Real Football - Ramdom Reactions to Giants-Eagles: The Battle For First

There are only a few games that we'll actually stay up past our bedtime to watch and about 95% of them involve our New York Football Giants.  Last night was no exception and despite a 4th quarter lead (with the ball!!), we ended up going to sleep all kinds of pissed off.  Here are a few (mostly non-edited or thought through) reactions to the game.

1.  The Eagles are just straight better then the Giants, at least right now.

We only add that qualifier because the league changes so much week-to-week, but right now its indisputable.  Delusional Giants fans (we try to not be like that) will sit around today discussing how the team "would" or "should" have won if not for the 4 turnovers.  Not so.  The Giants dodged IED after IED in the first half, somehow managing to hold the explosive Eagle offense to 6 points off two bad 2nd quarter turnovers, including a blocked FG as time expired in the half.  Without one of those stops, the Giants "comeback" would have left them way short anyway. 

2.  The Eagles offense is really scary ...

We barely breathed last night when the Eagles were on offense.  Vick + DeJeremy Maclin-Jackson + Shady McCoy = us hiding our eyes under the blanket not wanting to watch.  Of course, the Giants played their offense about as well as could be expected for 3+ quaters only to make two crucial mistakes int he 4th that lead to a pair of 50-yard runs from Shady, one for the game winning touchdown (on a 4th and 1 where a stop could have legitimately ended the game no less) and another for the game sealing first down.  This is not a team that makes you pay with first downs, you pay with points. 

3.  but it can be defensed.

Sure, we spent a large portion of the game hiding under the covers but from what we did see, the Giants did a reasonable job of slowing the Eagles down.  In the first half, they sat back in what looked like a lot of zone and tried as much to corral Vick as much as rush him.  After that proved pretty ineffective, leaving Vick to sit in the pocket like it was a La-Z-Boy, they went to a much more pressure oriented scheme and Vick looked legitimately uncomfortable, even fumbling twice.  The key seemed to us to be bringing pressure up the middle (old school Jimmy Jouhnson style) and forcing Vick backwards since he's actually catchable in the backpedal.  We were particularly impressed with Rolle last night, he seemed to be everywhere and does such a nice job of supporting in the run game.  If the Giants are going to challenge Philly in the rematch in a few weeks, they'll need to continue to bring pressure and get big games from Chris Canty, for his ability to collapse the middle of the line and their safeties Kenny Phillips and Antrel Rolle since their the only guys on the field who seem to have any shot at taking Vick down when he tries to make a move. 

4.  The Giants miss Steve Smith.

The New Real Steve Smith has missed the last couple of games and if was completely obvious to us that the Giants offense is not nearly as good without him.  It's not that he's so much better than his replacement, Mario Manningham, or that the other guys on the roster are so bad, its just that they are each so much better int he roles they were scheduled to fill.  When Manningham is pulled up to #2, guys like Duke Calhoun and Derek Hagan who are excellent special team guys and capable #4 or #5 guys, are now running in the slot and having to make plays their not accustomed to making.  Everyone is out of their comfort zones.  It's not that the offense is terrible or anything now, but there ability to finish or extend drives is compromised.  We noticed at least 2 times last night when Hagan was called upon for a big third down and couldn't make the play.  normally that would be Manningham.  Getting Smith back should get the offense back fully on track.  

5.  We hate the Eagles.

We're sure it appeals to their fans but the Eagles, particularly their offensive skills players namely DeSean Jackson, are infuriating.  They prance around the field like your neighbors punk-ass little brother.  Add in the extreme Vick love and Assante Samuels' amazing ability to always be in the right place at the right time, despite his aversion to things such as tackling.  They're practically begging you to punch them in the face.  Hopefully the Giants will di it for us next game.

What did you guys see?  Let us know on comments or email (thepersnicketyproject@gmail.com).