Giants Team Grades: Week 6 vs. San Francisco 49ers

Sunday, October 14, 2012

Final Score: New York Giants: 26 San Francisco 49ers: 3

Giants Team Grades

The Giants headed into San Francisco with no one giving them a chance and left with many people believing that they might be the best team in the NFL.  The Giants went into Candlestick Park and destroyed the 49ers in every facet of the game, leading to a dominating 26-3 victory.  The Giants came into the game prepared and ready to go, evident by how every unit of the squad was clicking on all cylinders.

Passing Offense Grade: A

http://www2.pictures.zimbio.com/gi/Eli+Manning+New+York+Giants+v+San+Francisco+cZeIsrgjFYDl.jpg

Eli Manning did not put up otherworldly stats, but it wasn’t necessary on this afternoon.  Manning completed 15 of 28 passes for 193 yards and a touchdown.  What was important was that Manning did not turn the ball over at all.  The offensive line was also able to keep Manning clean and upright, as the 49ers were unable to register a sack against the Giants quarterback.
Hakeem Nicks returned for the first time since week 2 and was visibly limited.  He did not have the burst or speed he normally has, but gutted it out.  Nicks even made an impressive catch along the sidelines in the second quarter, making the catch despite a pass interference call.

Domenik Hixon and Victor Cruz again were the biggest beneficiaries in the receiving game.  Hixon made receptions of 39 and 16 yards on the Giants first touchdown drive, putting the Giants in position for Manning to hit Cruz with an eight yard pass for the touchdown. Hixon ended the game with 78 yards receiving on four receptions and Cruz finished with 58 yards on six receptions.

Rushing Offense Grade: A+

http://www3.pictures.zimbio.com/gi/Ahmad+Bradshaw+New+York+Giants+v+San+Francisco+BnqnZXR_ED6l.jpg

Ahmad Bradshaw continued his role as the bell cow for the Giants running game and he responded in a big way against one of the top defenses in the NFL.  Bradshaw ran for 116 yards and a touchdown against a 49ers defense that just does not allow 100 yard rushers.  Only Marshawn Lynch has ran for 100 yards or more against the 49ers in their last 44 games, making this week’s feat more impressive in the minds of many people than his career high 200 yard rushing game against the Browns the week prior.

The offensive line dominated at the point of attack, opening up big holes for Bradshaw to gash the 49ers defense.  David Diehl made his return this week and made the most of his return as an extra blocker as head coach Tom Coughlin opted to keep Sean Locklear and Will Beatty at the tackles.

David Wilson also saw an expanded role in the offense and made the most of the opportunity.  Wilson had seven rush attempts for 35 yards, ripping off a 20 yard back-breaking run in the fourth quarter to help put away the 49ers.

Pass Defense Grade: A+

http://www2.pictures.zimbio.com/gi/Antrel+Rolle+New+York+Giants+v+San+Francisco+WeR2JeJ5Sdul.jpg

The Giants were able to get into the head of 49ers quarterback Alex Smith, throwing him off his game and causing numerous mistakes made as the Giants intercepted Smith three times.  Antrel Rolle had two of those interceptions and Prince Amukamara had the other. 

The pass rush, which had been non-existent all season, finally showed up as the Giants totaled six sacks for the game.  Jason Pierre-Paul led the onslaught with two sacks.  Mathias Kiwanuka, who also tallied a sack, was played up front more and less at linebacker, a trend that may continue with the success the Giants had against the 49ers.

Rush Defense Grade: A

http://www1.pictures.zimbio.com/gi/Mathias+Kiwanuka+New+York+Giants+v+San+Francisco+_guDpv_WTi7l.jpg

The mission of the Giants defense was to shut down the running game of the 49ers and make them a passing team. The 49ers are the top rushing team in the NFL, averaging 178.6 yards per game, so the task is easier said than done.

The Giants made it looked much easier than it actually was, as the defense shut down 49ers running back Frank Gore, holding him to only 30 rushing yards and allowing 80 total rushing yards.

This was an area that was important for the Giants to dominate because with no run game, the 49ers became one-dimensional and easy to pick apart.  It also allowed the Giants to dominate the time of possession, enabling to have Manning and the offense on the field while the defense rested up.

Special Teams Grade: A-

http://www2.pictures.zimbio.com/gi/Lawrence+Tynes+New+York+Giants+v+San+Francisco+3EkBWx6sMdBl.jpg

Lawrence Tynes had one of his field goal attempts blocked, but knocked his other four attempts through the uprights, giving Tynes a very solid 17 field goals made out of 19, with his only misses being the block in this game and the 54 yarder missed against the Eagles.

Wilson continued his strong performance as the kick returner, ripping off a 66-yard return right after halftime to put the Giants in position to add to their lead right out of the break and crush the spirits of the 49ers. 

The Giants coverage teams were great also, as they held the electric and dangerous Ted Ginn to only 22 punt return yards.

Coaching Grade: A+

http://www1.pictures.zimbio.com/gi/Tom+Coughlin+New+York+Giants+v+San+Francisco+d-57V2USsB1l.jpg

Tom Coughlin did it once again; getting his team up for a big game against an elite opponent.  Coughlin set the tone from after the Browns game, saying that no one gave the Giants a real chance of going into San Francisco and beating the 49ers.

The coordinators, Perry Fewell on defense and Kevin Gilbride on offense, also deserve a lot of credit.  Fewell made the necessary adjustments to spark a pass rush that had been dormant the whole season before Sunday and Gilbride stuck to the game plan even faced with going against a defense as imposing as the 49ers.

This was the epitome of a team win, as every unit was clicking on all cylinders and the Giants parlayed that into a steamrolling of one of the top teams in the NFL.

Giants Dominate NFC Championship Game Re-Match

Sunday, October 13^th 2012

Post-Game Recap

Final Score: New York Giants: 26 San Francisco 49ers: 3

Giants Dominate NFC Championship Game Re-Match

Tom Coughlin came into the week proclaiming that no one believed the Giants could beat the 49ers, not giving his team any chance of winning in San Francisco against the team many considered the best in the NFL.  Someone forgot to tell Coughlin, his staff and players because the Giants decimated the 49ers in their own house to the tune of a 26-3 whooping. 

The Giants had not played the strongest of schedules thus far, but limped out to a 3-2 record and wanted to try their hand against a contender; the 49ers wish that the Giants had not.  The Giants reminded everyone who the reigning Super Bowl Champions are and just how great of a team they are when it matters most.

The Giants made a statement in this game, even though it was the 49ers who were supposed to be out to exact revenge and take it to the Giants, especially since the game was at Candlestick Park in San Francisco. 

Eli Manning had an efficient game behind an offensive line that kept him upright for most of the game, as the 49ers were unable to sack Manning.  Manning completed 15 of 28 passes for 193 yards and one touchdown.  Manning totaled 176 of those yards in the first half, as the Giants used a pounding run game to finish off the 49ers in the second half.

http://www3.pictures.zimbio.com/gi/Ahmad+Bradshaw+New+York+Giants+v+San+Francisco+HGLoPKZNO9ll.jpg

Ahmad Bradshaw once again led a very solid run game for the Giants, giving them a dimension on offense they have lacked for over a season.  Bradshaw ran for 116 yards on 23 carries and one touchdown, amazing statistics because the 49ers have one of the top rush defense and overall defenses in the NFL, giving up under 100 rushing yards a game and only 187 through the air.

David Wilson is becoming more of a frequent site on the field during offensive possessions and he is making the most of his opportunity.  Wilson relieved Bradshaw and received seven carries for 35 yards, delivering a back-breaking 20 yard run on a seven-plus minute drive by the Giants to finish off the game in the fourth quarter.

Hakeem Nicks returned to the lineup for the Giants, catching three balls for 44 yards, but it was his replacement Domenik Hixon who once again played a big role for the Giants.  Hixon caught four balls for 78 yards, taking advantage of the third cornerback the 49ers were using and putting the Giants into position for their first touchdown of the afternoon.

http://www2.pictures.zimbio.com/gi/Victor+Cruz+New+York+Giants+v+San+Francisco+QazYF7Ho3dLl.jpg

Victor Cruz was solid as always for the Giants, catching six passes for 58 yards and one touchdown, delivering his patented Salsa dance for the 49er crowd.  As the game went on, the chants of “Cruz” became louder and louder as the Giant fans started to take over.

The defense has been called out and questioned over the past few weeks and they showed up Sunday afternoon, showing some of that Super Bowl swagger they had been missing.  “How will they slow down Vernon Davis,” naysayers asked, yet that’s exactly what they did.  Davis, who destroyed the Giants en route to scoring three touchdowns in two games last season, was held to three catches for 37 yards and was invisible when the 49ers needed him most.

Alex Smith is one of the best quarterbacks in the league, no chance the Giants slow him down people said.  The Giants destroyed Smith Sunday, rattling him early and getting into his head with hit after hit. 

http://www3.pictures.zimbio.com/gi/Alex+Smith+New+York+Giants+v+San+Francisco+Qfuj2h5QtX-l.jpg

The Giants pass rush had been non-existent throughout the season thus far, but they showed up just in time for this big matchup.  The Giants accumulated six sacks, led by two from Jason Pierre-Paul.  This constant pressure on Smith got him off his game, as he threw three interceptions.

Antrel Rolle was responsible for two of those interceptions, with Prince Amukamara getting the other.  Those interceptions are significant because Smith has become a very good protector of the ball, rarely turning it over, even setting the 49ers franchise record for passes in a row without an interception.

http://www2.pictures.zimbio.com/gi/Antrel+Rolle+New+York+Giants+v+San+Francisco+WeR2JeJ5Sdul.jpg

The Giants defense was also able to hold the vaunted 49ers rushing offense in check, not allowing them to break the century mark and limiting them to 87 yards, holding them 89 yards under their normal output of 176 yards per game.

These are the kind of wins that are staples of long winning streaks and the Giants looked poised to start one of their own.  Sitting on two wins in a row, the Giants head into two straight divisional match-ups with a ton of momentum.  The first of those match-ups is Sunday afternoon back at MetLife Stadium as the Giants will face off against Robert Griffin III for the first time.  The Giants will look to beat the Redskins for their first division win of the season.

Giants Team Grades: Week 5 vs. Cleveland Browns

Sunday, October 7^th 2012

Final Score: Cleveland Browns: 27 New York Giants: 41

Giants Team Grades

A slow start by the Giants produced a grim feeling at MetLife Stadium Sunday afternoon, but the Giants were eventually able to put it all together and roll the Browns 41-27.  The veteran leadership shown through in this performance, as the older more experienced Giants eventually over-whelmed the young, inexperienced Browns. 

Passing Offense Grade: A

http://www1.pictures.zimbio.com/gi/Victor+Cruz+Cleveland+Browns+v+New+York+Giants+A43MhZIoZM5l.jpg

With starting wide receiver Hakeem Nicks out again, Ramses Barden out because of a concussion and Martellus Bennett getting a hyper-extended knee, Eli Manning was again left with responsibility of running an offense without main pieces and that is exactly what he did.

Manning hooked up with Victor Cruz for three touchdowns and continued to show no matter who is on the field he can produce.  This week, Domenik Hixon and rookie Reuben Randle stepped up for the Giants.

Hixon and Randle combined for 11 catches and 137 yards in replace of Nicks and Barden.

Manning finished the game 25 for 37 for 259 yards and three touchdowns.  Manning also had a tough luck interception, as a ball bounced out of Cruz’s hands and into Cleveland Browns’ Usama Young’s hands

Rushing Offense Grade: A+

http://www4.pictures.zimbio.com/gi/Ahmad+Bradshaw+Cleveland+Browns+v+New+York+J1h62voFAgrl.jpg

The first carry of the game from Ahmad Bradshaw resulted in a turnover and quick score for the Browns, but Bradshaw did not allow that to affect him.  Bradshaw used that turnover as motivation as he dominated the Browns the rest of the afternoon.

With backup Andre Brown suffering a concussion early in the game, the onus was on Bradshaw to be the workhorse out of the backfield and he took the challenge straight on. 

Bradshaw finished the game with a career high 200 yards on 30 carries, dominating the Browns with every opportunity given to him.  Bradshaw was also a contributor in the passing game, catching four passes for 29 yards. 

David Wilson made a cameo on offense as well and made the most of it, ripping off a 40 yard touchdown run.  If you blinked, the play would have been missed as Wilson looked as if he was shot out of a cannon, showing off the speed the Giants became enamored with when they were scouting him before the draft in April.

The Giants totaled 243 yards on the ground against the Browns and if they can continue running the ball effectively, they will have the best offense in the NFL.

Passing Defense Grade: B

http://www3.pictures.zimbio.com/gi/Stevie+Brown+Cleveland+Browns+v+New+York+Giants+gIMGB2XfEe5l.jpg

The Giants pass defense got off to a rough start, as Brandon Weeden connected with Josh Gordon on a 62-yard bomb in the first quarter.  Weeden also threw another touchdown near the end of the game, as the Giants struggled to get pressure on him, failing to register a sack against an offensive line that had allowed nine throughout the season.

Weeden eventually would make rookie mistakes once the Giants got a small amount of pressure on him, as Stevie Brown, filling in for the injured Kenny Phillips, intercepted Weeden in the second quarter.  That interception set up the tying score for the Giants and Chase Blackburn added an interception of his own later in the game in the end zone.

The Giants have been ravaged in the secondary by injuries, but will have to put on a better performance in the coming weeks with better opponents on the schedule.

Rushing Defense Grade: B

http://www1.pictures.zimbio.com/gi/Trent+Richardson+Cleveland+Browns+v+New+York+2sed886_Euhl.jpg

Trent Richardson was able to do what he wanted against the Giants defense, with the only thing slowing him down being the scoreboard.  He scored an early touchdown after the Bradshaw fumble and rumbled to 67 yards in the first half, but was limited in the second half because of the score.

Richardson ended with 81 yards on 17 carriers, adding five receptions for 47 yards.  It was a feat for the Giants though, as they held the Browns to less than 100 yards rushing even with Rocky Bernard out of the lineup. 

Special Teams Grade: B

http://www4.pictures.zimbio.com/gi/David+Wilson+Cleveland+Browns+v+New+York+Giants+CXCGBKKGAsxl.jpg

The return game was unable to get going, as Wilson averaged on 13.5 yards per return after exploding against the Eagles in week 4.  Andre Brown had one return for 13 yards before suffering a concussion that knocked him out of the game. 

Lawrence Tynes continued his strong season, knocking his two field goal attempts through the uprights and nailing all five of his extra points.  Weatherford was brought on to punt only twice, but averaged 50 yards per punt.

Josh Cribbs was able to break a 74-yard kick off return, which would have gone to the house if not for Mark Herzlich’s hustle to tackle him.  But Cribbs also fumbled earlier in the game, as Will Hill forced the fumble and Stevie Brown recovered it, giving him two forced turnovers in the game. 

Coaching Grade: A

http://www1.pictures.zimbio.com/gi/Tom+Coughlin+Cleveland+Browns+v+New+York+Giants+zYwuCAMIUYjl.jpg

It definitely was not in the game plan to go down 14-0, but with how the Giants responded the coaching staff had viable reason to say they might have.  With seven key contributors sitting this one out, the struggles could have been insurmountable but the Giants overcame all the adversity against them.

The Giants were also able to avoid their yearly let down by playing down to their opponents level, eventually getting it going and hammering the Browns after giving up those 14 early points.  Slow starts will have to be something they work out, as starts like that will not be as easily turned around against teams the Giants have on their remaining schedule.

The coaching staff, in addition to the front office, needs credit for the continuous shifting going on in the lineups.  The ability for the Giants to just plug people into different holes when players go down is not something every team is capable of doing. 

Despite Slow Start, Giants Blow Out Browns

Sunday, October 7 2012

Post Game Recap

Final Score: Cleveland Browns: 27 New York Giants 41

Giants down Browns despite Slow Start

Before there was a sweat broken by either team, the Giants found themselves down 14-0 to the winless Browns.  It proved to just be a little blip on the radar for the Giants, who eventually got warmed up and rolled the Browns 41-27, rattling off 20 unanswered points in a 13 and a half minute span.  The Giants will need to avoid slow starts like this as the outcome will not be as pleasant against upper echelon teams.

This was a game the Giants needed to have and after a rough start they handled business.  This was a prototypical trap game for the Giants, but they overcame the slow start and finished strong.  No one epitomized that more than Ahmad Bradshaw.

http://www4.pictures.zimbio.com/gi/Ahmad+Bradshaw+Cleveland+Browns+v+New+York+J1h62voFAgrl.jpg

Bradshaw started the game by fumbling, after running into Chris Snee on the first play from scrimmage.  The Browns followed the turnover with a touchdown, putting the Giants in the early hole.  Bradshaw ran like a man possessed the rest of the afternoon, tearing the Browns defense up for a career high 200 yards on 30 carries and a touchdown.  Bradshaw also contributed in the pass game with four receptions for 29 yards. 

It was an impressive performance for Bradshaw and one the Giants needed badly; backup running back Andre Brown suffered a concussion on a kick return in the first quarter, leaving Bradshaw as the workhorse.  David Wilson made a cameo in the backfield and made the most of it, ripping off a 40 yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter.  Wilson looked like he was shot out of a cannon with how fast he was moving, looking to have a lot of pent up energy after not being featured in the offense much throughout the season thus far.

Eli Manning also did his thing for the Giants, even without starting wide receiver Hakeem Nicks for the third straight game and Martellus Bennett suffering a hyper-extended knee.  Ramses Barden also was out with a concussion, but the next players in line stepped up and performed extremely well, as Manning showed once again that no matter who is put on the field he can make them produce.

Rookie second round pick Rueben Randle got his first extended action of the season and made the most of it, catching six balls for 82 yards.  Whatever talk he had with Manning during the week in practice must have worked, as Randle had his most impressive showing thus far in his young career. 

Domenik Hixon also had a strong game, starting opposite of Victor Cruz with Nicks’ absence.  Hixon caught five balls for 55 yards, working all over the field for the Giants.  Cruz had a big game for the Giants as well, catching all three of Manning’s touchdown passes.  He ended the game with five receptions for 50 yards and the three touchdowns.

http://www1.pictures.zimbio.com/gi/Victor+Cruz+Cleveland+Browns+v+New+York+Giants+sILVb-OSlmAl.jpg

The Giants defense at first look at a very underwhelming day, but a few players stood out and both happen to be substitutions.  Stevie Brown, starting for the injured Kenny Phillips at safety, and Will Hill seeing his playing time increased because of injures, both had major impacts on the game. 

Brown made a momentum changing interception in the second quarter off Browns quarterback Brandon Weeden, which the Giants turned into a touchdown to a tying score.  On the ensuing kickoff, Hill forced a fumble on return man Josh Cribbs and Brown was on the spot to make the recovery. 

http://www3.pictures.zimbio.com/gi/Stevie+Brown+Cleveland+Browns+v+New+York+Giants+b1ph29i2U43l.jpg

Brown has been very productive when on the field filling in for Phillips and Antrel Rolle.  Brown should continue to start in place of Phillips, but Hill will not be seen for at least four weeks.  Hill was suspended four weeks by the NFL for violating the league’s substance abuse policy.  Tyler Sash will take Hill’s roster spot for the time being, as he is also returning from his own suspension because of the same incident.

Next up for the Giants is a rematch from the NFC Championship game, as they will travel to San Francisco to take on the 49ers and some old faces in Mario Manningham and Brandon Jacobs.  

Giants Team Grades: Week 4 vs. Philadelphia Eagles

Sunday, September 30 2012

Final Score: New York Giants: 17 Philadelphia Eagles: 19

Giants Team Grades

The Giants were once again unable to put together a full game against the Eagles, resulting in yet another heartbreaking loss to them.  The Giants have lost nine of the last 10 games against the Eagles including the playoffs.  Some questionable decisions and poor execution led to the Giants dropping to 0-2 in the NFC East and 2-2 overall.

Passing Offense Grade: C+

http://www3.pictures.zimbio.com/gi/Eli+Manning+New+York+Giants+v+Philadelphia+9Frqcalwtl2l.jpg

Eli Manning’s stats look good on the game, throwing for 309 yards and two touchdowns and having the Giants in a position to win at the end of the game.  Manning was hit a few times, but the offensive line protected him enough to not give up any sacks.  Victor Cruz stepped up in the absence of Hakeem Nicks and his replacement Domenik Hixon was huge. 

If the whole game went like that, the grade would be much higher; sadly it did not.  Manning threw a back-breaking interception to start the fourth quarter with the Giants knocking on the Eagles goal line.  He also mad a poor decision on the offensive pass interference called on Ramses Barden, putting Barden in a tough spot and ultimately taking the Giants out of field goal range. 

Barden had drawn two pass interference calls earlier in the drive, but Manning went to the well one too many times.  It was a rare lack of judgment and decision making by Manning, who is usually lights out in the fourth quarter.  Manning does deserve credit though for the drive he orchestrated that staked the Giants a 17-16 lead in the fourth quarter, going 83 yards on five plays ending with a touchdown to Bear Pascoe.

Rushing Offense Grade: D

http://www1.pictures.zimbio.com/gi/Ahmad+Bradshaw+New+York+Giants+v+Philadelphia+vJrjIUS9tWxl.jpg

Ahmad Bradshaw returned to the lineup after hurting his neck against Tampa Bay but had no impact; the Giants run game was shut down once again.  Bradshaw was only able to gain 39 yards on 13 carries, too often looking outside on plays drawn to run up between the tackles.

Overnight sensation Andre Brown only got five carries on the night for 14 yards.  The Giants were never able to get the ground game going and abandoned it, putting the game on Manning’s shoulders.  Brown needs more touches in the coming games as the run game has not been effective with Bradshaw feature in it for over a season.

Pass Defense Grade: B+

http://www1.pictures.zimbio.com/gi/Kenny+Phillips+New+York+Giants+v+Philadelphia+X29zLf8UKdpl.jpg

The Giants suffered another devastating injury in the secondary, this time to Kenny Phillips.  Phillips is the best player in the defensive backfield and losing him is a huge blow to an already decimated secondary. 

Even with the injury to Phillips, the Giants were still able to contain the Eagles passing game, limiting Vick to 241 yards and one touchdown.  They were not able to get enough pressure on Vick though, as they only hit him three times and sacked him twice, one coming when Vick slide at the end of the Eagles game winning field goal drive. 

Prince Amukamara had a strong game covering Jeremy Maclin, limiting him to only one catch for seven yards.  DeSean Jackson had a strong game though, catching six balls for 99 yards and a touchdown.  Brent Celek also hurt the Giants some, catching a few passes that resulted in first downs.

Rush Defense Grade: D

http://www4.pictures.zimbio.com/gi/Lesean+Mccoy+New+York+Giants+v+Philadelphia+SdnFCc50q56l.jpg

At the start of the game, the Giants run defense was outstanding.  LeSean McCoy was held to just two yards at halftime and Vick had no rushing yards in the same time.  Disappointingly for the Giants, the second half was a polar opposite.

McCoy shredded the Giants for 121 yards in the second half and allowed 49 to Vick.  McCoy and Vick were able to take advantage of the aggressive Giant defensive line, continuously exposing them and beating them to the corner to the sidelines for big gains. 

The Giant defenders, specifically Osi Umenyiora and Jason Pierre-Paul, were not staying home and allowing the Eagles big plays on cut back runs.  Umenyiora and Pierre-Paul were not staying home and holding contain, something head coach Tom Coughlin is going to rip into them for.

The Giants were able to make a huge stand from the two-yard line, but were unable to stop the run any other time.  The time of possession edge the Eagles held, 33:21 to 26:39, is evidence that the Eagles were running over the Giants and put the Giants in a tough spot.

Special Teams: B+

http://www3.pictures.zimbio.com/gi/Lawrence+Tynes+New+York+Giants+v+Philadelphia+wCHaJwXhkaol.jpg

Lawrence Tynes missed the game winning field goal from 54 yards but never should have been put in that situation.  It was a yard past his career high of 53 yards and only happened because of poor management.  Tynes did knock in his other field goal attempt of the game, from 25 yards out. 

Steve Weatherford had a net of only 38.5 yards on five punts, but the Eagles were only able to return one of the punts for three yards.  That is solid from Weatherford, as he continuously put the Eagles deep in their own end of the field and did not allow anything crazy to happen, something Giants and Eagles fans are used to in these match-ups.

David Wilson was the star of the special teams Sunday night, showing explosiveness and giving the Giants great field position all night.  Wilson had six returns for 217 yards, having returns of 53 and 45 yards in the second half.  Wilson looked like he could take any kickoff back to the house on multiple occasions, giving the Giants a weapon they have lacked in recent seasons.  It is nice to see Wilson have an impact on the game in other aspects than the offense, as he is still struggling there but excelling on special teams.

Coaching Grade: B

http://www4.pictures.zimbio.com/gi/Tom+Coughlin+New+York+Giants+v+Philadelphia+w-JhU0Y6Wzql.jpg

The defense struggled at times to contain McCoy and Vick on the ground, but otherwise did a solid job given the predicament of losing yet another starter in the secondary.  The run game needs to get figured out, as the coaching staff should look to give Brown some more touches and possible working Wilson in some more after his electric performance on special teams. 

Playing for a field goal on the last drive is something that will be raised all week, as the Giants were well within Tynes’ range when the offensive pass interference occurred.  Even so, the Giants were in the game and almost stole a game in a very hostile environment but the Giants are beyond morale victories.

Coughlin and his staff are going to have to make sure the Giants stay focused on the task ahead in the Cleveland Browns, as this is a typical trap game.  The Giants have the Browns at home this weekend before playing at San Francisco the following week.  The Giants need to handle business this week before moving onto the 49ers.

Eagles Hold Off Comeback, Drop Giants

Sunday, September 30 2012

Post Game Recap

Final Score: New York Giants: 17 Philadelphia Eagles: 20

Eagles Hold Off Comeback, Drop Giants

It was another classic game in the rivalry between the Giants and Eagles that ended in a way becoming too commonplace for Giants fans.  The Giants were outplayed and lost a heartbreaking game, giving them nine losses in the last 10 games including the playoffs. 

http://www3.pictures.zimbio.com/gi/Eli+Manning+New+York+Giants+v+Philadelphia+9Frqcalwtl2l.jpg

The Giants had their opportunity to win, as Eli Manning put the Giants ahead half way through the fourth quarter, but the Giants defense could not contain the Eagles offense.  Manning put the Giants in place for a game winning field goal from Lawrence Tynes, but had them in better position before a questionable throw to Ramses Barden that resulted in 10-yard offensive pass interference on Barden.

Manning had a good game, but had an opportunity to make it an excellent game if not for some uncharacteristic mistakes by the usually calm and cool-mannered Manning.  Manning started the fourth quarter with an ugly interception, not seeing Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie on a pass intended for Martellus Bennett.  The Eagles converted that turnover into a field goal, giving them a 16-10 lead.  That was a big shift in the game, as it was at least a six point swing, potentially 10 as the Giants were banging on the door of the end zone.

Manning was able to redeem himself following the Eagles’ field goal, as he manufactured an 83 yard drive on five plays, giving the Giants a 17-16 lead.  Manning hit both Barden and Domenik Hixon for big plays, ending the drive with a six-yard touchdown pass to Bear Pascoe.

After the defense was unable to hold the Eagles scoreless, Manning had his shot to win the game.  Manning was able to drive the Giants down to the Eagles 27 yard line thanks to two pass interference calls against the Eagles trying to guard Barden.

Manning went to the well one too many times, attempting another deep pass to Barden on the sidelines, this time resulting in an offensive pass interference and moving the Giants back to the Eagles 37 yard line, setting up Tynes for a 54 yard field goal instead of 44. 

http://www3.pictures.zimbio.com/gi/Lawrence+Tynes+New+York+Giants+v+Philadelphia+wCHaJwXhkaol.jpg

It was a moment of lapse in judgment for Manning, who if given the opportunity would definitely do it different next time.  The Giants were already in field goal range for Tynes, so the deep pass was unnecessary; a running play to set up Tynes in the middle of the field would have sufficed. Also, Barden was well covered and was put into a bad position by Manning, who took responsibility saying it was not the correct throw. 

The penalty also put the Giants in a tough position, as they had no timeouts remaining and with only 15 seconds left in the game.  Running a play was too risky, as it was third down so the Giants would not have been able to spike the ball to stop the clock and if the player was unable to get out of bounds the game would have been over.

People will criticize head coach Tom Coughlin for the decision, but he made the correct decision in my opinion because he at least gave his team a chance to win the game with the 54 yard kick.  Had he ran another play, Tynes may not have even had an opportunity to kick.

Manning was missing his best weapon in Hakeem Nicks for the second straight game, but saw a big performance from Hixon in his place.  Hixon led the Giants in receiving tonight, gaining 114 yards on six receptions.  Hixon stepped up much in the way Barden did last week against the Panthers.  Even with the strong performance by Hixon, Manning and Giant fans alike are anxious to see Nicks return to the field.

The secondary became even more of a mess tonight; yet another starter went down with injury.  The Giants entered the game without rookie Jayron Hosley, who had a hamstring injury and Kenny Phillips suffered a gruesome looking knee injury in the first half and was replace by Stevie Brown.  Michael Coe and Antrel Rolle were dealing with hamstring and knee injuries entering the game, but were active.  Corey Webster was also active even with a broken left hand. 

http://www1.pictures.zimbio.com/gi/Kenny+Phillips+New+York+Giants+v+Philadelphia+X29zLf8UKdpl.jpg

The Giants secondary is decimated and losing Phillips would be the most devastating blow of the bunch.  Terrell Thomas being lost in training camp hurts, but Phillips is who sets up the defense and is an intimidating presence in the defensive backfield.  He is a leader out there and the Giants were visibly affected after he left the game, becoming gun shy against the speedy Eagles’ offense.

The Giants return to MetLife Stadium for their week five game against the Cleveland Browns.  This has trap game written all over it, as the Giants have a huge match-up with the San Francisco 49ers in week six.  After the loss tonight though, full confidence should be stored in Coughlin and the coaching staff to come out strong against a very young and inexperienced Browns team.

Giants Team Grades: Week 3 vs. Carolina Panthers

Thursday, September 20 2012

Final Score: New York Giants: 36 Carolina Panthers: 7

Giants Team Grades

The Giants went into Carolina being doubted by a large number of people and left showing them once again that they are not a team to be looked down upon.  Even with injuries to starters Hakeem Nicks, Ahmad Bradshaw and David Diehl and rotation players in Domenik Hixon and Michael Coe, the Giants were still able to pull of a convincing victory against a dynamic Panthers squad.  The grades for the Giants this week would even make an honors student envious.

Passing Game: Grade A

http://www1.pictures.zimbio.com/gi/Eli+Manning+New+York+Giants+v+Carolina+Panthers+RyvyNRmFu0Ql.jpg

Eli Manning did not duplicate his 510 yard performance he had against Tampa Bay just four days earlier but it was not needed this time around.  Manning was efficient and effect right from the start, opening the game with two completed passes to set the tempo for the Giants offense that was running like a well oiled machine the whole game. 

Manning completed 27 of 35 passes overall and could have done more damage if called upon to do so.  Part of Manning’s success was the play of the offense line; Manning was barely touched, only being sacked once late in the third quarter.

Ramses Barden had a breakout, career night, reeling in nine balls for 138 yards.  The nine catches matches the amount of receptions he had all of last season.  Barden stepped up as he was filling in for the injured Hakeem Nicks.  Martellus Bennett picked up some slack as well, scoring a touchdown for the third game in a row, a first in Giants franchise history for a player in his first three games with the team.

The only negative for the offense was the settling for field goals, as they ended up attempting and knocking through five of them.

Running Game: Grade A

http://www2.pictures.zimbio.com/gi/Andre+Brown+New+York+Giants+v+Carolina+Panthers+xq7rze7QrQDl.jpg

This one is all on Andre Brown.  Making his first career start in front of hundreds of friends and family, Brown dominated the Panthers.  He rushed for 113 yards and two touchdowns on 20 carries, also adding three receptions for 17 yards. 

Brown is providing a spark to a running game that has been lackluster for more than a season now.  General manager Jerry Reese compared Brown to Derrick Ward, just a bigger version and it shows with the versatility Brown has the spark he is giving the offense just like Ward did in 2008.

Brown finished his runs with toughness and tenacity, evident by the 71 yards he rain for after making contact with a defender.  According to ESPN stats and info that is the most by any Giant player since Brandon Jacobs in 2010 when he ran for 72 yards after contact. 

The offensive line opened up gapping holes for Brown, who trucked right through and dominated the Panthers front seven. The only negative for the Giants rushing game was rookie David Wilson, who only got one carry for -2 yards.

Passing Defense: Grade A

http://www4.pictures.zimbio.com/gi/Jayron+Hosley+New+York+Giants+v+Carolina+Panthers+BCaIZXbhetPl.jpg

The Giants were able to keep Cam Newton and the Panthers offense off balance all night, never allowing Newton to get into a rhythm and bothering him all night. The Giants were able to get to Newton on two occasions for sacks and intercepted him three times.  He finished the game 16 of 30 for 242 yards.

Steve Smith had only for receptions for 86 yards, most of which came after the game was already in hand.  One thing that sticks out is that Panthers tight end Greg Olsen had seven receptions, but the Giants were able to reduce the big plays and when your targeted at such a high volume, 14 times to be exact, your going to make some catches.

Prince Amukamara, Jayron Hosley and Corey Webster all stepped up for a razor thin Giants secondary.  Keep and eye on the injury report as the week goes on though, as Hosley was forced from the game in the fourth quarter with a hamstring injury and Webster broke a bone in his hand but was able to continue in the game.  Michael Boley also added another interception to his season total, giving him one in every game thus far this season.

Rushing Defense: Grade A

http://prod.static.panthers.clubs.nfl.com/assets/images/imported/APImage/2012/09-September/65e0c99d4b0f4cd590f5cc66c3753ecd--nfl_large_580_Unlimited.jpg

At first, it looked like it was going to be another one of those here we go again type nights for the Giants coaching staff and fans alike.  DeAngelo Williams started the game off strong but overall the Giants run defense stepped up.  They held the dangerous Panthers read option offense to 60 yards on 20 carries. 

Newton was able to find the end zone, but was not the destructive force he is capable of being, as he only gained six yards on six carries.  The Giants came into the game prepared as they did not want to be embarrassed like the Saints defense was by Newton and company in week 2.

Special Teams: Grade A

http://www2.pictures.zimbio.com/gi/Lawrence+Tynes+New+York+Giants+v+Jacksonville+kR1T9NfnufNl.jpg

Lawrence Tynes was outstanding, nailing all five of his field goal attempts, staying perfect on the season.  Tynes made from 47, 49, 30, 36, and 27 yards.  The makes were huge by Tynes because it kept the momentum on the Giants side.  If he had missed any of those field goals, the Panther crowd would have gotten into the game, giving Newton and the Panthers offense something to feed off of as the Giants sucked the life out of the crowd right from the start. 

Weatherford was not used often but when called upon he did his job.  He landed both his punts inside the 20 yard line, averaging 38 yards per punt with a long of 41 yards.

Coaching Staff: Grade A+

http://www4.pictures.zimbio.com/gi/Tom+Coughlin+New+York+Giants+v+Carolina+Panthers+c0qb4rxzmd5l.jpg

The Giants coaching staff did an amazing job in preparing for this week.  Not only were they without Nicks, Bradshaw, Diehl, Hixon and Coe, they also had a short week playing on Thursday night.  Even with so many things up against them, they were still able to get the Giants prepared enough to dominate the younger and seemingly overwhelmed Panthers.

The Giants have played three road games in the last two seasons with less than seven days of rest and are a perfect 3 and 0 in those games, outscoring opponents by 22 points total according to ESPN Stats and Info.  That is a testament to Tom Coughlin and the Giants staff as a whole, as they are able to get their squad prepared in even the most difficult of scenarios.

Hakeem Nicks, 3 Other Starters Out Thursday Night

Hakeem Nicks Ruled Out

The New York Giants announced Wednesday that starting wide receiver Hakeem Nicks will not playing in Thursday night’s game against the Carolina Panthers.

Nicks, the reigning NFC Offensive Player of the Week, will not even be making the trip down to Carolina after being listed as questionable earlier in the day and being downgraded to out just hours ago.

http://assets.nydailynews.com/polopoly_fs/1.1161138.1347855020!/img/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_635/hakeem-nicks.jpg

Nicks did not participate in any type of practice or walk-through this week, not even taking part in the jog this morning.  Tuesday was a scheduled day off for Nicks, who still suffers from soreness in his surgically repaired ankle.

Nicks was quoted as saying that he felt pretty good Tuesday, so either he suffered a setback or was not feeling as good as the Giants had hoped, leading to the downgrading.

The team opted to play it safe with Nicks, as the Giants have a very short week with the quick turnaround with a game Thursday night.  Resting Nicks is most likely the best scenario in the long run for the Giants.

Nicks is not the only prominent Giant that will not make the trip, as starting running back Ahmad Bradshaw, offensive tackle David Diehl and third receiver/return man Domenik Hixon are all not making the trip.  All three players suffered injuries in Sunday afternoon’s victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, as Bradshaw injured his neck, Diehl his right MCL and Hixon suffered a concussion.

Rookie defensive lineman Adewale Ojomo will also not be making the trip.

With the injury to Nicks, Victor Cruz will take over as the top wide out.  Look for Rueben Randle, Ramses Barden and Jerel Jernigan to also get some action, as they will be moved up the depth chart with the Hixon injury as well. 

Andre Brown will take over lead back duties for Bradshaw; something he earned with his performance Sunday.  Brown ran for 71 yards on 13 carries and caught two passes for 19 yards in relief of Bradshaw.

The Giants are likely to go with the shift they put in place when Diehl went down Sunday, with Sean Locklear moving to right tackle and Will Beatty taking over at left tackle.  

http://www4.pictures.zimbio.com/gi/David+Diehl+Tampa+Bay+Buccaneers+v+New+York+xAcXQhW9_xNl.jpg

Eli Leads Giants Comeback over Buccaneers

Sunday, September 16 2012

Post Game Recap

Final Score: Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 34 New York Giants: 41

Eli Leads Giants Comeback over Bucs

The second game for the season started off poorly for the Giants, much like the opening night game against the Cowboys; this time around, the Giants were able to get it together and mount a successful comeback against the Buccaneers, pulling out the 41-34 win.  The Giants were down 27-13 early in the third quarter before they came storming back behind the heroics of Eli Manning.

Manning was awful in the first half of the game, throwing three interceptions.  The interception before the half by Eric Wright was returned 60 yards for a touchdown, as all three of Manning’s interceptions led to touchdowns for the Buccaneers.  The first interception off Manning was by linebacker Mason Foster and put the Buccaneers at the Giants 28 yard line.  The second, by Brandon McDonald, seemed to be caused by a hold on Victor Cruz that was not called and put the Buccaneers at the 26 yard line after a 40-yard return and ending at the 13 after Andre Brown was called for a horse collar tackle.

Manning bounced back in a strong way in the second half, looking more like the quarterback that led the Giants on a Super Bowl run last season.  Manning threw two touchdown passes with under seven minutes remaining in the 4^th quarter, an 80-yard one to Cruz and a 33-yard touchdown toss to Martellus Bennett.

http://www4.pictures.zimbio.com/gi/Eli+Manning+Tampa+Bay+Buccaneers+v+New+York+BBsmwaO34yMl.jpg

 After the Giants defense surrendered the lead on, Manning marched the offense back down the field for a third time and the game winning touchdown score by Brown. 

Manning light up the Buccaneers defense for a career high 510 passing yards.  One reason for Manning’s success was the pass protection off the offensive line and running backs; Manning was not sacked once in his 51 drop backs and was only hit twice. 

With Manning having such a big afternoon, the receivers also benefited with monster games.  Cruz, playing with a heavy heart after the passing of his grandmother earlier in the week, caught 11 passes for 179 yards and the 80-yard touchdown.  Nine of the 11 catches came in the first half alone for Cruz, as he bounced back in a big way after dropping three passes in the opener against Dallas. 

Hakeem Nicks was not to be upstaged by his teammate, as he also had a monster game.  Nicks reeled in 10 balls for 199 yards and a touchdown, dominating the Buccaneers secondary, specifically cornerback Aqib Talib, whose holding and penalties couldn’t even slow down Nicks.  Nicks looked to be limping a few times after falling and being tackled awkwardly, but was able to finish the game and have a major impact. 

http://www1.pictures.zimbio.com/gi/Tampa+Bay+Buccaneers+v+New+York+Giants+onHygzxYi5Ul.jpg

New tight end Bennett had another strong game for the Giants after coming over from the Cowboys in the off-season.  Bennett had a rough first half, having a touchdown pass hit him in the facemask, but bounced back like all the other Giants in the second half when he made an adjustment and made a great catch on his 33-yard touchdown.  Bennett finished with five receptions for 72 yards and the touchdown. 

http://www1.pictures.zimbio.com/gi/Martellus+Bennett+Tampa+Bay+Buccaneers+v+New+9JkZUBpq6d_l.jpg

After losing starting running back Ahmad Bradshaw to a neck injury, the Giants had to turn to Brown as the lead back and he responded well.  Coming in the game, Brown had -1 career yards, but was able to bring a dimension to the Giants they have been lacking in a running game.  Brown ran for 71 yards on 11 carries and the game winning touchdown, also converting a critical two-point conversion in the 4^th quarter to tie the game up at 27.  Brown’s performance definitely earned him more playing time, as he showcased both power, speed and ball security, something the coaching staff holds in high regard.

http://www4.pictures.zimbio.com/gi/Andre+Brown+Tampa+Bay+Buccaneers+v+New+York+6N9ZKhKwcnGl.jpg

In addition to Bradshaw, the Giants suffered more injuries in the first half.  Wide receiver Domenik Hixon was knocked out of the game with a concussion and starting right tackle David Diehl was knocked out with an MCL injury.  The injury to Diehl forced the Giants to do some shuffling across their offensive line, as Sean Locklear was moved to right tackle and Will Beatty was brought in to play left tackle. 

Beatty struggled in the first half, a common theme for all of the Giants, as he dropped a high pass from Manning as the extra tight end and committed two false start penalties.

Again for the Giants the defensive backfield struggled.  Corey Webster struggled at times in the first half, giving up big plays to Vincent Jackson, who finished the game with five receptions for 128 yards and a touchdown.  Webster was able to redeem himself later in the second half, intercepting Josh Freeman. 

Michael Coe surrendered the touchdown to Jackson in the first half, but like Webster was able to redeem himself with stronger play in the second half.  Coe did not start the game, as Jayron Hosley got his first career start.  Coe would come in and play the outside when Hosley would slide over and be the slot corner.

The end of the game also saw a confrontation between head coaches Tom Coughlin and Greg Schiano.  Coughlin was upset that the Buccaneers defensive linemen went down and cut center David Baas knees and knocking down Manning, even though the Giants were kneeing and were in "victory formation".  Coughlin and Schiano shared heated words after the game shaking hands, when Coughlin was visibly upset with what had happened. 

Next up for the Giants is a visit to Carolina to play against Cam Newton and the Panthers.  It is a quick turnaround for the Giants, as they play the Panthers Thursday night.

Giants Fall to Jaguars to Open Preseason

Friday, August 10^th 2012

Giants Drop Preseason Opener in Jacksonville

The first game of the preseason for the New York Giants gave an opportunity for players to show why they deserve a spot on the 53 man roster with the defending champions.  It also gave some reasons as to why some people shouldn’t. 

There isn’t much to take from preseason games other than getting a look at newcomers. 

David Wilson, the Giants first round pick out of Virginia Tech, was the last running back to take a carry on Friday night for Big Blue.  On his first carry he was sandwiched by tow Jaguars and then broke off a 26 yard burst up the middle quick enough that if you blinked you would have missed it. On his third carry he was hammered for a five yard loss. 

http://prod.static.giants.clubs.nfl.com//assets/images/imported/NYG/photos/david-wilson/wilson_center_081212.jpg

Wilson also caught two passes, the first of which was a screen play in which he ran over two Jaguars.  In his short appearance, Wilson showed the ability to break the big play and toughness, two things the Giants need from their running game this season that was lacking last year. 

The battle for the backup running back position behind Ahmad Bradshaw looks like it is going to be fierce throughout camp.  In addition to Wilson, the Giants also have D.J. Ware and Andre Brown fighting it out. 

Ware was solid, getting the first crack after Bradshaw Friday night.  Ware got five carries for 30 yards, including a two-yard touchdown, showing elusiveness and quickness.

Brown got the next shot and looked impressive his first two carries which resulted in 19 yards.  He was later stuffed in a third-and-one attempt, finishing with seven carries for 25 yards and one reception for four yards. 

Second round pick Rueben Randle was not to be outshined by his fellow rookie, as he showed some glimpses of his potential as well.  Randle made two receptions on the night, the first a 21 yard catch and the second one a six-yard touchdown in the corner of the end zone.  The touchdown reception was a good look at Randle taking the size advantage he has and putting it to use.

The wide receiving corps are set at the top with Victor Cruz and Hakeem Nicks, once he returns from injury, but there will be a competition for the third receiver spot.  Randle had a strong showing but will have to hold off veterans Domenik Hixon, who sat with a hamstring injury and is returning from an ACL tear last season, and Ramses Barden, as well as second year player Jerel Jernigan. 

Jernigan just missed making a spectacular play with one hand as it seemed Jaguars corner Williams Middleton was holding down his other hand.  Isiah Stanback did make a highlight reel play later in the game, snagging the ball out of the air with one hand for a touchdown off a pass from David Carr.

Last season’s first round pick Prince Amukamara has some expectation so fill this season especially if he is needed to fill in for Terrell Thomas.  Amukamara struggled in the beginning of the game, being targeted by the Jaguars offense throughout the first drive, getting burned multiple times and eventually surrendering a touchdown to Jaguars receiver Cecil Shorts. 

Amukamara would redeem himself the next drive, stripping Shorts of the ball resulting in the Giants recovering the fumble.  Amukamara is the guy the Giants want replacing Thomas if it comes down to it, he just needs to get more reps under his belt after a rocky rookie campaign.

Free agent tight end signed Martellus Bennett has made some waves in training camp with his mouth and backed it up at least for one game Friday night.  Bennett referred to himself as the “Black Unicorn” because of his blend of speed and size and showed off some of those talents reeling in three catches for 27 yards and a touchdown.  The Giants are expecting good things from Bennett not only in the passing game but blocking as well.

http://cdn.bleacherreport.net/images_root/slides/photos/002/497/224/hi-res-150133384_crop_650x440.jpg?1344708744

The rookies from Virginia Tech, Wilson and cornerback Jayron Hosley, had impressive showings on special teams.  Special teams for the Giants were weak last year, lacking an explosion in the return game; Wilson and Hosley have the ability to change that this season. 

Wilson averaged 38 yards a kick return, highlighted by a 48 yard return in the second quarter.  Hosley made a costly mistake muffing a punt, but did have solid returns before the muff going for 34 yards on three returns.

Hosley was also solid on defense, getting a sack and showing solid coverage skills.  If Hosley is able to limit his mistakes, he has an outstanding chance of being a real contributor this season. 

Other Giants to make positive impacts were Adrian Tracy, looking to make an impact in the spot vacated by Dave Tollefson this season.  Mark Herzlich also looked strong throughout the game at the linebacker position and could potentially push Chase Blackburn for his starting spot. 

Next up for the Giants is a meeting with the Jets at MetLife Stadium August 18^th.  It will be the first look for the Giants at Tim Tebow.