Football is Poetic

One picture says it all. On a pass to Dez Bryant that would have been the game winning touchdown, Bryant's fingers grazed the end line. Originally ruled a touchdown, the officials reviewed the score and reversed the call. The Giants stole the victory, stopped the Cowboys comeback, and gained some breathing room in the NFC East.

The Cowboys were not ready to play this one when the game started. The Giants jumped on to a 13 point lead when the Cowboys had some early turnovers. The Cowboys finished with six turnovers in the game, but remarkably the Giants had to settle for field goals on five different occasions. The Cowboys defense under coordinator Rob Ryan was ranked sixth in the league going into this game, and as the Giants struggled to get in the end zone, the Cowboys showed the Giants their defense is for real. The tough stops on defense for the Cowboys are what allowed their offense to get there game plan together and get back into the game. After the early lead, the Giants didn't necessarily play conservatively, but they were on their heels a bit. 

Romo, with four interceptions on the day, started to tune out the bad and find his favorite target Jason Witten to propel the Cowboys back into the game. The Cowboys took at the end of the third quarter and went up 24-23. Eli Manning furiously led the Giants back into field goal range in the fourth quarter, but once again the Cowboys would not allow a touchdown. Eli managed to scrape another field goal later in the quarter, meaning the Cowboys would need a touchdown to win the game. 

And then it happened. The whole world stood still as Dez Bryant got a step on Corey Webster and Michael Coe failed to get over in coverage. The Giants pressed several defenders at the line with safeties up top as opposed to lining up in a prevent, and it almost cost them the game. The Giants felt they had to play aggressively, but they almost gambled and lost as Dez Bryant almost came down with what would have been the catch of the year. But somewhat instinctively, Bryant put his hand down to break the fall and by a matter of centimeters, the game was won and then lost. 

In division rivalries the biggest moments can be so close it's infuriating to any football fan. The Cowboys almost put together an incredible comeback. In fact many fans may argue that the Giants won because they got lucky. 

Now the Giants were certainly fortuitous, that's undeniable. But there has never been a football game won from luck. The Cowboys had six turnovers. It's a testament to their defense that they were in the game until the final seconds, but when the Giants come away with four interceptions and two fumble recoveries, where's the luck in that? Every win in football is earned, no matter how close or ridiculous the ending result is. 

The Giants earned this victory in another epic division battle for the second week in a row. The Giants are 6-2 to start the season and are 1st place in the NFC East and are one of the best teams in the NFC and blah blah blahhhhh. Wait a second this has happened almost every season for the past seven years. Some years they've kept it up, others they've slipped up in the second half, or maybe even collapsed. This is where the Giants truly have to be resilient. Because this is where it's gonna get hard. Players are going to go down, opposing teams are going to figure things out, and games are going to become tougher and tougher to win. 

The irony is, there's some good news in the fact that the Giants have been down this road several times before. And that is they know they can't get first half happy. Eli and Coughlin know that for sure. They've seen too much pain, and experienced too many times the "what could have been." The 2006 season where Mathias Kiwanuka allowed Vince Young to escape, the 2009 season where the mediocre Carolina Panthers under Matt Moore made a joke out of the Giants defense to end the season, the 2010 season where every Giants fan stood stunned as Desean Jackson mockingly jogged into the end zone to complete a 28 point walk off rally. These are some awful, gut wrenching memories. But they are recent, and have happened under head coach Tom Coughlin, even when the Giants have had really great first halves to their season. 

Heck it almost happened last year! The Giants were 5-2, then all of a sudden were 7-7. But the Giants discovered that they had yet to play their best football. With their backs against the wall, the world saw the Giants best game. When they had that chance, they took it, and ran with it. The Giants won six straight on their path to Super Bowl XLVI, their second title in four years. Super Bowl XLII consisted of a 6-2 start as well, the Giants finished 10-6 and came together in the final weeks of the season.

Right now, things are good for the Giants. They have an identity of being clutch and knowing how to win. This not a bad persona to have, but the Giants haven't truly come together as a team. That moment has yet to come. The point is, this is when it all gets real. There are still some big division games left in the season, and next week the Pittsburgh Steelers are coming to town. 

There are no easy wins. There is no luck. Great teams find ways to put it together. That often happens when teams have looked failure dead in the face. Coughlin knows the feeling of pain when you realize the season's over. He knows what it's like to see Jackson's punk ass dance into the end zone and ruin your season. 

The Giants have to keep the fire. The first half of the year is over and the Giants have looked excellent. The two games they lost were one possession games. But the leadership of Eli and Coughlin can't let this team get comfortable. This is where teams are made. This is how championship teams are made. 

By coming together as a team in desperate times. 

Those desperate times are coming, it may not seem like it but just watch. The Giants will be ready, and if they overcome the obstacles that stand in their way the sky's the limit. 

Play the schedule. Don't quit, keep taking it one week at a time. Because Giants fans kind of like this identity of being a clutch club that knows how to win. 

Lets keep it that way. 

Week In Week Out

Carlos Rogers referred to the Giants as kings of the NFL. Yes Giants fans, our beloved Gmen thrashed the 49ers in what was supposed to be an epic showdown. Instead the Giants beat the 49ers on both sides of the ball, physically and mentally. Upfront the Giants overpowered the 49ers and ran the ball right down their throat in front of a stunned crowd at Candlestick Park. It was simply an awesome performance. But this win has sports media everywhere beginning to talk about how great the Giants are. How quickly things change in the span of a couple games.

This absurdity that the Giants are Super Bowl bound or the best team in the NFL is all an example of over hype. The win was sweet, that's undeniable. But just a week ago the Giants were a very questionable team with a defense that was playing soft to say the least. This victory over the 49ers is a statement, but was that really the 49ers best game? If these teams were to meet again would it go the exact same way?

The point is it's not always about who you play it's about when you play them. Credit should be given when it's due and the Giants deserve it. But no goals for the season are ever accomplished in October (unfortunately for the Giants). This NFL season has been complete madness. Who's beating who hasn't made any logical sense at all. For instance, earlier this season the Jets lost to the Texans, but the Texans lost to the Packers. The Packers, lost to the Colts, who the Jets just slaughtered this past Sunday. There's nothing logical about it. It's football.

Any team can beat anybody on any given day. The Falcons are perhaps the worst 6-0 team ever. They've dodged disaster the past three weeks to teams that have a combined record of 5-11. Saying the Giants are the best team in the NFL is crazy. The best team in the NFL will not be determined until February, but the media can't wait that long for a story. Reputations of who's the best will change week in and week out. So basically, sports writers will be wrong time and time again and it's the teams that start to believe what they're saying that suffer.

That's why the Giants don't pay attention to any of that stuff. Now there are facts that are undeniable, under Tom Coughlin the Giants are superb in the month of October. Time and time again the Giants have had dominant first halves to their season. This time it sort of feels like the same thing to any Giants fan. But as truthful as that all is, from a football standpoint it's completely irrelevant. Football is meant to be taken one week at a time, with different priorities each week. This week the Giants are coming off of a sick win but need to readjust their focus to the division. The Washington Redskins are coming to town in what is sure to be a battle, and a real test for the defense. With Robert Griffin III bringing new excitement to the Redskins, and the NFL for that matter, the Giants now have a second mobile quarterback to worry about in the NFC East.

Redskins tight end Fred Davis has referred to Robert Griffin III as "black Jesus." And after last weeks win against the Vikings, he's not the only one in Washington to think that. Griffin III had a clutch 74 yard touchdown that put the game away against a tough Minnesota Vikings team that has been surprising a lot of people. This match up in the Meadowlands this Sunday is sure to be another classic NFC East battle.

The Cowboys beat the Giants 24-17, and the Eagles 19-17. Those are the Giants only two losses, but they're two huge losses. If the Giants do not defeat Washington on Sunday they will be in a quick 0-3 hole in the division and just making the NFC East tighter than it already is. In fact, if the Giants lose you can kiss that "best team in the NFL" reputation good bye. In just one week, it'd become something more like "weak in the division" or something along those lines.

That's an absurd truth. Every week the media and the power rankings will portray every team in a new light. Being on a football team is about showing people one thing: wins and losses. That's why Tom Coughlin's only focus this week is preparing the Giants for the Redskins. It's a similar approach to when the Giants faced Vick, but seeing as RGIII is a rookie, he's going to run even more. And after last week, he has every reason to.

The topic of concern over the past few weeks has been the Giants defensive ends. Against San Francisco, Jason Pierre-Paul had his best game this season. The mental discipline to trust others around him ironically is what gave him more sacks, and was a big part in the Giants 3 takeaways on the day. Alex Smith has speed but he runs a much more standard offense. RGIII will be in the shotgun for most of the game, and running option draws with running backs and slot receivers. It's a big normality in college, and some young players are so talented at it, it's having a stint in the NFL. Cam Newton was very successful with it in Auburn and his rookie season in the NFL last year. RGIII is running a very similar offense under Redskins head coach Mike Shanahan.

If Osi Umenyiora continues to create this parting of the red sea hole with every snap, it's time for him to sit down. Either that, or use it to the Giants advantage. Blitz linebackers through the gap Osi's been creating with his foolishness. Perhaps it can cause RGIII to take more drop steps and Osi can get sacks and feel like he's contributing. The point is, if Osi continues to create holes with his pass rushing tactics and they go unchecked, it's going to be off to the races for RGIII. Ask Minnesota how that worked out.

That's the biggest concern, but it's safe to say Coach Coughlin is well aware of it. It's the players discipline that needs to coincide with the game plan. Last week was a taste of what the Giants are capable of when everybody's on the same page. Hakeem Nicks being healthy was a big part of why the Giants were able to run the football so successfully. San Francisco simply had to pay attention to Cruz and Nicks, even though Nicks doesn't even seem to be completely 100%. But Eli saw this and simply handed the ball off to Ahmad Bradshaw, who has been playing his best football lately. A lot of that credit goes to the toughness of this offensive line and full back Henry Hynoski. If the Giants have the ball in their hands, they have a lot of options of what they can do with it.

But the defense has to give them a chance to win. Don't allow RGIII to get fantasy points and be on sports center. Be smart and contain. Play Giants football. Because with the right attitude the Giants team fans saw last week could be here to stay.

It's all about taking it week to week. Washington's next. Huge game. Go Gmen, Tom Coughlin will have this team prepared.

California Love

The 3-2 New York Giants are returning to Candlestick Park this Sunday to take on the 4-1 San Francisco 49ers. Last time the Giants were out in California they were claiming a trip to Super Bowl XLVI. It was a thrilling 20-17 overtime win in the NFC Championship that no Giants fan will ever forget. It is sure to be another battle this time around as the 49ers will be looking for revenge.

Tensions are already higher than usual after the talk between Giants offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride and 49ers head coach Jim Harbaugh. Gilbride was asked about 49ers defensive end Justin Smith and said, "Smith is a beast inside, he's strong he does a good job of grabbing a hold of offensive linemen and allowing those twists to take place. He never gets called for it, so he gets away with murder." Harbaugh had a furious response in saying, "Kevin Gilbride's outrageous, irrational, statement regarding Justin Smith's play is, first, an absurd analogy. Second, it is an incendiary comment targeting one of the truly exemplary players in this league. It's obvious that the Giants coaching staff's sole purpose is to use their high visibility to both criticize and influence officiating." 

Although Gilbride was most likely simply trying to answer the question as honestly as he could, Harbaugh had every right to have his players back. But to claim that Gilbride's intentions were to influence the officials? That is quite the accusation. Gilbride probably hasn't had this much media attention around his name since Buddy Ryan punched him in the mouth. The point is, Gilbride simply is not known for drawing attention of any kind, especially being a part of the New York Giants. Harbaugh is simply dramatizing what was said and trying to get his players in a lather. 

The Giants on the other hand, don't need any additional trash talking to get psyched for this game. These are the match ups that they live for, and Tom Coughlin knows it. The 49ers will be the favorite having had the better season so far, and being the home team. The Giants are the underdog, with their backs against the wall. With the world against them, these Giants have proven everyone wrong so many times it should be expected they win simply because they're not supposed to. Now Harbaugh has only motivated the Giants more by raising the stakes with his recent trash talk. Coughlin is probably smiling thinking Harbaugh has much to learn. Don't be mistaken, Harbaugh is a terrific coach but as far as mental discipline and experience, it cannot be denied that Coughlin has the edge. 

All the trash talk aside, the individual match ups in this game are enough to excite anybody. Another round of Victor Cruz vs. Carlos Rogers is about to take place. Rogers had the edge against Cruz in last years regular season game which the 49ers won. But Cruz, who remembered how Rogers made a mockery of his signature salsa dance after an interception, tore apart Rogers in the NFC Championship with ten catches and 142 yards. Rogers depended on help in the second half of the Championship game from safeties to double team Cruz. It was a huge part of the Giants victory. Both players will be on their game for one another, and it  will be exciting. Fellow Giants wide receiver Hakeem Nicks' status is uncertain at this point for Sundays game. Nicks is listed as questionable but if he is good to go it's safe to assume the Giants wide receivers will win the match up against the 49ers secondary. 

With the 49ers smash mouth football style of play, this game is all about who is going to win the battle up front. The Giants offensive line is coming off of a great week, and their pass protection has been consistent so far this season. But this defensive line is by far the Giants biggest challenge. Not to mention linebacker Patrick Willis blitzing and wreaking havoc from all over the field. As far as protecting Eli the Giants will have their work cut out for them, but hopefully that good ground game Giants fans saw against the Browns last week can be established to make it much easier on the lines pass protection. 

On the other side of the ball, without a doubt the 49ers offensive line is favored against the Giants defensive line. The Giants dline has been mediocre at best and has not been able to generate any consistent pass rush or run stopping ability. All those facts aside, this is the game they wake up. This is the game the Giants remind everybody what big blue defense is all about. Stop the run, have some fun, get to the quarterback. It's simple and there's no question the Giants don't have the talent to do that. The only question is when is it going to be. Coach Harbaugh's mouth might be the trigger that causes this defense to explode. Containing Frank Gore will be a challenge, but if the Giants need a refresher they can just watch the tape from the NFC Championship. Stopping the run is all about emotion, fire, and discipline all rolled into one. It's safe to bet you'll get all three of those things on Sunday.

As for the 49ers passing game, the biggest threat for the Giants defense is tight end Vernon Davis. Davis is an absolute beast with his combination of size and speed. And due to a banged up secondary, that now includes a suspended Will Hill, there will be a lot of dependence on the linebackers to contribute in pass coverage. No linebacker is fast enough to play straight man on Davis, but knowing their assignments in zone or on double teams is crucial. Everyone in pass coverage has to have their head on straight without any mental mistakes. The Giants will get safety Tyler Sash back with the team this week, but the last couple weeks there have been a couple plays that resulted in touchdowns from bone headed mistakes. It's true that those plays are more likely without any real pass rush, but regardless everybody needs to be on the same page. 

Sunday. 4:25. Candlestick Park. Over the last couple years the Giants have brought back an old rivalry with the 49ers. The ghosts of the past will be watching. How can anyone forget Mark Bavaro carrying four men on his back? Not to mention Jim Burt and Leonard Marshall BOTH knocked out Joe Montana on separate occasions. The days of Rice, Montana, Lott, Simms, Bavaro, and Taylor are over. But this rivalry has sort of redeemed itself the last couple years. 

The tradition of hard fought football games between these two teams will continue on Sunday. Be ready for the Giants defensive line to break out and get to Alex Smith. Should be a great game.  

"Back in Business"

Tom Coughlin's post game speech was short and sweet. He claimed that the Giants were "back in business," and after the Giants 41-27 victory over the Cleveland Browns, that was certainly apparent.  The most exciting thing the Giants showed was their ability to run the football. The game started off painfully when running back Ahmad Bradshaw fumbled on the first play from scrimmage. But following the mistake Bradshaw ran hard and downhill throughout the rest of the game. Bradshaw accumulated 200 rushing yards on 30 carries with a touchdown. David Wilson scored his first touchdown as well and had 2 carries for 44 yards. The Giants running success was mostly due to the Giants offensive line overpowering the Browns on every snap. Bradshaw deserves great credit, but the offensive line always comes first.

The positives of the emerging run game for the Giants were numbed by a seriously struggling defense. The Giants linebackers and banged up secondary have played respectfully, but the problem is the defensive line. Opposing quarterbacks have had way too much time in the pocket the past few weeks and the Giants defense hasn't been able to get off the field when it's absolutely necessary. The frustrating part is it's not a matter of talent. Giants fans have seen it before, these defensive ends can be some of the best in football and be an absolute nightmare for quarterbacks. The problem has been a lack of discipline. Sure, the Giants are missing a great defensive tackle in Chris Canty, who's return has been pushed back and back with every week. But the defensive ends are making it harder on themselves than it's supposed to be. Why on earth does Osi Umenyiora feel it is necessary to line up several yards apart from the offensive tackles outside shoulder creating a split of at least three yards? He then will try to go around the pass protection by practically doing a figure 8 swoop that most ballerinas can't even accomplish. There is no question it's a questionable strategy.

And forget stopping the run with defensive ends who wander and don't follow assignments. The Giants currently give up an average of 111.4 rushing yards per game. That stat right there is exactly why the Giants have two early division losses. Discipline fellas, Tuck has remained the most consistent but nobody knows it because runs typically aren't to his side. Why would other teams even bother? The film is as clear is day, Osi is magnifying the hole for running backs. And Jason Pierre-Paul has not been playing to expectations that he set for himself last year.

The good news is, Tom Coughlin's not stupid. Coughlin knows where the team is struggling and why. But he's been down this road before, and in the past he would add additional pressure that in some cases would cause tension in the locker room from players. Coughlin is wisely keeping his cool to address this problem and he knows the Giants have plenty of time to improve their defense. Last year before the end of the regular season, the Giants defense was extremely inconsistent. It was only when they came together as a team where they truley excelled and learned how to go "all in."

To bring out the best of the New York Giants, there has to be substantial competition. Often a game that the Giants are highly unfavored is where fans will see their best game. It's a weird phenomena, but mentally under Tom Coughlin the Giants play their best football with their backs against the wall. Going to San Francisco is a great opportunity for the Giants to get a taste of real competition.

But if the Giants can't stop the run, is it possible to think the Giants will stand a chance against the powerhouse 49ers on Sunday? Well generally speaking, no it's not. But it's ironically also the big opportunity that the Giants need to make a statement game. If they can't get their heads on straight for this game then there's a serious super bowl hangover going on. The Giants have a chance for redemption and to seriously be back in business if they can get a 4-2 record against a tough 49ers team on the road. It's not going to be easy, but expect this game to be much harder faught, and fundamentally sound.

More on the 49ers game later, but keep in mind this Giants team is still coming together and will emerge when the time is fit. This is a long season but expect a fired up Giants team to clear the air of their two division losses and questionable defensive performance against the Browns.

The Giants can win this game and all will be forgiven. That's the fact that Tom Coughlin is well aware of but keeping hushed up. Obviously the mentality shouldn't be different on any given week and the effort should remain consistent, but is it really true that the Giants will be just as emotionally ready against the 49ers as they were the Browns? That's what makes football crazy. Emotion is what drives this game. Just look at the Indianapolis Colts incredible win over the Green Bay Packers after they learned their head coach has leukemia. The Giants were a bit overzealous to start their game against the Browns on Sunday. But they got a crucial win and now they can get geared up for the game that any NFL fan should get excited for.

And that is why Tom Coughlin has remained calm, and exactly why the Giants are back in business.

Dust off the Pain

Add it to the list of Giants Eagles games that got away. Games as close as this one are torturous, there are multiple plays that could have made the pivotal difference in the game. But the Giants have to take this bitter loss as a learning experience. There is plenty of football to be played and with that comes a lot of adjustments. A big problem with the Giants is the fact that they are extremely vulnerable against the run.

The Giants have two divisional losses, in the first game it was Demarco Murray, in the second game it was LeSean McCoy. Good running backs are giving the Giants trouble. It's not a matter of personnel, there's no question the Giants defense should have the ability to be a good run stopping team. The problem is mental discipline. Understandably, it's much easier for McCoy to give the Giants trouble when they've got Vick to worry about as well, but they weren't disciplined against either threats. Poor angles were taken from the defensive ends in this game. Osi Umenyiora and Jason Pierre-Paul were trying to make some big plays and it cost them. For Vick's running, they did not contain the outside consistently allowing Vick more pocket space and the ability to roll out. As for McCoy it was very similar, Osi and Pierre-Paul did not set the edge that would force McCoy to stay inside. Instead they tried to make plays themselves and unintentionally magnified holes for McCoy. This allowed the Eagles to develop a very reliable running game in the second half and is the key difference in the game that gave the Eagles the advantage.

Not to mention the Eagles ability to stop the Giants running game. Surprisingly the Giants gave Brown limited carries after a dominant performance in Carolina. Bradshaw got most of the work, and he struggled. As has been the pattern, the Eagles won the game on the ground against the Giants. That's what determined the victor of this game. Giants fans can talk until they're blue in the face about how Ramses Barden shouldn't have interfered, or how Tynes was only three yards short of kicking the game winner, but those are a couple of crazy plays that are a part of football. What the Giants have to take out of this game is what they can improve on for the future and be ready for the next time they play the Eagles in December.

Now it was an excellent matchup and both teams played well. But the Eagles definitely attacked a Giants weakness in this game, and used it to be the pivotal difference to win the game by two points. In the future the Giants pass rush has to be more disciplined. Sometimes the best plays on defense are the plays you don't make. But playing smart and allowing others to excel goes a long way. The Giants have the ability to run the ball on offense and they have the ability to stop it on defense. It's up to the coaches to prepare them for it and get it done. In all honesty, playing the Browns next week is the perfect test. Committing to stopping Trent Richardson is what the Giants have to do. Eleven hats on the ball every time he touches the ball. With the Browns mediocre passing game, this will allow the Giants to take some chances and see what they're capable of when they really want to stop a running game. An experience the Giants need to have to develop some confidence in the run stop.

More on the Browns later in the week, but as for the Giants and Eagles passing game, I'd say it was a dead even matchup. The crucial difference was obviously the one turnover. The Giants were able to get over 300 passing yards against a tough Eagles pass defense and that's something to be proud of, but if they had that interception back that Rodgers-Cromartie snagged in the end zone, this game would be a whole different story. As is the theme of this bitter loss, take it as a learning experience. Eli will be the first to admit that was a crucial mistake.

If the Giants learn how to respond to these issues they can become an extremely dominant football club. It's all very realistic to think that the Giants can adjust. If they can get it together and get some consistency in the defense and the running game, the Giants passing game would not have to bail them out at the end of every game like it did last year. The Giants were able to make a super bowl run last year because their defense was just as productive as their clutch passing attack. Eli has proven he is as clutch as they come, but if this team comes together Eli wont have to be Mr. Miracle man every single week. And as a result you would see a dominant New York Giants football team.

But right now the facts are the facts. The Giants are .500 and are in need of a serious bounce back game against the 0-4 Cleveland Browns next week. The Browns are more of a threat then their record claims. There really aren't any games in the NFL this year that are easy. It's more competitive than it's ever been. The Giants need to get their season together and get ready for four huge remaining division games.

So Giants fans, when you feel like blaming Ramses Barden or Lawrence Tynes for this loss, remember it's a team game and there's a whole lot the Giants can still improve on. Coach Coughlin's gotten things together time and time again for this team. The Giants are still coming together as a team, and seeing what they're truly capable of. It's a long season, and the Giants have to stay optimistic and hungry so we can beat these bastards when we play them again in the last game of the season.