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11:17:00 PM EST
Victory in Dallas!
They did it!
Today the Giants went into Dallas and ended the Cowboys' season. It doesn't get much sweeter than that for a Giants fan.
I hate to admit it, but the Cowboys were playing the kind of football I like to watch in the first half. They drove the length of the field in long, time consuming drives. Although the game was not a blowout, I felt the effect of those long drives on the Giants defense would hit in the fourth quarter.
That didn't happen. The game started off great as Amani Toomer took a short pass, broke one weak tackle and went all the way for a touchdown. Dallas then slowly drove the length of the field to tie it up. Marion Barber looked unstoppable, he probably got a little winded from carry the ball so much and running his mouth so much. He wasn't talking too much in the second half.
Dallas took the lead on an incredible ten and a half minute drive that ate up most of the second quarter. The Giant offense wasn't going to see the ball too much so they were going to have to be effective when they did get it.
They were.
After Dallas' impressive drive, the Giants move quickly down the field. In fact, the scored the tying touchdown in forty seconds. Seventy-one yards in forty seconds. That sent a signal. Going in, I thought the game would be close, but things can get out of hand in the playoffs. That quick touchdown assured me that the Giants would not back down and that Dallas was going to need its "A" game to win.
Dallas started the second half with an eight minute drive that ended in a field goal. No worries. This was the theme of the game although I was still concerned that the defense was getting worn out. That the defense stiffened to keep Dallas out of the end zone was a promising sign even if they lost another corner when Aaron Ross threw himself at Marion Barber on an outside run.
When Damon Hixon returned the ensuing kickoff to midfield, the Giants offense had a short field to deal with and I thoughtanother quick drive was coming. A DeMarcus Ware sacked was a key play in forcing the Giants to punt. Then it happened. The defense stopped the Cowboys for the first time since Dallas' opening possession. They did that when Patrick Crayton dropped Tony Romo's pass on third down. Had he run more practice routes during the week instead of running his mouth, maybe he would have caught the ball. He didn't, Dallas punted and R.W. McQuarters returned the punt to the Dallas thirty-seven.
That's when the short scoring drive came. Brandon Jacobs scored from one yard out just a minute and a half into the fourth quarter. Perfect. With thirteen and a half minutes left, the Giants had a 21-17 lead and if the Cowboys put together another long drive, the Giants would get the ball back with just enough time to win with no time left.
A funny thing happened on the way to that perfect scenario, Dallas didn't score. They ate up four minutes to go twenty-six yards and punt the ball back to the Giants.
Then it was ulcer time. The Giants, backed up at their own three, went ultra conservative. After Brandon Jacobs rushed for six yards on first down, Tom Coughlin decided to predictably run Jacobs two more times. Dallas, knowing this, stopped Jacobs from getting a first down. Now I was worried. With seven minutes left, Dallas got the ball on their own forty-four. Now they could score and leave the Giants with insufficient time to score back. My perfect scenario was in danger.
Not to fear, the Giants defense (the unit I was sure was going to run out of gas) continued to put pressure on Tony Romo. The Dallas quarterback spent the fourth quarter running for his life from a group that had spent too much time on the field. Three minutes and fifteen seconds later, the Giants had the ball back. With 3:46 to go, the Giants had the ball on their own twelve.
Once again,Coughlin went predictable. Run. Run. Pass. Would it have killed him to try a play action pass on second down? Everyone in Dallas knew he was running on second down and throwing on third. I was losing it. The team had played so hard and I was afraid this lame play calling at the end of the game was going to give the game to the hated Cowboys.
With 1:50 left the Cowboys had the ball on the Giants forty-eight. No. This can't happen. We can't lose to Dallas on some last minute drive. I don't want this game to be the highlight of the year for the Dallas Friggin' Cowboys.
They got as far as the twenty-three yard line. Romo ended the game and the Cowboy season as his fourth down pass got picked off by R.W. McQuarters.
Could this season get any sweeter? First, the Giants made the playoffs. They spent two weeks extracting a measure of revenge for the historic 2002 playoff loss to the San Francisco 49ers. Last week they beat Jeff Garcia and Tampa Bay. Today, they beat Dallas and Terrell Owens. I will scour the Packer roster for any remnant of a 2002 Niner.
Winning in the playoffs is always sweet. Ending Dallas' season when it looked like they were the best team in the NFC is an all time great win for our franchise. Knowing that Eli is playing next week and Peyton is not is poetic as the Chargers did to the Colts what the Giants did to Dallas.
It is amazing how at times this season, Eli Manning has looked like a frightened child. Yet, in the two most important games of his life, he has shown the poise of a veteran, playing mistake free football and being part of the reason his team is going to the NFC Championship Game.
What a ride!
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Hey my friend, we stand alone as bloggers with something to write for. Eli steps up. Romo brings on more doubt. Clash of the Coasts if we make it. Good luck and skill against GB. We took out Indy. And got mad penalties that I thought were questionable. See you in the Bowl...BELIEVE.
1/13/08 11:50 PM