Eli, putting the E L I into elite?

As the season draws closer and the experts begin to prognosticate, the talk of the elite QB’s is always a hot topic. This year, unlike last year, there will be a new member in that class. We may have known this as Giant fans, but even some of us had to be convinced. Well, no more. We all know exactly where our field general sits this year.  Now the rest of the NFL needs to stop underrating Eli and give him the respect he has earned. I believe Eric Allen(but I could be wrong on that) didn’t even rank him top 15 last year. Come on man!

With two Superbowl titles on his resume, finishing with almost 5000 yards passing last year, and for most of the season pretty much carrying the GMen on his back he deserves to be top 10 at the very least. And with the other Manning’s career possibly over you can argue for Eli to be top 5. I will concede Rodgers, Brady and Brees as 1,2,3. But after that, you need to put Eli. He may be the toughest QB in the league too. His aw schucks demeanor that everyone pointed out early is now one of his best qualities. He is unflappable. He proved that in the NFC championship game against the 49er’s. You cannot rattle him or get in his head. The media does not bother him, and the boo’s never bothered him. If you want to point out his interceptions, you can. But than I don’t think you know a lot about the game for this reason. The Giants allow their receivers to run routs depending on coverage. There isn’t always an out rout. The receiver chooses if he is going to break his rout in or out depending on the coverage and position of the DB. So with young receivers, they may not have always been on the same page with Eli or making the proper read. Btw. The Saints also have their receivers do the same thing. And Brees usually has high int totals too. Lets give Eli the credit he deserves and put him in the proper place in the QB rankings this year, Cause as we all heard Deon Sanders preach last year…..”I believe in Eli” and I personally always have.

Whatever else will be said about this afternoon’s game, it certainly wasn’t one that did any favors for anyone’s blood pressure.

The Giants came into Lambeau Field and came away with a 37-20 win to earn a trip to the NFC Championship game in San Francisco. They’re now the fourth seeded team to defeat a number one seeded team on the road since the current playoff format was instilled, and they knocked off the 15-1 defending Super Bowl champions to do so. It’s amazing to think that just a few weeks ago, the Giants were on the verge of collapsing and missing the playoffs altogether. Now they’re be playing next week for a chance to go to the Super Bowl. It’s amazing what getting hot at the right time can do for a team.

Thoughts from the game:

-Obviously fumbles were the name of the game. The Packers fumbled four times and the Giants recovered two of them, and that combined with all of the drops by Green Bay’s receivers really helped out the Giants defense. The Osi Umenyiora forced fumble was especially big. Greg Jennings was wide open and would have easily score a touchdown if Umenyiora hadn’t knocked the ball out of Aaron Rodgers’s hands.

-I try to avoid complaining about the refs in games if I can. But there is nothing that anyone can do or say that can justify the referees ruling that the play Tom Coughlin challenged was not a fumble. Neither the Jennings’s knee nor elbow were even close to being down when the ball was coming out. It was even ruled a fumble on the field initially, until one ref overturned another. How Coughlin lost that challenge and the Giants didn’t get the ball is absolutely beyond me. To say it was a horrible call doesn’t even begin to scrape the surface.

The “roughing the passer” call on Umenyiora in the fourth quarter was pretty bad too.

-I couldn’t have been the only one who flashed back to Super Bowl 42 during New York’s opening drive. It was very similar to the one the Giants had to start the game in Phoenix; Giants received the opening kickoff, converted on a few key third downs, ran a lot of time off the clock and came away with a field goal.

-Give the offensive line credit. They played well for most of the game and gave Eli Manning enough time to locate his receivers and throw the ball. There were a few exceptions of course (like on the Manning’s interception) but overall, they were up to the challenge. At the very least, they certainly didn’t look soft.

-It has to be said- there are no words to describe the Hail Mary catch made by Hakeem Nicks. I still can’t believe that he came down with that ball. It was a huge play, giving the Giants a 20-10 at halftime and a boost for the team as well.

-The Giants secondary has not gotten enough credit in this victory. It was a complete defensive effort, but the Packers had very little to work with downfield most of the game. They chipped away at yardage but had few- if any- really big passing plays. It was frustrating to watch at times, but it paid off in the end.

-I’m still concerned by the Giants lacking a strong running game, and their poor performance on third down defense reared its ugly head again. Just some stuff that needs working on.

The Giants offense, on the other hand, was spectacular on third downs, especially third and long. That is a recipe for success.

-Once again, an all-around team effort leads to a victory for the Giants and they took care of things in Green Bay. Now they travel to San Francisco to take on the 49ers, another team they have unfinished business with from the regular season. It’s going to be a 1990′s flashback for some of the older Giants fans.

I had a chance to ask Ray Rivard from Lombardi Avenue a few questions about today’s Giants Packers showdown at Lambeau Field

Q. The Giants are suddenly the most balanced team remaining in the playoffs.  With a healthy running game, a big play passing game, and a defense that looks ready to make a statement.  Could they be the most dangerous opponent for the Packers?

I think all football fans have been debating that all week. Because the Dec. 4 game came down to the last second and the way the Giants have played during their final three weeks, as well as their dismantling of the Falcons, everyone is acutely aware of the danger the Giants bring to Lambeau Field Sunday.  What really scares me about the Giants is the running game. I feel the Packers will handle the Giants defense, but if New York is able to control the line of scrimmage when they are on offense and gets its running game going, that could spell trouble for the Packers. If the Giants control the clock with the running game and keeps the Packers offense off the field, that’s trouble with a capital T. Needless to say, I feel this could be a monumental battle for both teams and the difference could come down to turnovers and special teams.

 Q. Does anyone expect the Packer defense to suddenly come alive, or are they only going as far as the offense can take them, which admittedly could be very far?

A. The Packers defense is what it is. I don’t see them “coming alive” at this point. It’s a group that has given up huge chunks of real estate through big plays, has allowed teams to run roughshod over them between the 20s, but seems to keep teams out of the end zone – at least enough to allow the offense to score more points than the opponents. The defense has also been opportunistic. Though they rank last in the league in passing yards allowed, they also lead the league in interceptions. Again, it will be an interesting matchup between the Packers defense and the Eli Manning-led Giants offense.

Q. What do you see as the keys to the game from the Packer perspective?

A. #1. The Packers have to move the ball and they have to score a lot of points because everyone on the planet knows that the Giants are going to do the same – the Packers defense is porous. #2. The Packers have to get at least one or two turnovers … it’s the turnovers that change the momentum during a game and it seems to be that much more important when playing at home. #3. The Packers have to win the special teams war. If Randall Cobb can tip the field in the Packers direction with some decent returns, that could make a huge difference.

So, to wrap this up, the Packers have to score, the defense has to get a couple of turnovers and the special teams have to perform well.

Q. Is there a point in the game where Mike McCarthy would change offensive linemen if the Giants pass rush is just too much, or is he committed to the veterans like Chad Clifton?

A. He might, but only if Clifton is struggling mightily. I’m sure he will have packages in that will provide blocking help from the tight end and running backs, so I think that if Rogers can get rid of the ball quickly, if the Packers can execute some screens, draws and rollouts, and if the Packers can get a semblance of a running game together, the offensive line Will be OK.

Q. Prediction on how the game plays out?

A. I feel it will be a close first half, but like all games (with the exception of the Kansas City game), the Packers will get its game on track in the third quarter and coast to a win in the fourth quarter.

No doubt, the Giants will score and will probably have some big plays in doing it. That’s just been how things have been for the Packers this season. However, unlike the Falcons, the Packers will score more than two points, I can guarantee that.

In the end, I feel the Packers will come away with a 35-24 win.

Green Bay has a wide array of options available to them. They pasted the Saints in the season opener, so logic would indicate that they should have little trouble with the G-Men. Statistically, the two teams appear even in many categories: The Pack is rated number 1 in pass offense, while the Giants are rated fifth. The Giants have a slight edge in pass defense, rated 18 versus the Packers’ 21. For run defense, the Giants are rated 20, while the pack comes in at number 27 in the league. On run offense, the Pack has a clear edge, as they rank at number 7, while the Giants’ anemic run offense is at 23rd in the league. Special teams for the Packers are 10th in the league, while the Giants are at number 18. The Packers pass defense rating may be a misleading statistic, as teams are forced to pass the ball in order to attempt a late game win or try for some late game heroics. The Packers D Backs play aggressively, as the defense has 22 takeaways. However, they have also given up 47 pass plays of 20 or more yards, the second most in the league. This plays into the strength of the Giants, as their passing attack is geared to a downfield orientation, rather  than the West Coast offense of dink and dunk. The Packers have a bend but don’t break philosophy, and tend to stiffen when the opponent gets into the red zone.  The Pack has also given up an average of 140.7 yards per game to their opponents two top receivers, which means that Eli could thrive. The G-Men use the long pass like San Diego, so it could work. If they dink and dunk, maybe not so much. (more…)

1.  Is anyone in Green Bay concerned that the defense is ranked last in the NFL, or is it simply a matter of them being able to take chances since Rodgers and the offense is so good?

A. There is plenty of concern … since the beginning of the season there has been concern, but this defense has continually come up with the big play. They get gashed between the 30s game-in, game-out, but in every game they have come up with the timely fourth down stop, the interception, the fumble recovery and even from time to time … a sack.

Yes, all fans are concerned, but they also have faith … faith in the coaching staff to dial up the right coverages in the right situations, faith in the players who know when to turn it on, and faith in the offense that they will score at least four times per game to give them the advantage.

It’s a strange situation this year. The defense was what really helped carry them last year to get to the position to make the playoffs and then the offense seemed to turn it on throughout the playoffs. This year, it’s been the opposite with the offense exploding all over everyone and the defense seeming to play half speed. Is it a situation that can lead this team to an unbeaten season and a Super Bowl win? I don’t know. But to-date, there hasn’t been a team that’s found the recipe for beating this imperfect, perfect team.

2. What would the fans want if the team was 14-0, had home field advantage, and the first seed wrapped up?  Sit or play?

A. Definitely play. And I feel that Mike McCarthy isn’t the type to buy into sitting entire starting teams. He’s always said he likes players that are game ready. I can see him sitting specific individual players maybe to help them recharge or overcome nagging injuries, but I don’t see him starting an entire offense or entire defense. Now, if the Packers go out in those final three weeks and build a big first half lead, then I can see McCarthy pulling starters from the field.

But the bottom line is winning … McCarthy wants to be perfect and he’ll do anything to achieve that goal. (more…)

1. Being that you are with the team daily, have you noticed anything  
different this year from last year as a result of the Super Bowl  
victory?  Has there been less or more access, different scheduling,  
anything that you found different?

Not much has been different from the day in, day out routine of years past. Mike McCarthy is nothing if not a creature of habit. He’s used pretty much the same in-season schedule that he’s used his entire six years as the Packers’ head coach. That means practices are about the same length, meetings last about the same amount of time, his media schedule is exactly the same. As for the players, locker room access is about the same. The same players you used to see in the locker room on a daily basis are still usually in there regularly. The same ones who almost never were in there are still almost never in there. About the only difference in media access is that the offensive, defensive and special teams coordinators are no longer available after games. Instead, we get them the day after games. What’s more is that McCarthy himself seems about the same. I’ve gotten no sense that success has gone to his head. Don’t get me wrong, he has an ego, and he’ll admit to that. But as far as NFL head coaches go, he’s the most like a “regular guy” as any of the four head coaches (Mike Holmgren, Ray Rhodes, Mike Sherman and McCarthy) I’ve covered in my tenure with the Press-Gazette.

2. Many Patriot and Colt players over the years have discussed the  
pressure of an unbeaten season.  The extra questions, the extra media  
attention, and the added pressure of not just watching the standings,  
but having a higher threshold to uphold.  Have you seen any changes as  
the season has progressed, and how do you think the team will handle it?

So far, it seems like they’re fine with it. This week, there’s been more national media at Lambeau Field than I think I’ve seen all season. And of course, the number one topic among them has been 16-0. I don’t think McCarthy has told his players to avoid the topic, at least not based on what Clay Matthews said on Wednesday. Though he seemed to purposely not mention the phrase “16-0,” Matthews did say this: “We’re embracing it. We’re not shying away from it. The fact is we’ve been able to stay undefeated for a little while now. We have to take it 12-0 in order to get to what you were saying. We’ll try and go 12-0 this week against a good New York team and take it from there and then hopefully take it game by game and work towards our ultimate goal.” (more…)

Green Bay Packers (10-0) vs Detroit Lions (7-3)  Thursday  12:30 EDT on Fox.  The Lions finally bring a team to the Thanksgiving Day game.  Not since the days of Barry Sanders have the Lions looked so capable, and they found a running game last week which will certainly serve them well.  Green Bay, of course, is now in the position of chasing history.  The ever elusive undefeated season on the line every week from now till February 5th in Indianapolis.  Aaron Rodgers is the best QB in the game currently, and should provide some pre meal entertainment for all.

Miami Dolphins (3-7) vs Dallas Cowboys (6-4)  Thursday  4:15 EDT on CBS.  This game just a month ago looked like it would be the worst game ever played on Thanksgiving Day.  With the Cowboys struggling with injuries and the lack of a running game, and Tony Romo being inconsistent the Cowboys were going nowhere.  In walks DeMarco Murray and suddenly the Cowboy offense works again.  The Cowboys now lead the NFC East.  The Dolphins on the other hand were a defeated team, had a coach that was about to be fired, and couldn’t win a game even when leading by 15 with 2 minutes to go.  What’s changed?  The last three weeks the Dolphin defense has allowed  3, 9, and 8 points respectively while scoring 31, 20, and 35.  As a wise man once said….It’s not who you play, but when you play them.  This game could rival the famous snow game between these two teams……or it could be another waste of three hours of advertising.  We will see.

San Francisco 49ers (9-1) vs Baltimore Ravens (7-3)  Thursday 8:20 EDT on NFL Network.  In a game many won’t see, if you don’t get the NFL Network, the brothers Harbaugh clash in this Prime Time affair,  The Surprising 9ers travel to Baltimore with their young QB Alex Smith, and a pretty good running game.  The Ravens have a pretty good running game themselves and a struggling young Qb in Joe Flacco.  The Ravens are showing some age on their great defense and the offense has just been too inconsistent, but they have been finding ways to win.  This game will be all about hard hitting defense, and probably some trickery thrown in somewhere.  This contest will without a doubt come down to Special Teams, Turnovers, and who has the nerve to pull out the big play.  Look for these two brothers to have their guys ready to play, and a few tricks up their sleeves from the backyard as well.

So while their are no guarantees……except that we will all be stuffed by the end of the day…….this Thanksgiving Day at least gives hope to the prospect of three good football games to enjoy before, during, and after dinner.

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone form the staff of GMENHQ.COM and thank you for your support!

Are you ready for the second half of the 2011 NFL season? Do you think you can handle the adrenaline rush from the multitude of clutch comebacks? Or, for that matter, the overwhelming depression of staggering defeats?

If you answered, “Yes!” to these questions, then you are a true BLUE football fan! Let’s get it started! Week 10, or weak 10 for some teams around the league, finds us on our continuing mission to deliver you the winners of every NFL game, alongside the pigskin picking’ panel at ESPN. Who have we picked this week? Who won the battle of the predictions last week? You might be surprised at the results. read on…if you dare!
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For the second consecutive meeting at the University Of Phoenix Stadium, the New York Giants defeated the Arizona Cardinals. Prior to these last two games, the Cardinals had a 7 game winning streak, in Arizona, against the Giants. While the numbers were high for Larry Fitzgerald and company, the points on the scoreboard were not high enough.
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After a long, grueling offseason, the NFL kicked off its season opener…and what an opener it was. We witnessed the impossible, the improbable and the impartible. Yes, football season is upon us folks. That means that the guys over at ESPN are knee deep in their predictions once again. That also means that, so am I.

How did I match up against the pigskin parliamentarians last week? Was my Magic 8 Ball working as good or better than the big guys’? I bet you’ll be surprised at the results. Click the link below to find out the W/L ratios, my predictions for this coming week and the analysis of each game.
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Source: Sean Kerr

Memorial Day weekend started early for Giants fans this year and on a very positive note to boot. With weather forecasters predicting rain over the holiday, and on a seemingly overcast night, the left tackle for the New York Giants brought a heaping portion of sunshine for all to enjoy, as well as a few friends.

David Diehl hosted the Big Blue Moon Charity Event on Thursday, May 26, 2011 at The Garden @ Studio Square in Queens, NY. Diehl is 6′ 5″, 319 lbs but with the passion and motivation that he has for his charity, it is safe to say that his heart is twice the size.
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The glory of the Lombardi Trophy is a mere two wins away. Men put their life and limb on the line just for an opportunity to hold it in their hand. The road is long for some, longer still for others. Four teams will have to endure 60 minutes of regulated football time and the elements of a cold, hard winter. The Super Bowl is upon us and the ESPN panel of fortune tellers verdicts are in.

I should note that last week, after my prediction article was published, Ron Jaworski and Chris Mortensen changed two of their picks. Both had originally picked the Jets to win over the New England Patriots. I am sure the trash talk of the New York Jets had something to do with it. Changing their picks was a mistake on their part nonetheless. Only one expert went 4-0 last week and you are reading his article right now. Thank you very much. Who am I picking this weekend and why? Read on for my breakdown and analysis!
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Round 2. The Divisional Playoff Game. Bring it or spend the next eight months wondering, “what if.” This weekend, many a fan will find themselves left without a voice but filled with another week of hope and team pride. Others will find themselves bewildered and in a state of despair. These are the NFL playoffs folks, ain’t nothing like ‘em!

We witnessed a WILD, Wildcard Weekend and as you can see, even the necromancers of ESPN got their crystal ball visions crossed. Can they make a comeback? There are no unanimous decisions this week. It’s anybody’s guess! Who am I going with? Did I fall flat on my face or rise to the challenge last week? Click on the link below to check out my predictions and game analysis.
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