who were in town visiting, and my dad and I sat up in the suite.  Even though I’m sure my Aunt’s reading this article, I’ll admit I was a little nervous that our family members in town from Wisconsin were sitting in our seats at a Giants-Packers game.  Fortunately, their youngest son (Jared) is a Giants fan (and therefore a better person than most), so with his cheering and my forbidding her to wear a cheese-head or cheer too much for the Pack, the bad juju was kept to a minimum.      

My dad and I went on the field for a little bit before kickoff to watch the teams get ready and say hi to a few people.  He insisted on going over to say hi to Aaron Rodgers near the visitors’ locker room, and who was I to say no?  The last Giants’ home game I went to was the Cowboys game that ended last regular season, and I went over with my dad to see Jerry Jones before that one started.  I smiled through gritted teeth, mumbled something under my breath, it was over before my hand got infected, and the Giants won easily.  Why not meet the enemy once more? 

After wishing Aaron good luck (and mumbling “you’re gonna need it” under my breath, which he did), my dad and I headed up to the suite.  We stopped by Judy Coughlin’s to say hello, and I heard one remarkable Thanksgiving story.  Turns out Judy’s sink broke in the middle of the day while she and her family were preparing the Thanksgiving meal.  For those with little-to-no experience in the kitchen on Thanksgiving Day, it’s like losing your internet connection at the beginning of an online fantasy draft.  There’s nothing you can do.  UNLESS YOU’RE JUDY COUGHLIN, and are basically a superhero.  Somehow, someway, she managed to acquire the services of a very kind and generous plumber, who came over and fixed everything in plenty of time, and Thanksgiving was saved.  To most, it would be a story of tragedy.  For Judy, it’s the story of heroic triumph in the face of certain doom.  Much like her family’s football team.   

After saying hi we made it to the suite and settled in for kickoff.  My dad stood most of the game, and I sat/stood in the row in front of him.  We were all Giants fans except one person.  He kept quiet.  We also shared the company of the very funny Tracy Morgan, who did not disappoint.  I was worried I was going to make a fool of myself by being too fanatical, but with Tracy there, it became a moot point.  The guy LOVES the Giants, and is very vocal about it.  He had us all going wild, and it was a great experience during a great performance.  At first things were a little shaky, when the Pack tied it at seven immediately following our opening touchdown drive.  Obnoxious Packers fans in the suites to our left were dancing and pointing at one another.  Needless to say the Gmen’s dominance kept them securely seated and quiet from that point on.  We ate, we drank, we cheered, we laughed, and in the end, we celebrated a dominant win over the Packers.  All was well at the Meadowlands, and it made for a wonderful flight West the next morning.

If Anyone Needs the Packers’ Number, the Giants Have It…

            …On speed dial.  Seriously.  The last three times we’ve faced them (including playoffs) - Giants 110, Packers 68.  As was the case recently with the Patriots, you can only use the “you caught them on an off day” once or twice.  That’s not the case anymore.  Hate on Gilbride as much as you want (I typically do), but he knows how to score on Dom Capers. 

            As I mentioned earlier, the Giants had a very inspiring fan meet with them prior to the game.  He was Adam Merchant, a 15-year-old who spent practice and the game with the Giants thanks to the Make-A-Wish Foundation.  And his speech to the team, which carried its theme through meetings, practices, and the game itself, consisted of him asking our Gmen to “play like World Champions.”  It was exactly what they needed to hear, and exactly what they did last Sunday night.

            I mentioned our offensive line playing lights out.  They did all night, especially when we ran to the right.  Eli had a couple questionable passes, but played great for the most part.  If not for a few early drops, his fantasy night might’ve been even more mind-boggling.  A terrible shame to hear about Andre Brown’s fibula, but what happened happened.  Time for David Wilson to step up behind Ahmad. 

            The defense looked incredibly solid as well.  The pass rush was all over Rodgers all night, and the coverage (except Webster getting beat by Jordy Nelson early) played lights out.  And Webster made up for it quickly anyway with his heads-up pick that set us up in field goal range.  We got turnovers and scored on (most of) them.  All-in-all, a great game in all three phases.  The only part that still troubles me is Reuben Randle returning punts.  He lucked out, but almost fumbled away two punt returns.  If anyone knows the importance of a good punt returner, it’s Giants fans (and 49er fans).  Now for some awards:

Offensive Player of the Game - Eli Manning.  His three touchdown passes gave him 200 total, putting him ahead of Phil Simms for most all-time in franchise history.  But, unlike Phil, Eli has only the highest regards for his fellow Giants legend.

Defensive Player of the Game - Mathias Kiwanuka.  Five tackles and two sacks.  Chase Blackburn was a close second, as he was all over the field, including a sack and a few tipped passes.  Could also give this to the entire pass rush, to be honest.  Great game on all three levels.   

Non-Gmen Thoughts of the Week:

• ·     That’s what I’m talking about, Notre Dame!  HOW BOUT THOSE IRISH!  In USC, no less.  Got to watch my Irish get themselves into the National Championship Game the night before watching the Gmen demolish the Pack.  Talk about a great sports weekend.  And to the Irish haters, bring on Bama or Georgia.  ND will surprise you once more, as they have all year.  
• ·      Saw Life of Pi 3D over the holiday.  Has to be the front-runner for Best Picture so far.  Though I also want to see Silver Linings Playbook, even if it is about a bunch of dirty, probably smelly Eagles fans (please don’t let Jennifer Lawrence be an Eagles’ fan in real life…I really want her to remain my celebrity crush for a while longer). 
• ·      Damn you, Target.  Your Black Friday commercials are horrifyingly catchy. 
• ·      How I Met Your Mother is funny again.  Thank God.  I was so close to giving up completely.
• ·      Fantasy football was a total bust this year.  I was hoping I could at least beat my roommate head to head, and that would make missing the playoffs worth it.  But nope, he beat me by one point.  Grrrr.
• ·      Fireman Ed, cry me a river.  Seriously.  Worried about fans getting too hostile?  Can’t believe what society’s done to fans all of a sudden?  WAS THAT YOUR FIRST JETS GAME?!?!?!  Only the Raiders and Eagles have more hostile, obnoxious, and annoying fan bases.  If you’re gonna quit on your team, then at least man up and be honest about it.  Don’t blame it on Jets fans being too hostile.  That’s like suddenly not wanting to go to a Motley Crüe concert because the music’s too loud.  I don’t buy it for a second.

Looking Ahead…

            We’re in Washington next Monday night, and then we’re into the home stretch - final four games of the season!  Let’s get another great run going!  Can’t let up at all - won’t be any room to (even against Philly - divisional matchup’s a divisional matchup no matter what - and they always bring it against us).  To talk all things Giants, you can e-mail me at gmensuperfan@gmail.com, find me on Facebook under the user name “Gmen Superfan,” or follow me on Twitter using the handle “@gmensuperfan1.”  Until next week, GO GMEN!!