Superfan: Giants vs. Bucs UNCUT (1/8/08)

One Giant Leap by Blue-Blooded

Oh, man. I mean, wow. I was confident that we could win this one, but I honestly never expected us to look that dominant in victory. Eli looked like a seasoned vet, the d-line was as aggressive as I’ve ever seen them, and how about that secondary?
I’m not going to lie. I was very relieved when that game was over. After practically assuring a victory in my article last week, I thought for sure everyone thought (myself included) that I had jinxed us. Unfortunately, I don’t have a giant tree in my room that I could have used last week to knock on every hour on the hour to try and even things out.
Also, I wonder how many local sports writers went to bed Sunday night upset that they had hardly anything negative to write about. I’m thinking several.
I was extremely impressed with Michael Strahan after that game. Of course he was happy about the victory, but he also made it very clear that no giant monkey is off anyone’s back yet. The point is to win the whole thing, not just one. And it really looks like these guys recognize and appreciate that truism.
We’ve got a very tough opponent this Sunday in Dallas. They may not have played well to end the season, but that doesn’t mean the talent is gone. Yes, Owens isn’t 100%, but don’t forget he also wasn’t full-strength in an incredible performance in some big playoff game a few years ago. Oh, right. The Super Bowl. Let’s not count him out just yet, as much as I’d love to. Not to mention, they got Terry Glenn back at the end of the season.
However, last Sunday’s performance by our secondary was the best I can remember in the last 5+ years. Corey Webster clearly was putting on a show to try and inspire his troops for their showdown with Ohio State last night. Regardless of whether it worked, it was quite a show. I bet no one thought heading into Sunday’s game that the post-game media frenzy would encircle Corey Webster, and would completely skip over a very humbled Ronde Barber.

As for Eli, allow me to quote a conversation I had with a fellow fan during the game which happens to also be a conversation which took place in “The Matrix”:
“That’s impossible. How’s he doing that?”
“He’s beginning to believe.”

As much as (it seemed) he tried to fight it, the “Manningness” finally kicked in. I saw a quarterback who approached the line of scrimmage on every play (at least from the second quarter on) with the confidence that he would be able to make something happen. He showed incredible patience. He ran away from pressure and gave himself more time. He was able to sense immediate pressure and delivered the ball just before he got hit. He checked down to all his receivers and gave them opportunities to get open, without glaring at who he was planning to throw to each time he approached the line of scrimmage. And he didn’t make many bad throws.
The one legit criticism I could find was that he still needs to work a little bit on clock management. And to lead his receivers a little more so they’re not always stationary when they catch the ball. It’s a lot harder to gain yards after the catch that way. As far as everything else went, however, very nice.
My boys Ahmad and Brandon spoke for themselves out there. By the way, props to Coughlin and Gilbride on their handling of the running game. Ahmad was the only guy who didn’t play last week, and it seemed like Tampa Bay might have forgotten he was on our roster during the first three quarters. Nothing but bruising runs up the middle from Jacobs the whole game, then suddenly, whoosh! Ahmad Bradshaw comes in there, against a very exhausted Buccaneers defense, and is able to shake them off like Jacobs! Talk about a good change of pace.
I had a feeling early on that it was going to be a good offensive day when we opened up the game with a pass. Very rebellious, Kevin. You like to live dangerously. I dig it.

For all these reasons, and more, I’m again feeling good going into the game this Sunday. We’ve got a great system working at my house right now. A fellow fan, and friend of the family’s, Jay, always picks up pizza from the same place on the way to our place. My buddy, Jon, always shows up a little late. I always have a glass of iced diet soda on me at all times. We’ve decided for sure that while my little brother is home from school, the dog doesn’t wear the Shockey jersey (it’s also unnecessary to have any potential bad vibes seeing as how he’s not dressed for the games). My dad and I always throw ten complete passes outside, then another ten for overtime/good luck right before kickoff.
This past week, by the way, my buddy Jon and I were outside throwing the ball around during halftime. I led him on a pass across the yard, he went running for it, it was muddy and gross out, his foot got stuck, and he totally wiped out. I mean big time. Mud everywhere. Me laughing. Mothers crying. Children screaming and running in fear. Plus, he dropped the pass. (Sorry, Jon, but if it wasn’t you, you’d think it was really funny also. I promise.)
All the same characters will be back next week for more crazy shenanigans, which is good for the Giants, bad for my house’s foundation. I have all the confidence in the world that the Giants can pull this one off. Don’t forget, the other two contests were close games until the last quarters. And this is a much different, more aggressive, more confident team. With a defense that should be feared as much as, if not more than, any other in the playoffs right now.
Enjoy the way you feel right now as a Giants fan. It’s only going to get better as this train rolls on.