Final Score, 38-21 Giants
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- December
- 23
Another miraculous win on the road in horrible weather conditions, no thanks to Eli Manning or Kevin Gilbride, however.
Some of the decisions in this one were just amazing, like having Manning throw on the first play of the third quarter only to get himself intercepted. Or to foresake a field goal at the end of the first half to send Manning back to throw, only to see him get sacked and fumble the ball away. He had five fumbles in the game, losing two, and two interceptions on a day he threw only 15 times.
Is anybody out there of the mind that sometimes Gilbride and Tom Coughlin appear more interested in turning Manning into some sort of bad-weather legend than in winning a game? With 52 passes last week and some curious calls this week, it seems to me like they’re trying to force their quarterback issue, rather than being content to simply have him manage a game. Opinions?
Bottom line, thanks to Kawika Mitchell’s 20-yard interception return for a touchdown in the fourth quarter, the Giants locked down a playoff spot without need of beating the undefeated Patriots. Big relief for the team there. Coughlin may even get his extension now that the team went double-digit wins for the second time in three years.
Can’t say enough about seventh-round rookie Ahmad Bradshaw, either. Between his 151 yards and Brandon Jacobs’ 145 and two touchdowns, they helped the Giants put together a 291-yard team rushing game, the fourth-highest total in team history. And Bradshaw’s 88-yard touchdown run that put the Giants up 31-21 after Mitchell’s score, marked the team’s third-longest run in history.
So, despite some ugly doings earlier in the game, the Giants go to the playoffs. Who thinks they make any noise against Tampa Bay or Seattle? And while you’re at it, give me some preliminary opinions on whether you rest guys like Jacobs and anybody else who might be nicked against New England.
Heading back from Buffalo this morning to enjoy a couple of days of Christmas. So you won’t be hearing from me again until Wednesday.
Ciao for now.
This entry was posted
on Sunday, December 23rd, 2007 at 8:54 pm by Ernie Palladino.
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Ernie Palladino
“Forcing their quarterback issue” is a great way to put it. They want Eli to take that next step, they are trying to make him do it and he’s not doing it. They have to pull back. I did not have much problem with the play calls on the picks, but they were badly thrown, off-target balls. The play at the end of the half was stupid. The Giants got greedy and should have just settled for the field goal.
First of all, Merry Christmas to everyone.
Let’s face it, Eli is not a good QB. Last week
the drops were a big factor, and this week Smith
dropped a sure TD. The weather was bad. OK.
But Eli looks lost, dazed, incompetent and his
passes too often miss by a mile. He also can’t
even hold onto the ball. This has happenened
far too much.
The defense and the running game won this one.
It’s like the Giants win in spite of Eli, not
because of him. This is a big problem. He looks
like Dave Brown out there.
Rest Jacobs, Burress and whoever else needs the
next game off. Looks like the Giants are going
to Tampa—- much better there than Seattle.
Buon Natale Ernie and Merry Christmas to all.
Next weeks game against the Pats isn’t a must win game,but ,the goal is to win each and every game.And since the pats are the odds on favorites to win it all,and the Giants’ goal is to get to the Super Bowl,doesn’t it make sense to play everyone who can play?I know you want the nicked up players to catch a break but if the game is a pat blow out then you can rest the guys,and if it were me playing and I had a chance to get in the way of the Pats run, I would play and thats why I think any player with any heart will play next week.Who did the pat’s rest today at Miami?
some perspective, Eli is 25 or 26. Been in the league 4 yrs.. started 3.5 yrs… brother is one of the best QB’s of all time nad you know all about his dad.. 3 yrs. in a row in the damn playoffs… does he need to improve ??Damn yes. Does he look lost at times? absolutely.
But the bottom line is the guy with all this pressure and BS got them to the playoffs 3 straight yrs. qnd for all you mental midgets who think he will be traded, or Lorenzon cannot be worse, or think Tavaris Jackson or Rivers or others are better, you are dreamin..
Does he drive me crazy/ YES..
Did Steve SMith drop a TD pss which would have put the Giants up by 10 before half? Yes…
This team is very inconsistent and a slightly above average team that is it…...If Toomer caight the ball last week like he did this week they would have won last week….
Gilbride and COughlin should run the ball minimum 30 times a game,...........
Wow! What negativity form Ernie down to yuo guys…...just made the playoffs for the 3rd straight year and Ernie and company start off talking about how bad Eli is. Are you guys obsessed with him or something? I could see some of the criticism if the Giants klost but again let me remind you guys…THEY WON!!!
Ok…so Eli was the number 1 pick and it looks like right now Ernie Acorsi made a bad trade but I think Eli gets treated unfairly as all writers and most fans think he is/was gonna be like Peyton…and obviously he isn’t but he is still a solid QB who is probably the 10-13th best QB in the league and has taken his team to the playoffs 3 out of his first 4 yrs. He will get better and if he doesn’t…well….the Giants can still win
Enjoy the victory boys!! Its the holidays and we will watch the Giants whip up on Tampa and then get revenge against the Boys in the 2nd round
It is gonna be fun
Bradshaw – Every time he has touched the ball this year has been great. When’s the last time we had a KO return guy that routinely crossed the 40? how he isn’t also in there on punts baffles me, especially considering that he hasn’t been given shots from scrimmage. he’s a game breaker – I fault coughlin for not getting him in the game more… until yesterday, with a gun to his head he gives Bradshaw a chance. Broilliant coaching Tom, how’d you think of that.
Lombardi-Bradshaw hasn’t played much for 2 reasons. First, he fumbled a kick return on opening night in Dallas (ya just can’t do that especially being a rookie in your first game) then he lost or almost lost another a game or 2 later…Second, Bradshaw (like a lot of rookies and young players) is not good in pass protection and that is a MUST in the NFL. You have to be able to pass block as a running back. That is why Coughlin hasn’t played him much till recently and I think it was definitely the right move. It allowed Bradshaw to work on his pass blocking and holding onto the ball. Plus with Jacobs, Ward and Droughns it’s not like there was much playing time available
Hopefully the kid is ready to do this on a weekly basis. He does look great running the ball and he can catch it out of the backfield. Let’s hope that yesterday was just the beginning