Tuesday, December 18, 2012

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 3rd 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!  

                


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