Wilson has career day in Giants 52-27 win over Saints

Twenty minutes before the Giants and Saints kicked off Sunday, the Dallas Cowboys and Washington Redskins completed their comebacks to get within a half game of the Giants.

Now the Giants were officially in a must win game.

After Eli Manning threw his 14th career interception returned for a touchdown, MetLife stadium was about as quiet as it has ever been. Manning threw a pass behind Jerrel Jernigan, and Saints corner Elbert Mack picked it off and took it back for six.

On the ensuing kickoff, the stadium erupted as the speedy rookie David Wilson took the kick back 97 yards to tie the game at seven.

The Saints then handed the ball back to the Giants after Saints fullback Jed Collins was stripped by Antrel Rolle.

Manning led the Giants on a 35 yard scoring drive capped by a touchdown pass to tight end Martellus Bennett.

The Saints made it a one point game with back to back field goals, but Eli and the Giants offense executed another one of their patented two minute drives. Manning found Domenik Hixon in the back right corner of the end zone to give the Giants a 21-13 lead at the half.

The Giants defense, who played with a bend but don't break mentality, stepped up and forced two more turnovers in the second half.

Stevie Brown intercepted Drew Brees' first pass of the second half after it was deflected by Antrel Rolle and Jimmy Graham. Brown's sixth pick of the season set up a David Wilson touchdown to make it 28-13 Giants early in the third.

Trailing 35-13 in the third quarter the Saints put together a quick scoring drive ending with a Darren Sproles touchdown to cut the lead to 35-20. The Saints picked off Eli Manning again, and another Darren Sproles score made it an eight point game.

On the ensuing kickoff, the Saints kicked it short to keep it away from the speedy Wilson, but Jerrel Jernigan took the return deep into Saints territory to set up a Victor Cruz touchdown and give the Giants a 42-27 lead.

The Saints threatened to cut into the Giants lead, but Stevie Brown picked off his second pass of the game at the Giant eight yard line, and returned it 70 yards down to the Saints twenty two yard line.

Up 45-27 in the fourth, the Giants let their first round draft pick display his talents in the backfield.

David Wilson broke through the Saints defense and ran 52 yards for his second rushing touchdown of the night.

Wilson finished the night with a franchise record 327 total yards (100 rushing and 227 return yards) and three total touchdowns.

Victor Cruz had another big game for the Big Blue pulling in passes for 121 yards and a touchdown.

Eli Manning, who looked shaky at points in the game, finished 22 of 35 for 259 yards, four scores, and two picks.


Drew Brees threw threw for 354 yards, and hit eight differen receivers, but also threw two more interceptions. Brees has thrown 16 interceptions this season, two more than he threw all of last year.

If there was a game ball to be handed out tonight it would most certainly go to rookie David Wilson, but Wilson would have to share that with his kick return squad for opening up those lanes for him.

The Giants are 8-5 and maintain their one game lead in the NFC East with three games to go.

The Giants will travel to the Georgia Dome next week to take on the Matt Ryan and the 11-2 Falcons.

Dallas will host the Pittsburgh Steelers while the Redskins travel to Cleveland.

Bradshaw, Wilson keys to a Giants victory

Tom Coughlin made it very clear to his team after their 17-16 loss to the Redskins last Monday night. "We have to win every game from here on out, we have no other choice."

Last Monday's loss to Robert Griffin III and the Washington Redskins, the New York Giants have seen their division lead shrink to just one game, and there's more than one team hot on their heels. The Redskins and Cowboys are both 6-6 while the Giants sit at 7-5. The Cowboys cruised past a dismal Philadelphia team last week, and the Skins beat the Giants on Monday Night Football.

The Giants have mad nothing easy on themselves, and now must win the rest of their games to assure themselves of a playoff spot.

On Sunday, Eli Manning and the Giants offense openly welcome the NFL's worst defense with open arms.

The New Orleans Saints, who have had a down year, are giving up 440 yards per game, a stat Eli doesn't mind looking at. But Manning and the Giants passing attack won't be the key to the Giants winning the game. It will be up to Ahmad Bradshaw, David Wilson, and the Giants offensive line to control the clock and keep Drew Brees and company off the field.

The past two times the Giants have faced Brees and the Saints, Brees embarrassed the Giants defense putting up 48 points in 2009, and 49 last season. Fortunately for the Giants both games were played in the Superdome where the Saints are almost unbeatable.

The scene will shift to MetLife Stadium for tomorrows contest where the Giants are used to the cold and wind, and the Saints would rather be in the comfort of their own dome.

The Saints rushing defense has given up an average of 153.8 rush yards per game, which again ranks last in the league. Bradshaw has put up some of his best rushing numbers for the Giants since joining the Giants, and is headed for a 1,000 yard plus season. Tomorrow's game will be in his hands, and hopefully in David Wilson's hand eight to ten times.

This game is the must win game this season for the Giants over the next four weeks. After tomorrow the Giants go on the road for games against the 11-1 Atlanta Falcons, and the 9-3 Baltimore Ravens, and finish at home against the 3-9 Eagles. The game against the Eagles may mean nothing if the Giants can't win these three.

If the Giants have shown us anything it's that they play their best with their backs against the wall. They have successfully backed themselves against that wall with a 1-3 record over their last four games.

Tomorrow is going to be a high scoring game with both offenses putting up points, but the if the Giants can get their ground game going, they will be able to control the clock, and thus take the game out of Drew Brees hands.

Top Twenty Moments of the Year in New York Sports

The count down continues of the top moments from 2012...

Here are moments 15-11

15. Eli Manning passes Phill Simms as the Giants All-Time leader in touchdown passes. 

Eli Manning has been criticized, praised, criticized again, and praised again during his career with the Giants. On November 25, 2012 against the Green Bay Packers,  Manning passed Giants great Phil Simms for the most touchdown passes in franchise history, and maybe the greatest Giants quarterback. Manning hit Hakeem Nicks inside the Packer ten yard line, and Nicks did the rest just barely breaking the plane of the end zone for the score. It was Manning's third TD pass of the night and the 200th of his career.

14. McElroy leads game-winning touchdown drive after replacing Sanchez. 

It happened less than a week ago, but Jet fans have been calling for Mark Sanchez's benching for a month. It has been a dreadful year for Sanchez, and after his three picks and no point performance through the first two and a half quarters, Rex Ryan decided to put in McElroy. The change electrified the crowd and the team, and McElroy stepped up and led the Jets down the field for the eventual game winning score. McElroy  hit tight end Jeff Cumberland for a one yard score, and his first career touchdown pass. Can McElroy take the Jets over the .500 mark this season? You will have wait until Sanchez gets benched against Jacksonville because Sanchez is the starter.

13. Rangers clinch first place in the Eastern Conference. 

When was the last time Ranger fans could say they had their team was the one seed going into the playoffs? It was the 1993-1994 season, and the Rangers went on to win the Stanley Cup. Stats like this gave Ranger fans hope that their team would make it back to the promised land. Well that and having the Vezina Trophy winner between the pipes. Unfortunately the Rangers could not get by their Hudson River rivals, the New Jersey Devils in the Conference Finals. Great to see the Rangers take the top spot in the East last year, now it's time for them to bring the cup back to New York (if there's a season this year).

12. Jeter fractures ankle in Game 1 of the ALCS.

The Yankees had tied Game 1 of the ALCS three innings earlier and seemed to have some momentum on their side. But in the 12th inning Derek Jeter ranged to his left to field a routine ground ball. Jeter landed awkwardly on the ground and did not get up. X-rays revealed a fractured ankle for Jeter, who's Yankees ended up losing Game 1 6-4 in twelve innings. Jeter's injury seemed to have sucked the life out of the Yankees fans and players. Jeter missed the rest of the series, and the Yankees were swept by the Tigers in four games.

11. Kreider delivers for Rangers against Ottawa. 

The Rangers were on the brink of exiting the playoffs, and it was only the first round. They say the playoffs is a brand new season and anything can happen, but the Rangers could not afford to get bounced this early after the season they had. The Rangers called up Chris Kreider, who was fresh off a National Championship victory with Boston College, to replace a concussed Brian Boyle. In just his fourth career NHL game, all in the playoffs, Kreider delivered for the Blueshirts. After trailing the Senators 1-0, Derek Stepan tied the game nine minutes into the second period. Brad Richards gave the Rangers the lead with a power play goal late in the period. With under a minute left in the period the Ottawa defense broke down and Stepan hit Kreider who slipped behind the defense, and Kreider buried his first career goal. Ottawa would score with under a minute to go in the game, but that was all. The Rangers won the game 3-2, Kreider had his first game winner, and the series moved back to the Garden for a Game 7 the Rangers would win 2-1.

Up Next: We start the Top Ten Moments from 2012.

Redskins edge Giants 17-16 in NFC East showdown

All eyes may have been on rookie all-star Robert Griffin III, but it was the Redskins defense that stole the show in the second half last night in Washington's 17-16 win over the Giants.

The New York Giants needed this win. If they beat the Redskins last night on Monday Night Football, they would be 8-4 with a two game lead over the Dallas Cowboys with four to play. Now Big Blue has a one game lead not only on the Dallas Cowboys, but the Washington Redskins have climbed to within a game of the division lead.

The Giants did a great job keeping Griffin III off the field in the first half. The Giants first three drives of the first half averaged twelve plays and around six and a half minutes. Eli Manning had the Giants driving all three possessions, except one problem. The Giants only put the ball in the end zone one time Monday night on an Eli Manning pass to Martellus Bennett.

After Griffin III led two scoring drives for the Redskins, a field goal and a fumble that led to a touchdown, Manning led the Giants down the field 54 yards and set up another Lawrence Tynes field goal.

 The Giants led Washington 13-10 at the half, and were getting the ball to start the second half.

The Giants had a chance to put some distance between them and the Skins with the opening drive in the second half. The Giants drive was stalled at their 41 yard line, and the Giants were forced to punt. The Redskins had all the momentum, driving the ball deep into Giant territory before Alfred Morris was stripped by Chase Blackburn, giving the ball back to the Giants.

The Giants took the turnover and drove down to the Washington 16 yard line thanks to a 49 yard pass from Manning to Victor Cruz. Once agaiat n the Giants got down deep into Redskin territory, but had settle for another field goal by Lawrence Tynes.

After that scoring drive, the Redskins held the Giants offense to just 16 yards of offense.

On the following possession, RG3 drove the Redskin 86 yards on 12 plays ending with a touchdown pass to Pierre Garcon, who had eight catches for 106 yards and a score, giving the Redskins a 17-16 lead.

The Giants could not get any offense going on their next two drives, and also lost right tackle Sean Locklear to a knee injury.

Penalties stalled two of the Giants drives Monday night and cost Big Blue ten to fourteen points; points they could have really used.

Griffin III, who went 13/21 for 163 and a touchdown, and the Redskins offense kept Manning off the field with a four minute drive to end the game.

Manning finished the game 20/33 for 280 yards and a touchdown, but could not lead the Giants to another comeback victory.

Alfred Morris led the Redskins rushing attack with 124 yards on 22 carries, while the Giants Ahmad Bradshaw rushed for 103 yards an 24 carries.

The Giants will host Drew Brees and the struggling Saints Sunday at 4:25 pm, while the Redskins will take on the Baltimore Ravens at FedEx Field at 1:00 pm Sunday. The Dallas Cowboys will be in Cincinnati to take on the surging Bengals at 1:00 pm.

Top Twenty Moments of the Year in New York Sports

It's almost the end of 2012, and that means a countdown of the greatest moments of the year for New York sports. New York saw it's share of success this season in the sports world, the Giants winning Super Bowl XLVI, the Yankees going to the ALCS once again, and the New York Rangers emotional playoff run that ended all too soon against their Hudson River rivals.

So let's get to the countdown already.

Here are numbers 20-16 for 2012:

20. Tim Tebow comes to New York

 That's right Tim Tebow made the best moments of 2012. I mean he does own the back pages wearing the jersey of the team that owns the back pages (the New York Jets if you're not sure). Tebow was traded to the Jets for a fourth round pick, or was it a fifth round pick? Does it really matter? He has 29 rushing attempts for 87 yards! But to his credit he has completed six of seven passes for 39 yards.

19. Giants win first home playoff game since 2000

 The New York Giants finished the regular season with a 9-7 record, good enough to win the NFC East and host the Atlanta Falcons during the Wild Card round. The Giants beat the Falcons 24-2 thanks to Eli Manning's three touchdown passes, and two fourth and short stops by the Big Blue defense. It was the Giants first playoff in their new home, and their first home playoff win since 2000.


18. Knicks break their playoff losing streak

April 29, 2001. That's how far back you have to go for the Knicks last playoff win. The Knicks were trailing three games to none to the Miami Heat, and were in danger of getting swept out of the first round yet again. Game 4 was in Madison Square Garden, and although the Knicks chances of actually winning the series were long gone, the Knicks had the chance to stop the franchise's thirteen game playoff losing streak. The Knicks beat the Heat 89-87 behind Carmelo Anthony;s 41 points and Amare Stoudemire's double-double. The Knicks losing streak was history, and so were the Knicks in Game 5 losing 106-94.


17. Islanders moving to Brooklyn after 2015 season

I didn't say all of these moments would be positive ones, just look at number twenty (LOL). The Islanders have decided to take their talents to the Barclays Center in Brooklyn after their lease at the Nassau Coliseum expires in 2015. Nassau County residents had the chance to keep their team, but voted against the renovation of the Coliseum. All I can say is good luck to the Brooklyn Islanders, but a new home doesn't mean the team will suddenly start winning again.


16. Wright becomes Mets All-Time hits leader

David Wright is the Mr. Met of the last twenty years, yes even more than Mike Piazza. Wright has established himself as one of the greatest players in the Mets organization, and by the time he retires, he will be the greatest. On September 26, 2012, Wright took another step towards Met greatness when he passed Ed Kranepool for number one on the Mets All-Time hit list. Wright hit a little dribbler down the third base line and beat it out for his 1, 419th career hit. Wright is a free agent this off season, but he will most likely be back in the Mets uniform, I hope.


There are still 15 moments left from 2012 for New York sports, but don't expect to see any about the Jets, we are trying to keep it positive from here on in.

Giants Team Grades: Week 9 vs. Pittsburgh Steelers

Sunday, November 4^th, 2012

Final Score: Pittsburgh Steelers: 24 New York Giants: 20

Giants Team Grades

It was a lackluster performance for the Giants this past weekend against the Steelers, as they were unable to get anything going on the offensive side of the ball and the defense was unable to get timely stops, making for a 24-20 loss to a very good Steelers team. 

Passing Offense Grade: F

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Since playing the San Francisco 49ers, the Giants passing attack has been ice cold.  Eli Manning is struggling and in the midst of a slump but couldn’t even conjure some of his late game magic against the Steelers. 

Manning completed 10 of 24 pass attempts for 125 yards, his lowest output since 2008 against the Minnesota Vikings when he threw for 124 yards but only in one half of play.  Manning also threw an interception and was off on multiple occasions deep to Victor Cruz and Hakeem Nicks.

Cruz had a decent game, catching five passes for 67 yards but Nicks only managed one catch for 10 yards.  The Giants need to get the passing game back on track and get Nicks more involved in the offense, as he is finally practicing fully and seems to be getting over early season injuries.

The offensive line also surrendered two sacks and Manning was hit another five times on top of that.

Rushing Offense Grade: D

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If not for an Andre Brown one-yard touchdown rush, this grade would be an F as well.  Brown finished the game with seven carries for only 20 yards and his touchdown.

Ahmad Bradshaw didn’t fare much better, managing only 48 yards on 15 carries.  In total, the Giants only ran for 68 yards on 22 attempts.

The Giants need to get the run game back on track, especially with Manning struggling.  It would be beneficial to the team to get the run game on track so the Giants can control the tempo of the game but also help Manning, as the play action pass is one of the Giants biggest weapons.

Pass Defense Grade: C+

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Ben Roethlisberger didn’t have great stats, but he did just enough to lead the Steelers to a win. Roethlisberger finished the game with 216 yards, two touchdowns and one interception.  Mike Wallace was held in check most of the game until he ripped off a debilitating 51-yard catch and run where he ran across the field and just ran past the whole Giants defense.

The Giants three-headed monster at defensive end did cause problems for the Steelers, as Justin Tuck had two sacks. Jason Pierre-Paul had one and Osi Umenyiora added one of his own.  Umenyiora’s sack caused a fumble, which led to a 70-yard return for a touchdown by Michael Boley.

Rush Defense Grade: F

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For as poorly as the Giants ran the ball, the Steelers did it well.  Isaac Redman was unstoppable, running all over the Giants for 147 yards and a touchdown.  The Giants were unable to get stops in the run game when they needed, as Redman put the game away with his runs inside the red zone in the fourth quarter.

The Giants were without Chase Blackburn, Keith Rivers and Jacquian Williams, but they cannot use that as an excuse; the Giants rush defense needs to improve. 

Special Teams Grade: C-

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Lawrence Tynes continued his strong season, passing 100 total points with a 50 and 23 yard make. But he did miss a 51 yarder short, giving the Steelers a chance to cut into the lead before halftime, which they took advantage of.  Instead of going into halftime up 17-7 or 14-7 at worse, the Steelers got downfield and went into halftime down 14-10.

The coverage teams struggled also, as Steve Weatherford saved an Emmanuel Sanders punt return for a touchdown and Chris Rainey returned a kickoff for 68-yards also.  The usually reliable Giant coverage teams were shaky Sunday.

Coach Grade: D

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The Giants actually went into the fourth quarter winning 20-10, but the problems that were evident throughout the game prior continued and the Steelers kicked it into gear.  The offense got nothing going, while the Steelers were on point even with the bizarre travel schedule they had to endure with the effects of Super Storm Sandy. 

As for the Giants, the play calling and efficiency need to improve.  The Giants went two for 10 on third down and could not get stops on defense when they needed. 

Giants Stifled by Steelers, Blow Late Lead

Sunday, November 4^th 2012

Post Game Recap

Final Score: Pittsburgh Steelers: 24 New York Giants: 20

Giants Stifled By Steelers, Blow Late Lead

The Giants were unable to send their fans home happy Sunday afternoon after another lackluster performance led to a 24-20 defeat at the hands of the Pittsburgh Steelers.  This was the third match-up between 2004 first round draft picks Eli Manning and Ben Roethlisberger; with Roethlisberger taking a 2-1 lead in the series.  The loss ended the Giants four-game winning streak.

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What is starting to become a troubling trend, Manning struggled for the third game in a row.   Manning completed only 10 of 24 passes for 125 yards with no touchdowns and one interception.  The interception was a killer, as the Manning threw into double coverage on Victor Cruz.  It was disappointing, as Manning had just completed a 26-yard pass to Cruz on the previous play.

Manning missed receivers all afternoon and just never got into a rhythm.  The Giants offensive line had some problems protecting Manning against the Steelers, as Manning got sacked twice and hit another five times.  This was also the first time in 27 games that the Giants were unable to score in the fourth quarter, ending what was the longest active streak in the NFL.

 

The Giants were unable to get anything resembling a run game going against the Steelers, whose defense was on point.  Ahmad Bradshaw managed only 48 yards on 15 carries and Andre Brown ran for only 20 yards on seven carries with a touchdown. 

For as poorly as the Giants run game was, the Steelers’ run game was great.  Isaac Redman ran all over the Giants defense to the tune of 147 yards on 26 carries and scored a touchdown.  Whenever the Steelers needed a play, they would hand the ball off to Redman and he would make it happen.  Redman continuously ran over Giant defenders and was hard to bring down all afternoon.

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The Giants defense was able to contain Roethlisberger though, which was a point of emphasis coming into the game.  Roethlisberger is one of the toughest quarterbacks to get to the ground, routinely making plays because of avoided sacks and improvising.  The Giants got to Roethlisberger for four sacks and brought him down when they got to him.  Justin Tuck had two sacks, Osi Umenyiora had one of his patented strip sacks and Jason Pierre-Paul added one of his own.  Roethlisberger finished the game 21 of 30 for 216 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. 

One of Roethlisberger’s touchdowns was a backbreaker for the Giants, as it never should have occurred. Wide receiver Mike Wallace took a short pass 51 yards for a touchdown as he just out-ran the Giants defense, cutting across the field and up the sideline.  The score put the Steelers back in the game and the Giants were never able to recover, as they went three-and-out on every series the remainder of the game.

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Next up for the Giants is a visit to Cincinnati to play against the Bengals as the Giants continue their trek through the AFC North.  The Giants could be getting some key players back for the game, as safety Kenny Phillips was close to playing this game against the Steelers and linebackers Chase Blackburn, Keith Rivers and Jacquian Williams will all have another week of recovery.

Giants Team Grades: Week 7 vs. Washinton Redskins

Sunday, October 21^st 2012

Final Score: Washington Redskins 23 New York Giants: 27

Giants Team Grades

It wasn’t the prettiest of games, but the Giants were able to pull out the win against the Redskins Sunday afternoon 27-23 for their first division victory of the season.  The Giants witnessed what makes Redskins new quarterback Robert Griffin III so special, but in the end saw what makes their own quarterback in Eli Manning one of the best in the NFL.

Passing Offense Grade: B-

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Eli Manning had a rough go at it for most of the game against the Redskins, struggling for the better part of the game.  The Redskins have given Manning problems throughout his career, has they are the only team that Manning has more interceptions thrown than touchdowns with at least 5 games played against; that trend continued  Sunday when Manning threw two interceptions compared to one touchdown.

Manning missed Victor Cruz in the first half for what would have been a touchdown and later over threw him on a bomb again.  But they connected when it mattered with less than two minutes left in the game, when they connected for a 77-yard game winning touchdown.  Martellus Bennett and Hakeem Nicks did some damage as well, both reeling in five receptions.

Rushing Offense Grade: C+

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It was tough sledding for the Giants running game against the Redskins, as they were able to only total 64 yards on 19 attempts.  The workload for Ahmad Bradshaw was limited, as he gained 43 yards on 12 carries and scoring one touchdown.  Bradshaw was visibly upset at points in the game, getting into heated conversations with head coach Tom Coughlin and running backs coach Jerald Ingram. 

Andre Brown returned to the lineup after a one week absence because of a concussion and scored a touchdown of his own to go along with his 17 yards on five rushes.

Passing Defense Grade: C+

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Robert Griffin III did not looked one bit intimidated during his first NFC East game of his career.  He picked the Giants secondary apart, showing off his athleticism on a 4^th and 10 on the drive that put the Redskins ahead with just under two minutes to play.  Griffin connected with Santana Moss for two touchdowns and looked to have patience in the pocket.

The Giants were able to salvage the game by intercepting Griffin once and forcing him to fumble twice, recovering one for a turnover.  They front four was able to cause some chaos in the backfield for the second straight week in sacking Griffin three times.  Jason Pierre-Paul, Osi Umenyiora and Justin Tuck all registered sacks, with Tuck’s being his first of the season.

Rush Defense Grade: C-

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The Redskins were the top rushing offense in the NFL entering the game and cemented that with a 248 yard effort against the Giants.  Redskins’ running back Alfred Morris rumbled for 120 yards on 22 carries and Griffin added 89 yards of his own on 9 carries.

The read-option attack that the Redskins employ gave the Giants fits all afternoon, but in the second half the defense stepped up as they forced two fumbles on rushing plays and slowed down the Redskins’ rushing attack enough to take control of the game.

Special Teams Grade: B+

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Lawrence Tynes continues his outstanding season for the Giants, connecting on both of his field goal attempts and knocking through three more extra points.  David Wilson did not score a touchdown on his returns, but averaged a solid 26.5 yards per return.

The coverage teams were outstanding once again for the Giants, as for the second consecutive week they held in check a very dangerous return man, as Brandon Banks managed only 12 yards on one punt return.

Coaching Staff Grade: B+

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The stats might not look like it, but the coaching staff led by Coughlin and defensive coordinator Perry Fewell game-planned well against Griffin.  The Giants defense forced four turnovers and sacked Griffin three times. 

The game plan on the offensive side of the ball had more questions raised, as the limited running attack was surprising with how well the Giants had been rushing the ball recently.

Nonetheless, the bottom line is that the Giants won a critical divisional game at MetLife Stadium that was essentially a must win and head into Dallas on a three-game winning streak.

Eli Overcomes Struggles with Late Game Heroics

Sunday, October 20^th 2012

Post-Game Re-Cap

Final Score: Washington Redskins: 23 New York Giants: 27

Eli Overcomes Struggles with Late Game Heroics

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It was a lackluster afternoon for the Giants in all aspects of the game, but even while struggling they were able to pull out the victory over the Washington Redskins at MetLife Stadium Sunday afternoon 27-23.  The Giants were able to avoid what would have been a disastrous 0-3 start to their division games this season, moving to 5-2 with sole possession of first place in the NFC East.

The Giants defense struggled at times Sunday afternoon in containing the dynamic Robert Griffin III and the NFL’s leading rushing offense.  Griffin had a strong game through the air and on the ground, completing 20 of 28 passes for 258 yards, two touchdowns and one interception; also adding 89 yards on the ground on nine carries.  Griffin led the Redskins on an improbable drive aided by one of the most impressive plays you will ever see from a quarterback on 4^th and 10.  Thankfully for the Giants, Griffin was unable to duplicate that performance after Eli Manning led the offense on a game-winning drive of his own.

Rookie running back Alfred Morris ran all over the Giants as well, gaining 120 yards on 22 carries.  Morris and the Redskins gashed the Giants for big runs continuously, finishing with 248 yards rushing on 38 total carries.

The Giants were able to step up in the second half to take control on the game, forcing a Morris fumble and Griffin interception on back-to-back possessions.  The pass rush was able to get to Griffin, sacking him three times and causing two fumbles, recovering one, in addition to the interception.  Jason Pierre-Paul, Osi Umenyiora and Justin Tuck all registered sacks on Griffin, with Tuck’s being his first of the season.

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Linval Joseph had another strong game as well, quickly becoming one of the better defensive tackles in the NFL.  Against the Redskins, Joseph caused and recovered a fumble; continue his strong junior season with the Giants.  With Chris Canty returning from injury, the Giants rush defense should improve immensely with Canty being paired with Joseph.

Stevie Brown needs to be recognized as well, as he got his third interception of the season and has filled the hole at safety left by Kenny Phillip's injury admirably.  Brown is making the most of his opportunity and is showing Giant fans why the front office didn't rush to bring back Deon Grant; just another example of the front office and coach staff doing thier homework on players and knowing what it is exactly that they have.

Manning once again was the savior with his late game heroics, but those heroics would not have been needed if he had played the way Giant fans have become accustomed to him playing recently. 

Manning missed a wide open Victor Cruz in the first half for what would have been a touchdown and later over threw him again on a bomb pass.  Manning also threw two crushing interceptions, the first of which was intended for Martellus Bennett inside the Giants 20 yard line.  The second was a poor decision by Manning, who threw his second interception of the game the play immediately following Griffin’s fumble, giving the Redskins the ball right back.

But no one will remember the off day for Manning, as he salvaged it all by hitting Cruz in stride for a game winning 77-yard touchdown reception. 

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A problem for Manning’s struggles against the Redskins may have been from the lack of a running game.  The last two victories for the Giants, against the Browns and 49ers, the run game was clicking and even dominant at times, but against the Redskins it was non-existent. 

Ahmad Bradshaw, who was visibly hyped up and excited throughout the game, showing an enormous amount of emotion, gained only 43 yards on 12 carries, scoring one touchdown.  Bradshaw was seen getting into a heated exchange with head coach Tom Coughlin and later in the game with running backs coach Jerald Ingram.  There is no concrete evidence as to what had Bradshaw so worked up as he was not quoted after the game, so anything said is purely speculation.

The Giants will start preparing Tuesday for another divisional match-up, as they will head down to Dallas to play the Cowboys next week and look to exact some revenge against the team that beat them the opening week of the season.

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

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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+

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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+

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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

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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-

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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+

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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.

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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.

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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. 

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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.

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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

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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+

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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.