Big Blue View

Dinner is served

2008-11-22T13:39:14Z

It's not really football-related, but I had to pass along this note from Mike Dougherty's Giants Journal.

So after we got done talking with Tom Coughlin up in the bubble this afternoon, the media headed down to the locker room where a slightly unnerving sight got everyone’s attention.

In front of every locker was a frozen turkey or spiral-cut ham.

Ordinarily, the camera would’ve been out and clicking, but I’m not taking pictures in a locker room setting. So you have to imagine next week’s main course sitting on the floor amidst smelly cleats, torn ankle tape, dirty socks and sweaty underthings.

Yuck!

Here's a little video preview of Sunday's game from NFL.com.

Cheerleader of the Week, 11.22.08

2008-11-22T12:00:06Z

This week's 'Cheerleader of the Week' is Danielle, an easy on the eyes member of the Arizona Cardinals cheerleading squad.

Video Game Preview: Giants at Cards

2008-11-21T15:22:27Z

Good Morning Everyone,

Since I am out here in Arizona for the game this week, I thought it would be fun to get together with some guys from Revenge Of The Birds, and put together a video talking about the game.

So last night, with the help of Intellectual Derriere and Murfdog from Big Blue View, and Noah and Matt from Revenge Of The Birds, we all sat down with a few beers, and talked about the game. Noah and Matt are great guys, and they did an awesome job.

Thanks to the guys at Revenge Of The Birds for helping me coordinate this, and thanks to Intellectual D and Murf for sitting in on this on short notice.

New York Giants' notes, 11.21.08

2008-11-21T12:21:14Z

Brandon Jacobs appears ready to go for the New York Giants Sunday after participating in Thursday's practice. Unfortunately, there is a new mystery surrounding Plaxico Burress.

Burress missed practice with an apparent hamstring injury. The Giants aren't saying which leg, how badly the wide receiver is hurt, or whether or not they expect him to play this weekend against Arizona.

As good as the Giants defense is, defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo understands that his group will have its hands full with the Cardinals high-powered passing attack.

They are very efficient with what they do. They have great players, first of all. Ken has always done a good job offensively. He was that way when he was at Pittsburgh, Ken Whisenhunt. Remember way back when they had Kordell Stewart and they were throwing the ball all over the place and they had a lot of numbers offensively? And he is doing the same thing now. He has got a quarterback that knows how to do it. He has a bunch of wide outs that go up and get the football for him. They make you defend a lot of the field. And over the course of 60 minutes, it is hard to completely shut that down. So you have to try to slow it down and hope your own offense keeps them off the field. That is probably the best defense.

Giants' linebacker Danny Clark also discussed the Arizona offense in his weekly entry for Ralph Vacchiano's Blue Screen blog.

These guys are the real deal. Fitzgerald has made some impressive catches on tape, while Bolden has run through defenders like a full back. It's going to take our entire defense to corral these explosive receivers. They have a rookie RB Tim Hightower who's running the ball well. His running style is similar to Marion Barber, but he's not there quite yet. We still have to keep a steady eye on him in the run and pass game.

In watching this team on film, they mainly play with three, four and sometimes five WRs during the game, so its going to be fast paced. I look forward to our front four getting around Warner and making him uncomfortable. Then, our secondary and LBs will be more inclined to make plays on the ball. I'm excited about this opportunity, because this opponent is not the usual two-back pro-style offense. They are going make us adjust to some of the things they do, but there is not a better group to handle it. If we work harder, and longer than our opponents, we shall be victorious.

Jay Greenberg of the New York Post discusses the depth of the roster General Manager Jerry Reese has put together.

NFL Picks Week 12, Thursday Edition: 'Greek' says ...

2008-11-20T21:58:38Z

Just when I think that this might be a slow week in the NFL for a Thursday night game, the Bengals come through again. Chad Johnson has been deactivated for tonight's game for violating a team rule.

Now I'm not out here as a Chad Johnson apologist. The guy can be a jerk, and a distraction, but is not a bad guy, and is a really good receiver when the team needs him. A team that is completely out of control, and has become the punch line of the NFL now decides they need to play hardball with arguably their best player.

This is the same team that re-signed Chris Henry after he was arrested again in the offseason, suspended by the league, and released by the team. This is the same team that released Rudi Johnson with no running back on the roster ready to take over so they signed Cedric Benson; the same Cedric Benson that was arrested twice in a span of 2 months for public intoxication/dui.

Yet, Chad Johnson misses a meeting or is late for his flight (those details are sketchy, since that kind of behavior is an embarrassment to the team) and the team decides that enough is enough.

This team is the biggest joke in the NFL, and for that to be the case in a league that includes the Lions is quite an accomplishment. I remember when the Bengals were actually a model franchise in the '80s. It is absolutely amazing how so many franchises can completely lose their way for so long in a league designed around parity. At some point the league needs to step in and do something about franchises like the Bengals. This is the most successful sport in America, and there is no reason for any team to not put a competitive squad on the field for decades at a time.

Cincinnati at Pittsburgh (-11)

Last week: 4-12

Season: 82-74-4

Got Questions for the Arizona Cardinals?

2008-11-20T17:15:58Z

Hey Big Blue View,

Cgolden from Revenge of the Birds here, to answer any and all questions that you guys have about the Arizona Cardinals. Want to know how your former QB is looking? Curious about the Cardinals' injury situation? I may not be the dali-lama but I'll do my best to shoot it to you straight. So I'm here to answer your questions - and I expect a few ROTB-ers will migrate over to discuss the upcoming Giants/Cardinals game as well. Anything you got, fire away - I'm here to share and learn.

I'm looking forward to an entertaining Cardinals/Giants game this weekend. Should be fun.

New York Giants notes, 11.20.08

2008-11-20T16:00:05Z

Here are a few New York Giants notes for a Thursday.

Running back Brandon Jacobs expects to practice fully today, and says he should be ready to play Sunday despite injuring his knee last weekend against Baltimore.
New York Post columnist Mike Vaccaro says the most impressive thing about the Giants might be their workmanlike attitude, and pays tribute to Tom Coughlin for instilling it.

The Giants, and their coach, are proud of what they did a year ago, and they are fiercely proud of what they've done across this season's first 10 weeks, but they are not impressed by it, they are not satisfied by it, and they don't expect anyone else to be, either.

The overpowering characteristic that has shaped these 2008 Giants is this: As much as any defending champion in any sport in recent memory, it would be impossible to know what they would accomplish unless you already knew what they had accomplished. Even the Yankees New York Yankees of 1998-2000, when you walked in their clubhouse, there was a regal air to the way they conducted their business. They were professionals and they weren't exactly braggarts, but there was a distinct, subtle message evident when you walked in their midst.

There is none of that with the Giants. To talk to them, up and down the roster, is to encounter a team that could just as easily have been 9-7 with a first-round ouster in last year's playoffs instead of a team that won three road games then staged the greatest upset in the history of the Super Bowl, then as an encore came roaring out of the starting gate 9-1. That is a tribute to a unique assortment of players.

And a greater tribute to a head coach who is quietly asserting a place for himself among all the men who have ever held his office in the history of the Giants. He is already one of the four heads on the franchise's Mount Rushmore, alongside Bill Parcells, Jim Lee Howell and Steve Owen, the other men to win championships going back to 1925. The longer he stays, the more games he wins, the more he maintains success, the higher on that list he is going to crawl.

Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner tossed some praise Eli Manning's way Wednesday.
The Giants know Arizona's big, physical receivers pose a significant challenge to their secondary.

Meet the 'New York Block Exchange'

2008-11-20T11:00:05Z

The voting in our poll to give the New York Giants offensive line a nickname is done. So, Big Blue View Nation, I present you the 'New York Block Exchange.'

We had 206 votes cast in all, and 'New York Block Exchange' received 84 of them, or 40 percent. 'Bg Blue Paving Crew' earned 65 votes, or 31 percent.

We have been saying here that we believe this line is football's best. Courtesy of Football Outsiders, let's look at the numbers and see what they tell us.

The run-blocking statistics are particularly impressive. Obviously, they are helped by the talented trio of Brandon Jacobs, Derrick Ward and Ahmad Bradshaw -- and the blocking of fullback Madison Hedgecock. The numbers, though, speak volumes for the work done by our newly-named New York Block Exchange.

The Giants rank second in the league in 'Adjusted Line Yards' per running play at 4.93. Only Denver's 5.01 is better.
The Giants rank first in the league in Running Back Yards per play at 5.55, nearly an amazing yard better than anyone else in the league.
The Giants are first in the league in runs of more than 10 yards, with 27 percent of running plays gaining at least 10 yards.

The stats also reveal that the Giants are much better going left, which you probably realized by watching the games.

They are second in the league in Adjusted Line Yards around left end, sixth going off left tackle and first in the league going directly up the middle.

That points to the strength of the left side, and right guard Chris Snee's athleticism and ability to pull.

In terms of pass protection, here is the breakdown.

The Giants are seventh in the league in that category, having surrendered 12 sacks, or one on every 4.1 percent of passing plays.

Now, let's meet these guys individually.

David Diehl

#66 / Offensive Tackle / New York Giants

Height: 6-5

Weight: 319

Born: Sep 15, 1980

College: Illinois

David Diehl

Personally, I have nothing but admiration for what this six-year veteran has done during his career with the Giants. Drafted as a guard in the 2003 fifth round, Diehl has now started at every position on the line except center. I have no doubt he could handle that job, too, if he was ever asked.

Remember before the 2007 season no one seemed comfortable with the Giants plan to let Diehl move from left guard to left tackle to replace Luke Petitgout? Most figured he would be adequate at best, and plenty of folks thought he would be terrible.

Well, he has been a lot better than adequate. His ability to handle the switch solidified the Giants line. He may not be the best left tackle in the league, but he is a good one. As far as I'm concerned, he deserves to go the Pro Bowl as much as any lineman the Giants have.

Rich Seubert

#69 / Guard / New York Giants

Height: 6-3

Weight: 310

Born: Mar 30, 1979

College: Western Illinois

Rich Seubert

When he suffered a horrific leg fracture in 2003, no one ever figured he would play in the NFL again -- much less reclaim his old job at left guard and play this well.

He returned as a fan favorite and part-time third tight end in 2005, playing in four games. He regained his starting job last season when Diehl moved to tackle.

As strong and athletic as Seubert is now, you have to wonder how good he would have been if he had never gotten hurt in the first place.

Shaun O'Hara

#60 / Center / New York Giants

Height: 6-3

Weight: 303

Born: Jun 23, 1977

College: Rutgers

Shaun O'Hara

I can admit now that when the Giants first signed O'Hara as a free agent before the 2004 season I thought "why are the Giants signing some nobody center from the Browns? They stink, so he must stink, too."

Boy, was I wrong.

O'Hara never seems to get pushed around at the line of scrimmage, and has to get some credit for the Giants No. 1 ranking in rushing up the middle this season.

A visit to the Pro Bowl this season would be well deserved.

Chris Snee

#76 / Guard / New York Giants

Height: 6-3

Weight: 317

Born: Jan 08, 1982

College: Boston College

Chris Snee

Snee has started every game at right guard since the Giants drafted him in the second round in 2004. He long ago turned the fact that he is Tom Coughlin's son-in-law into a mere footnote in what is turning out to be a terrific career.

Snee's strength on straight-ahead runs and the fact that he is agile enough to pull on runs to the left are keys to the Giants' running success.

He should earn a trip to Hawaii for the Pro Bowl this year. In fact, he should have been there last season.

Kareem McKenzie

#67 / Offensive Tackle / New York Giants

Height: 6-6

Weight: 327

Born: May 24, 1979

College: Penn State

Kareem McKenzie

Signed as a free-agent from the Jets in 2005, the best thing about the eight-year veteran is that you hardly ever hear his name during games. He is a solid, if unspectacular, player. He rarely gets beaten badly, and he is probably the least penalized of any of the Giants' lineman, something that can often be overlooked.

"The Fumble" ... a look back

2008-11-19T18:00:06Z

I've always maintained that "The Fumble" may have been one of the best things to ever happen to the Giants as a franchise. It helped the organization realize that it was time to change the way the team was run. Now 30 years later, Bob Glauber of Newsday takes a look back at that infamous moment in Giants history and how the organization turned it into a positive when you look back on it.

It's kind of funny how "The Fumble" over the years became the "November 22^nd" of sorts for Giants fans. Everyone remembers where they were when it happened. I was only 8 at the time, but my father has recounted the story many times of where we were when that ball hit the ground.

Giants have recovered after "the fumble" by Joe Pisarcik and Larry Csonka -- Newsday.com

Help get some Giants into the Pro Bowl

2008-11-19T15:00:07Z

I was dismayed to read this note about Pro Bowl balloting this morning in the Daily News.

Think the Giants were angry last year when they sent one player to the Pro Bowl while the Cowboys sent 13? Well, the champs might be on the verge of being slighted again.

With three weeks to go in the fan balloting on NFL.com, which counts for one-third of the selection process, the Washington Redskins lead in 16 of the 19 position categories in the NFC. They also have four of the top 10 overall NFL vote-getters.

Eli Manning (fourth) is the only Giant in the overall top 10. And DE Justin Tuck is the only Giant leading the voting at his position.

So, gang, let's try to do something about that. Get over to NFL.com and fill out a Pro Bowl ballot. You can vote as many times as you like, so stuff that ballot box full of picks for the Giants!

If you haven't voted in our 'give the offensive line a nickname poll,' hurry up. Voting ends tonight. Right now, 'New York Block Exchange' has a decent lead over 'Big Blue Paving Crew.'
Thanks to all of you who took the time to participate in Tuesday night's chat with Patricia Traini of 'Inside Football.' I was nervous about how well it would work, and it was an overwhelming success. Lots of involvement, and lots of great questions. Pat enjoyed it as well. Great job, gang!
Running back Derrick Ward has just launched a new Web site. He will be updating a weekly blog, including possibly answering some questions e-mailed by readers. Oh, and of course you will be able to buy stuff. I am also trying to get Derrick to do an interview for Big Blue View, which would be a real bonus for us. We'll see how that goes.

Wednesday Walk Around the NFL 11-19-08

2008-11-19T11:00:07Z

Good morning Giants fans, it's Wednesday and for me it's "Getaway Day" so let's take a quick look at some of the stories making headlines around the NFL:

The Bleacher Report says the Eagles-Bengals tie on Sunday proves its time for the NFL to adopt the NCAA overtime rules.

Pete Prisco says that while it's fun to talk about a Titans-Giants Super Bowl, the reality is that one or both of those teams may not make it. I guess he doesn't have much faith in the Titans.....

Mike Holmgren thinks the Seahawks may need major changes, but he has no answers.

For what has to be the umpteenth time this year, the NFL has admitted the refs blew the call on Sunday.

From the tongue-in-cheek department, the Lions in L.A.?

Cowboys coach Jerry Wade Jones Phillips says he doesn't expect Pacman Jones back with the Cowboys.

Instead of finishing with the usual NFL Notes, I just have one last thought:

A lot was made about how many bets were won and lost with that debacle in Pittsburgh on Sunday, and most of it was light-hearted, but I can't help but wonder this week how many rents didn't get paid, how many kids college funds took a hit, and how many limbs were broken, all on the turn of one bad call.

Look for me and the boys on Sunday at the game, we'll be the guys in Giants jerseys with beers in our hands.

YA Tittle says Big Blue looks Super

2008-11-19T06:39:00Z

YA Tittle says Big Blue looks Super

I know some of the folks on this blog were big YA Tittle fans back in the day, there's an article from Newsday that has a few quotes. He says he thinks his teams could have beaten this years Giants...gotta love the bravado! Also nice to know that he still roots for the Giants.

Open Thread, chat with Patricia Traini

2008-11-19T00:47:54Z

OK, gang, our chat with Patricia Traini of 'Inside Football' will start shortly. We will do this the same way we do open game threads.

If you aren't familiar with that, here is what it means. Just open your browser to the comments and leave the window open during the chat. The screen will 'auto refresh' each time a new comment or question is posted.

Direct your questions or comments to Patricia, and hopefully we will get a good dialogue going. As always, play nice.

Yet another reminder about tonight

2008-11-18T19:30:04Z

I know I have mentioned this a couple of times already, but don't forget to join us tonight at 8 p.m. when 'Inside Football' editor Patricia Traini joins us for a live-blog style chat.

We will run a game day style 'open thread' with Patricia, and I am hoping for good participation from you guys. I think this could be fun, and I'm really hoping you guys will choose to participate.

If this works, maybe we can get beat writers like Mike Garafolo (Star-Ledger) or Ralph Vacchiano (Daily News) to participate some time down the road. Patricia plans to be with us for about an hour, so please stop by and ask a question or two.

Time for Hixon on kickoff returns?

2008-11-18T13:12:06Z

It is pretty difficult to find a chink in the armor of the 9-1 New York Giants. Difficult, but not impossible.

The only area of the Giants performance so far this season that you might classify as disappointing would be kickoff returns. The Giants rank just 29th in the league with an average of 20.2 yards per kickoff return. Only Pittsburgh and Miami are worse.

Ahmad Bradshaw is averaging just 21 yards per return with a long runback of 35 yards. At some point, the Giants will need to get more production from the return game.

Everybody loves Bradshaw's elusiveness and playmaking ability, but it might be time for the Giants to give the kick return job back to Domenik Hixon.

Hixon averaged 27.6 yards on eight late-season returns in 2007, including a 74-yard touchdown. He kept the job in the playoffs and Super Bowl, and averaged 23.9 yards on 12 returns.

This season Hixon has continued to show his return skills, averaging 11.5 yards on punt returns.

The lack of big kickoff returns so far this season might not be Bradshaw's fault. It seems to me that too often there simply hasn't been anyplace to run -- which means the blocking hasn't been up to par.

Yet, it seems to me the Giants are not utilizing their best weapon in the return game. I think it's time to give Hixon an opportunity.

NOTE: Don't forget to join us tonight at 8 p.m. when 'Inside Football' editor Patricia Traini joins us for a live-blog style chat. We will run a game day style 'open thread' with Patricia, and I am hoping for good participation from you guys. If this works, maybe we can get beat writers like Mike Garafolo (Star-Ledger) or Ralph Vacchiano (Daily News) to participate some time down the road. Patricia plans to be with us for about an hour, so please stop by and ask a question or two.
ONE MORE THING: Don't forget to vote in our poll to come up with a nickname for the Giants offensive line.

Report: Jacobs is fine

2008-11-18T11:44:27Z

[UPDATE: Now Jacobs is telling reporters that he could play Sunday, but he still might not. C'mon, Brandon, which is it?]

Good news from Mike Garafolo on Brandon Jacobs' knee.

"Nothing serious," the source said. "Just swollen and sore."

Looks like 'Earth, Wind & Fire' will still be together when the Giants head to the desert this weekend.

'Inside Football' editor to chat with us

2008-11-17T19:00:05Z

We are going to try something this week that we have never done here at Big Blue View.

Tuesday evening from 8-9 p.m. EST Patricia Traini, editor of Inside Football, will join us for a live-blog style 'chat' about the Giants. Inside Football has covered the New York Giants for more than 30 years, and Patricia has been Executive Editor since 1997.

Be sure to drop in for at least a few minutes, use the comments to ask Patricia some questions. If this works out well and we get a healthy number of questions, we will try to do more of it in the future.

Now let's look around at some news and notes following Sunday's 30-10 thrashing of the Baltimore Ravens.

Ian O'Connor says the Giants need to pay prospective free agent Brandon Jacobs whatever it takes to keep him in a Giants uniform. I would say it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure that out. Jacobs is the guy who sets the tone for the Giants' offense, and they need to keep him.
Speaking of the Giants' running game, here is Peter King's take.

I have never seen a running game with the balance the Giants have. In the last three games, the Giants have given three backs -- Brandon Jacobs, Derrick Ward and Ahmad Bradshaw -- the ball at least five times apiece. Against Dallas, it was Jacobs 17, Ward 12, Bradshaw five. Against Philly: Jacobs 22, Ward 17, Bradshaw five. Against the Ravens: Jacobs 11, Ward 11, Bradshaw nine. They've rushed for 200, 217 and 207. They've won by 21, five and 20 points. In the NBC viewing room, I've been yelling at the TV all year: "Don't take Jacobs out! What are you doing!'' But the Giants are doing two things in keeping Jacobs' carries down: They're keeping him fresh for January (or attempting to; he bruised his knee Sunday) because he's never been a 300-carry guy in the pros and the Giants don't want to risk finding out if he could be. Two: The Giants would have to pay Jacobs the free-agent $7 million a year if he were to win a rushing-title this year -- and he certainly could if that were the goal here. But why do it if you're playing great by sharing the load? The impressive thing about the Giants right now is that they're convinced they can steamroll any team in football with any of the three running backs. Let's not spoil it.

Ex-Giants coach Jim Fassel is reportedly campaigning to become Oakland Raiders coach next season. I know Fassel is desperate to get back on the sidelines, and that he got screwed by the Washington Redskins last off-season, but campaigning for a job while someone else still has it is not cool.
Coach Tom Coughlin says he will decide the Giants' placekicking situation on a week-to-week basis.
Did you guys notice our NY Giants Girl Reby Sky getting her mug on TV dressed as 'Super Girl' near the end of the game? That woman is gorgeous, but she has never met a camera she didn't like.

Poll

The Giants offensive line badly needs a nickname. Let's give it one. Below are a few ideas, using some of your suggestions from my earlier post and a couple of my own. Choose your favorite.

New York Block Exchange

84 votes

The Blue Wall

41 votes

Big Blue Paving Crew

65 votes

The Road Graders

6 votes

Big Blue Tsunami

10 votes

206 votes | Poll has closed

NFL Week 11 In Review

2008-11-17T16:00:06Z

Where else to begin this week in review but with the first tie that the NFL has seen in 6 years. All I can say is, it’s about time. There may be nothing better than seeing two teams that you have no vested interest in playing in overtime as time slowly ticks away. Anytime the clock gets to about 5 minutes remaining, I no longer want any team to win, and I was finally rewarded.

The real reason that the Eagles-Bengals outcome is good for the league is that it proves that moving to the overtime rules utilized in the college game is not necessary. There are three distinct phases to the game of football. Having your offense start with the ball guarantees nothing. I’m tired of everyone moaning about how the rules of overtime need to be changed any time a team takes the ball and scores on their first possession. If getting the ball was the only prerequisite to scoring, then college overtime games would never end.

So, enough about tweaking the rules of overtime, instead concentrate on changing the rules so that defenders can hit the quarterback again without being penalized and fined. Even kickers are protected less these days.

Other Games of the week:

Tampa Bay 19, Minnesota 13 – This one harkened back to when Tampa was part of the old black and blue NFC Central. Lots of sacks, hard hits and turnovers, and the game was still up in the air until the final Minnesota fumble. Tampa was also able to keep pace with Carolina in the ultra competitive NFC South.

Indianapolis 33, Houston 27 – So much for counting Indy out of the playoffs. Houston, as usual, kept this divisional game close, but in the end did not have enough to get past Indy. Things are tightening up in the AFC, and the playoffs may not be decided until the final weekend of the season.

Denver 24, Atlanta 20 – Speaking of the AFC playoffs, Denver was able to extend its lead in the AFC West while taking out the surprising Falcons. It took a little luck, as the Falcons dropped a potential game winning touchdown in the waning minutes of this one, but Denver, down to its 4^th string running back, had just enough to try and wrap up a division title.

Tennessee 24, Jacksonville 14 – The Tennessee victory train just keeps on rolling along. They are not getting nearly the press as past unbeaten teams at this point in their seasons, but that’s just the way they like it. This team may fly under the radar all the way to the Super Bowl, which is surprising considering just a few weeks ago, many were wondering how they would get past the Vince Young debacle.

Pittsburgh 11, San Diego 10 – For the first time in NFL history a game ended with a final score of 11-10. Also for the first time in NFL history an illegal forward pass that wasn’t illegal and had no consequence on the outcome of the game caused multiple heart attacks in casinos across the country as San Diego went from covering, to not covering, to covering once again, for no apparent reason over the course of 10 agonizing minutes.

Dallas 14, Washington 10 – Dallas is back in the thick of the NFC wild card race once again, and not a moment too soon. The Cowboys still aren’t quite clicking on offense, but they were able to buy themselves one more week to try and work out the kinks for a stretch run.

Other Thoughts:

Arizona has opened up a 4 game lead in the NFC West. Ridiculous.

Finally, the real Jim Haslett has come back to coach the Rams.

Chicago may want to hold a team under 30 points before the Bears talk about having a top defense in this league.

Same with the Ravens.

Didn’t Kansas City used to have home field advantage?

If the Miami Dolphins are 2008’s cardiac kids, then the Raiders are the senile old men. Oh wait, that’s just Al Davis.

Carolina’s 8-2. Just throwin’ that out there.

Monday Night Football:

I think you all know where 'The Greek' stands on this one. This is a must-win game for the Bills as they have been mired in a three-game losing streak and need to keep pace in the competitive AFC East. The Browns have thrown in the towel on this season that is when they’re not throwing each other under the bus. The Bills will circle the wagons with a hot crowd on Monday night and get their playoff drive back on track.

'Kudos & Wet Willies,' rocking the Ravens edition

2008-11-17T11:00:07Z


Ahmad Bradshaw (left) runs for 77 yards in the fourth quarter Sunday. At right, Brandon Jacobs rumbles for 36 yards on his first carry of the game. The Giants gashed the top-ranked Ravens defense for 207 yards rushing.

I am running out of superlatives in trying to describe the New York Giants. This football team simply amazes me.

Week after week the Giants stare at what look like difficult, possibly insurmountable, challenges. Yet, week after week, they come out on top.

What the 9-1 Giants did to the vaunted Baltimore defense Sunday, vanquishing it for an incredible 207 yards (6.3 yards per carry) en route to a 30-10 victory was nothing short of astonishing.

Defensively, the Giants were also outstanding. Ravens' rookie quarterback Joe Flacco was sacked just once, but the Giants made the Ravens running backs non-existent and took advantage of Flacco's mistakes.

Considering all of our back and forth with Ravens fans last week, I have to give credit to 'Rexx' from Baltimore Beatdown. This was one of his final comments in his own game thread last night.

Lighten up on the Ravens. I mean, can you believe that we actually thought we could hang with them? They’re the best team in the league.

Let's get on with our traditional 'Kudos & Wet Willies' style review.

Kudos to ...

Earth, Wind & Fire: All three Giants running backs get huge 'kudos' for what they did to the vaunted Ravens defense. The Giants got 207 yards rushing against a team that had been giving up 65.4 yards per game, and as good as the offensive line is the three backs did a lot of it on their own. There have been any number of great rushing tandems in NFL history, but has the league ever seen a three-headed monster this good? I can't think of one. In fact, the only comparable group I can think of is the Miami Dolphins of the early 1970s with Larry Csonka, Jim Kiick and Mercury Morris? Let's look at what each of the three backs did Sunday.

Brandon Jacobs -- 11 carries, 73 yards and two first-half touchdowns. His 36-yard run on his very first carry answered the question everyone had asked -- could the Giants run on the Ravens? "It showed them that they could run the ball," Ravens defensive tackle Trevor Pryce said. "When you do that against our defense, you have some confidence. It makes things easier. The way it happened was a fluke when had him, but he bounced and went all the way to the other side. You don’t think that a big back can run that fast, but he does." Jacobs tweaked a knee and watched Derrick Ward and Ahmad Bradshaw work most of the second half, or he likely would have been the first rusher to go over 100 yards against the Ravens in 28 games. Still, he did his job and didn't absorb any unnecessary punishment.
Derrick Ward -- He will be overshadowed by both Jacobs and Bradshaw in discussions of this game, but he also had a nice game. Ward gained 41 yards on 11 carries and added four catches for a team-leading 54 yards. He had a 22-yard run and a 24-yard pass reception.
Ahmad Bradshaw -- A 77-yard run in the fourth quarter (most of which he did on his own as he should have been stopped for a short gain) and 96 yards on just 9 carries. He might catch a little grief from teammates for getting run down from behind on the 77-yarder, though. I am still not sure he would be as effective carrying 15-20 times per game, since I believe his effectiveness is helped by the early pounding defenses get from Jacobs and Ward, but this guy is a tremendous weapon out of the backfield.

The Offensive Line -- Can we get these guys a nickname, please? We could just keep calling them 'The Best Offensive Line in the NFL,' but I think we need to do better than that. I haven't come up with a good idea yet, but I'm sure you guys can help me. Anyway, if there was any doubt how good this group was there shouldn't be today. David Diehl, Rich Seubert, Shaun O'Hara, Chris Snee and Kareem McKenzie simply pushed the Ravens front seven all over the field.
Aaron Ross -- Two key interceptions, including a beautiful catch-and-run for a pick six off a tipped ball that snuffed out Baltimore's hopes for a second-half comeback.
The entire defense -- The Ravens had scored 37 and 41 points in their last two games. The Giants only sacked quarterback Joe Flacco once, but they smothered the Ravens run game and only gave up 10 points. It was a terrific all-around effort.
Joe Flacco -- I have to throw some love to the Ravens rookie. Forget the stats, this kid is going to be one helluva player. How does a guy come from Delaware, immediately get thrown in as an NFL starter and play this well. Scary how good he will be when he actually figures out what is going on.
Darcy Johnson -- One catch, one yard, one touchdown. Gotta give the third-team tight end some props for his nifty touchdown catch, the only ball he has caught this season.

Wet Willies to ...

Eli Manning: The best thing he did all day was draw back-to-back offside penalties using 'hard counts.' Other than that, there was way too much of the 'bad Eli' on display for my taste. One interception, and two other horrid throws that could have been interceptions. One was on an errant throw to Steve Smith that was originally ruled an interception, but was overturned. The other was an atrocious wounded duck that Plaxico Burress batted down before a Baltimore defender could grab it. Eli, I luv ya baby, but you have to play better that.
Jay Alford: It was just one bad snap on what turned out to be a meaningless extra point, but it brought back too many painful memories. I don't want to see any more of those.
Lawrence Tynes: In Tynes first full game back as Giants kicker, the Giants botch an extra point and Tynes knocks a kickoff out of bounds after it only went about 25 yards down the field. That might have been the ugliest kickoff in NFL history. This kind of stuff doesn't happen when John Carney is kicking.
Ravens coach John Harbaugh: This is what Harbaugh said after the Giants overwhelmed his defense. "Besides those (long) runs, we played good, tough, run defense," he said. "They blocked three plays really well, ran three plays really well." Umm, John, last time I checked every play counted.

Giants vs. Ravens, Open Thread

2008-11-16T15:00:06Z

NEW YORK GIANTS (8-1)	GAME #10	BALTIMORE RAVENS (6-3)
	VS.

Date:	November 16, 2008	Location:	East Rutherford, N.J.
Time:	1 p.m. EST	Stadium:	Giants Stadium
TV:	CBS	Radio:	WFAN (660 AM)
Final Score:	Giants 30, Ravens 10

Enough talk! It's time for action. Here is your Giants-Ravens Open Thread. Enjoy the game. Go Big Blue!