Giants Notebook, 12-2

by Jim Schmiedeberg on Dec 2, 2008 11:00 AM EST in New York Giants News

This Giants notebook is sponsored by Colgate Total....

Why you ask? Because it's great for "Plax removal"

It wasn't easy to find Giant notes not related to Number 17, but here are a few:

This is actually a few days old, but Newsday had a funny story about "Hands" Hedgecock.
Vinny DiTrani in the Bergen Record has a recap of Sunday's game.
From the Bleacher Report, an Eagle fan says its time to give Eli Manning his due.

A few notes and quotes from around the Giants:

Domenic Hixon caught 5 passes against the Redskins; each one of them resulted in a first down.
WR Amani Toomer displayed the proper perspective on this season so far. "We are the defending Super Bowl champions," he said, "and we are the team all the others are chasing, so it is important that we don't let up and allow people to catch up with us." Toomer had five catches for 85 yards and a 40-yard TD in the first quarter.
DT Fred Robbins missed his first game of the season with a jammed shoulder that bothered him two weeks ago and did not totally clear up. Alford, a second-year player, had two tackles and one tackle for a loss. Robbins, who has 51/2 sacks and 10 tackles for losses, is expected to play this week against Philadelphia.
The Giants are 18-3 dating back to this day in 2007, including the playoffs. I went back over their history, and the only better one year run I can find is November 3^rd 1929 to November 3^rd, 1930, when they were on a 16-2 tear, but they did not win the 1929 NFL Championship, which was awarded to the 1^st place team in those days, and it went to the Green Bay Packers who were 12-0.
The Giants can tie an NFL record on Sunday with a win over the Eagles. Only three other teams in NFL history have posted a streak of six or more wins, all against winning teams: the 1970 Vikings (7), 2007 Colts (6), and 1972 Redskins (6).

Parting Thought:

At the beginning of the season, I predicted the Giants would finish around 11-5. At this point, it certainly seems like they are going to well exceed that. But I can't help thinking that with the way this team is wired that it would benefit them greatly if they have one more "stinker" in them before season end. This team has shown time and time again that they bounce back well, and I just think a "come back to earth" game might be beneficial in the long run, it would just help serve as a reminder that they haven't won anything yet, and just help them "reset" their focus somewhat.

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Hedge's broken finger was news to me.

No wonder he has dropped so many passes.

by george cronin on Dec 2, 2008 11:06 AM EST reply actions

re: Parting Thought

Call me crazy……but I see that “stinker” coming against Dallas on Dec 14th. The ’Boys will want/need that game way more than the GMen and I could see them coming out and firing on all cylinders.

And actually, the rest of the schedule is just a murderers row. The Eagles and the Giants ALWAYS play close games; this weekend will be no different. Obviously that Dallas game will be tough. The game against Carolina takes on added meaning if the Panthers need that one to make the playoffs, which, considering how tough the AFC South is, will likely be a must-win for them. Then, against Minnesota, they might need that one too if they can’t hold off Chicago in the NFC Central.

So yeah, I see a stinker or too coming up. We all knew there was no way the team was going to finish 15-1 anyway. I just want to see them wrap up a bye and home field advantage throughout the playoffs. I can’t freakin’ wait for January.

by Cody K on Dec 2, 2008 11:37 AM EST reply actions

I was thinking the same thing

Unless they lose to Pittsburgh this week, the Cowboys are going to need that game. I’d say the ideal scenario would be to wrap up the division & a bye this week and bank on wrapping up the No. 1 seed against Carolina at home on the 21st. Though you can’t underestimate how satisfying it would be to beat the snot out of Dallas, at Dallas, on SNF, and kill their playoff chances.

by long time listener on Dec 2, 2008 11:50 AM EST up reply actions

Plus keep in mind

Dallas plays Pitt this weekend, a very losable game for Dallas, and if they do lose, they will be even more desperate when the champs come to town

Giants fan from the womb to the tomb

NY Ranger fans talk all things Blueshirts at
http://broadwayblueview.blogspot.com/

by Jim Schmiedeberg on Dec 2, 2008 11:49 AM EST reply actions

totally.

And Pitt looked tremendous in dismantling the Pats. I agree 15-1 is a tough mark and wouldn’t be surprised by one, I hope not two, losses. Something to think of also from last year: If come the playoffs (playoffs?) we do see the Cowgirls — or the Cards, for that matter, or at the end of the road, the Steelers or Ravens — remember that it’s doubly hard to beat a team twice, and triply hard to beat’em three times.

But LT listener makes a drool-worthy point: End Dallas’ season, in Dallas, for the second year in a row? That’s a Superbowl to me.

by Simms-McConkey on Dec 2, 2008 12:21 PM EST up reply actions

Agree

the more desperate they become, it will be easier to beat them at dallas. and I agree also with Ed, we should loose a game to sense that again and recharge batteries, but I do not want to loose to dallas.
Now here is a question, knowing the success we had last season playing 100% againts the patriots last season. What will happen this year at minnesota if we don’t need that game. Is TC going to rest the starters? or play them knowing we still have a bye?

My Dad and his steelers gave me the love for football, but the Giants game me a Team

by Bajaserge on Dec 2, 2008 1:10 PM EST up reply actions

TC

playing tthe starters at the end of the season last year was the single most productive move in the years he had been here. Our team struggled up to that point and they had the strongest litmus in the 15-0 Pats coming into town. The papers wanted to know what he was going to do under the circumstances. Risk injury for one game or rest his starters for the BIG PICTURE. His response was play the players and see what his team had for the best team in the league. And rightfully so, no reason for the Giants to be doormats to history. Especially in the Medowlands. His decision galvanized his players and the leaders made sure their guys were ready to go. They gave the Pats a fight and the rest is all so sweet history. In no possible way can I see him looking at his players in the locker room and say, “This year we will rest, w/ everything locked up”. The Pats didn’t do it last year, as Strahan most notably pointed out, I can’t see our players excepting that. If anything the Giants might of started a trend, seeing as how that hard fought LOSS propelled us to the title. Teams might rethink the advantages and disadvantages of resting players in a “pointless game”.

by ProudYankee on Dec 2, 2008 1:46 PM EST up reply actions

of course

the Pats didn’t rest their players, and they didn’t win the Super Bowl

by cjmulrain on Dec 2, 2008 1:58 PM EST up reply actions

I think the stinker

comes against Carolina. I really can see our guys beating the Eagles and Boys the next 2 weeks to go 13-1. Maybe not the Eagles game as much as the Dallas game. See our team is excellent at finding reasons of being disrespected. When we whooped Dallas earlier in the season they had no Romo, and injured Witten and a litany of other excuses on why they weren’t going to win. They went as far as saying the Bucs game was the one they really needed. Our G-Men wanna show the nation and more importantly themselves that they CAN AND WILL contain Romo, mind you our secondary is light years better than they were last yr, when Romo drilled us into the ground during the season. I can see us getting up for that game as much as them. And if we have a chance to destroy the SB hopes by ejecting them outta the playoff hunt, I know Coughlin will say something like “deal w/ em now”.

by ProudYankee on Dec 2, 2008 12:08 PM EST reply actions

Exactly how I see it

by potroast on Dec 2, 2008 1:05 PM EST up reply actions

I disagree...

We have to avenge our earlier playoff loss to Carolina. This should be the grudge game. I wouldn’t be surprised if we beat Dallas too, but maybe lose to the Eagles.

by giant fan since 57 on Dec 2, 2008 4:59 PM EST up reply actions

As much as I want to see the Giants finish 15-1

I have a feeling in my gut that says they finish 13-3. Not sure where the two losses come in (if I had to guess, Dallas and Carolina), but 13-3 should be enough for the 1 seed (as the NFC south winner should go 12-4).

by brisulph on Dec 2, 2008 12:48 PM EST reply actions

I said before the AZ game

That I saw the Giants going 4-2 down the stretch, but I couldn’t say where the “4” or the “2” would come from. Then they went out and pounded the Cards and Washington, and I have had to once again adjust my thinking. I don’t see them losing to Philly this week, after that, the last 3 games I can see them winning and losing all for different reasons. December is a tricky month, teams have different motivations depending on their situation. If the Giants can lock up home field, who knows how much of the starters you will see over the last 2 or 3 games.

I worry about the Minny game because the Vikes have Eli’s number, and I would just hate to see them put up that “stinker” the last game of the season. Although, it is entirely possible Eli plays very little of that game.

Giants fan from the womb to the tomb

NY Ranger fans talk all things Blueshirts at
http://broadwayblueview.blogspot.com/

by Jim Schmiedeberg on Dec 2, 2008 12:55 PM EST up reply actions