I’m Dreaming of a Blue Christmas by Blue-Blooded
Hello, Giants fans. Allow this high-spirited Jew to be one of the first people to wish you all a very Merry Christmas today (this couldn’t be too surprising – I’m working on Christmas, after all). And what a Merry Christmas it turned out to be! I love being wrong, and it feels incredible not having to worry at all about the outcome of next week’s game.
After last Sunday night’s travesty, I was honestly starting to wonder whether the fans cared more about this team than the players. And I was more than pleased to be proven wrong. I could really start noticing it on the defensive players’ faces, towards the middle of the third quarter, that they were going to make sure we won this game whether the offense could do it or not. If this playoff berth was our Christmas gift, then Steve Spagnuolo is Santa Claus. You’re the man, coach.
There were a few more fan-based details that helped make this Giants’ victory a reality. My buddy, Jon, showed up late to watch the game. Around the time that Eli completed a bomb down the field to Amani Toomer. I realize no points were scored on that drive, but it was still the first true signs of life showed by the Giants offense on Sunday. Also, later that drive, we decided to take the Shockey jersey off of the dog. This credit goes to my younger brother Robby, who says that when he’s around, it’s bad luck for her to be wearing it. If he wants the credit for the win, he’s more than welcome to it.
As much as I may love being wrong, being right feels even better. Now, if you will, let’s take a quick glimpse back at something I wrote a few weeks ago:
(Superfan 12/4/07): “And, like I said before, DON’T SLEEP ON AHMAD BRADSHAW. The guy’s really quick.”
And the week before that:
(Superfan 11/27/07): “And look out for Ahmad Bradshaw in the backfield.”
Now, I don’t like to brag or anything, but man did I call that! I could see it in his speed coming out of kickoff returns. If you think about it, a return is a run without the quarterback. The return man is still back there, looking for his blocks to be set up, and then exploding through them. And Bradshaw sure did just that out of the backfield the other day. I mean, it was like it he was somehow going full speed as soon as the ball was handed to him. Plus, as a Miami University (OH) alum myself (go Redhawks), I know a thing or two about MAC attacks (yeah Big Ben). And this former Marshall runner is all that AND a can of beans.
Best of all, for him at least, Eli can take a sigh of relief knowing that he finally has a solid replacement for Derrick Ward, has the full-on three-headed monster going on behind him, and his defense is playing as hungry as ever. Not that I’m saying it’s okay for him to not play well, but it’s nice knowing we have reliable options.
So, fans, enjoy this holiday season. You can watch the G-Men next week without worrying about triggering any heart conditions. We’re now 7-1 on the road and staying on it for the playoffs. Was it me or did it seem irrelevant that Shockey wasn’t there (pretty good run-blocking by Boss and Matthews)? We’ve got a lot to be cheery about now this holiday season, and a whole lot of cheering to do when it’s over.
Tuesday, December 25, 2007
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
Superfan: Giants vs. Redskins UNCUT (12/18/07)
Ahhh, so that’s what crow tastes like… by Blue-Blooded
There were brisk, windy, miserable conditions outside the stadium for the Giants primetime match-up against division rival Washington. Considering the conditions outside, I was very surprised at how much energy there was surrounding the stadium. It must have been 30-or-so degrees, which by Meadowlands standards means there was a wind chill of what probably felt like -10. But the fans were there in full force, ready to see their G-men win themselves in to the playoffs. I haven’t heard so much “big blue!!!!” being shouted at random times on the way up the escalators since the playoff run of 2000. This was the game when the Giants were going to silence all their critics and finally show up in a big game in a big way. All the doubts and skepticism would be put to rest. This was a playoff team showing the country on network primetime that is was for real. The fans were ready. The celebrations were ready. Unfortunately, it didn’t quite seem like the Giants were.
Now, normally I don’t feel so personally hurt by a Giants’ loss, but this one really stung. I mean, I stuck my neck out the last few weeks talking about what a great situation we were in, how ugly losses were still losses, and finding every possible reason why fans should appreciate, not hate, Eli Manning. So, I felt personally let down.
I understand it was nasty out, but so what?? This team plays in East Rutherford! Even when it’s warm the wind plays a factor. Eli should never have thrown so many passes in that weather. However, it seemed like he had to just to increase the probability that one of those balls might actually get caught. Also, someone should teach him the definition of a touch pass. When Brandon Jacobs is three yards away, there’s no reason for Eli to rifle it in there like he was throwing a 20-yard bullet. Just not smart. And Eli, I know you don’t want to risk getting hurt, but when there’s nothing but green pastures in front of you and all your receivers are covered, please don’t be afraid to scramble for a few positive yards. The ground might hurt a little when you slide, but you’ll get over it. It’s better than wasting a play by throwing the ball into double coverage in the back of the end zone.
Another exciting part of Sunday night’s game took place in the stands. Apparently, some “bad apples” were caught throwing snow/ice balls at one another and some security guards. In their defense, it was a Sunday night, freezing, and they were at the stadium for some entertainment. Well, they certainly weren’t getting their money’s worth on the field, so they resorted to entertaining themselves. At least they weren’t throwing snowballs at Santa.
I was thinking about the last few weeks, and they weren’t really “come-from-behind” victories. I mean, technically yes they were, but not really. The Giants put themselves in those deficits by not executing, so really they were just trying to save face. As it turns out, is was a very good thing we were playing mediocre teams that let us hang around and win at the end. Clearly, a team like Washington, with a strong defense, wasn’t about to repeat what happened to them when we faced them on their home turf.
If the Giants wanted to make a statement, next Sunday would be a good a time as any. Buffalo is a good team, make no doubt about it. And if the Giants thought it was tough playing in cold Meadowlands conditions, well, we all saw the Bills/Browns snow bowl last Sunday. And it certainly seems like there will be a very hungry Patriots team looking to complete an undefeated season waiting for us the next week. We have got to win one of those two games, and if we expect to do so, it’s time for the team to wake up and get motivated. No more just-barely-wins. If we want to be taken seriously as a contender, it’s time to show the league why.
There were brisk, windy, miserable conditions outside the stadium for the Giants primetime match-up against division rival Washington. Considering the conditions outside, I was very surprised at how much energy there was surrounding the stadium. It must have been 30-or-so degrees, which by Meadowlands standards means there was a wind chill of what probably felt like -10. But the fans were there in full force, ready to see their G-men win themselves in to the playoffs. I haven’t heard so much “big blue!!!!” being shouted at random times on the way up the escalators since the playoff run of 2000. This was the game when the Giants were going to silence all their critics and finally show up in a big game in a big way. All the doubts and skepticism would be put to rest. This was a playoff team showing the country on network primetime that is was for real. The fans were ready. The celebrations were ready. Unfortunately, it didn’t quite seem like the Giants were.
Now, normally I don’t feel so personally hurt by a Giants’ loss, but this one really stung. I mean, I stuck my neck out the last few weeks talking about what a great situation we were in, how ugly losses were still losses, and finding every possible reason why fans should appreciate, not hate, Eli Manning. So, I felt personally let down.
I understand it was nasty out, but so what?? This team plays in East Rutherford! Even when it’s warm the wind plays a factor. Eli should never have thrown so many passes in that weather. However, it seemed like he had to just to increase the probability that one of those balls might actually get caught. Also, someone should teach him the definition of a touch pass. When Brandon Jacobs is three yards away, there’s no reason for Eli to rifle it in there like he was throwing a 20-yard bullet. Just not smart. And Eli, I know you don’t want to risk getting hurt, but when there’s nothing but green pastures in front of you and all your receivers are covered, please don’t be afraid to scramble for a few positive yards. The ground might hurt a little when you slide, but you’ll get over it. It’s better than wasting a play by throwing the ball into double coverage in the back of the end zone.
Another exciting part of Sunday night’s game took place in the stands. Apparently, some “bad apples” were caught throwing snow/ice balls at one another and some security guards. In their defense, it was a Sunday night, freezing, and they were at the stadium for some entertainment. Well, they certainly weren’t getting their money’s worth on the field, so they resorted to entertaining themselves. At least they weren’t throwing snowballs at Santa.
I was thinking about the last few weeks, and they weren’t really “come-from-behind” victories. I mean, technically yes they were, but not really. The Giants put themselves in those deficits by not executing, so really they were just trying to save face. As it turns out, is was a very good thing we were playing mediocre teams that let us hang around and win at the end. Clearly, a team like Washington, with a strong defense, wasn’t about to repeat what happened to them when we faced them on their home turf.
If the Giants wanted to make a statement, next Sunday would be a good a time as any. Buffalo is a good team, make no doubt about it. And if the Giants thought it was tough playing in cold Meadowlands conditions, well, we all saw the Bills/Browns snow bowl last Sunday. And it certainly seems like there will be a very hungry Patriots team looking to complete an undefeated season waiting for us the next week. We have got to win one of those two games, and if we expect to do so, it’s time for the team to wake up and get motivated. No more just-barely-wins. If we want to be taken seriously as a contender, it’s time to show the league why.
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
Superfan: Giants vs. Eagles UNCUT (12/10/07)
I Don’t Know What You Guys Are Talking About, Because Things Look Pretty Good From Where I’m Standing… by Blue-Blooded
There’s something really wrong with this team’s fan base in my opinion. I feel like most who watch almost root for them NOT to win if for no other reason than to justify the way they feel after each game. And even when the stats are looked at (and they looked pretty good after the Philly game), the media still will only focus on the most flawed aspect of the previous performance.
If the New York beat writers are supposed to also be fans of the teams they write for, then why so much hate with this one? Are we not practically a lock for the playoffs right now? Will Eli not be doing this for the third time in as many years? And isn’t he the first Giants QB to do that since Phil Simms (I’m not implying anything, but if you think about, it is true)?
It would have been great for the Giants to get a touchdown after Droughns broke that one all the way to the 2-yard line. It would have been nice to see the defense make one more spectacular stand to finish the game with a bang, instead of letting them drive all the way down the field with less than a minute to go to attempt a potential 57-yard field goal which would have sent the game into overtime. And it would have been nice to see more original play-calling, as opposed to running on 1st down nearly every time so that even a person passing through the room who catches a glimpse of the game on TV knows what we’re going to do.
HOWEVER, more than a few great things came from this game. Eli threw for over 200 yards, one touchdown, and zero picks. Aside from great opening and closing drives, our defense completely shut down their offense. Darryl Johnston showed himself as the arrogant know-it-all-who-really-knows-nothing-at-all announcer he is (you really thought that ball got knocked out before Amani landed? Did you even watch the play? They ran the replay about a hundred times!) Plax, who before the game my dad and I thought might be better off sitting one out to better rest his ankle/knee, turned out to be the star of the game. And his “ups” were on display a little also. Best of all, we played an entire 60 minutes of football with not one player getting seriously hurt. And when was the last time we looked that much better than the Eagles while sweeping them in a season series? The same year we went to Super Bowl XXXV, that’s when. Baby.
So, New York sports writers, I ask you, are you really that shallow? Are you going to only judge a team by how good they may or may not look after a win? Or will you grow up, get over whatever insecurities you have as fans, and finally realize that Eli is a decent quarterback who has the Giants looking really favorable at this point in the season, nearly time for the playoffs. Of course, knowing your style, you’ll still probably be upset if we won the Super Bowl and Eli threw 3 interceptions in the process.
There’s something really wrong with this team’s fan base in my opinion. I feel like most who watch almost root for them NOT to win if for no other reason than to justify the way they feel after each game. And even when the stats are looked at (and they looked pretty good after the Philly game), the media still will only focus on the most flawed aspect of the previous performance.
If the New York beat writers are supposed to also be fans of the teams they write for, then why so much hate with this one? Are we not practically a lock for the playoffs right now? Will Eli not be doing this for the third time in as many years? And isn’t he the first Giants QB to do that since Phil Simms (I’m not implying anything, but if you think about, it is true)?
It would have been great for the Giants to get a touchdown after Droughns broke that one all the way to the 2-yard line. It would have been nice to see the defense make one more spectacular stand to finish the game with a bang, instead of letting them drive all the way down the field with less than a minute to go to attempt a potential 57-yard field goal which would have sent the game into overtime. And it would have been nice to see more original play-calling, as opposed to running on 1st down nearly every time so that even a person passing through the room who catches a glimpse of the game on TV knows what we’re going to do.
HOWEVER, more than a few great things came from this game. Eli threw for over 200 yards, one touchdown, and zero picks. Aside from great opening and closing drives, our defense completely shut down their offense. Darryl Johnston showed himself as the arrogant know-it-all-who-really-knows-nothing-at-all announcer he is (you really thought that ball got knocked out before Amani landed? Did you even watch the play? They ran the replay about a hundred times!) Plax, who before the game my dad and I thought might be better off sitting one out to better rest his ankle/knee, turned out to be the star of the game. And his “ups” were on display a little also. Best of all, we played an entire 60 minutes of football with not one player getting seriously hurt. And when was the last time we looked that much better than the Eagles while sweeping them in a season series? The same year we went to Super Bowl XXXV, that’s when. Baby.
So, New York sports writers, I ask you, are you really that shallow? Are you going to only judge a team by how good they may or may not look after a win? Or will you grow up, get over whatever insecurities you have as fans, and finally realize that Eli is a decent quarterback who has the Giants looking really favorable at this point in the season, nearly time for the playoffs. Of course, knowing your style, you’ll still probably be upset if we won the Super Bowl and Eli threw 3 interceptions in the process.
Superfan: Giants vs. Bears UNCUT (12/4/07)
Finishing with a Bang
By Blue-Blooded
I don’t know if it’s my excessive experience playing Madden, or the recent fantasy craze, but I think my whole experience of analyzing a game as I see it has been severely warped. I find myself spending more time worrying about Eli’s completion percentage than I do what the score is in the 2nd quarter. In worrying so much about the Giants’ lack of performance, my frustration got to the point where a simple six-point lead seemed like it was twenty. Well, the Giants (lack of) play in the first 56-or-so minutes certainly didn’t help anything. But I digress.
In my warped view of things, I seemed to have forgotten that it isn’t how you start, but how you finish. While that may seem like a negative critique of the Giants’ last several seasons, here it was a good thing. Eli played well when it mattered most, bringing us back from behind on the road in hostile territory.
Of course, we’re very lucky we were playing a more-than-lackluster Chicago Bears team who did everything in their power to give us the win. We also gave Joe Buck the opportunity to discuss what sort of a threat Rex Grossman can be when he’s playing well. Ouch.
But, alas, we got the W. We’re 8-4 standing atop the NFC Wild Card standings. The Lions lost again. Both the Redskins and the Eagles lost. Our defense looked real sharp from the second half on. Osi’s back on the sack-wagon. I no longer have to wear my ridiculous-fitting jersey, which I’ve traded for a cooler throwback G-Men T-shirt. I’ve also found a new lucky charm to have while watching the Giants at home, which is, for whatever reason, a glass of iced diet soda. And despite the running backs seeming more and more like Giants’ versions of Keyser Sose each passing week (one minute they’re here and the next, poof, they’re gone, just like that…), we’re still getting production out of the backfield regardless of who’s back there. Also, Brandon Jacobs should be back real soon. And, like I said before, DON’T SLEEP ON AHMAD BRADSHAW. The guy’s really quick.
Regarding Eli, I’m just not sure. I was absolutely ready to trash him here while watching the game on Sunday, until the last few minutes. That game was like a microcosm of this whole season. Split-quarterback-personality-disorder. I can only hope we get the better of his two on the field each drive. Now, I don’t know what’ll happen. What I do know is that if this were happening in the second-half of last season, Eli probably wouldn’t have led us down the field for a game-winning drive. So there’s certainly progress to be noted. It’s like the reverse of a bad party hook-up. It may feel ugly and wrong the whole time, but the next morning, you’ll realize that winning is all that really matters.
By Blue-Blooded
I don’t know if it’s my excessive experience playing Madden, or the recent fantasy craze, but I think my whole experience of analyzing a game as I see it has been severely warped. I find myself spending more time worrying about Eli’s completion percentage than I do what the score is in the 2nd quarter. In worrying so much about the Giants’ lack of performance, my frustration got to the point where a simple six-point lead seemed like it was twenty. Well, the Giants (lack of) play in the first 56-or-so minutes certainly didn’t help anything. But I digress.
In my warped view of things, I seemed to have forgotten that it isn’t how you start, but how you finish. While that may seem like a negative critique of the Giants’ last several seasons, here it was a good thing. Eli played well when it mattered most, bringing us back from behind on the road in hostile territory.
Of course, we’re very lucky we were playing a more-than-lackluster Chicago Bears team who did everything in their power to give us the win. We also gave Joe Buck the opportunity to discuss what sort of a threat Rex Grossman can be when he’s playing well. Ouch.
But, alas, we got the W. We’re 8-4 standing atop the NFC Wild Card standings. The Lions lost again. Both the Redskins and the Eagles lost. Our defense looked real sharp from the second half on. Osi’s back on the sack-wagon. I no longer have to wear my ridiculous-fitting jersey, which I’ve traded for a cooler throwback G-Men T-shirt. I’ve also found a new lucky charm to have while watching the Giants at home, which is, for whatever reason, a glass of iced diet soda. And despite the running backs seeming more and more like Giants’ versions of Keyser Sose each passing week (one minute they’re here and the next, poof, they’re gone, just like that…), we’re still getting production out of the backfield regardless of who’s back there. Also, Brandon Jacobs should be back real soon. And, like I said before, DON’T SLEEP ON AHMAD BRADSHAW. The guy’s really quick.
Regarding Eli, I’m just not sure. I was absolutely ready to trash him here while watching the game on Sunday, until the last few minutes. That game was like a microcosm of this whole season. Split-quarterback-personality-disorder. I can only hope we get the better of his two on the field each drive. Now, I don’t know what’ll happen. What I do know is that if this were happening in the second-half of last season, Eli probably wouldn’t have led us down the field for a game-winning drive. So there’s certainly progress to be noted. It’s like the reverse of a bad party hook-up. It may feel ugly and wrong the whole time, but the next morning, you’ll realize that winning is all that really matters.
Superfan: Giants vs. Vikings UNCUT (11/27/07)
Losses in Mirror May Seem Larger than They Appear
By Blue-Blooded
Maybe it’s because I’m a realist, maybe it’s because I’m a bitter Giants fan, but bottom line, any football fan can tell you that much more energy gets exhausted from a loss than from a win.
No one wants to believe the human spirit works that way, but if you think rationally, it makes perfect sense. When your team wins, that means for the most part, everybody on the team did their job at their position. You give high fives to your buddies, smile, have a laugh, and breathe a sigh of relief knowing that you won’t have to be burdened with losing highlights on Sportscenter and NFL Live for the next week.
See, there’s a primary obstacle at work that all fans possess which makes losing that much more of a burden. That obstacle comes in the form of pride, that sense of being a part of the team that actually plays a legitimate role (either superstitiously or cheering-based) in the outcome of one of your team’s games. Because of this, when your team loses, you not only feel bad that they lost, but also because you might have been able to do something differently that might have led to a win (worn a certain hat instead, actually stood up to cheer on third down).
Another thing going against Giants fans this week is that, well, they play football. It isn’t like baseball or basketball, where your team can have a really bad game and then make up for with a solid win the next day. No, we get a week. And just when we’ve begun to move on in the middle of it, Inside the NFL has to come on and replay for us the misery, while analysts count on that horrible effort to make predictions for the next match-up.
But I’m not too worried. Sure, I’m extremely upset, extremely frustrated, and very let down, but I’m not worried. We play in the NFC, fans. All we have to do is make it to the playoffs and we’ll have a legitimate shot (to get to the Super Bowl…don’t get me started on thinking about whatever AFC team might be there waiting). And last I checked, we’re 7-4, recently beat the Lions, and are atop the wild card standings.
So, we had a bad game. A very bad game. Nothing went right. But you have to look at the situation from a wider perspective. Eli is usually fairly accurate, and you can’t think (no matter how cynical you may be) that he’ll be that off-target from now on. Strahan and Osi are both still healthy and that much hungrier. And look out for Ahmad Bradshaw in the backfield.
Hopefully, come January, Sunday’s travesty will mean nothing more than a regular-season loss on a playoff team’s schedule.
By Blue-Blooded
Maybe it’s because I’m a realist, maybe it’s because I’m a bitter Giants fan, but bottom line, any football fan can tell you that much more energy gets exhausted from a loss than from a win.
No one wants to believe the human spirit works that way, but if you think rationally, it makes perfect sense. When your team wins, that means for the most part, everybody on the team did their job at their position. You give high fives to your buddies, smile, have a laugh, and breathe a sigh of relief knowing that you won’t have to be burdened with losing highlights on Sportscenter and NFL Live for the next week.
See, there’s a primary obstacle at work that all fans possess which makes losing that much more of a burden. That obstacle comes in the form of pride, that sense of being a part of the team that actually plays a legitimate role (either superstitiously or cheering-based) in the outcome of one of your team’s games. Because of this, when your team loses, you not only feel bad that they lost, but also because you might have been able to do something differently that might have led to a win (worn a certain hat instead, actually stood up to cheer on third down).
Another thing going against Giants fans this week is that, well, they play football. It isn’t like baseball or basketball, where your team can have a really bad game and then make up for with a solid win the next day. No, we get a week. And just when we’ve begun to move on in the middle of it, Inside the NFL has to come on and replay for us the misery, while analysts count on that horrible effort to make predictions for the next match-up.
But I’m not too worried. Sure, I’m extremely upset, extremely frustrated, and very let down, but I’m not worried. We play in the NFC, fans. All we have to do is make it to the playoffs and we’ll have a legitimate shot (to get to the Super Bowl…don’t get me started on thinking about whatever AFC team might be there waiting). And last I checked, we’re 7-4, recently beat the Lions, and are atop the wild card standings.
So, we had a bad game. A very bad game. Nothing went right. But you have to look at the situation from a wider perspective. Eli is usually fairly accurate, and you can’t think (no matter how cynical you may be) that he’ll be that off-target from now on. Strahan and Osi are both still healthy and that much hungrier. And look out for Ahmad Bradshaw in the backfield.
Hopefully, come January, Sunday’s travesty will mean nothing more than a regular-season loss on a playoff team’s schedule.
Superfan: Giants vs. Lions UNCUT (11/20/07)
Lucky #7 by Blue-Blooded
Everything was in place for it to happen. We had just lost again coming off the bye week. On only the second play of the game, one of our key starting linebackers suffered a potential season-ending injury. Only this time, his name was Kiwanuka, not Arrington. Stupid penalties and broken plays began flooding the field from our side of the ball. Here came another huge second-half disaster.
Except for one (big) difference – we didn’t lose. As a Giants fan watching the game at home, I found myself actually looking forward to having Eli take the snap. This time around, I didn’t watch third down from behind a wall of fingers. This time around, I knew we were still the better team.
Now I realize this game wasn’t pretty. Only one offensive touchdown. The secondary still wasn’t great (how was Roy Williams that open that often?? Thank God for dropped balls and overthrows). We lost one of our most dominant players (Jacobs) for at least a couple weeks. Plax’s ankle injury certainly seems to be catching up with him (no pun intended). And I know hindsight is 20/20, but how great would it be to still have good ol’ Ryan Grant on the roster?? (Go Irish/North Jersey!)
But a win is a win no matter what it looks like. We beat the Lions, a direct wild card competitor. Eli threw no INTs and spread the ball around very nicely. We’re finally returning punts and kickoffs for more than five yards (atta boy, Bradshaw). And above all, the impossible happened. We’re more than halfway into the season and I suddenly don’t think Coughlin should be fired regardless of how we end up.
So, what should we make of all this? Well, as Giants fans, we can realize some things never change. The Giants won’t put teams away when they need to. Every game will bring every fan that much closer to an ulcer. Fox will always air one-too-many promos (Don’t get me wrong, I love the shows…I’d just rather they not be advertised over the first play of each drive). Coughlin will have at least a couple moments on the sidelines after a bad play or penalty when he looks like a confused, angry kid being forced to leave Toys ‘R Us before he’s ready to. We’ll never get a “touch” call in the 4th quarter when we could really use one, but will always have them called against us. I’ll have to keep wearing my ridiculously tight, authentic #38 jersey (the name says F. Lewis…whatever happened to that guy?) because I had to stop wearing my Tiki one (they lost 2 straight), and they’re now 7-1 when I do. Our dog will have to unwillingly wear her little Shockey jersey. And my mom will have to stay out of and away from whatever room I’m watching the game in (it’s nothing personal, she just happens to be bad luck).
However, other things have changed. Coughlin now has enough confidence in his defense to make a stand instead of challenging a bogus no-fumble-call and risking a timeout. Eli’s spreading that ball like TempTee on a fresh bagel. We didn’t give up on drives because of poorly-timed flags. Our defensive backs are making big-time plays. Our coordinators are getting well-deserved credit. At 7-3, we’re officially on a better pace than last season. Most importantly, for the first time in a while, I’m more excited about the G-Men’s positives going down the stretch than the negatives.
Everything was in place for it to happen. We had just lost again coming off the bye week. On only the second play of the game, one of our key starting linebackers suffered a potential season-ending injury. Only this time, his name was Kiwanuka, not Arrington. Stupid penalties and broken plays began flooding the field from our side of the ball. Here came another huge second-half disaster.
Except for one (big) difference – we didn’t lose. As a Giants fan watching the game at home, I found myself actually looking forward to having Eli take the snap. This time around, I didn’t watch third down from behind a wall of fingers. This time around, I knew we were still the better team.
Now I realize this game wasn’t pretty. Only one offensive touchdown. The secondary still wasn’t great (how was Roy Williams that open that often?? Thank God for dropped balls and overthrows). We lost one of our most dominant players (Jacobs) for at least a couple weeks. Plax’s ankle injury certainly seems to be catching up with him (no pun intended). And I know hindsight is 20/20, but how great would it be to still have good ol’ Ryan Grant on the roster?? (Go Irish/North Jersey!)
But a win is a win no matter what it looks like. We beat the Lions, a direct wild card competitor. Eli threw no INTs and spread the ball around very nicely. We’re finally returning punts and kickoffs for more than five yards (atta boy, Bradshaw). And above all, the impossible happened. We’re more than halfway into the season and I suddenly don’t think Coughlin should be fired regardless of how we end up.
So, what should we make of all this? Well, as Giants fans, we can realize some things never change. The Giants won’t put teams away when they need to. Every game will bring every fan that much closer to an ulcer. Fox will always air one-too-many promos (Don’t get me wrong, I love the shows…I’d just rather they not be advertised over the first play of each drive). Coughlin will have at least a couple moments on the sidelines after a bad play or penalty when he looks like a confused, angry kid being forced to leave Toys ‘R Us before he’s ready to. We’ll never get a “touch” call in the 4th quarter when we could really use one, but will always have them called against us. I’ll have to keep wearing my ridiculously tight, authentic #38 jersey (the name says F. Lewis…whatever happened to that guy?) because I had to stop wearing my Tiki one (they lost 2 straight), and they’re now 7-1 when I do. Our dog will have to unwillingly wear her little Shockey jersey. And my mom will have to stay out of and away from whatever room I’m watching the game in (it’s nothing personal, she just happens to be bad luck).
However, other things have changed. Coughlin now has enough confidence in his defense to make a stand instead of challenging a bogus no-fumble-call and risking a timeout. Eli’s spreading that ball like TempTee on a fresh bagel. We didn’t give up on drives because of poorly-timed flags. Our defensive backs are making big-time plays. Our coordinators are getting well-deserved credit. At 7-3, we’re officially on a better pace than last season. Most importantly, for the first time in a while, I’m more excited about the G-Men’s positives going down the stretch than the negatives.
Superfan: Giants vs. Cowboys UNCUT (11/14/07)
RED DAWN by Blue-Blooded
I was wondering if we, the fans, could collectively vote for a ban on ever having the Giants wear red again. Ever. The G-men have enough going on on a weekly basis, so the last thing they need are alternate jerseys to mess up their flow. And mess it up they did. For the first time since their winning streak started (way back) in September, the Giants “ferocious” pass rush didn’t record one sack. All of a sudden, their secondary’s odd combination of aging and inexperience started to show itself by letting T.O. burn them for two huge TDs, and Patrick Crayton for one of his own. His score cumulated with him stopping his run just in front of the goal line and placing the ball in the end zone to give the home fans yet another reason to squirm.
On the offensive side, while Shockey had a big day catching one touchdown bullet, Plaxico might has well been on the sideline. One has to wonder, have his ankle and lack of practice finally caught up to him? He was rarely open and when thrown to was unable to go anywhere after the catch. The running game had a good day, however one clutch, game-tying touchdown run by Brandon Jacobs was called back by an all-to-familiar bogus holding penalty against Chris Snee.
And I’m still not really sure what was going on with the delay of games.
So, is this it all over again? The beginning of the end? The time to hit the panic button and go running for the hills? NO! The funny thing is, everything I just wrote up there about the game itself had absolutely nothing to do with yesterday’s outcome. It was actually mostly my fault.
You see, I’m a very superstitious person. Very superstitious. And the settings of how I viewed Sunday’s crucial divisional match-up were all sorts of out-of-whack.
First of all, despite it being a home game, I was forced to watch the game at a sports bar just outside of Phoenix, Arizona. My cousin, who I love dearly, had his Bar-Mitzvah last weekend. Only, instead of it being on Saturday, which is customary, his had to be on the one Sunday of the Giants’ biggest game of the season! No matter. My father and I did some recon work the day before and found a sports bar right near the reception that we could sneak over to for the game.
So, Sunday at approximately 2:17 pm mountain time, my dad and I were in the rental car speeding out of a country club on our way to view the game. We made it just after Dallas’ first (bogus) score where Romo somehow adopted a new rule that allowed him to make a forward pass in the middle of a down-the-field scramble. Still, all was well, and the G-men hung in there to make it tied at the half.
Then, my mom arrived at the bar. Back home, when watching a game, it’s customary that my mom leave my dad and I alone in the living room to watch the game. She can’t stand our screaming at the screen, and to be honest, the Giants play better when she’s out of the room. So WHY, dad, would you have her come to the sports bar during such a crucial game when she’s been nothing but bad luck around us all season?
I tried to keep these emotions bottled up and under control throughout the third quarter, but after realizing the Giants offense had all but shut down and the Cowboys showed no signs of slowing down their scoring, we politely made her move to the adjoining restaurant. It turned out to be too little, too late.
Fortunately fans, I have no more plans to go across the country for any more crucial home match-ups. The next family Bar/Bat-Mitzvah isn’t scheduled until I think mid-February. As for the jerseys, let’s just hope we’ve parted ways with the “Red Sea” for good.
I was wondering if we, the fans, could collectively vote for a ban on ever having the Giants wear red again. Ever. The G-men have enough going on on a weekly basis, so the last thing they need are alternate jerseys to mess up their flow. And mess it up they did. For the first time since their winning streak started (way back) in September, the Giants “ferocious” pass rush didn’t record one sack. All of a sudden, their secondary’s odd combination of aging and inexperience started to show itself by letting T.O. burn them for two huge TDs, and Patrick Crayton for one of his own. His score cumulated with him stopping his run just in front of the goal line and placing the ball in the end zone to give the home fans yet another reason to squirm.
On the offensive side, while Shockey had a big day catching one touchdown bullet, Plaxico might has well been on the sideline. One has to wonder, have his ankle and lack of practice finally caught up to him? He was rarely open and when thrown to was unable to go anywhere after the catch. The running game had a good day, however one clutch, game-tying touchdown run by Brandon Jacobs was called back by an all-to-familiar bogus holding penalty against Chris Snee.
And I’m still not really sure what was going on with the delay of games.
So, is this it all over again? The beginning of the end? The time to hit the panic button and go running for the hills? NO! The funny thing is, everything I just wrote up there about the game itself had absolutely nothing to do with yesterday’s outcome. It was actually mostly my fault.
You see, I’m a very superstitious person. Very superstitious. And the settings of how I viewed Sunday’s crucial divisional match-up were all sorts of out-of-whack.
First of all, despite it being a home game, I was forced to watch the game at a sports bar just outside of Phoenix, Arizona. My cousin, who I love dearly, had his Bar-Mitzvah last weekend. Only, instead of it being on Saturday, which is customary, his had to be on the one Sunday of the Giants’ biggest game of the season! No matter. My father and I did some recon work the day before and found a sports bar right near the reception that we could sneak over to for the game.
So, Sunday at approximately 2:17 pm mountain time, my dad and I were in the rental car speeding out of a country club on our way to view the game. We made it just after Dallas’ first (bogus) score where Romo somehow adopted a new rule that allowed him to make a forward pass in the middle of a down-the-field scramble. Still, all was well, and the G-men hung in there to make it tied at the half.
Then, my mom arrived at the bar. Back home, when watching a game, it’s customary that my mom leave my dad and I alone in the living room to watch the game. She can’t stand our screaming at the screen, and to be honest, the Giants play better when she’s out of the room. So WHY, dad, would you have her come to the sports bar during such a crucial game when she’s been nothing but bad luck around us all season?
I tried to keep these emotions bottled up and under control throughout the third quarter, but after realizing the Giants offense had all but shut down and the Cowboys showed no signs of slowing down their scoring, we politely made her move to the adjoining restaurant. It turned out to be too little, too late.
Fortunately fans, I have no more plans to go across the country for any more crucial home match-ups. The next family Bar/Bat-Mitzvah isn’t scheduled until I think mid-February. As for the jerseys, let’s just hope we’ve parted ways with the “Red Sea” for good.
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