• The Giants won a game that I thought was closer than it should have been… between the Giants domination on the ground with Bradshaw and Jacobs, with Hakeem Nicks and Steve Smith getting missed wide open in the secondary, and with the Giants offense minimizing their mistakes and turnovers for the first time all season I expected a wider margin of victory than 8 points.
• On a related note, there’s a reason I don’t bet on the Giants and point spreads, they always find a way to screw things up.
• The game plan was about what I predicted, Eli had fewer yards than I thought he would but the ground game came up with more yards than I thought they would… so it equals out.  Eli was exactly 20/30 for 170 yards, 2 TDs, 0 INTS.  Bradshaw had about 20 carries but Jacobs got all the TDs for the tandem.
• Speaking of which, remember a few weeks ago when the Tiki Barber was laughing about the lack of running game for Big Blue?  Yeah, that’s been shown to be completely wrong.  Bradshaw is second in the league for rushing yards, leads the NFL with 10 and 20 yard carries, and the right side of the offensive line and Bradshaw are fast closing in on Arian Foster and the Texans as the most dangerous featured ground attack in the NFL.  I hope Dallas is up to the challenge next week… no one has really stopped the Giants from running yet this year.
• Meanwhile, the Giants defense is completely shutting down the run with a vengeance.  The front 4 has been incredible, the linebackers have been incredible, the safeties have been incredible in run support.
• Not tons of pressure this game, but I’ll tell you what.  Osi Umenyiora is way out in front of everybody in the NFL with forced fumbles.  Not only is he up for sack leader, his league leading 7 forced fumbles heading into the game is a breathtaking stat when the nearest competition had 3.  Add two more to the stat sheet.
• Defensive backs got burnt on a couple plays.  Rolle bit on CJ’s route and Terell Thomas got behind the play and the Lions simply capitalized for  a score.  It’s really unfortunate but that’s what happens when you play aggressive for the INT.  Aaron Ross has got to work on his tackling though… unfortunately he is one of the other reasons the game was so close.
• Rolle didn’t get his pick 6 yet, but he said after the game he thought about “Team First” when he grabbed the game winning INT and he just went down when it became apparent a walk in touchdown wasn’t going to be possible.  Great stuff.
• How about former Giant turned ESPN analyst A.P. giving credit to the Giants for responding to the pressure and their critics, while the Cowboys continue their downward spiral to 1-4 and last in the division.  Who’d a thunk it?
• Can’t wait for next Monday night!

Home/NY Giants News