but I don’t feel like we are losing much when Plaxico isn’t playing. I’m a big believer in balance and it does seem Eli is more effective when he is spreading the ball around instead of forcing throws to Plaxico.

I think the rift between #17 and the rest of the team is unfortunate, but I don’t see management suffering him much longer if he doesn’t straighten out. He may be “Shokeyed” if he doesn’t get with it.

At this rate, I would agree we are headed in that direction.

his head has got to be screwed up. It’s like he was sulking because he was punished. By the way why was he disciplined this time? Is it a secret?

might be willing to trade next years draft for Plax. If he’s not even going to try,it might be time. With the right sales pitch… ………

Sooner or later Reece will give him the “heave ho” and be done with it.

sorry for stealing your headline…

i loved how even up only a touchdown with two minutes left he was still rushing five and calling corner blitzes. i think the best thing about Spags is that he never plays ‘not to lose’, he’s always aggressive.

i think yesterday was a coming out party for Kiwi – looks like he’s finally 100% after that cheap shot by Samuels in the opener. and i’ll give Butler credit for the one hit that let to the interception (that was him right?), but you’re right about him being absolutely lost sometimes in pass coverage.

p.s. i have an early 90’s Giants jacket that i’ve been rocking all week. my parents found it when they were cleaning out the attic and sent it to me. i feel like i belong in a Tribe music video.

This really was an enjoyable game to watch. Before I go back to my hole in steelers land I’d just like to shout out some congrats.

I was stuck in NY for this game and watched it surrounded by giants fans. Very classy fans and I still had a good time.

Good luck for the rest of your season.

Eli was debated on this board and the Steelers board all last week, and that will probably continue for as long as he lives, but here is my realization on Eli:

If the Giants are within a score late in the game, it doesn’t matter if he is 0 for 30 up to that point, he is going to get it done. The guy is confusing, inconsistent, frustrating, and absolutely freaking downright maddening at times. But when the chips are down, he is as “money” as they come. Eli’s mindset is “Keep us in the game, defense, and I’ll bring us home.”

Is there another QB in football you would rather have with the ball in his hands, down 4 points with 2 minutes to play? Favre? No. McNabb? No. Romo? Please. I would even put him ahead of Peyton and Brady in that respect.

Just so we are clear, SBNation, before I start an international debate with fans of all teams saying “How can you say he is better than Brady?”, I am saying that of all the QB’s in the NFL, when the chips are down, I would rather have the ball in Eli’s hands than any other QB in the league. He’s not the best QB in the NFL, probably never will be, but I would rather have him behind center late in the game than any of those other names.

Other thoughts:

Kenny Phillips has to be on the field every down on defense.

Something was off with Brandon Jacobs yesterday. He just didn’t seem to be running with his usual chip on his shoulder.

Every week I like Plaxico Burress a little less.

Every week I like Derrick Ward a little more.

Nice to have you back, Kiwi

Thanks for the memories, Lawrence Tynes.

Somebody explain to me what Kenny Phillips was supposed to do on that play he got flagged for. He turned his head away from the receiver so as not to get a “head to head” penalty, so he couldn’t even see that the ball wasn’t caught. After that play, I launched into a stream of profanity that must have made me sound like “The Old Man” in “A Christmas Story”

I said it yesterday at the end of the in game blog, this is the type of win that catapults teams to Championships.

Another Kudos to you guys for keeping the in game chat moving along, lots of posts yesterday, it was fun.

Jim’s World Famous Often Imitated Never Duplicated Homeade Chicken Wings are now 6-0

I have to give a wet willie to Eli for not knowing when you can and can not call a time out

receivers have, again, this week?! I would pull my hair out, but since I would likely not look good bald, I will refrain.

I’m a big Eli fan, but if he wants to be considered an elite QB, those kind of mistakes can not happen. I know he will have bad games, but not knowing the rules isn’t acceptable.

Yes, he looked terrible on that TD, but he did also lay out a massive hit that caused a fumble.

not to nitpick, but I’m gonna pick nits anyway: I’m pretty sure the Eli-to-Amani 4th down completion actually set up the field goal that made it 14-12, not the TD that won it. And true, Butler’s play on the Nate Washington TD may have been the worst defensive play I’ve ever seen (I’ve never seen a guy fake himself out before), but he did have the huge hit that led to Kiehl’s interception, and he made an interception himself. He had a really good first half. I would give him a kwillie too. Other than that, though, I agree with pretty much everything else.

A few other notes. I agree with Jrs about Eli, he really is fantastic when the chips are down. It makes you wish they could just run the 2-minute drill the entire game, b/c he’d probably put up numbers that would dwarf Peyton or Brady or Marino or anyone else. He’s that good at the end of games.

I also love that Spags keeps up the pressure late in the game. The prevent defense is great for 2 things: 1) last play of the game hail mary’s, or 2) trying to allow the other team to come back and win a game if you use it on anything but the last play.

Also, Jacobs didn’t run particularly well, but if anyone gets a chance to watch that TD to Boss again, check out the block he lays on one of the Steelers linebackers. He picked him up and cleared him out, giving Eli enough time to get the pass off to Boss. It’s the little things like that that win football games, and the Giants have so many players who seem to do those little things.

It wasn’t the prettiest or most dominant win, and I’m sure there’s still gonna be doubters out there, that we “got lucky.” But the best teams DO get lucky…remember, even the mighty Patriots last year needed a few miracle calls/plays against the Eagles and the Ravens to stay undefeated. The Titans are good, but for God’s sake Kerry Collins is their QB! The Giants are the best team in the NFL right now, and next weekend is a HUGE game. Can’t afford a let-down against an undermanned and vulnerable Cowboys team.

A few notes:

For starters, even before the game, Serby in yesterday’s NY Post had an article where he stated that he’d rather have Eli than Ben.

Then, game time. This has been beaten into the ground, but the home QB had a 38.5 passer rating and 4 INT’s and the away QB, the “lesser” QB, guided his team to a crucial road win, including pinpoint accuracy on a 4th Quarter drive.

More from this morning’s NY Post:

The Steelers fell to 5-2 and Tomlin heaped tons of praise on the Giants. “This is a championship caliber football team, not only from a talent standpoint but they showed great football character.” . . . Manning (19 of 32, 199, 1 TD) did not throw an interception and clearly outplayed his 2004 draft classmate, as Roethlisberger (13 of 29, 189, 1 TD) threw four interceptions.

Unless Eli drastically takes steps backward and Ben takes some monster steps forward, I think this is settled. Ben’s got the statistics, Eli’s got the intangibles. ’Nuff said.

But fellow bbv’s – WHAT A GAME, HUH?!? So much fun to watch even if it was maddening at times. I was trying to send death stares at Gilbride through my TV set (ever hear of goal-line PLAY ACTION, YOU IDIOT??!?) but I thought the offense did really well. No turnovers, on the road, against the #1 D?? What an accomplishment.

Huhhhh-yuuuge win, my friends.

Good win considering how little luck we had with the running game. (Though, to be fair, I guess it was Jacobs that had a rough day; Ward wasn’t bad.) The long snap for the safety was a HUGE break and I’m glad we capitalized.

…Jacobs was in on that TD even though they reviewed and said his elbow was down. He crossed the plane and was pushed back and the guys on 660 were going nuts, because they saw that…I was about to pull my hair out at the questionable calls. I am in full agreement w/everyone else, I’m one happy Giant fan today because since last year’s playoffs and the SB, they show such a resilience regardless and I am shocked that anyone (not a fan) thinks they’re just lucky. I’m not letting any of the Cowgirl smack talk I hear (I live in S. Texas and HATE the Cowboys…and their fans) get to me this week. I’m just glad they come to our house and I hope the D stuffs T.O. in his popcorn bucket! What an awesome win…and Spags did sign a 3-year deal at the beginning of the year, right?!?

this game, and the Cincinnati one, are games the Giants would not have won a year ago. Showed poise and resilience Sunday.