A Giant Day For Wilson

Well it’s that time of year again; where the New York Giants have their backs against the wall, the division is close and every game is a must win.

Today is the start for that playoff push, with wins by Dallas (7-6) and by a red hot Washington (7-6), the lead was cut down to a game. After last week’s loss to the Redskins, the Giants had to come out and win.

Before the game a lot of the players were looking up to that scoreboard to see those wins and realized they
needed to step it up. Today’s game would be a familiar foe in the New Orleans Saints, who in recent years the Giants have not fared well against. But, most of those game were in the Superdome, now they would have to come to a cold, rainy night in New Jersey along with the swirling winds of MetLife Stadium.

Even though the Saints have a losing record they are no pushovers, especially with Drew Brees and a high powered offense that ranks the highest in the NFL; this would truly be a test for the Giants.

The game started off with the Giants down early due to an Eli Manning interception ran back for a touchdown. This lead however would not last, as the ensuing kickoff would have to go into the hands of the electrifying sparkplug out of Virginia Tech David Wilson.

Wilson would catch the ball up at the three yard line and from there saw his blockers, going up the middle then taking it up the sideline for a momentum swinging 97-yard touchdown. Wilson would not be done there, as he would go on and put up an astonishing 227 return yards, which put the Giants in great field position all day.

It wouldn’t end there, as Wilson also had 13 carries for 100 yards and two touchdowns. Wilson is getting more opportunities due to the loss of Andre Brown two weeks ago and he made the most of it. Wilson amassed 327 total yards setting a franchise record (previously held by Dominik Hixon with 303 yards)

Outside of Wilson’s outstanding performance, the Giants Eli Manning didn’t have his best game, having a shaky first half, but made the most of the opportunities given to him. The wide receivers Hakeem Nicks, Victor Cruz and Domenik Hixon with a little dose of tight end Martellus Bennett found holes in the Saints secondary, accounting for another four touchdowns for the Giants.

This game wasn’t just won by special teams and offense, but with the Giants defense stepping up and holding the Saints offense to only two total touchdowns and forcing four turnovers.

Those four turnovers go to my spotlight players of the game (at least Defensively), the safety tandem of Antrel Rolle and Stevie Brown.

Both Brown and Rolle forced two big fumbles early in the game. They would also be a big reason why the Saints didn’t have too many big plays, by keeping their zones in check and when they were tested they stepped up; especially Brown who’d pick off Brees twice (one off a tipped pass by Rolle). Stevie Brown continues to be the guy on that defense who always makes plays when they need it and he made three big ones today. It’s not every day your able to hold the NFL’s best offense to two touchdowns and those guys were the reason.

All in all, the Giants came out and did what they were supposed to do and that was win. But, the Giants do not have room to breathe; they still have the Cowboys and Redskins creeping up on them.

Next week they travel to the Georgia Dome to take on the top ranked team in the NFC; the Atlanta Falcons. This will be a rematch of last year’s wildcard game; a game Atlanta has had marked on their calendar, so the Giants better be ready, as every game is a must win with the playoffs on the line.

Giants Team Grades: Week 13 vs. Washington Redskins

Monday, December 3^rd, 2012

Final Score: New York Giants: 16 Washington Redskins: 17

Giants Team Grades

Monday night featured a hard fought game between two bitter rivals that don’t like each other in the Giants and Redskins.  The Redskins were able to pull off the victory, ending a number of losing streaks on Monday Night Football.  The grades for the Giants will reflect just how poorly they played.

Passing Offense Grade: C+

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Eli Manning put up good stats in the game, throwing for 280 yards and one touchdown with no interceptions, but he was unable to get the job done when it counted.  Manning completed only six passes in the second half, only one of them being in the fourth quarter.

Manning was able to distribute the ball well to Victor Cruz, Hakeem Nicks and Martellus Bennett.  Each had five catches; with Bennett have the biggest impact going for 82 yards and a touchdown. 

Manning connected with Bennett on a third-and-ten on the last offensive drive of the fourth quarter, but it was nullified by a penalty, ending the Giants drive. 

Rushing Offense Grade: B+

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Ahmad Bradshaw had a strong game as the feature back with Andre Brown being out for the remainder of the season.  Bradshaw went over 100 yards for the third time this season, rushing for 103 yards on 24 carries.  Bradshaw was a workhorse for the Giants, as the Giants totaled 29 rushes as a team.

The success of the running game in the first half was one reason the Giants dominated the time of possession in the early going, as Bradshaw tallied up 77 yards by halftime.  Going eight of 10 in the first half on third downs also doesn’t hurt.

David Wilson received only four carries in the game as well, going for only nine yards after saying all week that his time to contribute had finally arrived.

Passing Defense Grade: B-

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The Giants pass defense looked good if you only look at a box score, as Robert Griffin III had only 163 yards passing; it was the timeliness of the passing that killed the Giants.  Pierre Garcon was on the receiving end of every debilitating throw.

Garcon caught the eight-yard touchdown pass that put the Redskins ahead for good early in the fourth quarter and also caught the 17-yard pass on second-and-eight with just over two minutes remaining to ice the game.

In total, Garcon torched the Giants secondary with eight catches for 106 yards and a touchdown.

Rushing Defense Grade: F

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The Giants run defense was abysmal and couldn’t slow the Redskins down all night.  The Redskins totaled 207 yards on 31 rushes as a team.

Alfred Morris tore through the Giants once again, going over 120 yards for the second time in as many chances against the Giants this season.  Monday night, he went for 124 yards on 22 carries. He did fumble once, ending a scoring opportunity for the Redskins or else the score would have been much more in their favor.

Griffin didn’t have many rushing attempts, but he made them count going for 72 yards on five attempts.

When the Giants needed stops the most they were unable to get them either, as they allowed the Redskins to convert two first downs on the ground on the last drive of the game to ice it.

Special Teams Grade: C-

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Lawrence Tynes was asked to put in a full night of work again, going three of four on his field goal attempts.  Every field goal attempt was shaky for the Giants Monday night, with one of them going wide left.

They did not allow the Redskins dynamic return man Brandon Banks to hurt them, as he managed only 21 yards on three punt returns; instead the Giants inflicted all their damage on special teams upon themselves.

Wilson made a big return to set the Giants up late in the fourth quarter, but it was called back after a penalty on Jim Cordle; the drive started inside the 10 yard line and the Giants went three and out.

Coaching Grade: C+

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The Giants executed their game plan well in the first half, as they had three long time consuming drives to keep the dynamic Redskins offense led by Griffin off the field.  But the Giants shot themselves in the foot one too many times to pull out the victory.

Self-inflicted wounds like penalties are always a killer and the Giants had too many untimely ones Monday night.  The execution led to field goal attempts instead of touchdowns, which ultimately led to their demise. 

Giants Squander 4th Quarter Lead, Lose to Redskins

Monday, December 3^rd, 2012

Post Game Recap

Final Score: New York Giants: 16 Washington Redskins: 17

Giants Squander 4^th Quarter Lead, Fall to Redskins

The Giants let a great chance to take a stranglehold on the NFC East slip through their fingers with a tough loss at Washington Monday night.  Robert Griffin III could not be defeated for a second time this season and the Giants lead in the division shrunk to one game, leaving it back up for grabs.

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The first half the Giants did a great job of keeping the ball away from Griffin and the Redskins offense, going on three long drives and going into the half with a 13-10 lead.  The second half the offense was unable to get going and Griffin took advantage.

In the first half alone, the Giants had the ball for over 20 minutes with three time consuming drives.  One driving force in the dominant time of possession was the Giants ability to convert on third down, as they went eight for 10 in the first half. 

The running game was also on point for the Giants early on, as Ahmad Bradshaw had 77 yards rushing in the first half alone.  Martellus Bennett ran rampant in the secondary as well, catching five passes for 82 yards and a touchdown in the first half. 

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The breaks were not going the Giants way though, as the first half lead could have turned even more into the Giants favor if not for a lucky bounce on Griffin fumble.  Griffin scrambled a little past the half-way point of the first quarter and was stripped going down to the ground by Stevie Brown; a fortunate bounce had the ball end up in wide receiver Josh Morgan’s hands and he finished the play off in the end zone.

Other tough breaks for the Giants were of the self-inflicted variety as they committed nine penalties for 73 yards in the game.  Many of the penalties were drive killers, causing the Giants to settle for field goals or not even get a scoring opportunity.

In the first half, Sean Locklear was called for a questionable holding call that pushed the Giants back 10 yards, forcing them to eventually settle for a field goal.  A false start call on Hakeem Nicks also stalled another drive, as the Giants had to settle for yet another field goal.

The most crippling penalties came in the fourth quarter when the Giants were attempting to mount a comeback.  David Wilson returned a kick to around midfield, but it was called back by a Jim Cordle holding penalty, pitting the Giants on their eight-yard line and going three and out.

The other was a holding call on Will Beatty that nullified a third-and-ten conversion from Eli Manning to Bennett.  Instead of a first and ten, the Giants were faced with a third-and-twenty and that was the last time the offense was on the field for the night.

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Manning had two opportunities to lead the Giants on a comeback drive after being down 17-16 early in the fourth quarter but was unable to get going.  Penalties hindered both drives and left the Giants in tough spots. 

On a positive note for the Giants, Kenny Phillips was able to suit up and play but did not start.  He came out of the game without any more damage being done, so look for his workload to increase next week, as the pass happy New Orleans Saints and Drew Brees will pay a visit to MetLife Stadium to take on the Giants.