SuperFan: Giants vs. Cowboys (12/8/09)

A Long Way From Over

By Superfan

“SHOW ME SOMETHING.” In one way or another, it seems every Giants fan posed this challenge to the team heading into last Sunday’s big match-up against the Cowboys. After what happened against the Broncos, not only did the Gmen need to win to stay alive in the playoff hunt, but they needed to prove to their fans and themselves that what happens out there every Sunday (or Thursday, or Monday) means as much to them as it does to us. And they did just that, in impressive fashion. Not to jump the gun, but I’m going to go out on a limb and say something finally clicked for us in the Meadowlands last Sunday. As soon as they went down 10-0 early, some switch flipped on, the metaphorical chip got wedged just deep enough into the team's collective shoulder, and it looked like they all universally thought, "Okay, enough is enough!” By the time we’d captured the lead just before the half, I could feel the reassuring pride coursing throughout my body like red blood cells. The New York Football Giants were back.
We’ve been here before, and have shown everybody we’re more than capable of coming back from the depths of mediocrity with our backs against the wall. Let's remind this league why we (not so long ago) used to be labeled one of its elite.
Statistically speaking, it wasn’t our best-looking win of the year. Eli completed only 11 of 25 passes, with an interception to go along with his two touchdown passes, and Jacobs and Bradshaw each had less than fifty yards rushing. But when it comes to aspects of the game that actually matter (statistics only really matter in fantasy football, not real football), this was by far our biggest win of the year. The Giants had to make a statement to the rest of the league, and that’s exactly what they did.

First thing’s first, a big kudos to Bill Sheridan and the defense. He’s been under the microscope for weeks now, and he stood his ground and came through. They shook up the lineup a bit, moved some guys around, did a few things differently, and boy did it pay off huge. Yeah, I know Romo completed 41 passes for nearly 400 yards, but he also had to throw the ball 55 times! Why? Because we held their three-headed rushing trio (Barber, Jones, Choice) to less than fifty yards (combined)! When we played the Cowboys in week two, those three ran for a combined 228 yards. Nice adjustment, if you ask me. Also, guess how many penalties were called against our defense on Sunday? One. (Well, two, technically, but the first ended up getting offset.) That’s a direct result of great coaching (the offense also only had one penalty called against them all game, by the way). I’ve criticized him plenty when the defense hasn’t played well, so I’ll absolutely give him big time props for what transpired at the Meadowlands on Sunday. Great job, Coach. Keep it up.
Even though his big play came on a receiving touchdown, it might as well have been a run. That one play showed me that Brandon Jacobs, the bulldozer we all know and love, is ready to reintroduce himself to the NFL. Pity to those fools who have to face him the rest of the way. It’s going to hurt.

The one issue that stood out to me during the game was how open Jason Witten seemed to be in the middle of the field all day long. Although, I’d gladly let Witten have a big day receiving if it means shutting down that rushing game. In the end, it wasn’t as close as the final score indicated, and a lot of those passing yards came against our prevent defense in what may as well have been garbage time.

Since the Giants won the last two times we watched them play at his house, JJ and I had initially planned to watch the game at my cousin Larry’s. It was then that I had a startling realization – we were also at his house last year when the Giants got beat up by the Cowboys in their second meeting. Sorry Larry, but I’m sure you understand that sacrifices have to be made to ensure a victory for the Gmen. It’s for the team.
So JJ and I wound up watching the game at my house with Ryan and the beagle (Pete). Unfortunately, since we only had the local feed, we were stuck waiting for the Redskins-Saints game to end before we could watch the Giants. Damn Redskins. Of course that anger faded fast as the game wore on, and it was nothing but Big Blue pride from then on. The assurance first came for me when we scored those quick 14 points just before halftime, and became legitimate after Dominik Hixon’s picture-perfect punt return for a touchdown. By the way, how great is it having a threat like that returning kicks for us? What a weapon!

For those of you who can’t seem to understand why our 3rd round draft pick (Ramses Barden) is inactive nearly every week, I sympathize with your confusion, but also see why the Giants are doing what they’re doing. They’re giving him the Mario Manningham treatment. He barely saw the field last season, spending his time learning from the guys around him, studying the playbook, and mastering his craft. As his production this season has shown us, it really paid off. I have a feeling the team’s handling Ramses Barden the same way. I realize that we have few tall weapons, and it would be nice to have his presence in the red zone, but you have to look at the big picture. In no way do I mean to knock him, especially because no one was more excited about drafting him than I was last April, but at this point in his very young career he brings little more to the table than a big body in the red zone. Wouldn’t it be better to let him master his craft, become a threat all over the field (instead of just twenty yards from the end zone), become a great downfield blocker, and use the last active spot on the roster for someone who adds depth in several areas in the meantime. After all, Hixon doesn’t score a touchdown on that punt return without Derek Hagan’s magnificent block downfield. Trust me, the coaches realize the potential they have with Barden. They’ll know when he’s ready.

(Back to the situation at hand…)

Here’s my take on the Gmen’s season so far, and what it all means: you can’t expect to have a storybook ending without encountering some serious hurdles along the way. If you remember correctly, the 2007 season was a fairly unpleasant and bumpy road up until the last few weeks in December, starting with our big win in Buffalo and continuing on through the Super Bowl. Conversely, last year was a very dominant season (minus that one really bad game against Cleveland) that ended miserably in early January. So forget about the previous twelve games. If we can keep going and get into the playoffs as a hot team, that would be just as valuable to our chances at making a run as home field advantage will be to the Saints or Vikings. Like we proved two years ago, you don’t have to be hot all year. Only when it matters most.

Some non-Gmen thoughts from around the world of sports/entertainment:
• I can’t believe I forgot to mention this last week, but congratulations to Derek Jeter for winning S.I.’s Sportsman of the Year award! Love him or hate him, the guy represents everything that’s great and pure about the game of baseball. Like Ted Williams was for baseball years ago, and Babe Ruth before him, and the countless others from years past, Derek Jeter has become the face of the sport. Years from now, when people think back to baseball in the 90s and into the 21st century, Jeter will be who comes to mind. In a period clouded with new problems like steroids and free agency, Derek Jeter stayed with one team and remained one of the purest, consistent, clutch, humblest, and most passionate players in the game. Hats off to you, Jeet. Atta boy!
• Have you all been watching this season of Dexter?!?! WOOOOOW!!!!! What an amazing show. My blood pressure reaches near-heart-attack levels every time I watch it, but it’s totally worth it. Can’t wait to watch the finale this Sunday after the Gmen are finished with Philly…

Okay, fans, here we go! From Dallas to Philly, the final quarter of the regular season is about to get under way. It doesn’t get any better than this! To talk Giants’ awesomeness, or any questions/comments, feel free to shoot me an e-mail at gmensuperfan@gmail.com, or look for me on Facebook under the name “Gmen Superfan.” Every game’s a playoff game from here on out. We still control our destiny! Keep on bleeding blue, and until next week, GO GMEN!!!!