1. Stop The Run
You may remember their week two matchup in which the Cowboys ran for 251 yards on only 29 carries, good for an embarrassing 8.7 yards per carry. Marion Barber, Felix Jones and Tony Romo each had rushing touchdowns.
Simply put: if the Cowboys come even close to these numbers, the Giants will be blown out. They were lucky to come away with a victory last time, and this time all of the other pieces will not fall into place.
The Giants cannot hope that Tony Romo will have a repeat performance of his worst game of the year. If they allow the Cowboys to run wild again, it won’t matter what else they do. The Giants haven’t had a game like this since, but you can be sure the Cowboys will try to find what worked in that game and get back to it.
Showing posts with label Blog Post. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Blog Post. Show all posts
Giants must fight for playoff survival against divisional rivals
Currently 6-5 and "on the bubble" for a wildcard spot in the NFC - the Giants have an opportunity here and now to reclaim the division they once so boldly controlled just a few weeks ago. Depending on how the Cowboys and Eagles play in the next two weeks, the potential for a 2-way or even a 3-way tie for the NFC East by Week 14. This would work in the Giants favor as they hold a majority of the divisional tie-breakers based on the wins over Washington and Dallas in the early weeks of the 2009 season.
Hosting these two vital games is a decided advantage for the Giants, and the 12/13 game against the Eagles is the NBC Sunday Night game. So the Giants will have an opportunity to prove to the entire national audience that Big Blue is still alive and kicking. Injuries are still a significant reason behind the Giants recent losses; and one of the many tests the Giants will face over the next two week stretch. Can the Giants stay healthy (as possible!) and field a team that will match the intensity and desire to win that we witnessed the first half of the 2009-10 season.
With the loss of LB Antonio Pierce injuries continue to plague the Giants; who will step up to lead the defense? It is Coach Coughlin's responsibility to send out onto the field the best team possible.
This two-week battle will define the 2009-10 NY Giants.
Reeling Falcons, Giants looking to end slides
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J.(AP) —The New York Giants and Atlanta Falcons looked like powerhouse teams through five games. Now each team is struggling just to remain above .500.
The Giants, who started 5-0, have lost four straight. The Falcons, who started 4-1, have lost three of four, leaving each team 5-4 for Sunday’s game at Giants Stadium.
The Falcons are four games behind undefeated New Orleans in the NFC South and already must shift their focus to the NFC wild-card race. Continue
The Giants, who started 5-0, have lost four straight. The Falcons, who started 4-1, have lost three of four, leaving each team 5-4 for Sunday’s game at Giants Stadium.
The Falcons are four games behind undefeated New Orleans in the NFC South and already must shift their focus to the NFC wild-card race. Continue
New York Giants could be without Antonio Pierce after MRI reveals bulging disk in linebackers' neck
So much for the Giants' return to good health.
Just hours after finally being able to practice with all 53 players on their active roster for a second consecutive day, the Giants were dealt a potentially devastating blow Friday night when they learned they could be without their defensive captain, Antonio Pierce, for most of the rest of the regular season. He's out "indefinitely," according to the Giants, with a bulging disk in his neck. And depending on how the disk responds to treatment, "indefinitely" could be up to six weeks - or possibly even much more.
That news "shocked" the 31-year-old middle linebacker when he got it Friday afternoon, according to a statement released by the Giants. Pierce had suffered a burner last month, in a loss to the Arizona Cardinals on Oct. 25, but according to the team, he had been experiencing "very little discomfort" since then. The discomfort returned this week, which prompted the Giants to send him for an MRI at theHospital for Special Surgery in Manhattan after Friday's practice ended. Then, after he was examined by team physician Dr. Russell Warrenand Dr. Frank .Camissa, the hospital's chief of spinal surgical services, Pierce got the unexpected news.
"I'm shocked with what I heard from the doctors this afternoon" Pierce said in the statement. "I had no idea that what happened a few weeks ago could keep me off the field. I didn't think it was that serious. I'm going to do everything the doctors tell me to do so I can get back out on the field as soon as possible."
Just when that will be depends on a lot of factors, including how bad the bulge is and how the disk responds to treatment. The treatment for a bulging disk could range anywhere from simple exercises, ice and electrical stimulation, to a cortisone injection, to surgery. For the moment, surgery doesn't appear to be under consideration, especially since it would end Pierce's season. Continue
NY Giants linebacker Antonio Pierce out indefinitely with neck injury
The Giants were so proud they made it through the past two days of practice with their entire roster in action.
And then, Friday afternoon, they learned one of their team leaders is out indefinitely.
Middle linebacker Antonio Pierce, who practiced fully all week long and was not listed on the injury report, underwent an MRI on his neck this afternoon. The test revealed a bulging disc that will keep Pierce out of Sunday's game against the Falcons - and likely many more. An injury like this is often a season-ending one, though someone familiar with Pierce's injury said the Giants are hopeful the bulging disc will subside a bit and Pierce will be able to return in six weeks or so.
But that's the best case scenario and there's certainly a chance Pierce's fate could be similar to that of Browns linebacker Eric Barton, whose season ended earlier this month when he was placed on injured reserve with a bulging disc in his neck.
Fifth-year veteran Chase Blackburn will likely take over for Pierce.
The team said Pierce suffered a burner in the Oct. 25 game against the Cardinals and didn't experience any pain until this week. He didn't believe the injury to be serious until Friday's tests.
“I'm shocked with what I heard from the doctors this afternoon,” Pierce said in a quote released by the team. “I had no idea that what happened a few weeks ago could keep me off the field. I didn't think it was that serious. I'm going to do everything the doctors tell me to do so I can get back out on the field as soon as possible.”
Pierce, who turned 31 last month, is signed through next season. At his age and with an injury like this, the Giants will surely begin to think about the future of their defense. Jonathan Goff, their fifth-round pick in 2008, has shown promise in limited action during the preseason and has made a few big hits on special teams, but he's a long way from being the commanding leader Pierce has been. Contiune
Jacobs plans on getting more touches rest of the way
The holiday season is probably Brandon Jacobs' favorite time of year.
When the weather starts to get cold, Jacobs likes to run and punish defenders. Now if only the Giants could be in a giving mood and hand him the ball more.
Jacobs thinks this is the time of year when the Giants' running game can come to life.
"Oh, no question, it's going to be nice and cold," Jacobs said Thursday. "The ball is going to be really hard, and we just have to be ready to carry as many times as they are going to give it to me." Continue
When the weather starts to get cold, Jacobs likes to run and punish defenders. Now if only the Giants could be in a giving mood and hand him the ball more.
Jacobs thinks this is the time of year when the Giants' running game can come to life.
"Oh, no question, it's going to be nice and cold," Jacobs said Thursday. "The ball is going to be really hard, and we just have to be ready to carry as many times as they are going to give it to me." Continue
All players practiced today
How's this for a nice surprise: All Giants practiced today. Yes, you read that right. All Giants practiced today. Aaron Ross practiced. Even Ahmad Bradshaw practiced. This is good news for the G-Men. This bye week has done them wonders. Now will all this rest and healing pay dividends on the field this Sunday?
With the Giants bye week in the rear view mirror; time to get to work
The Giants returned to practice Wednesday preparing for the final seven games of the season, looking for a stretch run that will give them a playoff berth and quite possibly a second trip to the Super Bowl in three seasons. When the season started, the Giants were heavily favored to not just win the NFC East, but were expected to hold the crown of the entire NFC. It was thought that the Giants were on a run for a Super Bowl repeat last season, until Pro-Bowler Plaxico Burress’ shooting accident sent the team (and his Burress’ career) wildly off course. This was the season when Elie and the gang righted the ship and brought the NFC powerhouse back to the Super Bowl.
After opening the season 5-0 that prediction was coming true. The emergence of Steve Smith, Mario Manningham and Sinorice Moss as all pro receivers quieted any concerns over the Giants receiving core. The loss of Plaxico had been nullified. The defense was back to 100% with the return of DE Osi Umenyiora. Even the tag team of Jacobs-Bradshaw was delivering, not withstanding the loss Derrick Ward which completed the Earth Wind & Fire committee. A playoff spot and a championship season was becoming a foregone conclusion.
That’s when the Giants faced Drew Brees and his New Orleans Saints; and the season would never be the same again. Following two blowout losses to the Eagles and Saints, and two nail-biting losses to the Cardinals and Chargers the Giants sit at 5-4, tied for second place in the NFC East. The same division they once stood on top of at 5-0 back on October 11th.
The Giants are still in the thick of things in the NFC East, and were handed a break this past weekend. While the Giants had a chance to rest and get healthy, both divisional rivals Eagles and Cowboys put up losses to close the gap in the division. So the Giants now face a dog-fight over the next 7 weeks to earn a berth for the playoffs. Would the team rather coast into the playoffs with a 13-3 record, of course. Now the Giants are facing a 9-7, or 10-6 season without a first round bye. This is the trench the Giants had dug for themselves, now they need to find a way out of it.
This final stretch will test the 2009 NY Giants, and their field General Elie Manning. Manning just signed the richest contract in team history before the season started, a six-year extension worth $97.5 million. This is the time, these seven games over the next seven weeks. Manning will have a chance to earn that money.
After opening the season 5-0 that prediction was coming true. The emergence of Steve Smith, Mario Manningham and Sinorice Moss as all pro receivers quieted any concerns over the Giants receiving core. The loss of Plaxico had been nullified. The defense was back to 100% with the return of DE Osi Umenyiora. Even the tag team of Jacobs-Bradshaw was delivering, not withstanding the loss Derrick Ward which completed the Earth Wind & Fire committee. A playoff spot and a championship season was becoming a foregone conclusion.
That’s when the Giants faced Drew Brees and his New Orleans Saints; and the season would never be the same again. Following two blowout losses to the Eagles and Saints, and two nail-biting losses to the Cardinals and Chargers the Giants sit at 5-4, tied for second place in the NFC East. The same division they once stood on top of at 5-0 back on October 11th.
The Giants are still in the thick of things in the NFC East, and were handed a break this past weekend. While the Giants had a chance to rest and get healthy, both divisional rivals Eagles and Cowboys put up losses to close the gap in the division. So the Giants now face a dog-fight over the next 7 weeks to earn a berth for the playoffs. Would the team rather coast into the playoffs with a 13-3 record, of course. Now the Giants are facing a 9-7, or 10-6 season without a first round bye. This is the trench the Giants had dug for themselves, now they need to find a way out of it.
This final stretch will test the 2009 NY Giants, and their field General Elie Manning. Manning just signed the richest contract in team history before the season started, a six-year extension worth $97.5 million. This is the time, these seven games over the next seven weeks. Manning will have a chance to earn that money.
Will the Giants make the Playoffs?
Will the Giants make the playoffs? That is the question that is haunting not only the struggling 2009 G-men, but the millions of cautiously optimistic fans that watch them play each week. Currently tied for 2nd place in the NFC East with the Philadelphia Eagles, the Giants are just one game behind the Dallas Cowboys in the standings. The Giants divisional record is 2-1, with those wins coming over the Washington Redskins in the home opener and the Cowboys at their home opener in the new stadium. The only divisional loss was a crushing defeat by the Eagles on November 1st. After the Giants face the Falcons at home this Sunday, they head out to Denver to face the Broncos on four days rest. The timing may work out in the Giants favor in facing the now injured Falcons, and a once surging but now struggling Broncos. Coming off a 2 week break where the Giants have rested injured players and have gotten back key personnel on both sides of the ball (CB Aaron Ross). The Giants have an excellent chance at taking these two games.
That’s when the most important part of the schedule arrives…
Starting December 6th, the Giants will play three divisional games in a row; hosting the Cowboys on 12/6, the Eagles on 12/13 and then heading down to Washington to face the Redskins on 12/21. This is the portion of the season that will define the 2009 NY Giants. If the Giants can go 2-1 over this stretch, and there by regain the lead of the NFC East standings, the Giants will ensure that a trip to the NFC Championship will have to go through the Meadowlands. The Giants hold a great advantage over the Cowboys and Eagles, considering that both games will be played at the Meadowlands. These three divisional games are key to the ultimate goal of returning the NY Giants to the Superbowl this year.
The last two teams the G-men will face are the Carolina Panthers on 12/27 and the Vikings on January 3rd. It might not be safe to assume, however the Vikings should have their respective division locked by the time they face the Giants, which would assume that most of the starters would not impact the game (Favre, Peterson). The Panthers will still be in the hunt to secure the division, currently 4-5 and in third place in the NFC South.
I am not predicting the Giants to win out the remaining 7 games on the schedule. But the potential for 4-3, or 5-2 with a couple of divisional wins will practically ensure that the Giants will make playoffs this season. And with a little luck perhaps that 1st round bye as well.
Will the Giants make the Playoffs? In my estimation yes, yes they will.
That’s when the most important part of the schedule arrives…
Starting December 6th, the Giants will play three divisional games in a row; hosting the Cowboys on 12/6, the Eagles on 12/13 and then heading down to Washington to face the Redskins on 12/21. This is the portion of the season that will define the 2009 NY Giants. If the Giants can go 2-1 over this stretch, and there by regain the lead of the NFC East standings, the Giants will ensure that a trip to the NFC Championship will have to go through the Meadowlands. The Giants hold a great advantage over the Cowboys and Eagles, considering that both games will be played at the Meadowlands. These three divisional games are key to the ultimate goal of returning the NY Giants to the Superbowl this year.
The last two teams the G-men will face are the Carolina Panthers on 12/27 and the Vikings on January 3rd. It might not be safe to assume, however the Vikings should have their respective division locked by the time they face the Giants, which would assume that most of the starters would not impact the game (Favre, Peterson). The Panthers will still be in the hunt to secure the division, currently 4-5 and in third place in the NFC South.
I am not predicting the Giants to win out the remaining 7 games on the schedule. But the potential for 4-3, or 5-2 with a couple of divisional wins will practically ensure that the Giants will make playoffs this season. And with a little luck perhaps that 1st round bye as well.
Will the Giants make the Playoffs? In my estimation yes, yes they will.
WEEK 11: Atlanta Falcons (5-4) at NY Giants (5-4)
This Sunday at 1:00 ET the NY Giants look to right the ship against the struggling Atlanta Falcons. The Falcons are coming off a painful loss to the surging Carolina Panthers. Falcons’ quarterback Matt Ryan has struggled over his last six games. Ryan is in the midst of the most disastrous stretch of his young career. He has thrown 11 picks in his last six games — he threw 11 picks in 16 starts last year. While Ryan's issues are a significant concern, an injury suffered by RB Michael Turner was the most troubling development for Atlanta on this past Sunday. Turner was diagnosed with a high ankle sprain, according to multiple reports, after injuring the ankle in the second quarter vs. the Panthers. He had to leave the game and did not return. He's expected to miss the Week 11 game vs. the Giants. This has turned one of Atlanta’s strengths into its greatest weakness; the Falcon’s running game will have a tough day against the Giants’ defense.
The Giants however, are returning from a two week break in which they have focused on getting healthier and improving the communication and intensity on the field. After starting the season on a hot streak winning five straight games, the Giants have lost the last four games played. Despite the slump, the Giants’ offense remains fifth in the NFL with 377.7 yards per game. The New Orleans Saints lead the league at 426.1.The Giants’ defense is ranked even better, allowing a league-low 274.4 yards per game. The worst of the 32 teams is Cleveland, at 409.1. The Giants will play two games in five days, the second on Thanksgiving night at Denver. But they may be facing the Falcons and the Broncos at the right time. Atlanta has lost three of its last four games and Denver (6-3) has lost three straight.
The Cowboys remain atop the N.F.C. East at 6-3. The Eagles and the Giants are tied for second. The Giants, who won at Dallas and lost at Philadelphia, will face them at home on consecutive weeks in December. The return from the bye week marks the potential for a turning point in the 2009 Giants season. Can the G-men find the winning ways that they began the season with?
The Giants however, are returning from a two week break in which they have focused on getting healthier and improving the communication and intensity on the field. After starting the season on a hot streak winning five straight games, the Giants have lost the last four games played. Despite the slump, the Giants’ offense remains fifth in the NFL with 377.7 yards per game. The New Orleans Saints lead the league at 426.1.The Giants’ defense is ranked even better, allowing a league-low 274.4 yards per game. The worst of the 32 teams is Cleveland, at 409.1. The Giants will play two games in five days, the second on Thanksgiving night at Denver. But they may be facing the Falcons and the Broncos at the right time. Atlanta has lost three of its last four games and Denver (6-3) has lost three straight.
The Cowboys remain atop the N.F.C. East at 6-3. The Eagles and the Giants are tied for second. The Giants, who won at Dallas and lost at Philadelphia, will face them at home on consecutive weeks in December. The return from the bye week marks the potential for a turning point in the 2009 Giants season. Can the G-men find the winning ways that they began the season with?
Giants will be facing much more than the Atlanta Falcons this Sunday
The Giants will be facing more than just the opponent at the other end of the field at Giants Stadium this coming Sunday. They will be facing a growing concern from the fan base that the Giants are no longer the team they looked like during the first half of the season. That the 5-0 Giants in all their glory were nothing but a house of cards, that came crashing down when the tougher part of the schedule arrived. In addition to the tidal wave of fans that are ready to turn on Tom Coughlin’s latest incarnation, we are also seeing a hungry NY media that is proudly bashing Elie and the gang on a daily basis. This Sunday, perhaps the biggest opponent the Giants will be facing will not be the Atlanta Falcons, or NY Giants fans, or the media – they will be facing the demons that haunt every championship football team. Now whether or not the G-men can exercise these demons is up to them, but it will sure be fun to watch.
Remember the Giants?
I remember sitting back watching Football Night in America highlights after the Giants convincing domination over the no show Oakland Raiders back in mid October. Keith Olbermann was doing his best not to make his mock-SportsCenter broadcast on NBC a copycat of SportsCenter that’s on ESPN – which of course, it is. I mean they even added Dan Patrick last season just in case anybody missed that dynamic duo from the early 90’s version – and believe me, no one ever did.
Back then the Giants were a perfect 5-0, five wins and no losses – as good as a team could be at that point in the season. After a couple of nail-biters against the Cowboys and Redskins, the Giants looked like the team to beat. They were considered the kings of the NFC East and were an lock for the NFC title. Things were great for the Giants fans.
What we didn’t realize at the time, and what slowly came into focus over the following 4 weeks was that the NY Giants were the definition of a Paper Champ – that on paper they were a great team, but on the field their plan did not work. Especially when facing teams with above .500 records and were actual contenders in their respective divisions. The simple explanation is that the veterans NY Giants are not playing as well as they have in the past. The “old guard” has not performed up to the standards we have seen in 2007 & 2008 seasons. Brandon Jacobs has not been as explosive as he has been in previous seasons. His yards per carry are way down, and he is not bowling over lineman as we have seen in the past. Bradshaw’s injuries have slowed him down a step, but in this league that step is the difference between 1st place and last place. The defense as a whole is also guilty of leading us on, not the swarming and aggressive defense we have seen in the past.
The most devastating impact to the 2009 season has been due to injury, so I won’t kill them on this point. Elie Manning’s Plantar Fasciitis has changed his game enormously, and it has directly affected the Giants team and how they do business. Elie is practically immobile at this point, and unable to see over his front line. He has no visibility downfield to his receivers, and is often dumping off to Bradshaw or a tight end to keep his drives alive. Manning is a very bouncy quarterback, and he is unable to get into his normal rhythm with this painful injury. It’s funny that it might have been a simple drop back from Elie against the lowly KC Chiefs in week 4 that has doomed this season.
Along with the injuries, the Gmen have also faced some significant opponents as well. The New Orleans Saints are a scoring machine, and Drew Brees is on his way to breaking many single season passing and scoring records. The Eagles as always are a tough team to face, especially at the Linc. The loss to San Diego with 1:46 to go was painful, and should be remembered as one of the worst games of the Coughlin era.
Injuries, poor performance, and an unforgiving schedule has shown that this team has a lot of work ahead of it.
What we have learned about the 2009 NY Giants is that they are not the dominating powerhouse of the NFC. They are not the 2007 Superbowl team that beat the mighty Patriots. They are not even the best team in the NFC East.
We will have to wait to see what team will come out of this bye week.
Until then, I will sit back and remember the Giants at 5-0, and smile.
