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.