With the Giants needing only a victory to punch their ticket into the playoffs, the Giants forgot to deplane Green Bay, Wisconsin and the G-Men fell to the G-Force in G. Bay. Ok, so that little word play worked about as well as a Kevin Gilbride game plan but hey, you get where this is going. Here are some musings, observations and the occasional genius point by yours truly on another Giants loss.
– Let’s start with the first half. This was DEFINITELY a playoff atmosphere. There are just some tell tale signs. It has nothing to do with the dramatic music Fox plays or anything of that nature though the NBA on NBC always seemed to have those openings that would pump me up. That and the WCW/WWE opening monologues, but I digress. The fans were great throughout the game as Green Bay fans are because let’s admit it, what else are you going to do in Green Bay? But more importantly, Aaron Rodgers came into this game as pumped up as he could be. The same Aaron Rodgers who had to sit the New England game the previous week due to concussion. The same Aaron Rodgers who saw his back up come within a field goal of beating the hottest team in the NFL, and Tom Brady. The same Aaron Rodgers who once looked like a career back up because Brett Favre never wanted to retire. The same Aaron Rodgers who got drafted in the 20’s after being told he would be a Top 10 pick in the NFL draft, the same NFL draft that saw Alex Smith go to the 49ers at 1 and who we remember fondly as that poor white boy who sat in that really expensive suit looking like he was waiting for his prom date to come and pick him up if we had cameras watching that sort of thing. The same Aaron Rodgers who may have felt like he had this stigma of being a concussion prone QB and doubt creeping in. The same Aaron Rodgers who understands his GM is all about results and not about emotion- you know the guy who cut the cord between Brett Favre and Green Bay?
Ok, so now that you know the guy, understand that this game was huge for Aaron Rodgers. Personally it was a statement game. It was the kind of game that quieted whispers. The same whispers that said, boy that Matt Flynn looked real good against the Patriots- the same team that no one else can get within 30 points of.
So for Aaron Rodgers to put up this stat line: 25-37 404 yards and 4 TD’s and 0 INT’s is pretty much steeping up big time. Everyone can breathe easy in Green Bay. The star QB put his foot down and re-established himself as the man and put to rest any lingering doubt relating to his concussions which total 2 this year. Remember, this concussion thing is a huge deal.
– The first half went something like this: Aaron Rodgers dropped back to pass and more often than not found his receiver and seemed to gain some real rhythm especially on a beautiful pass up the middle of the field that Jordy Nelson took 80 yards for a touchdown. It was one of those blown coverage deals for the Giants that left them looking around to see who should’ve been where. I hate it when you’re team gets stuck having that look. The Giants of course went and turned the ball over immediately but the Packers went on a methodical 10 play drive and went up 14 when John Kuhn (insert racial joke here) took it in for a touchdown. So here’s what the first quarter looked like for the Giants offensively:
13 plays, 30 yards, 2 punts, and 1 INT. Yup. That’s offense at its lowest. Meanwhile the Packers had scoring drives of 1 and 10 which both led to scores which sets up the point I want to make: they played the game the way the Giants want to play the game. The Giants believe that their best option now is to offer up a mixing aerial assault with a ground game instead of working the passing game as a complement to the juggernaut running game. Ask any offensive linemen, they HATE pass protection. It means they have to take the on coming defensive linemen and hold them off for as long as they can with their hands in their facemasks and constant twists and pulls and stunts they pull. When the offense runs the ball it means that the offensive line finally gets to be offensive where they can push and shove and put their hands on the defense in an aggressive manner. When a team becomes to reliant on pass protection, it wears down an offensive line much more than a team that relies on a mixed bag. The Giants were excellent when they ran the ball more than they passed.
– The second quarter was a completely different story: In 11 offensive plays, the Giants were able to accumulate 175 yards and 14 points to get back into the game including a forced fumble on Jordy Nelson and immediately following up with a deep passing play that Mario Manningham made a play on Tremon Williams to get separation and score on Eli Manning’s longest career passing play. Offensive coordinators love to go with the long pass play after the defense forces a turnover and it works a lot of the time which is pretty incredible that most teams dont see it coming. That was after they went down the field, 70 yards in 4 plays and that brings me to the bigger point.
Throughout the season analysts have pointed out Eli Manning’s career high in interceptions and quickly deflected to the fact that much of them were NOT Eli Manning’s fault. Many of the interceptions were balls that were catchable by the receiver but right off the finger tips and right into a defender’s hand and all thrown out to bad luck. That was true. But not in this game. ALL of his interceptions were his fault and throwing the football where there was absolutely NO ONE there.
INT #1- 6:49 Left in the 1st- Pass off his back foot into not one, not two, not three, but four defenders around Hakeen Nicks and it was 4 yards short of Nicks and easily picked off. (Resulted in 7 points)
ALMOST INT #2- :54 left in the 2nd quarter- Manning throws it to Manningham who had slipped and fell in his route but there were two defenders there that bumped into each other trying to make the pick.
INT #2- 9:47 left in the 4th quarter- Manning back to pass on a 2nd and 18 after a Hakeem Nicks offensive pass interference call, and Manning under throws Derek Hagan with a comfortable pocket and no rush in sight. None. This was Manning. Here’s where Tom Coughlin comes in to challenge the ruling on the field, but Coughlin had used his two challenges already so he couldn’t challenge the call on the field of interception even though replays showed the defender’s second leg was out of bounds. Of course it leads to 7 more points.
INT #3- 6:31 left in the 4th quarter- Very next offensive possession, yet another penalty that goes against the Giants. Very next play, Manning just heaves the ball into double coverage and with Manningham covered well by Tremon Williams to begin with gets intercepted by Nick Collins at midfield. Totally, on Manning. Another 7 points.
INT #4- 2:10 left in the 4th quarter- Ok, so this was another case of an unlucky bounce off a receiver’s hands into the defense, but Manning is being wrapped up for the sack and yet forces a throw into Ahmad Bradshaw. One of those “why would you throw that Eli” passes that brings up the next natural conversation that me and my friends had.
– I’ve had this conversation plenty of times before but it bears repeating that I’ve always defended Eli Manning. While watching the game with my friends following interception number 2 they turned to me and said Eli sucks. Mind you, I’m defending Eli Manning to a bunch of Giants fans, and one Peyton Manning fan. But the simple fact is this: Eli has NEVER EVER been his brother yet the natural impulse is to compare him to his brother. Well if you must compare him to his brother and we MUST look at his most important games, let’s consider those first three playoff games of both brothers:
First big brother Peyton:
Comp/Att | Yards | TD | INT | Result |
19/42 (45.2%) | 227 | 0 | 0 | L- 16-19 |
17/32 (53.1%) | 194 | 1 | 0 | L- 17-23 |
14/31 (45.2%) | 137 | 0 | 2 | L- 0-41 |
50/105 (47.6%) | 558 | 1 | 2 | 0-3 |
And here’s Eli by comparison:
Comp/Att | Yards | TD | INT | Result |
10/18 (55.6%) | 113 | 0 | 3 | L- 0-23 |
16/27 (59.3%) | 161 | 2 | 1 | L- 20-23 |
20/27 (74.1%) | 185 | 2 | 0 | W- 24-14 |
46/72 (63.9%) | 459 | 4 | 4 | 1-2 |
Consider the lone victory. Eli had understood his role as a game manager. Trusted his coaches. Trusted his receivers. Trusted the talent around him. And he won. Look at him when he loses. No confidence. Poor throwing and poor mechanics and poor inept judgement.
The Green Bay game was weird for this simple fact: Eli was over-confident. He loves his receivers. In fact, he thinks the world of them. Some of the throws he’s made this season he’s literally thrown it and said to the receiver “go make a play”. He believes in his receiving corps too much to the point that it has hurt the Giants. Those interceptions weren’t just bad throws, they were poor decisions. Decisions that were purely based on his over confidence that his receivers would make a play on the ball. I think Giants receivers are great too, but not that great. Not at the expense of the game plan.
Speaking of game plan: the last two weeks, the Giants have rushed for 100 yards against the Eagles and 90 yards against the Packers. They have given up 197 yards to the Eagles (130 to you know who), then 119 to the Packers who had nobody go over even 40 yards rushing but still. Numbers are beginning to pile up. I’m not worried about the rushing defense, I’m worried about their rushing offense which is clearly beginning to become a worry. When the Giants don’t run the football well, they fall into the lull of their passing game.
One reason that the Giants passing offense has been out of sync for a while has been the absence of Steve Smith. I’ve said it since his rookie season, he has a knack for understanding where to be and when. He’s a classic possession receiver. He’s not the sexy vertical deep threat that most fans love to talk about, but he’s the more important receiver. The guy the quarterback trusts absolutely to be the professional and be where he needs to be when he needs him to be there. Two perfect situations that Steve Smith would’ve been necessary in:
Last week right before the Eagles scored to tie the game, the Giants had a 3rd down in which the Eagles blitzed and you saw Eli throw it short to his receivers. That’s what you saw, but what should’ve happened due to the pass rush, was the receivers should’ve broke from their routes early to help Eli out and Derek Hagan didn’t. Hagan continued on his route and never got a chance to turn around in time and thus Eli threw it to no man’s land and it went incomplete. Eli demonstratively pointed with his arm where Hagan should’ve gone.
Fast forward to the Green Bay game. The Giants are down 24-14 and they’ve come all the way to the Green Bay 20 with 7:18 left in the 3rd and its 3rd and 4. The Giants have the right play called, but Hagan takes too long to break inside where there were no defenders and he would’ve had an easy touchdown. Eli ends up holding on to the football too long and misfires on a pass play. The replays show Kevin Gilbride absolutely rip into Derek Hagan for not breaking inside. These are the plays that a Steve Smith type of player makes and Derek Hagan does not. Flat out. The Giants miss him. He’s their real play maker.
So what does loss mean? Well, they had better hope the Eagles win this Tuesday Night Football game. Why? Because if the Eagles lose, then the Bears sow up the second seed which is hugely important. Why? Because no one wants to play Philadelphia and to avoid that, the Bears would want the number 2 seed and have the Eagles come to Chicago. So if the Eagles win, the Bears would most likely play to win to avoid having to go on the road. Who might the Bears be playing next week? You guessed it, the Packers. The same team fighting the Giants for the sixth and final playoff spot.
Of course this is all moot if the Giants dont beat the Redskins next week which is no gimme. My only problem with this Giant team is this: I believe that this team is strong. They are really good. This defense can play really well setting aside the last 60 minutes. But the offense is anyone’s guess. If the offense can be run heavy and stick to it they will go far. But if they fall in love with their passing offense and Manning is over confident in his receivers, they will most certainly fall. Its do or die.
Lets go G-MEN!