Giants 101

Giants vs. Eagles: An Early Look

hkiswani — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 15:04:00 GMT

The marquee matchup in the NFC has been set. The suddenly streaking Philadelphia Eagles will go into the Meadowlands to take on their division rivals, the defending Super Bowl champion New York Giants for the opportunity to play in the NFC championship. New York is rested coming off a well deserved bye, and Philadelphia has won back to back do or die games to set up their third matchup with the G-Men this season - and this time it's win or go home for both teams.

The Giants and Eagles split the season series, with each winning on the other's home turf.

PHI @ NYG - STATISTICAL COMPARISON

OFFENSIVE RANKINGS

TOTAL YARDS

Giants - 355.9 YPG (7th) , Eagles - 350.5 YPG (9th)

RUSH YARDS

Giants - 157.4 YPG (1st) , Eagles - 106.1 YPG (22nd)

PASS YARDS

Giants - 198.6 YPG (18th) , Eagles - 244.4 YPG (6th)

POINTS

Giants - 26.7 (3rd) , Eagles - 26.0 (6th)

DEFENSIVE RANKINGS

YARDS

Giants - 292.0 YPG (5th) , Eagles - 274.3 YPG (3rd)

RUSH YARDS

Giants - 95.8 YPG (9th) , Eagles - 92.3 YPG (4th)

PASS YARDS

Giants - 196.2 YPG (8th) , Eagles - 182.1 (3rd)

POINTS

Giants - 18.4 (5th) , Eagles - 18.1 (4th)

TURNOVER RATIO

Giants) 22 Takeaways, 13 Giveaways, +9 (T-4th)

Eagles) 29 Takeaways, 26 Giveaways, +3 (14th)

THIRD-DOWN CONVERSION RATE

Giants ) 88 for 204, 43% (T-6th)

Eagles) 93 for 225, 41% (T-12th)

BREAKDOWN

What the Giants do well..

The New York Giants are an efficient football team that wins games with strong play in the trenches, and good quarterback play in close football games. We all know they have the best running game in the league, and they like to set the tone with the biggest back in the league in Brandon Jacobs who's had the best season of his career. Eli Manning is great at the line of scrimmage and is always looking to take advantage of opposing defenses prior to the snap. All season long the Giants have shown that they have the ability to just dominate an opposing defensive front with their offensive line and run game, and Eli Manning tends to put the dagger in opponents in the fourth quarter. The formula works.

On the other side of the ball New York has a similar defensive approach to the Philadelphia Eagles, as they like to incorporate a lot of different blitz packages to disrupt opposing offenses. Cornerback Corey Webster has become one of the NFL's top covermen, and the Giants often trust him in one on one situations, allowing them to drop a safety into the box to slow down the run game as well as rush the passer at times.

What the Eagles do well..

The Philadelphia Eagles are a team built around playmakers on both sides of the ball. On offense, any time the ball is in Bryan Westbrook's hands, he can change the football game. We saw that in the Minnesota game and all season long. Desean Jackson is dangerous on offense, as well as on special teams where he made a big impact on punt returns in the Wild Card round.

On the defensive side, opposing offenses have to deal with Trent Cole, Asante Samuel, and Brian Dawkins - three guys who seem to make a big play every week. Samuel has shown that his play in New England wasn't just a product of the system, continuing to be a very reliable coverman and another ballhawk in that Philadelphia secondary. Defensive coordinator Jim Johnson does all he can to make opposing quarterbacks uncomfortable and confused with relentless blitzing from every possible angle. Clearly this is an elite defensive unit.

-- H.Kiswani

Other Notes: For the final time ever, we'll be running out Goal Line Blitz promotion/questionnaire. So if you have yet to sign up or signed up and never played, please head on over to the site and give it one full (free) season. And send all review to Mr. Benton!

Kiswani's Wild Card Weekend Predictions

hkiswani — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 04:03:00 GMT

Four of the eight football teams playing on Wild Card weekend this season - the Dolphins, the Ravens, the Falcons, and the Eagles, finished last in their division a season ago. That pretty much tells you everything you need to know about just how crazy the 2008 NFL season has been to this point. And if there's one thing the NFL is good for, it's more surprises.

But we like to make predictions here at G101 anyway, don't we?

Atlanta Falcons at Arizona Cardinals

This is certainly one of the more intriguing matchups of the upcoming weekend. Arizona and Atlanta face off in a game that will feature two very capable offenses, but also two very different offenses. The Falcons like to grind it out with the league's second-leading rusher in Michael Turner, and allow rookie quarterback Matt Ryan to make plays downfield off the play-fake. Arizona has two of the best receivers in the game, a sharp-shooting veteran passer behind center in Kurt Warner, and love to air it out.

At the end of the day, the Cardinals are 6-2 at home and we've seen what that offense can do in the Arizona warm weather - they've scored 29 or more points in seven of their eight home games this season. Kurt Warner has been in this spot before and has the weapons to outduel Matt Ryan. On the other side of the ball I like Arizona's ability to create turnovers, while the Falcons have a -3 turnover ratio.

Cardinals 28, Falcons 21

Indianapolis Colts at San Diego Chargers

Both of these teams are playing their best football going into the postseason, and both have quarterbacks performing at a very high level week in and week out. But which team is the real contender, and which is likely looking at an early exit?

Let's start with the Chargers four game win streak that got them into the playoffs. All four wins came against non-playoff teams, including Kansas City and Oakland - two teams that combined for seven wins this season. San Diego went 8-8 in the worst division in football. But the major problem for the Chargers is that their league worst pass defense is going up against the NFL MVP and best quarterback in football in Peyton Manning.

While the Colts are getting healthy on defense with Dwight Freeney and Bob Sanders coming back strong, Chargers running back LaDanian Tomlinson is banged up and hasn't been himself all season. The Colts running game hasn't been very impressive either however, so it comes down to Peyton Manning vs Phillip Rivers - who ya got?

I'll go out on a limb and take the three-time MVP.

Colts 30, Chargers 20

Baltimore Ravens at Miami Dolphins

The complete turnaround that the Miami Dolphins had this season was truly impressive. Chad Pennington played mistake-free football, and Miami played the game the right way all season long, taking care of the football and playing physical for sixty minutes every week.

Unfortunately for them they run into a very tough matchup this weekend with Baltimore. Points are tough to come by against the Ravens, and let's face it - the Dolphins don't have a very prolific offensive attack. You can expect Miami to have a lot of trouble getting into Baltimore territory for much of the afternoon, as Baltimore is going to come into this game looking to keep Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams under control while blitzing Chad Pennington from every which way on passing downs.

As long as Joe Flacco takes care of the football and doesn't step out of the role he's played all season and try to do too much, the Ravens should cruise.

Ravens 20, Dolphins 9

Philadelphia Eagles at Minnesota Vikings

Considered by many as the weakest team in the postseason, the Minnesota Vikings are dealing with more troubling doubts across their defensive front. Defensive end Ray Edwards has already been ruled out of the game with Philadelphia, and defensive tackle Pat Williams is struggling with a shoulder injury that may keep him out of Sunday's matchup as well.

Philadelphia is a team that thrives off of turnovers and the Vikings haven't done a good job taking care of the football this season, averaging nearly two giveaways a game. Jim Johnson will make sure to do all he can to take this game out of Adrian Peterson's hands, and that's where things could get ugly for Minnesota.

Eagles 27, Vikings 17

-- H.Kiswani

Giants News & Notes -- 1.1.09

Dan Benton — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 16:03:00 GMT

First and foremost, I'd like to wish everyone a happy and safe New Year. Hopefully all of you enjoy the night and aren't too groggy/hung over here this morning.

Also, I'd like to apologize for the lack of updates recently. The holiday season has been both pleasant and cruel to us here at Giants 101, but now that it's about passed us, we can return to form and have you constantly updated as the Giants attempt to return to glory.

Practice Notes:

Six plays were on the sidelines or limited in yesterday's practice. They were:

HB Brandon Jacobs (knee)
WR Domenik Hixon (ankle/foot)
TE Michael Matthews (ankle)
RT Kareem McKenzie (back)
DE Justin Tuck (knee)
LB Zak DeOssie (back)
S Michael Johnson (thigh)

It should be noted that Tuck's "lower leg injury" is now being referred to as a knee injury. Perhaps it's a little bit more serious than originally thought.

Roster Moves:

Although the news may be a tad late, the Giants have placed cornerback Sam Madison (ankle) on injured reserve, possibly ending his NFL career. And if that is the case, the staff writers at G101 would like to wish him the best.

Madison was an important part of the 2007 championship run and has done wonders for the improvement of Corey Webster. Not to mention he was a great clubhouse personality and an all-around great guy.

In addition to placing Madison on IR, the Giants also waived linebacker Edmond Miles.

To replace those two on the active roster, New York signed cornerback Rashad Barksdale and linebacker Rich Scanlon.

The team also signed wide receiver Paul Raymond to the practice squad.

Steve Spagnuolo update:

Everyone and their grandmother wants to sign him.

The Cleveland Browns have been given permission to interview him, and the Detroit Lions will speak to him at some point today.

What Wins in January? Ranking the Top Playoff Teams

hkiswani — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 18:30:00 GMT

The NFL regular season is over, and now there are 12 teams left standing. Records are erased, everyone is 0-0 and now it's win or go home every week. That's right Donovan McNabb - no more ties. Of course, home field advantage is going to count for something in January, but as we saw last season - a good football team can overcome a lot.

Over the past decade, it's become very clear what wins in the postseason. Generally of course, you can say that it's all about coaching, execution, and experience. But that's every football game. In January, there are four aspects of the game that become that much more important: quarterback play, the running game, run defense, and playmakers on both sides of the ball.

In a one game win or go home situation, often played in windy, cold conditions - these four factors play a huge role in which teams are built to make a run towards the Super Bowl, and which teams are more likely to be one and done.

Today we look at the four phases and the teams that rank at the top of the list in those areas amongst postseason teams.

Quarterback

Quarterback is the premier position in the NFL. It's even more vital in the postseason, when games are played in tough conditions, against top defenses, under pressure situations. Who would you rather have starting a playoff game at this point - Peyton Manning or Joe Flacco?

1. COLTS - The Colts go into the postseason with the smartest player in football behind center. Peyton Manning can make every throw, and has shown he has what it takes to bring the Lombardi Trophy to Indianapolis. Clearly the best quarterback in the game, Manning has carried a team with a struggling defense to nine straight wins to finish the 2008 regular season strong.

2. GIANTS - Eli Manning has been one of the NFL's most clutch performers over the past two seasons. Cool, calm, and playing the role of the silent assassin in late game situations - the younger Manning looks ready for another postseason run.

3. STEELERS - Ben Roethlisberger has shown his teammates that he's willing to play through every sort of injury and play well for them. There's something to be said about a quarterback who has the full respect of the other 52 guys in the locker room. Roethlisberger has really become one of the league's most impressive signal-callers over the past two seasons.

4. CHARGERS - Phillip Rivers is playing the best football of his career and has the Chargers rolling into the postseason. He's shown good accuracy under pressure and he's a fierce competitor - leading the charge for the San Diego offense.

Running Game

Nothing can keep an offense in control like a good running game. Teams that can run the football can win in any conditions, and can control the pace of a game.

1. GIANTS - With a three-headed monster in Brandon Jacobs, Derrick Ward, and Ahmad Bradshaw running behind the best offensive line in the NFL, the Giants run game was a terror for opposing defenses this season. Ward is the x-factor for New York going into the postseason, as he's become one of the NFL's top playmakers out of the backfield.

2. PANTHERS - DeAngelo Williams has been the league's top performer over the final four weeks of the regular season. He's a very explosive runner, and the Panthers bring in rookie Jonathan Stewart behind him to bruise opposing defenses and wear their opponents down over the course of a football game.

3. VIKINGS - Adrian Peterson is one of hte most dangerous offensive weapons in all of football, and once he gets rolling he's very tough to deal with. The Vikings are going to need to ride #28 if they're going to make noise in the postseason.

4. FALCONS - Atlanta is committed to running the football, and that's a big part of success in the playoffs. Michael Turner is having an impressive season, finishing second to Adrian Peterson in rushing - and he's been a load to stop in the red zone.

Run Defense

Again, the running game controls the pace of a football game. If your defense can stop the run, you force opposing offenses into passing situations in cold, windy weather and high pressure circumstances. And if you're going up against a young quarterback, that spells trouble for your opponent.

1. STEELERS - A very tough, physical defensive football team - the Steelers defense only gets stronger down the stretch of the NFL season. A stout defensive line and disruptive linebacking unit will make the Steelers very tough to deal with in Pittsburgh.

2. RAVENS - Does any running back look forward to going up against Ray Lewis, Bart Scott, and Haloti Ngata? Enough said. One thing you can bank on is physical, passionate play from this Baltimore defensive unit.

3. TITANS - Tennessee has struggled with some injuries on the defensive side of the football, but they do expect to be ready to go for their first postseason matchup in two weeks. Albert Haynsworth is a monster in the middle and the defensive line is stout across the board. Keith Bulluck is one of the league's best tacklers at linebacker.

4. VIKINGS - Minnesota is stout between the tackles, and Pat and Kevin Williams are rocks in the middle. However, Pat Williams is struggling with a shoulder injury and the Giants showed last week that the Vikings run defense isn't nearly as strong without Williams in the lineup. A lot will depend on the health of the big guy in the middle for Minnesota.

Playmakers

We all know what game-changing guys on either side of the ball can do for a team in a one game, win or go home situation. Need examples? How about Plaxico Burress' performance in Green Bay, or Justin Tuck's in Arizona for the defending Super Bowl champs?

1. EAGLES - Westbrook, Jackson, and McNabb on offense. Trent Cole, Asante Samuel, and Brian Dawkins on defense? We saw what the Eagles can do when they're clicking - and these six guys have each shown that they can single-handedly change the outcome of a football game with the big play.

2. PANTHERS - Steve Smith and DeAngelo Williams are two of the league's most explosive players on offense. They can take it to the house any time the ball is in their hands. On the other side of the ball, Julius Peppers can force opposing quarterbacks into mistake after mistake and Jon Beason is a beast at linebacker. He finished the season with 138 tackles and 3 interceptions.

3. COLTS - On offense, Reggie Wayne has shown he's clearly one of the league's true #1 receivers. Dallas Clark is a mismatch for defenses in the passing game, and the Colts boast playmakers on the other side of the ball as well. Safety Bob Sanders and defensive end Dwight Freeney top that list.

4. STEELERS - Ben Roethlisberger can turn any play into a big play on offense, but the real game-changers for Pittsburgh come on the defensive side of the ball. James Harrison, LaMarr Woodley, and Troy Polamalu on one defense equals turnovers and headaches for opposing offenses.

TEAMS BEST EQUIPPED TO MAKE A RUN DEEP INTO THE POSTSEASON

Taking home-field advantage and momentum into account, along with these rankings - these are the four teams I believe have the best chance to make it to Tampa:

1. Pittsburgh Steelers

2. New York Giants

3. Indianapolis Colts

4. Carolina Panthers

-- H.Kiswani

Giants @ Vikings: Week 17 Game Thread

Dan Benton — Sun, 28 Dec 2008 14:30:00 GMT

Dec. 28th

Week 17 Game Thread

2008

New York Giants vs. Minnesota Vikings

Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome (Minneapolis, Minnesota)

1:00 PM EDT, FOX

Game Conditions
Weather:	None
Temperature:	Controlled
Wind:	None

Key Injuries	Key Injuries
O - Aaron Ross	O - Pat Williams
O - Gerris Wilkinson	Q - Bernard Berrian
D - Kevin Boss	Q - Darius Reynaud
Q - Brandon Jacobs	Q - Artis Hicks
Q - Barry Cofield	P - Darren Sharper
Q - Kareem McKenzie	P - Jared Allen

O - Out D - Doubtful Q - Questionable P - Probable

Quotes:

Chris Snee:

"I hear things we have everything locked up and all this nonsense," Snee said. "We still have to go out there and play well. If you go out there and take a step backwards, it doesn't make much sense to me."

Brad Childress:

"I'm not worried about [my team] being tight," Minnesota coach Brad Childress said. "Downplaying it or up-playing it doesn't make them tight or doesn't make them not tight. It is not like there is a bunch of non-readers there. They know what is at stake."

Antonio Pierce on Adrian Peterson:

"Impressive, impressive. That's all I can say about him, he's impressive," the linebacker said. "He'd get our [MVP] vote. You watch on film and it's a highlight reel."

Derrick Ward on 1,000 yards and BJac:

"It would just be a great accomplishment for both of us considering where we've been up until now," Ward said. "We'd love to be a part of history."

Amani Toomer on "holding back:"

"You can't play like that," Toomer said. "You never know who you're going to play, so we're not going to hold anything back. That doesn't seem like how Coach (Tom) Coughlin would play the game."

David Diehl:

"I think you just do what you have to do to win the football game, regardless."

Inactives:

New York Giants - Aaron Ross, Gerris Wilkinson, Brandon Jacobs, Lawrence Tynes, Kevin Boss, Derek Hagan, Leger Douzable and Barry Cofield.

Minnesota Vikings - Pat Williams, John David Booty, Garrett Mills, Dontarrious Thomas, Marcus Johnson, Otis Grigsby, Darius Reynaud and Letroy Guion.

More:

Week 17: Giants vs. Vikings - Game Preview

hkiswani — Sat, 27 Dec 2008 18:27:00 GMT

The Giants are once again going into the final week of the NFL season with a playoff berth wrapped up, and once again will be playing to win. Head coach Tom Coughlin is a believer in playing the game the right way and going into the playoffs with momentum, and is expected to play all healthy starters in the football game.

The Minnesota Vikings need a win or Bears loss to clinch the NFC North, and will certainly come out swinging on Sunday so the Giants can't come out lacking intensity. That's a way to lose your edge going into the postseason and possibly have some of your guys get hurt out there because they aren't matching the fire and energy their opponents are playing with.

With the way the Giants have responded to Tom Coughlin over the past two seasons however, that shouldn't be an issue.

WHAT TO WATCH FOR

Derrick Ward's quest for 1000 and history

Ward is 52 yards away from 1,000 rush yards on the season, and will have to do it against the best run defense in the NFL, as the Vikings allow just 73 rush yards a game. If Ward is able to reach 1,000, he and teammate Brandon Jacobs would be just the fourth pair of backs on the same team to rush for 1,000 yards in the same season.

GAMEPLAN

Take an aggressive approach on offense early

The Giants need to do this for a couple of reasons. They need to put points on the board early to make the Vikings put the ball in the air more and force Minnesota's coaching staff to depend on Tarvaris Jackson a little bit more. Secondly, New York needs to get its passing game on track going into the playoffs. Over the past three weeks Eli Manning has averaged just 165 passing yards a game and has thrown two touchdowns to two interceptions.

Play physical on defense

This is a team that the Giants may very well run into in the postseason, and they need to give the Vikings something unpleasant to remember about their matchup. You can be sure Tom Coughlin doesn't want the Vikings gaining any confidence about the possibility of matching up with the Giants in January, so expect a lot of hard hitting and chippy play from the defense.

KEY STATS

The Giants have the league's top rushing offense at 158.9 yards a game and will go up against the league's best run defense, as the Vikings allow under 75 rushing yards a game to their opponents.
Eli Manning has thrown 23 or more touchdowns in each of the past three seasons. He has 21 touchdown tosses going into this game.

BIG GAME ALERT

WR Mario Manningham - Yes, Giants fans - this should be the game where Mario finally gets his shot at impressing you. With tight end Kevin Boss likely out with an ankle injury, and the Giants just looking to get some momentum heading into the postseason, they will likely want to get a good look at the rookie in extended playing time before the playoffs.

PREDICTION

The Giants have little to lose going into this game. They just need to stay healthy, and play with some intensity and they'll get a nice boost going into the postseason. I expect a young Vikings offense to be a little tight considering the circumstances, and the Giants to capitalize on their mistakes.

Giants win, and finish the season 13-3.

Giants 27, Vikings 17

(Season Prediction Record: 10-4)

-- H.Kiswani

To Rest or Not to Rest? Giants Again Face End-of-Season Decisions

Dan Murphy — Fri, 26 Dec 2008 14:01:00 GMT

What a luxury it is to face these decisions. After several seasons of mediocre play and futility, the New York Giants have played themselves into a spot in which we can write some of our own story. First, since this is my first thread since our thrilling victory on Sunday night, I want to say what a pleasure this season has been. To continue to build on last year’s improbable run despite all of the injuries, adversity, and uncertainty is amazing. We are putting together one of the best years in Giants history and dynastic traits continue to emerge. The number one seed is a precious commodity in pro football and, for the first time since the 2000 season, we will gear up for a home playoff run. I hope to expect a similar result as 2000 - well, minus the Super Bowl. So I just want to point out the significance of our position. For some reason that I just can’t realize, if the Panthers had won that game and went on to be the number one seed it just wouldn’t have seemed right. The Giants have spent the whole season kicking butt and taking names. It is good to see the Gods of Football inflict some justice.

For the second season in a row we now have a quandary: Do we rest our men? There are many variables that affect this decision. You have to take into account the following: the health of your players, the mental state of your team, and your responsibility to the rest of the NFC’s teams. Let’s take a look at each of these.

Player Health
The best thing to happen to Brandon Jacobs this year were the games he missed due to injury. With Jacobs on the shelf for a few game total, Derrick Ward and Ahmad Bradshaw failed to match his contribution and made very evident the need to resign Jacobs to a long-term contract. Don’t let the recent game by Ward get you too excited. While that was a great effort by Ward, he is allowed to shine like this because of Jacobs. The mere presence of Jacobs gets teams out of a tackling mentality. I believe that this has a trickle-down effect on the defense. Couple that mental edge with a physical tiring from getting ran over all game, defenses don’t have a chance no matter who is running the ball. The point here is that Jacobs in vital to us winning football games and he is not 100%. Do we give him the week off, play him 1 quarter, or ride him like every week? Joining Jacobs as questions marks will be Justin Tuck, Barry Cofield, Aaron Ross, Domenik Hixon, Kevin Boss, Fred Robbins, and Kareem McKenzie. Also, as additional preventative measures, do you let Eli “Iron” Manning go out there for a quarter and then sit him to avoid an extinction level event? How devastating would a Manning injury be to this team; I don’t even want to think about it. What to do with these guys?

Mental State of Team
Two words: Last season. That post-season run we had last year was simply a continuation of the last regular season game. That game, be it a losing effort, was the most important game of the season. In that contest, the Giants found their confidence and belief. Being unsure of the team that we had last year, I was a proponent of resting key players - man am I glad I was wrong. The team hadn’t proven that they could even stand in the same circle as the infamous Patriots. With nothing (seemingly) to gain, I did not want to risk having all of our soldiers for the upcoming battles. Well, not only did that not happen, we gained so much more than I expected. We stood with the best team (in term of wins) of all-time and played with ferocity, vigor, and remarkable purpose. While we couldn’t pull that one out we ultimately got what we wanted - we procured a tangible identity and an unassailable confidence that carried us into the history books. So, we are left with a similar situation: a meaningless game at the end of the season. What is a defending Champion to do?

League Responsibility
We have been in other team’s shoes. We have been in a position in which we need help to get into the playoffs. I remember in 2002 that we were in a heated race with the Saints and Eagles for one of the two wild card spots. In the last week of the season, we needed to beat the Eagles and have the Saints lose to the Bungles, errrr-Bengals. We took care of business in Philly (despite Tiki’s three fumbles in that game) and the Aaron Brooks-led Saints lost to a horrible Bengals team. We got in, the Saints did not and everything was gravy until the San Fran meltdown. While those games were meaningful for all involved in the playoff race that season, the point is that some teams need help to get in. Do teams have an unsaid responsibility to the rest of the NFL to play their starters, plan like it is business as usual, and take the field with an expected intensity. With teams such as the Vikings, Bears, and the Eagles dependent on (or at least will be effected by) the outcome of this game, is there an inherent responsibility that comes with the territory?

My Take
We are in a unique spot because not playing the banged-up guys would give them two weeks off due to the bye week. I say bench the injured. There is no need to put Jacobs, Tuck, and Cofield out there when that time could better be spent recovering and studying film. To me, it would be ridiculous to play any of these guys for more than a series. We literally have nothing else to play for so sit them down and get them physically ready for their next opponent. But Murph, what about keeping them mentally ready? Let’s get something straight, this is not the regular season Giants of 2007. This Giants team doesn’t need a “keep your players in game mode” game. This is one of the most mature and intelligent teams in the NFL and if the last 12 months have not reflected that, then what have we proven? Last year, yes…this year, absolutely not. Take two weeks off and come to play. Coughlin, Spags, and Flaherty won’t allow complacency or a lack of preparation to ensue. The Giants, especially after getting back on track last Sunday against Carolina will be focused for the playoffs. Lastly, as far as responsibility goes, screw the other teams jockeying for position. A team sets out with one goal…to reach the playoffs and, hopefully, get to the Super Bowl. Once you accomplish this, it is not your responsibility to look after the bottom-feeders. “The Giants have a responsibility to play…” shut up! Give me a break with this stuff. We have a responsibility to our team, organization, and the fans to do whatever is in the best interest of this team. Responsibility you say? I’ll tell you what to do...why don’t you play well enough so you don’t require welfare from the teams who handled their business during the season? Win more games! The only time I agreed with the “responsibility” argument was last year’s game against New England. We did owe the NFL to stand in their way. I didn’t feel so at the time but now I see the importance of what we did and the decisions that we made.

Regardless of what we decide, I want you all to know how proud I am to be a Giants fan. We have been begging since the 90’s to have a consistently good team. We now have that, so let us all enjoy it. I also want to point out how great it is to have interacted with all of you guys this year. Some of you are crazy and illogical at times but we all share the same, identical want: to have the Giants beat the piss out of everyone else. You guys are great. Happy Holidays to all of you.

Note: Check out H. Kiswani's Big Blue Awards for 2008

Giants 2008 End of Season Awards

hkiswani — Thu, 25 Dec 2008 19:36:00 GMT

It's been quite a season following the Giants epic Super Bowl XLII victory in February. New York is 12-3 heading into the final week of the 2008 season, one that hasn't lacked drama or excitement.

The football season began on a bad note for New York, as they lost defensive end Osi Umenyiora to a season-ending knee injury in the third preseason game back in August. This came after losing defensive end Michael Strahan to retirement earlier in the summer, and dealing away a disgruntled Jeremy Shockey to the New Orleans Saints. The pundits came out and gave the Giants little chance to have a successful season, let alone make their second straight Super Bowl. That changed in a hurry however, as the Giants won their first four games and made it clear to the NFL that they were all business in 2008.

The Giants fourth win came with the start of the Plaxico Burress show. And oh what a show it was. Burress was suspended by the team during their bye week for failing to show up to team meetings and not contacting the team to let them know of his circumstances. Then, prior to a week 13 matchup with division rival Washington - Burress accidentally shot himself in the leg at a club in New York City. It was revealed that Plaxico did not have a license for the weapon - a big no-no in New York. You know the rest.

The Giants are now coming off one of their most exciting and impressive wins of 2008 - an overtime thriller over the Carolina Panthers that clinched the number one seed in the NFC. Today, we look at some of the players who played a key role in getting this team to where they now stand.

TEAM MVP - QB Eli Manning

Eli Manning may not have as talented a team as he did going into the 2007 postseason run, but he's become a much more consistent football player in 2008 - and that's a big part of this team's 12-3 record. Manning is completing over 60% of his passes for the first time in his career going into the final week of the season, and has thrown just 10 interceptions compared to 20, 18, and 17 interceptions in the three previous seasons.

More importantly - Manning has shown to be one of the best, if not the best fourth quarter quarterback in all of football. In the final quarter, with the Giants within seven points of their opponents Manning has completed nearly 66% of his passes, with just two turnovers to five touchdowns, and a quarterback rating just under 100.

The Giants are 4-1 in games decided by 7 points or less. If you've learned anything about Eli Manning since January, you've learned not to bet against him in tight games. That's the mark of an elite quarterback.

OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR - RB Brandon Jacobs

Jacobs has been the engine for this Giants offense all year long. Forget the stat sheet and the numbers, and watch this Giants offense when Brandon Jacobs is healthy and compare that to games in which he is out or limited. He has a huge impact on the effectiveness of the opposing front seven over the course of a football game. Derrick Ward has been far less effective in games where Jacobs was inactive or left the game early, and the Giants offense has sputtered without the big bruiser there to set the tone.

Oh and by the way, he's averaging 5 yards per carry - good for second in the NFL amongst backs with 200 or more attempts, 83.8 yards per game - good for sixth in the NFL, and has scored 15 rushing touchdowns - good for third in the NFL.

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR - CB Corey Webster

Is there any doubt left that this guy is one of the top five corners in all of football? Webster has been absolutely incredible this season for New York, shutting down the likes of Steve Smith, Chad Johnson, Terrell Owens, and Hines Ward. He's become the one consistent player in New York's secondary, with shutdown coverage on some of the league's best receivers - and also showing to be one of the best tackling corners in the NFL.

Not surprisingly, New York signed Webster to a long-term extension earlier this month.

MOST IMPROVED PLAYER - WR Domenik Hixon

Hixon has become much more than a good special teams player for the New York Giants. He's developed into a dangerous receiver and has shown that he is capable of stepping into the starting lineup and making plays for the G-Men in the passing game. He's very quick in and out of his breaks, and has shown the acceleration to make the big play downfield. He's done a solid job filling in for Plaxico Burress, and has shown explosive playmaking ability at times - like the Seattle game in week five.

If Hixon can improve his consistency - he can become a top receiver in this league.

TOP ROOKIE - S Kenny Phillips

The Giants first round pick has displayed the skill set that we've seen in the league's top safeties. Phillips is a great open-field tackler, shows great instincts and range to make plays on the football or put the big hit on the ball carrier, and clearly has the intensity and physical tools to be a game-changer in the secondary.

Splitting time with James Butler and Michael Johnson, Phillips has racked up 63 tackles and an interception on the season. He will be a difference maker for New York for a long time.

Everyone here at Giants 101 would like to wish a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all our readers! Enjoy this holiday season and your 12-3, defending Super Bowl champs Giants fans!

-- H.Kiswani

Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah to All!!

Scarroll — Thu, 25 Dec 2008 18:52:00 GMT

Fellow Giants fans, loyal readers and friends...on behalf of the writers of Giants101.com, we want to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah!!

As with many holidays we discuss here, this is a time to be with friends and family and enjoy the moments that, be them stressful or wonderful, will become lasting memories. However, it is important to me that I let you all know how grateful I am to have the chance to discuss issues relating to the Giants, NFL and nearly anything, every day.

This is without question the best Giants site online and most of that is because of the quality of the people involved and the smart discussion that takes place here (compared to the mindless dribble I've found at other sites).

So thank you all for your loyal reading and enjoy your holidays!

Merry Christmas to all and to all.....GO GIANTS!!!!

Burress and The Giants: Then and Now

Scarroll — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 23:27:00 GMT

The New York Giants took the lead late in the fourth quarter of Super Bowl 42 with a fade route pass to Plaxico Burress, who after being marked extensively throughout the game, found himself nearly wide open. Burress turned around as he backpedaled towards the back-left corner of the end zone and caught the ball with ease. He kneeled down, presumably said a prayer of thanks, and ran back to his sideline with the Giants up by three points on the New England Patriots.

The rest is history.

After all the pomp and circumstance that followed the Super Bowl victory, reality kicked backed in and the Giants found themselves with a star receiver who suddenly needed to sit-out of training camp due to some truly pesky, nagging injuries. Hmm. Then, just before the 2008 Season Opener, Burress' injuries seemed to simply fade away as he signed a fat, new contract worth roughly $35 million.

A few bumps and hiccups later, the New York Giants were happy and content with their satisfied star receiver. Burress' results in the 2008 season were mediocre, at best. In the ten games he played, Plax recorded 35 receptions for 454 yards 4 touchdowns. Not terrific, but certainly not bad. Plus, Burress served his role perfectly as the distraction that the Giants needed to open up the run game and free-up other Big Blue receivers. Despite Burress' numbers, the team was happily rolling through the season standing at the top of the NFC with an 11-1 record.

BANG!

On November 28, 2008, while enjoying some cocktails at a NYC night club, the waistband on Burress' sweatpants gave way and lost their grip on his .40 Glock pistol. In a scramble, Burress tried to get a hold on the gun, but in the process it discharged and the bullet ripped through his thigh. After some horrifically embarrassing cover-up attempt, Burress was charged with criminal possession of a handgun by the NYPD. Additionally, the New York Giants placed him on the non-football injury list ending his 2008 season and suspended him without pay for their remaining games. Additionally, teammate Antonio Pierce was also required to testify against his colleague in order to receive immunity for allegedly trying to hide the gun involved in the so-called crime.

Things went from bad to worse with for the Super Bowl 42 hero as he was sued by a Florida woman for injuries and damages from an automobile accident Burress was involved in last May.

Moreover, police searched Burress' home on Tuesday night, taking with them two firearms and the pants Burress was wearing the night of the incident. If these guns are also illegal, it could mean that Burress will face additional charges in the state of New Jersey.

When all of this began, the idea was that the New York Giants, while sad to see their star receiver make such poor decisions and lose him for the season, would be alright without him. The team prided themselves on their depth in the WR position. Veteran Amani Toomer, second-year player Steve Smith and the newly emerging receiver Domenik Hixon were set to take the reigns and control of the void left behind by Burress. Unfortunately, opposing defenses cracked the code almost immediately as they pulled their Safeties off of receiver coverage and up to the line to stop the Giants notorious run game. To make matters worse, the Giants were unable to capitalize on this opportunity, dropping passes, blowing routes and losing their chemistry with Eli Manning.

When it seemed as though the "shot heard round the league" had officially caused irreparable damage, the Giants stepped up in last week's game against Carolina and got their game back in line. The Giants receiving corps brought things back under control, catches were made and drives were put together. The Giants, who put racked up 302 total rush yards, seemed to shake their Plaxico Woes.

So with confidence rebuilding and the #1 seed officially in hand, the Giants are starting to embrace life without Burress...and perhaps with good cause. It is unclear what these new guns seized by the authorities yesterday will reveal, and more so, what implications they will have on Burress' future with the Giants...or lack thereof.

If Burress is sentenced to the NYC minimum of 3.5 years in prison, it goes without question that the Giants will forever be without their Super Bowl hero. If he somehow is able to dodge jail time and NFL commissioner Roger Goodell does not add supplemental league sanctions, Jerry Reese has said that he is open to taking Burress back. At this point, that would probably be the best thing for the Michigan alum and Big Blue. While the Giants current receivers are capable of handling the load through the remainder of the 2008 season and post-season, they will have to address their need for a new #1 WR. This is not a position that Hixon, Manningham, Toomer or anyone on the team can assume and that fact is simply not negotiable.

As such, the next eight months will be some of the most interesting months the Giants have dealt with in years. Signing a new star WR could prove to be another way to make this team even better. Conversely, retaining Burress (if he is not in jail) may also be a great decision as a second chance might be just what Plax needs to truly step up his game, drop his ego and get him focused entirely on being the best WR he can for his team.
Time will tell...

NOTE:

- The general consensus throughout most circles in the media and among fans is that Tom Coughlin will be benching any and all players who are currently dealing with any injuries at all...which includes Brandon Jacobs and his two sprained knees. This team will come out to play and win on Sunday, but they will not be risking the health of their best players to do it.

Giants News & Notes -- 12.23.08

Scarroll — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 17:14:00 GMT

The New York Giants are back and ready for action. After their epic win against the Panthers last Sunday, Big Blue is preparing to keep themselves on the radar by (most likely) playing to win against the Vikings this Sunday. It's no secret that coach Tom Coughlin has never been a fan of resting players or "playing it safe," so it should come as no surprise that the early reports indicate Coughlin will have his team ready to go on Sunday.

And now, the rest of today's Giants news, tidbits and nuggets:

Bring On the Vikings:

While nothing is official official, early reports are surfacing that Giants head coach Tom Coughlin will be putting his team on the field in the regular season finale with every intention of taking down the Adrian "Purple Haze" Peterson and the Vikings defense. Yes, should the Giants win, it will have playoff implications (for other teams), so it will be a closely watched game without question.

Yesterday, Coughlin explained his stance on "meaningless" games, saying:

“I disagree with the idea that you have nothing to gain...There’s a lot to be gained. If you believe, as we do, you have to be playing your best football at this time of year, you ceratinly do have some things to build on, particularly when you’re not going to play for a couple of weeks.”

Maybe the Vikings will see right through that and prepare for a Giants team that will be laying up and resting everyone...I mean, it's possible, right? Wrong! It appears that Coughlin's reputation is well-known, as Vikings head coach Brad Childress noted:

"That’s how Tom’s (Coughlin) wired...You saw them play all those guys last year against New England. He has a couple weeks off (due to a first-round bye). He’s not going to give them three weeks off."

Burress' Legal Issues Continue:

Just when you thought things were stabilizing in the world of Plaxico Burress, new reports have come to light that an automobile accident he was involved in, in Florida, may be coming back to haunt the star New York Giants receiver. According to ProFootballTalk.com, Alise Smith of Miami, FL, is alleging that Burress rear-ended her causing injury to her neck and back.

Perhaps an ambulance-chasing lawyer followed Smith to the hospital and helped her find a way to obtain her absolutely deserving money...you know, since this is coming out now despite the fact that it happened May of 2008. She is suing him for $15,000 to cover car damages and medical bills. Frankly, this disgusts me. People like this should be forced to give themselves a papercut for every dollar they seek. If this was truly so horrible, Ms. Smith should have brought it up in May.

Giants History on the Horizon:

The New York Giants are just yards away from being the fourth team in NFL history to accomplish a truly impressive feat. Currently, Brandon Jacobs boasts 1,089 rushing yards with one game remaining in the year (incidentally, in 2007, Jacobs had only 1,009 yards, meaning he has already surpassed last year's total). Additionally, Derrick Ward has run for a total of 948 yards, meaning 52 yards will give "Wind" a 1,000-yard season.

What does this all mean?

According to Rotoworld, should Ward pick up those 52 remaining yards, the New York Giants will be just the fourth team in NFL history to have two RB's rush for over 1,000 yards.

You may begin bragging.

Lingering Decisions for Big Blue:

Things are going pretty well for the Giants right now. They are sitting on a comfortable 12-3 record, they have two RB's with 1,000+ yards (almost), they are the #1 seed in the NFC and are approaching a BYE week before they hit the playoff. So things are terrific, right?

Well, almost.

Jerry Reese and Tom Coughlin will soon be facing some tough decisions. Derrick Ward and Brandon Jacobs will both be free agents at the end of the season and thus far no moves have been made. The system the team has in place now works and works well (see: both RB's have 1,000 yards). Even without their #1 WR, the Giants are able to hit their remaining receivers largely due to the success of their run game. However, it is going to be tough to keep both players on the roster with the kind of money they are undoubtedly going to demand.

Jacobs has become the staple in Big Blue's system, pounding opposing defenses and readying them for the quick legs of Ward. In turn, Ward has struck when the opportunity presents itself and blasted off numerous lengthy runs. At this point it is safe to assume Jacobs will return with a new contract next year...but will Ward? Will the Giants let their second RB take his chances on the market? Will Ahmad Bradshaw be the new speed-machine for the G-men? Only time will tell...but for now, let's hear what you all have to say. Share your thoughts on the RB situation in the comments section and let the banter begin!

As usual, Giants101.com will report any and all information as it unfold...stay tuned!

Giants Victory Key to Unlocking Momentum

Scarroll — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 04:20:00 GMT

The New York Giants exited Weeks 14 and 15 with their tails between their legs. After lambasting the vast majority of their scheduled adversaries throughout the 2008 season, the Super Bowl Champs, slayers of the Patriot juggernaut of 2007, sauntered out of Texas Stadium looking as if they may very well end up "riding off into the sunset" as nothing more than a recollection of a once terrorizing team.

Plaxico Burress' gunshot heard 'round the world, retirement, injuries, pressure and expectations...all of these things had become a weight attached to the feet of the New York Giants that was so heavy it had become too much to bear.

As Sunday night's game against the Carolina Panthers approached, this Giants team was reminded by media and fans alike that this would be a major obstacle, a final judgement. After being the NFC frontrunner for most of the season, they suddenly found themselves in a position where they were not the hottest team. They were once the hottest team but had begun to take the appearance of an easily dissectable, one-dimensional team. Vegas was the only group showing any love for the Giants, awarding Big Blue "Favorite" status in the match-up; the bookies gave them 3 points simply due to home-field advantage.

Meanwhile, their opponent was looking better than ever. DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart, combined with Steve Smith and a formidable Panthers defense provided a challenge tough enough to bring down even the NFL elite. All of this coming off an undefeated season at home and winning five of their last six games.

On Sunday night, the New York Giants beat the Carolina Panthers, 34-28 in Overtime. This piece is not about the analysis of the game. Hazem tackled that feat with flying colors this morning. What is important to note now is not only did the Giants find a strategy to win last night that resulted in their best running performance (and most believe their key to continued success) in over five decades, but they re-ignited the fire that helped catapult them to success for so long.

Last year the Giants faced the New England Patriots in the last game of the regular season. Big Blue had clinched a playoff berth at this point as well, but instead of resting they chose to face-off against the New England "toughest team ever assembled" Patriots. They did not win this game, but just like the Panthers game, amidst success in the season, the Giants used this game to propel them into the playoffs with confidence and hunger.

After starting out in what seemed to be a continuation of their previous two games, the Giants regrouped after halftime with a renewed sense of team-play and flat-out heart. Surpassing obstacles such as the flu and nagging injuries, the Giants came out determiend to win. The offensive line displayed a now (relatively) consistent showing of solidarity, throwing key blocks and paving the way for a running game lead by Brandon Jacobs, but driven by Derrick Ward. Eli Manning found his targets with urgency and poise, tagging six different receivers in his aresenal for positive yardage. Antonio Pierce and the Giants defense, while struggling to contain the Panther run-game, successfully locked down arguably the best receiver in the entire league...and this occurring with a questionable Aaron Ross and a virtually non-existant pass-rush.

Following a rough run of division games, issues with the team and injuries of all types, the Giants kept their heads and hearts in the game and percervered. With that win the Giants accelerate into full-gear once more with the playoffs on the horizon. Will this be enough to keep the fire burning until the end? One can only hope. However, this team has shown time and time again their ability to get the job done when it is necessary, and as a result, they leave the 2008 regular season as the #1 seed in the conference, far above most predictions heading into the season. They hold this honor with a 12-3 record as they ready themselves for their regular season finale on the road in Minnesota.

Tom Coughlin, Jerry Reese and the rest of the Big Blue organization have a long road ahead, but at least that road runs through New York/New Jersey.

Resilient G-Men Ride Ward to OT; Win #1 Seed

hkiswani — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 17:34:00 GMT

Giants fans got flashbacks of Tiki Barber in the final game of the 2006 season in which he carried New York to a playoff berth against the Washington Redskins. Except this time it was Derrick Ward carrying the Giants - and to the number one seed in the National Football Conference. Ward ran for 215 yards on 15 carries, including runs of 51 yards, 14 yards, and 17 yards on the final drive in overtime to will the Giants to a thrilling win.

Down 21-13 at halftime, the Giants buckled down on defense in the second half as Eli Manning and the Giants offense continued to move the ball on Carolina's defense, with long, draining drives centered around tough running from Brandon Jacobs and Derrick Ward. Eli Manning was 17-27 with 181 yards passing, and a touchdown - including a third quarter drive where he completed all six of his attempts, capped off by a four yard touchdown toss to tight end Kevin Boss to cut Carolina's lead to 28-20. The Giants tied the game with under five minutes left in the game, as Brandon Jacobs rumbled in from a yard out and Eli Manning hit Domenik Hixon for the 2-point conversion. With nine seconds left in regulation, Panthers kicker John Kasay hooked a 50 yard field goal wide left.

Then came overtime and then came the Derrick Ward show, as the shifty back rumbled for 98 yards in the extra period. With the 34-28 victory, New York improves to 12-3 and clinches homefield advantage throughout the postseason, as well as a first round bye.

KEY TO VICTORY - RB Derrick Ward

It's as simple as that. Ward was just explosive in this game - the Panthers struggled to wrap up up front and Ward made them pay in the open field. As the game went on and Brandon Jacobs made that Carolina front seven black and blue, Ward took advantage of every touch and every tired Carolina defender as he dashed through Panthers like they were a JV squad. He gained 82 yards on the Giants 87-yard game winning drive in overtime, and finished with 215 yards on the ground for the game. That's a guy carrying his team to victory.

Ward must have known he was the big game alert in G101's game preview, because he sure did run with a purpose on Sunday night. Yeah, that's it.

GAME POSITIVES

- Don't underestimate the heart and the toughness of this football team. It may be cliche, but this really is what championship teams are made of. They never stop playing, never stop fighting, and never stop believing that they will win the game no matter how tough a situation they find themselves in. And it shows.

- The Giants dominant rushing attack is back and as dangerous as ever. Ward and Jacobs combined for over 300 yards on the ground and the formula of Jacobs bruising and Ward dashing worked to perfection. The Giants stuck to the running game and got back to playing Giants football - and it clearly paid off. And it should be obvious to anyone who saw the game last night that Jacobs was not 100% out there - but he still played a big role in getting this Giants offense back on track. He just puts a beating on a defensive front.

- Domenik Hixon had his best game since Burress was declared done for the season, with four receptions for 71 yards. He drew a critical pass interference penalty in the end zone to set up the fourth quarter touchdown. It was Carolina's only P.I penalty of the season.

- Is it me, or does Eli Manning always end up on top in close football games? As the playoffs approach, the games get tighter and having a quarterback who can do what Eli Manning does in clutch spots is what separates good teams from great teams.

- Tight end Kevin Boss has really grown into his role in this Giants offense. His chemistry with quarterback Eli Manning has improved from week to week this season, and he's become a real threat in the passing game.

- For those who haven't noticed - the Giants have a shutdown cornerback. Corey Webster is one heck of a defensive back and he continues to be the most consistent player on this defense. He really shut down one of the league's best in Steve Smith on Sunday night.

- The Giants have struggled with penalties as of late, but they did a good job keeping the mistakes to a minimum in this game with just two penalties for 10 lost yards.

GAME NEGATIVES

- There are considerable problems with the safety play for the Giants. It has been up and down all season, and while James Butler has stepped up his level of play this season, he played an ugly game last night - both in coverage and in run support. Second-year man Michael Johnson was even worse. He played some of the most uninspired, sloppy football I've seen from him since he was drafted - diving at the runner's feet, getting stuck behind blocks by wide receivers constantly. Very disappointing performance from these two.

- This Giants pass rush just isn't what it was last season. Jake Delhomme was very comfortable in the pocket all game long - particularly when the Giants went to the four man rush. The defensive line just isn't getting the same push. And when the Giants did come on the blitz, guys didn't get home. Chase Blackburn was absolutely stuffed by DeAngelo Williams on a blitz pickup in the first quarter and that really continued all the way through the final whistle.

- The Giants linebacking core was awful last night. There's no other way to put it. Antonio Pierce specifically - really struggled getting off blocks, and when the tackles were there to be made we saw Pierce struggle to wrap up. Chase Blackburn was almost a non-factor and the Giants may need to start thinking about working rookie Bryan Kehl back into a rotation if he continues to play this poorly.

- Why is R.W McQuarters still on punt return duty? He is not a threat at all to break the big return, and he almost cost the Giants the game last night with his struggles to hold on to the football. The Giants need a spark in the return game, and a guy that doesn't have issues securing the ball.

- The Giants got three opportunities to intercept Jake Delhomme last night - and that's with very little pressure on the Carolina quarterback. The Giants secondary needs to do a better job capitalizing on opportunities.

OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE GAME

No question here - RB Derrick Ward. He put on one of the most impressive performances we've seen from a Giants running back in a long time, while earning himself a lot of money this off-season. Ward ran like a man completely unwilling to watch his team lose their third straight and carried them right to the number one seed in the NFC with long run after long run - adding up to 215 rush yards, a career best. The Panthers just couldn't wrap Ward up in the hole, and once he breaks past that first level of defenders he's a load to deal with in space.

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE GAME

Corey Webster is playing like one of the two or three best corners in the NFL - and not many people outside of New York know his name. Webster is the definition of a shutdown corner, and faced with one of the league's top wideouts he once again came out on top last night. He held Steve Smith to just two receptions - with Smith's third catch coming against Kevin Dockery. Webster is physical both in coverage and run support - and most importantly, he plays fearlessly out there. Giants fans should be very happy that this guy was just signed to an extension.

More Game Balls..

RB Brandon Jacobs, TE Kevin Boss, FB Madison Hedgecock, WR Domenik Hixon, DB Terrell Thomas

MY TAKE..

This game was much closer than I expected it would be. The Panthers really took it to the Giants defensive front seven right from the start, but they couldn't sustain it for sixty minutes. New York did a great job adjusting on defense and making big stops in the second half, allowing their offense to drive them right back into the football game.

And give Brandon Jacobs a lot of credit - he clearly was not 100%, but came out there in a big game and ran hard through the knee injury to help his team clinch home field.

Once again, and I've said this several times this season - this is the most resilient football team I've ever seen. They've faced all types of issues this season - Osi Umenyiora's injury prior to the season coupled with the Michael Strahan's retirement, the Plaxico Burress saga, and a stretch of nine straight games against teams with winning records - and here they are at 12-3 with the top seed in the conference. They continue to be disrespected - in the media, and even by the fans at times, yet they come out and shut doubters up in big game after big game.

The Giants are defending Super Bowl champs, NFC East division champs, and the number one seed in the NFC - and yet, they are still doubted and written off by a lot of people.

You just have to shake your head.

LOOK AHEAD..

The Giants go into a game that won't affect their standing going into the postseason next week with the Minnesota Vikings. The Vikings however could be playing for a playoff spot next week, with the Chicago Bears a game behind them in the NFC North. The question clearly becomes do you play your starters - and we saw last season that Tom Coughlin likes to play his guys in these situations. However, the team is banged up and we could see several guys get the game off.

-- H.Kiswani

Giants Best Carolina, Clinch NFC's #1 Seed

Scarroll — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 06:24:00 GMT

Well fellow Giants fans...our beloved Big Blue have once more given us reason to put up with the heart attacks, ulcers and gray hairs. After two games (Eagles and Cowboys) of looking only nominally superior to the Lions, the New York Football Giants returned to their true form, emerging victorious against their chief rival in the NFC, the Carolina Panthers.

In an epic, 34-28 Overtime win, the New York Giants clinched the #1 seed in the NFC, securing a first-round BYE and homefield advantage throughout the playoffs.

Playing through sprains, broken bones and flus, Big Blue (after sputtering through the first half) snapped into shape and showed the NFL why they are worthy of their Super Bowl title and that they are not going to give it up...not easily, anyway. The return of Brandon Jacobs to the starting lineup proved to be a necessary key to the Giants success as his smashmouth running style battered and bruised Carolina's defense, ultimately making way for the true player of the game: Derrick Ward.

Ward racked up 215 yards on 15 carries by the end of the game, setting a personal record. Combined with Jacobs' 87 yards, the New York Giants running game totaled 302 yards by the end of the match, a total of yardage not seen since 1959.

Hazem will be on tomorrow morning to share his in-depth analysis of this truly amazing game, however, we wanted to get something up to officially recognize the tremendous effort the Giants put in tonight. Stay tuned to Giants101.com for more on the game as Hazem breaks it all down Monday morning.

Go Big Blue!

Panthers @ Giants: Week 16 Game Thread

Dan Benton — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 16:55:00 GMT

Dec. 21st

Week 16 Game Thread

2008

Carolina Panthers vs. New York Giants

Giants Stadium (East Rutherford, New Jersey)

8:15 PM EDT, NBC

Game Conditions
Weather:	Partly Cloudy
Temperature:	23°F - 29°F
Wind:	W 18-20 MPH

Key Injuries	Key Injuries
O - Kenneth Moore	O - Gerris Wilkinson
D - Keydrick Vincent	Q - Fred Robbins
D - Hilee Taylor	Q - Brandon Jacobs
Q - Maake Kemoeatu	Q - Domenik Hixon
Q - Gary Gibson	Q - Sinorice Moss
P - Jon Beason	P - Kareem McKenzie

O - Out D - Doubtful Q - Questionable P - Probable

Quotes:

Antonio Pierce:

"This Sunday is going to be very interesting," Antonio Pierce said. "The last two weeks, teams have been playing Super Bowls against us. Well, this will be an NFC Championship game this Sunday at Giants Stadium, not a better place to be."

Justin Tuck:

"I think in some ways we pressed in the last two games because we know one more win kind of gives us that bye," Tuck said. "We definitely need to let the game come to us."

Kareem McKenzie:

"[It's time to] put up or shut up," McKenzie said.

Tom Coughlin:

"Both teams realize the importance of never having to leave home throughout the playoffs. I don't think anybody can miss the essence of this game."

Chris Snee:

"We're comfortable on the road, but that doesn't mean we want to go on the road," Snee said. "Everyone would like to have the road come through the Meadowlands."

Na'il Diggs:

"The fact that they've lost two in a row makes them even more dangerous," linebacker Na'il Diggs said. "You get a good team like that coming off two losses, especially going into their place, they're going to be more than eager to ‘get back' as I like to say. They're not accustomed to losing football games. So you've got to be prepared for their best shot, at any given moment and for all 60 minutes."

Inactives:

New York Giants - Gerris Wilkinson, Lawrence Tynes, Sam Madison, Adam Koets, Leger Douzable, Derek Hagan, Jerome McDougle and Sinorice Moss.

Carolina Panthers - Kenneth Moore, Ma'ake Kemoeatu, Hilee Taylor, Adam Seward, Mackenzy Bernadeau, Matt Moore, D.J. Hackett and C.J. Wilson.

More: