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 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.