Big Blue Notes

The Giants are in the playoffs.

They clinched that spot in an ugly win in Buffalo.  With both teams turning the ball over in bad weather, the game was an anxious one for Giants fans.

The most disturbing aspect of this game was the flat, lifeless manner in which the Giants played from the outset.  Here they were, needing this victory to get into the playoffs, and they looked as if they didn't want to be there.  Buffalo jumped out to a 14-0 lead before the Giants offense could muster a first down. 

It was looking bleak until ninety seconds into the second quarter, Bills punter Brian Moorman mishandled a bad snap, giving the Giants the ball deep in Buffalo territory.  The Giants scored on a Brandon Jacobs six yard run.  Thank you, Buffalo.

On their next posession, the Giants went three and out.  But Buffalo's Donte Whitner got called roughing Jeff Feagles.  The fifteen yard personal foul penalty gave Big Blue the ball at the Buffalo forty-three.  Jacobs ran it in from there on the Giants' next play.  Thank you, Buffalo.

Eli Manning had trouble holding onto the ball all game and his throwing wasn't a lot better except when he threw to Amani Toomer who had a very good game (99 yards).  The Giants were able to add a field goal on the drive after the second Jacobs touchdown.  With Giants driving and already in field goal range with less than a minute left in the half, Manning fumbled the ball away.  To add to that misery, on the first play from scrimmage in the second half, Manning threw a n interception that set up a Buffalo touchdown and give the Bills back the lead.

At this point, Tom Coughlin finally realized that if the Giants were going to win, they needed to do so running.  The Giants embarked on an eight minute drive.  Of the thirteen plays during the drive, only one was a pass.  Jacobs got hurt during this drive and gave way to Ahmad Bradshaw.  Bradshaw turned his opportunity into a showcase of his talents as a runner with runs of eleven, fifteen and six yards during the drive.  Unfortunately, the Bills realized that the Giants weren't about to put the ball in Eli's hands and stopped the Giants on all four running plays after a first and goal from the one.  Admittedly, I was not feeling very confident at that point.

The drive did leave Buffalo backed up in their own territory and the defense stopped them.  The ensuing punt put the Giants on the Buffalo side of the field.  Jacobs came back into the game and carried six consecutive times for thirty-four yards only to see Eli Manning fumble the ball on the first play of the fourth quarter.

Two plays later, the Giants saved their season as a Trent Edwards pass was picked off by Kavika Mitchell who returned it for a touchdown.  Thank you, Buffalo.

Not to be out done, Eli Manning threw yet another interception with eight minutes left in a 24-21 game.  The Bills got the ball and midfield.  The defense stopped them.  Three and out including a six yard loss on a rushing attempt by Marshawn Lynch.  At this point, I was feeling a little more confident.  If Buffalo couldn't do anything in that situation, they were probably done for the day.  I figured even Tom Coughlin knew not to let Manning attempt any more passes.

Ahmad Bradshaw's eighty-eight yard run sealed the victory as Corey Webster's interception return two plays later was the icing on the cake.

I'll always take a win.  But I hope Tom Coughlin noticed how his team won.  They did it by running the ball on offense and (with the exception of the first two drives) playing solid and opportunistic defense.  They won despite Eli Manning in Buffalo.  After watching the running of Brandon Jacobs, Derrick Ward and Ahmad Bradshaw this year, I have to wonder why this hasn't occurred to Coughlin earlier.  I also have to wonder how it was possible that none of the Giants offensive linemen made the Pro Bowl.

In recent weeks we have seen the worst of the Giants passing game.  Eli's meltdown against the Vikings was a real horror show and the inability of his receivers to catch the ball when he got it to them against Washington was just as alarming.  But this most recent game where he commits five fumbles and two interceptions in fifteen passing attempts is a staggering indictment of the Giants young quarterback.  The biggest obstacle to a Giants victory on Sunday was not the Buffalo Bills, it was our starting quarterback.

Thanks, Buffalo.

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