Big Blue Notes

Oops, I missed the Bear game entirely in this space.

After the Viking game, I wasn't too optimistic about going into Chicago.  My hope was that our defense would be able to force Rex Grossman into having on those games like Eli had against Minnesota the week before.  Grossman looked very good in the first half.  Our defense took over in the second half and Eli pulled the game out in the fourth quarter.  Unfortunately, Derrick Ward broke his leg as Big Blue's injury woes at the running back position continue.

The win in Chicago was one of reassurance.  The victory gives the Giants a two game lead in the wild card hunt with four to play.  And the first of those four games take place in Hell on Earth....

Philadelphia

Now don't get me wrong, Philly's a great city, unless you're talking about sports.  Their fans are vile, evil and any of the other adjectives from the song from "How the Grinch Stole Christmas."

Their football team has had a tough season.  I think they've come to the realization that the McNabb era is coming to an end.  The high point of that era was reaching the Super Bowl, the low point was McNabb's lack of energy in the fourth quarter that same night.

The Eagles still have plenty of talent.  Brian Westbrook has stepped up even more this season and he always hurts the Giants.  The Eagle defense is talented and mean.  Even in a down year, the Eagles should not be taken lightly.

As a Giants fan, my biggest concern is that this game is a test for Eli Manning, again.  We have not reached the point where Manning is reliable or where Giants fans are comfortable with him.  The Eagles love to blitz and rattle quarterbacks and Eli has games where's great against such tactics and games where he redefines the word awful against such strategies.  Every week our quarterback needs to prove something.  It's unnerving.

What hurts Eli's effort is the rotating running back and the Plaxico Burress injury.  Thankfully, each running back has played well given a turn to start, but Burress might need to sit out and heal instead of playing at half speed.  I'll grant you even a healthy Burress sometimes plays at half speed, but I think he's actually hurt.

Against the Eagles, look for Manning to do more dinking and dunking as he has to get rid of the ball to avoid the Philadelphia blitz.  This is not as easy as it sounds.  Eli has proven to be very skilled at throwing deep, but his short and intermediate passes often lack precision and/or touch.  It looks as if Reuben Droughns should be this week's running back.

The defense needs to get after McNabb.  He lacks some of the escapability that has been his most frustrating trait for opponents.  He will get off a couple of good deep passes that will have me swearing at the television, but he too often lacks precision and touch on shorter pass plays.

I think the Eagles realize that McNabb is no longer the man.  That realization takes the edge off a team.  The Giants, on the other hand, are coming off a reassuring game.  They can trust their quarterback again.  When the talent level is so even, that attitude may be the difference.

Giants 23 Eagles 14

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