Man-ning the Comeback

Eli Manning had a first half to forget throwing three interceptions.  The Giants lost their running back Ahmad Bradshaw, their right tackle David Diehl, and wide receiver Domenik Nixon all to injuries.  It seemed as if the Giants were on their way to an 0-2 start to the season.

Then the fourth quarter began and that's when Manning and his offense came alive as they have done so many times before.

The Giants would score 25 points in the fourth quarter and go on to win their first game of the season, 41-34 over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.  The two-time Super Bowl Champion quarterback had a career day throwing for 510 yards to go with three touchdowns.  His top two receivers also had career days.  Hakeem Nicks caught 10 passes for 199 yards and a touchdown while Victor Cruz had 11 receptions for 179 yards and a touchdown.  Manning went 7 for 9 with 229 yards and two touchdowns in the last 7:41 of the game.  If that's not clutch, I don't know what is.

Sparingly used running back Andre Brown filled in very nicely for Bradshaw carrying the ball 13 times for 71 yards and a touchdown.  Amazingly enough, Brown came into the game with negative one career rushing yards on just two carries.  Yeah that's right, less than zero career rushing yards.  The inexperienced tailback looked like a ten-year veteran when he dove to the ground at the two yard line allowing the Giants to run more clock off.  Brown would go on to run in the game-winning touchdown leaving the Buccaneers with just 31 seconds remaining on the clock.  That would turn out to be pivotal as Bucs quarterback Josh Freeman would make it interesting in the final drive getting the ball in Giants' territory.

A huge 80-yard touchdown from Manning to Cruz on a gorgeous connection ignited the Giants' offense with 7:41 remaining.  The salsa was broken out.  MetLife Stadium had finally come alive.  The Giants' defense would force a three-and-out to give the fired up defending Super Bowl MVP a chance at the lead.  He would do just that.  Manning hooked up with tight end Martellus Bennett for the score.  After Tampa Bay scored their only touchdown of the second half, the Giants would get the ball back and Brown would take it to the endzone for the victory.

It was a big game for the Giants to take after trailing early and dealing with key injuries to starters.  They evened their record to 1-1 on the season.  There are definitely a lot of concerns the Giants have going forward with their defense.  They need to get improved play from their secondary.  They cannot be giving up as many points as they have every week.  There is a lot this team has to work on.

Despite the loss to the Cowboys and the bad first half Sunday, Big Blue heads down to Charlotte for a Thursday night matchup with the Panthers riding high with a big win.  Both teams are coming off their first wins of the season.  The Giants could be playing without Bradshaw, Nixon, and Diehl Thursday against Cam Newton's squad.  Tom Coughlin's resilient team hopes to get their second straight win in an anticipated NFC primetime matchup.

2012 Giants Season Preview

The New York Giants are riding high going into the 2012 season.  Big Blue is coming off their second Super Bowl victory in the last four years.  Tom Coughlin's resilient squad comes into this season being overlooked by many.  The Eagles and Cowboys are being picked by many to finish ahead of Big Blue.  While the G-Men have lost Brandon Jacobs and Mario Manningham, they still have one ELI-te man behind center.

Eli Manning led the Giants down the stretch last season living up to his word of being an elite quarterback.  Manning has lost one of his targets in Mario Manningham as well as his tight end, Jake Ballard.  Ballard was replaced by former Cowboys tight end Martellus Bennett.  Big Blue did not do much this offseason to improve their receiving depth, but Ramses Barden and Domenik Hixon should see bigger roles this season.  With Hakeem Nicks and Victor Cruz starting, Manning will be just fine.

Manning also lost his backup running back, Brandon Jacobs, who signed with the 49ers this offseason.  Jacobs was replaced by rookie running back David Wilson.  Wilson has a very similar running style to starting running back, Ahmad Bradshaw.  The Giants lose their power back in Jacobs, but Wilson will provide a spark off the bench and is just 21 years old.

The Giants main weakness this season is their secondary.  The offense will score points and their pass rush is arguably the best in the NFL.  Their starting corners are Corey Webster and Michael Coe, who did not see much playing time last season.  If Prince Amukamara can stay healthy and see an improvement this season, they should be fine, but that has yet to be soon.  Kenny Phillips and Antrel Rolle give the Giants suitable options at safety.  The only question is truly at cornerback for the G-Men.   There is not a lot of depth there, but their defensive line should make up for that.

The Giants' schedule will be nowhere near easy this season.  Outside of the division, they will play the 49ers, Packers, Steelers, Saints, Falcons, and Ravens.  Those six games to go with four against the Cowboys and Eagles will make it tough for the G-Men to win this division, but this team has too much talent to miss out on the playoffs.

PREDICTION:
10-6
2nd place in NFC East
Winning one of the two NFC Wild Card spots
Losing to 49ers in NFC playoffs.

Vince Young Does it Again to the Giants

Vince Young did it again to the Giants on Sunday night.  He beat them for the third time in his career.  Young is now 3-0 as starting quarterback against the Giants.  Young looked very sharp as he started for the injured Michael Vick Sunday night at MetLife Stadium.  Young led a nearly nine minute drive ending in a touchdown, which would turn out to be the game winning score in the 17-10 victory.

The Giants offense was silent for most of the night.  They key to this one was the lack of any running game by the Giants.  They had 29 yards total rushing by three running backs on the night.  There is no way any team can win that absolutely no running game whatsoever.  The Eagles were running very successfully and Vince Young was throwing to all different receivers.  The Eagles had 136 total rushing yards led by LeSean McCoy with 113 yards.  Young did have three interceptions, but looked very sharp throwing the ball.  He was 23 for 36 with 258 yards and two touchdown passes.  For a guy who has been on the bench all season, Young looked like the player he once used to be with the Titans.  Young has had his troubles on and off the field, but he has been a winner in his career.  He has won games.  The Giants know that very well.  The Giants are 0-3 against Young.

Giants punter Steve Weatherford was very busy in this game.  Every Giants drive in the first half ended in the punt until their last drive when they finally scored on a field goal.  Every drive in the third quarter would also end in a Giants punt.  The Giants offense was stagnant Sunday night.  Injuries have been a problem for the Giants and without running back Ahmad Bradshaw and losing offensive lineman Chris Snee really hurt them tonight.

The dagger in this one came in the fourth quarter.  Vince Young led an unbelievably long and well-executed drive that was 8:51 long and 18 plays for 91 yards.  The Eagles started the possession with 11:36 remaining in the fourth quarter.  They slowly moved down the field eating the clock away.  The Eagles went an astounding six for six on third downs on the drive.  The Giants defense had no answer and could not get stops when they needed to most.  The Giants would get the ball back with 2:45 to go.  They had plenty of time to get down the field and send it to overtime.  They were put in nearly the same position as last week.  They had the ball, down a touchdown, with a chance to tie the game.  They would get a huge completion to Victor Cruz who would have a catch and run for 47 yards getting the Giants all the way to the Eagles 21.  For the second week in a row, the Giants looked to have life late, but Eli would scuffle late again.  Manning got sacked from behind and fumbled the football and the Eagles would recover.  Two heartbreakers in two consecutive weeks for the Giants.  It was a tough way to lose another dropping them to 6-4 on the season.

The problem for the Giants now is that they have the toughest remaining schedule in the NFL.  They have to go to New Orleans next Monday night to face the Saints.  That is followed by the defending Super Bowl champion Packers.  If that is not enough, they have to go to Dallas to face their division rival Cowboys, who have been on fire of late and tied with the Giants for first in the NFC East.  Following that, they play the Redskins, Jets, and Cowboys.  Five of those six games are against teams that are .500 or better.  It is going to be a tough road to the playoffs here on out for the Giants.  The road starts in New Orleans next week.