Giants vs. Titans, NFL Week 3: Game Notes

September 26, 2010

NEW YORK – The Giants lost to the Titans today by the score of 29-10 in a very bad game. Notice how I am not using the angry man tone in favor of the “I’m just really disappointed in you” voice. That’s the tone for this game, a head shaker and at times unbearable to watch. It hurts me to even have to write about the Giants like this but millions of people saw exactly what I did. There is no defending the team on this one, the players have to take responsibility for this one and move forward.

The fans have started asking for head coach Tom Coughlin to be fired. This is not going to happen and if Coach Coughlin decides to retire next year or if the Giants decide to find another coach (Cowher) then so be it. I’m a fan of Tom Coughlin. Let’s not forget what he inherited and how much character he brought to the organization. People are entitled to their opinions but let’s stay classy Giants fans. Trying to get a coach or player fired from making a living is not cool.

So many things went wrong in this game that I honestly do not feel like listing them all here for you. The team knows what happened, the fans saw what happened and I’m too drained to give a lengthy breakdown of all that went wrong. I will make it short and sweet. The offense played poorly even though they moved the ball, the defense played decent but seemed to lose it in the fourth quarter and the special teams were not very good at all. I would feel like I was picking on the team by describing this atrocious game.

There were some players who I thought had a good game, including RB Ahmad Bradshaw, WR Steve Smith, TE Kevin Boss, WR Mario Manningham, S Kenny Phillips, DE Mathias Kiwanuka. I’m sure I’m missing one or two guys but these stood out the most. QB Eli Manning was 34/48 for 386 yards 0 TD’s 2 INT’s. He needs to take control of the offense again by having a great game against their next opponent, the Chicago Bears on Sunday. The team will need to dig down deep for week four and pull out a win before things get out of hand. They should be 2-1 right now, let’s not make it 1-3 next week.

RD – nygreporter.com

PLEASE SUPPORT GEORGE MARTIN’S, A JOURNEY FOR 9/11 CHARITY!


2010 Fantasy Football, Big Blue Projections and Tips

September 22, 2010

NEW YORK – Do you play fantasy football? Are you a Giants fan? If you answered yes to both of these questions and feel like you are a mediocre fantasy player or novice, then you have come to the right place. I am going to offer some nygreporter fantasy football advice and include my projections for Giants players. Other NFL players will be included, simply because they are tops their respective value lists. We are now heading into week three of the NFL regular season and this is the week where you begin to panic about certain players, my advice is don’t panic. Plan for the future and check your bye weeks. Check the waiver lists but do not panic.

If you are an experienced fantasy football player and find some of this information remedial to you, please feel free to add any fantasy advice you may have for our readers in the comment section below. We are always open to hearing opinions or strategies because this is after all for the fantasy football team owners. Plus, even I love to learn anything new or fresh about the fantasy sports world. In fact, I will leave a TIP area open for your fantasy football tip and the best one will get edited in and you will get credit for it. Simply leave a comment below, you do not need to be a member to leave a comment.

If you feel like you still have some fantasy related questions, please feel free to leave a comment and we would be happy to give you our opinion. Fantasy football and fantasy sports in general can become addicting. You have been warned. Enjoy the season!

Let’s take a look at some nygreporter fantasy tips.

TIP: What do I love more then anything during week five of the NFL season? Picking up players who had their bye week in week four. This way, the bye week is over and you won’t be concerned with having to monitor this player or defense for the rest of the season. You can pretty much forget about that player unless he has an injury and getting a good defense when the bye week has passed, allows you to stick with one defense for the rest of the year, opening up an extra roster space for another skill position.

TIP: If you want to win, then get a routine. This is a simple step but mostly overlooked. There are some users who play fantasy sports who don’t rally care about the outcome. Other get into a routine where they do all the research to give themselves a better chance at winning. The routine is the key. You must make a checklist of things that need to be checked every weekend. That includes bye week status, injuries, opposing offense or defense rankings, home team, checking your lineup and so forth. You get the idea.

TIP: Checking fantasy players for dummies. This is like the cliff notes for doing a proper player search for the novice. Use the “percent owned” option, this will list the players based upon the amount of total fantasy users. That means if a player is owned by 90% of fantasy players, there is a solid chance that the fantasy community as a whole, know what they are talking about. There are millions of fantasy players using these games and 90% of them agreeing on a players value is priceless.

TIP: Every single Sunday at noon, you must watch the pre game shows and check your fantasy football rosters. You watch those pre game shows because that is when the injury report comes out, usually within an hour of the 1 o’clock kickoffs. Most fantasy football sites allow you to change your roster up to 5 minutes before kick off.

TIP: Your drafts are more then likely already completed. For those of you who are joining your leagues late, here is some draft advice. Be sure to check the settings for your league before you draft. Now that users can make custom leagues, players have to be sure they are getting into a league they will like. Head to Head is always the easiest and most fun IMO. Rotisserie is another option but much more stressful and annoying, not for the faint of heart either. Always que players prior to the actual draft and do a customized player ranking. This is a fail safe in case you cannot get out of work and miss a LIVE draft. I prefer to do the LIVE drafts over the automated ones. If you do an automated draft, be sure to immediately check the waiver wire for players using the “percentage owned” option.

TIP: I do not recommend anyone playing fantasy football for money until at least one season being tutored by an experienced player. There are many websites where you can legally play for money. CBS Sports was the first to do so but others have now emerged that are poised to change the fantasy sports world forever. Websites, like the brand new FantaZ fantasy sports site are the future of online gaming for real money and a ton of fun. You can play for free on the FantaZ site if you like to learn the game or play for money. Sign up early for the expected October launch date.

TIP: Talking trash in good clean fun is part of the game. There are some who get carried away though and allow themselves to become belligerent. Do not be this guy/girl. You may find yourself invited to private leagues and make some friends who sign up each and every year because of the atmosphere of the league. Yes, leagues have atmospheres. You may hear of a “dead” league. This is a place where no one trades or talks or uses the boards. These are the leagues that you check once per week and thats it. The “fun” league is self explanatory. Cursing and acting like an idiot has no place in fantasy where kids can be playing for fun.

TIP: BEST Fantasy Football TIP From Reader Comment GOES HERE!!!

NEW YORK GIANTS TOP 5 FANTASY PLAYER PROJECTIONS (UPDATED):

1. QB Eli Manning – I expect QB Eli Manning to improve on his career year in 2009. He should be good for 250 yards and 2 TD’s 1 INT per game average IMO. I am only adding the 1 INT because of all the tipped and dropped balls by the WR group so far this year. I have already been quoted as saying, I believe Eli Manning will make the 2010 pro bowl, I stand by what I said and know that I am looking at a calm, cool and collected veteran quarterback. My top 3 fantasy QB’s – Peyton Manning, Drew Brees, Tom Brady

2. WR Hakeem Nicks – Hakeem Nicks has become the favorite target for Easy Eli. He has 4 TD’s so far this year in two games and seems to be on the cusp of stardom. Nicks could end up averaging 2 TD’s per game the rest of the season if he stays healthy. His enormous hands like frying pans and strong build make him a perfect candidate to join the elite WR’s one day, if not this season. I also see Nicks as a record setter for Big Blue. He can easily end up with the single season TD record and yards and YAC records. My top 3 fantasy WR’s – Andre Johnson, Reggie Wayne, Larry Fitzgerald

3. WR Steve Smith – Smith has been quiet so far this year and you know what, that is just the way he likes it. Smith could easily end up with the most receptions for Big Blue in 2010. 7-8 catches per game for 90-100 yards. I gave Steve Smith the nickname “The Silent Assassin” a long time ago for this very reason. He comes out of nowhere with clutch grabs and when the game is over, the defenses are scratching their heads. My top 3 fantasy WR’s – Andre Johnson, Reggie Wayne, Larry Fitzgerald

4. RB Ahmad Bradshaw – Somewhere along the road, the Giants became a passing offense. Bradshaw has worked to become the starting RB and I expect him to average 100 yards and a TD every single game. He is a dynamic running back that can be very elusive on the field. If he can stay healthy, he may prove to be a huge asset. If RB Brandon Jacobs can be cool with the situation in New York, they will be the dynamic duo again, just inverted. Nothing wrong with tiring out the opposing defense from speed, running and making them chase you, before you wear them out from a physical pounding. My top 3 fantasy RB’s – Chris Johnson, Adrian Peterson, Ray Rice

5. Team DefenseSpeaking from a strictly fantasy point perspective, the Giants defense should give their owners a steady amount of positive weekly points. For the season average, I expect them to have 2 sacks, 1 INT, 1 FF per game as an average in 2010. They may give up an average of 18-24 points per game but they will also lay the wood on opposing offenses. The points will come mostly from the extra stats but this defense is more then capable of shutting out a team or two this year as well. My top 3 fantasy defenses – Packers, Ravens, Steelers

How many fantasy football leagues are you in for the 2010 NFL season? You do not need to be a member to leave a comment below.

RD – nygreporter.com

PLEASE SUPPORT GEORGE MARTIN’S, A JOURNEY FOR 9/11 CHARITY, WALK IS 10/17/10


NYG Jacobs Throws a Tantrum; Asks to be Traded

September 20, 2010

NEW YORK – The morning after and embarrassing loss to the Indianapolis Colts, the New York Giants’ former thousand yard rusher asks for a trade, this according to Sports Illustrated and numerous other sources. RB Brandon Jacobs, who had back to back thousand plus yard seasons in 2007 and 2008 (despite missing a few games in each season) has not seen anywhere near that success since the departure of Derrick Ward. In this still very fresh season, Jacobs is averaging 3.3 yards per carry, and only had 8 yards on 4 carries last night.

It should also be noted that he had a mishap in the third quarter in which his helmet ended about ten rows deep in the lap of a Colts’ fan. Jacobs claims he was frustrated and told reporters that he did not attempt to throw his helmet into the stands it merely got caught on his fingers. The league is investigating the incident and it is likely that Jacobs will be fined.

Jacobs did not see another carry the rest of the night after the incident occurred and ESPN reports that when asked about this Jacobs once again lost his temper. This isn’t the first time Jacobs lost his cool over playing time. In the preseason, Jacobs was demoted to backup behind RB Ahmad Bradshaw and Jacobs was furious. While that was only a short while ago, it is discouraging to see that he was not able to work through this time in his career.

While seeing a Giant who was truly a Big Blue icon turn sour is sad, it is even worse to look at the depth chart and realize trading him may not be an option. Behind Jacobs, on the roster, are DJ Ware and return man Reynaud. D.J. has shown some promise, but his running style is none too different from that of Bradshaw and would not be a good change of pace back in this situation. The only way Jacobs would be dealt is if another back was given in return.

That being said, it is hard to gauge how much interest their will be for a seemingly washed up bruiser like Jacobs. Few teams play the bruising style and it is hard to know who would be interested in his services. A few name come to immediate mind though.

Buffalo may be the most obvious option. None of their backs have seen outstanding production as injuries have pushed C.J. Spiller into the starting role. There has been some speculation that they are trying to move on of their backs though so bringing another one in, or even trading one for one, doesn’t make much sense. Another name in the mix might be Oakland, although McFadden had a decent game yesterday nothing Al Davis does can come as a surprise anymore.

It would be very difficult to see Jacobs leave, especially on these terms. Unless he can turn it around just like Osi did earlier this year, I think he has to go. There is no sense in keeping around an unruly and unhappy back if he isn’t producing, what’s the point. If the Giants can find any hint of value, I urge Jerry Reese to pull the trigger on this one.

Josh Berman- nygreporter.com


Giants vs. Colts, NFL Week 2: Game Notes

September 20, 2010

NEW YORK – Manning Bowl II did not disappoint fans, as the two brothers were slinging the ball like they were playing in their backyard or in the street, using parking signs and mailbox’s as touchdown markers. I would love to tell our readers this but it just wouldn’t be true. The game was pretty much a sleeper in the first half and Big Blue did not play very well. The Colts offense was making it look easy, marching down the field against the Giants at will. The second half of the game wasn’t any better. The Giants lost 38-14.

There were still too many penalties and the Giants special teams still needs a lot of work. The Giants offense was anemic the first half. In truth, they were almost non-existent. The Colts were just eating away the clock, with these long precise drives that didn’t leave the G-men much time to work with. When the Giants finally did get the ball, the Colts defense stood their ground. This was a very odd battle I witnessed tonight and I truly don’t know what to make of it.

This game brought back memories of the 2009 season when nothing was going right for Big Blue. It was a painful game to watch. The final stats are a little off because the Colts gave up a garbage TD to the G-men playing zone, late in the fourth quarter. What made this even more disappointing was waiting all day (game started at 8:20 PM) to see such a poor performance. The Giants are going to need to do some serious soul searching to find out if they are the team that beat the Panthers last week or the team that got crushed by the Colts last night.

Let’s take a look at some of my notes from the game.

– The Giants looked very sluggish the first half of the game. The second half was no better.

– The Colts won the opening coin toss.

– QB Eli Manning had a horrible game. He finished 13/24 for 161 yards 2 TD’s 1 INT.

– S Kenny Phillips left the game at the end of the first quarter. He returned in the second quarter.

– Colts QB Peyton Manning played a very methodical game and was in the zone the first half. He finished 20/26 255 yards 3 TD’s. This guy is still the best QB in the NFL.

– The Colts defense played much better then their 23rd overall defensive ranking.

– The Giants were penalized 6 times for 55 yards in the game.

– Returner RB Darius Reynaud has not shown much since he was signed. He averaged 12 yards returning last night.

– The Giants had four players ruled out for this game, they are LB Chase Blackburn, TE Kevin Boss, LB Phillip Dillard and OL William Beatty.

– DE Justin Tuck left the game in the second quarter. He returned later in the game.

– The Giants offensive line gave up 4 sacks but also allowed Eli Manning to get knocked around the whole game (Dwight Freeney is not from Earth).

– RB Ahmad Bradshaw lead all Giants rushers with 89 yards on 17 carries.

– The Giants defense gave up way too many rushing yards (160) against a primarily passing team in the Colts.

– WR Mario Manningham lead all Giants wide receivers with 4 catches for 75 yards and a TD.

– RB Brandon Jacobs had another mediocre game by his standards. He finished with 4 rushes for eight yards. He was also involved in some bizarre helmet throwing incident into the crowd.

– Defensive Coordinator Perry Fewell did as good of a job as you can do against QB Peyton Manning.

– Rookie WR Victor Cruz made his NFL debut last night.

– LB Michael Boley lead the defense in tackles with a total of eleven.

– The Colts dominated the time of possession game a lot more then their time of 35:06 shows.

– Rookie punter Matt Dodge had a better game but special teams still needs work.

– The Giants were down 24-0 at halftime. The first half was difficult to watch, to say the least, nothing went right for Big Blue.

Were you surprised by the outcome of the Giants vs. Colts game or did it pretty much go how you thought it would go?

RD – nygreporter.com

SUPPORT GEORGE MARTIN’S, A JOURNEY FOR 9/11 WALK, on 10/17/10


Manning Bowl II Game Day Chatter, The Long Wait

September 19, 2010

NEW YORK – Good morning Giants fans! I suggest you enjoy your breakfast, go for a jog or maybe get some shopping out of the way. Why do I suggest staying busy? Because it is going to be a very long day waiting for the 8:20 PM EST kickoff. I am writing this article to give you a few minutes of entertainment about Big Blue, as you watch the clock slowly grind the minutes away until kickoff.

This is going to be a good game. I give this game a ninety percent chance of living up to the hype. If you read our previous article, then you know I am taking brother Eli to win this game. I see the Giants winning by three points and I would not be surprised at all if this turned into an instant classic. These two love each other but when Peyton and Eli get on the field, trust me, they want to beat each other. Fans continue to read about how their parents are going to have a hard time watching this game. I’m sure they will be on hand to console whichever brother losses and one thing for certain is that there will be a winner and a loser, no ties here my friends.

Their father Archie (aka the luckiest father in the world) Manning should get one of those split jerseys with half Giants and half Colts sewn together (they might have already thought of this) to show support for both of the brothers.

Some of the recent news about the Giants include the fact that they have some players ruled out for today’s game. Those players include TE Kevin Boss, LB Chase Blackburn, OL William Beatty and LB Phillip Dillard. There are also some players who are questionable, they include WR Hakeem Nicks and DE Osi Umenyiora. CB Aaron Ross will play today and could this be the game where we see WR Victor Cruz gets his first game time logged? The G-Men also signed OL Dennis Landolt to the practice squad after releasing LB Bryan Kehl (a move I do not agree with). They also activated TE Bear Pascoe from the practice squad, due to TE Kevin Boss’ injury.

There are a few players that I expect will have a very good game, this is for all of you fantasy football players out there. Those players include DE Mathias Kiwanuka (Kiwi is going to explode today, 2 sacks minimum), WR Steve Smith, RB Ahmad Bradshaw, QB Eli Manning. I expect WR Mario Manningham to have an above average game and I believe RB Brandon Jacobs will get a goal line TD today as well. There is a reason why this game is being aired on prime time. Enjoy the game! Go Giants!

FINAL SCORE PREDICTION (AGAIN)

New York Giants – 41

Indianapolis Colts – 38

RD – nygreporter.com

SUPPORT GEORGE MARTIN’S, A JOURNEY FOR 9/11 CHARITY


New York Giants Ranked No.7 Offense, No.5 Defense

September 17, 2010

NEW YORK – With week two rapidly approaching, I decided to let the fact that the Giants have the No.5 best total defense in the NFL (not surprised) and the No.7 best overall offense. Should I be getting excited about this? You can check these facts at NFL.com if you wish. Not a bad way to start the season at all. Big Blue is 1-0, got their first home win ever at the new stadium, beat a good team in the hated Panthers (sorry Coach Fox) and now have a second difficult test facing them in Indianapolis. The Colts have the No.2 best total offense in the NFL and the 23rd ranked defense.

Where do you think the G-men will rank defensively after the Colts game? This is a game that can go either way in my opinion. Both of these teams are capable of putting up 30 points by halftime if they get on a roll. This will no doubt be the battle of the Manning’s. QB Eli Manning is going to win this game. I’m going to say Eli throws for 300 yards and 3 TD’s. Running backs Ahmad Bradshaw and Brandon Jacobs need to play mad and take some yardage from the weak Colts D. Look for WR Steve Smith to have a big game.

The Giants beating the Panthers by ten points was my pick of the week last weekend. This weekend is much more difficult to predict, come back on Sunday but I feel like Easy Eli is going to win. Setting up the final game in the Manning series, Manning Bowl III a few years down the road. Both brothers with one win under their belts and playing for the tie breaker. Of course, the old gunslinger prevails over his little brother and rides off in the sunset. Eli Manning will end his career five years later with more Super Bowl rings (3) then big brother Peyton (they are tied with one ring each now).

Rumor has it that in the future, Eli wears all three rings to Thanksgiving dinner every single year until dad Archie puts an end to the nonsense. That was a joke by the way. Can you imagine what it must be like to have Thanksgiving dinner with the first family of NFL quarterbacks. Both of the brothers have off Thanksgiving night, so it wouldn’t surprise me if they all got together.

Who wins the big game Sunday night at Manning Bowl II? I’m going to take the Giants to win by three points.

FINAL SCORE PREDICTION:

New York Giants – 41

Indianapolis Colts – 38

RD – nygreporter.com

GEORGE MARTIN’S, A JOURNEY FOR 9/11 CHARITY, OCT 17, 2010


What if Giants WR Hakeem Nicks Can’t Play Sunday?

September 17, 2010

NEW YORK – Somebody needs to ask this question, so it might as well be me. What will the New York Giants wide receiver depth chart look like on Sunday night, if star WR Hakeem Nicks in unable to play due to his ankle injury?

I don’t want to jinx the situation by asking this but I would like to know who you think gets the top three spots? There are a few different scenarios and yes, some of them include preseason stud WR Victor Cruz.

Is it disrespectful to the guys who have been on the team for a longer amount of time, to throw Cruz in on a few plays? I don’t think so. I’m positive the coaches must be salivating to see what he can do when the game is real. Perhaps, this weekend the fans will have an opportunity to see just that. I will take it a step further and say that I think the team needs to do that.

There is no question that WR Steve Smith and WR Mario Manningham will be two of the three starters. The question really resides in the third WR slot. Who do you think will start or do you think they will use a rotation for this game? Those players who fans might see on Sunday include WR Ramses Barden, WR Victor Cruz, WR Duke Calhoun. There are some WR’s on the IR list already, like WR Domenik Hixon and WR Sinorice Moss. It seems a lot thinner now doesn’t it, without Nicks in the equation.

QB Eli Manning has been watching some of his favorite targets go down with injuries. Even Manning himself, cut his head open during a preseason game that required stitches. Manning has lost WR Hixon and WR Moss for the entire season and now he has TE Kevin Boss and WR Nicks banged up for an important game. TE Travis Beckum will get the start and TE Bear Pascoe was activated from the practice squad this week, to serve as a backup. I still think that Eli Manning will be in a shoot out with older brother Peyton on Sunday night. How sweet would it be, if WR Victor Cruz got his first NFL TD, as the game winner versus the Colts. So many possibilities floating out there and the single certainty, that the entire nation will be watching Manning Bowl II on Sunday night.

My picks for the three starters, if WR Hakeem Nicks is ruled out for the Colts game.

1. Steve Smith

2. Mario Manningham

3. Victor Cruz

Do you think that WR Hakeem Nicks (3 TD’s in week one) will play in the Colts game Sunday night?

RD – nygreporter.com

SUPPORT GEORGE MARTIN’S, A JOURNEY FOR 9/11 CHARITY


Giants Part Ways With LB Kehl, Activate TE Bear Pascoe

September 15, 2010

NEW YORK – The team announced a surprising move yesterday with the activation of TE Bear Pascoe from the practice squad and onto the team. The Pascoe move isn’t what surprised me, in fact I announced that the moment I saw TE Kevin Boss go down during the Carolina Panthers game. What surprises me is the fact the the team cut LB Bryan Kehl. I guess the fans have to accept what the team feels is in it’s best interest but I thought Kehl was a hard worker and someone who could flourish when he grasps the game.

Bryan Kehl (6’2″ 240 pounds) was drafted by the G-Men in 2008 and grabbing Kehl was as easy as pick 123 in the fourth round. I’m not sure if the team felt they had better players at the position to hold onto or if they feel that Kehl is a bust. The message boards exploded at the news that certain players were granted a spot on the team, even though they are listed on the IR, production wise, it didn’t make sense to some people. The fans will have to have faith in Coach Coughlin and GM Jerry Reese, who are making these choices with the teams best interest in mind.

The activation of TE Bear Pascoe is something that needed to happen, now that Boss’ status is questionable due to a concussion. You cannot head into a game with only one TE available. TE Travis Beckum has become the number one tight end on the team for now. There is no question that Boss is the number one starter when he returns. Kevin Boss is no stranger to injuries and his aggressive play is the cause of his pain. He makes the tough catches and he takes the hits.

In other news, former Giants RB Andre Brown has been cut by the Denver Broncos. There was a lot of positive buzz surrounding Brown when he was drafted last year but reports are saying he hasn’t been the same since his injury that forced him to miss the entire 2009 season.

The New York Giants face the Indianapolis Colts this weekend (8:20 PM EST) in Manning Bowl II. Big Blue will travel to Peyton’s place Sunday night, in the highly anticipated rematch between brothers Peyton and Eli. If the Giants win this game, they will have started the 2010 season at 2-0, while brother Peyton’s Colts will have started at 0-2.

Do you agree with the decision to cut LB Bryan Kehl?

RD – nygreporter.com

SUPPORT GEORGE MARTIN’S, A JOURNEY FOR 9/11 WALK, on 10/17/10


Giants vs. Panthers, NFL Week 1: Game Notes

September 12, 2010

NEW YORK – FINAL SCORE: Giants 31 Panthers 18.

The New York Giants and Carolina Panthers met at New Meadowlands stadium to christen the new house and exact some revenge on the pesky boys from Carolina. Both teams did not disappoint because this was a very competitive game. The Panthers were leading 16-14 at halftime and both teams never stopped fighting. The second half belonged to the Giants as they dominated in most areas to run the score up to a 31-18 lead and the win. This is a great way to start the season.

This was a game the Giants absolutely had to win for themselves and the fans. Deep inside every Giants fan, they seek revenge for the games lost to the Panthers over the past five years. The defense certainly looked a whole lot different from the one we saw in 2009. Most notably, in the secondary. The Big Blue D gave up a few big plays but managed to oppress the Panthers offense enough to allow Easy Eli an opportunity to win the game. The special teams still need a lot of work after an atrocious performance. If they are going to be successful in 2010, they will need to sort this out and quickly.

The game was sloppy and I did not like all of the penalties against Big Blue. You cannot give away that many yards and not have it bite you at some point in the game. There were also way too many turnovers in this game, both teams combined for nine turnovers. Still, the Giants start the 2010 NFL season at 1-0.

Let’s take a look at some of my game notes and please feel free to leave a comment below.

– QB Eli Manning played a very good game despite getting almost no help from his WR’s. Manning threw for 3 TD’s 3 INT’s 263 yards.

– Too many dropped and tipped balls by the Giants WR’s, this was the theme for this game. All three of Eli Manning’s INT’s were from tipped balls.

– TE Kevin Boss left the game in the first quarter with a concussion and neck injury. He did not return to the game.

– LB Chase Blackburn was helped off the field in the second quarter with a sprained knee. He did not return to the game.

– DE Mathias Kiwanuka (2 sacks today) is playing like a man possessed this year. He is playing his best football right now, sit back and enjoy it.

– The Giants were penalized way too many times (9/95 yards), for way too many yards in this game.

– The Giants turned the ball over four times in this game. This is not acceptable and it’s amazing the Giants won the game.

– The Giants won the Time of Possession battle with a time of 34:39.

– WR Hakeem Nicks explodes for 3 TD’s and 75 yards, he easily gets my game ball. This was a breakout game for Nicks in week one.

– The Giants running game was non-existent against the Panthers until the fourth quarter. This has become an area of concern.

– The Giants defense played a very good game despite giving up some big plays. the G-Men finished with 4 sacks, 3 INT’s and 2 Forced fumbles.

– Rookie punter Matt Dodge had another shaky performance (including a blocked punt in the fourth quarter). He will need to be more consistent to remain on the team.

– Defensive coordinator Perry Fewell is very involved with his players on the sidelines and gives off a lot of good energy to the players.

– DE Justin Tuck ran out of the tunnel with a Giants firmans helmet on, he ended the game the same way.

– CB Aaron Ross did not play in todays game.

– Giants Head Coach Tom Coughlin looked like a rocket about to take off when the team headed inside for halftime, down 16-14.

– The special teams had a below average performance and Coach Tom Quinn will need to get his guys on the same page soon.

– New York Giants legend George Martin, announces he will hold 2nd annual Journey for 9/11 walk on October 17, 2010.

– Kicker Lawrence Tynes had a good game making all of his FG’s and extra point attempts.

– WR Mario Manningham had a very good game with 4 catches for 85 yards. He has been making some spectacular catches for Big Blue since last season.

– RB Ahmad Bradshaw had a poor game until the fourth quarter where he exploded for the majority of his 76 yards and a TD.

– RB Brandon Jacobs had a mediocre game (44 yards on 12 carries), even by his own standards I’m sure. Most notably, he couldn’t get in during the fourth quarter from the one yard line.

– The Giants closed this game out as a true team. This is something that I haven’t seen since the 2007 team.

– The Giants defense (Osi) knocked Carolina Panthers QB Matt Moore out of the game in the fourth quarter.

– CB Terrell Thomas (1 INT) had a great game despite a missed play or two. He made a crucial INT at the end of the fourth quarter to seal the victory for the Giants.

– S Antrel Rolle led all tacklers for the Giants defense and seemed to be around the ball on most plays.

Are you surprised by the outcome of todays game?

RD – nygreporter.com

PLEASE SUPPORT GEORGE MARTIN’S, A JOURNEY FOR 9/11 CHARITY!


New York Giants 2010 Schedule Analysis

September 11, 2010

NEW YORK – It is the eve before kickoff and all through the night NFL fans are stirring with anticipation and delight. If I was a better poet I would probably finish this…

Anyways, I’m up and restless thinking about the new season which kicks off Sunday. For those of you who know me, you know I get the schedule in March, review it, make a prediction, then put it away. Then, I pull the schedule out after preseason is over and repeat the process. So here is a game by game break down of what I came up with:

Week 1: vs. Carolina

The Panthers, as all Giants fans remember from last season, have an outstanding running game. The Giants have improved on the defensive line but the linebackers are still unproven and a big question mark. Ultimately, I do think the Giants pull it out in a close one. Eli Manning’s proficient and experienced offense beats out Matt Moore this Sunday.

Prediction: Giants 28-24

Week 2: @ Indianapolis

Manning Bowl 2.0 rolls in and its much of the same. The Giants are a very different team from when they last met but big brother Peyton still has his way with Big Blue. The Giants secondary looks strong with Rolle and Phillips (who is now ready for the season) but injuries to Ross and Webster worry me, when it comes to going up against Peyton’s proficient passing attack.

Prediction: Colts 35-21

Week 3: vs. Tennessee

Chris Johnson is another great running back coming to the Meadowlands this season. I think the Giants have improved enough this season that they will have a good answer for great runners. I don’t think Vince Young has enough receiving talent in his stable and Johnson can’t do it all on his own. In a good strong bounce back game, the G-Men win.

Prediction: Giants 21-10

Week 4: vs. Chicago

Lovie Smith is on the hot seat this year and I don’t think his team is going to help one bit. I don’t think the Bears have any answers this year, so as long as the Giants arrive serious and play strong they should have no problem here.

Prediction: Giants 17-7

Week 5: @ Houston

Big Blue hits the road for another AFC South battle. Again, I have questions about the health of the secondary but by this point in the season hopefully everyone is a-o-k.  I think the Giants pull a small upset here as Bradshaw has his first really big day of the season gaining 12o yards or more.

Prediction: Giants 24-14

Week 6: vs. Detroit

I think Detroit is going to have a better season, Stafford is a year older and a year wiser. I don’t think they get past the Giants. As long as the Giants don’t walk in acting like they’ve already won, then they will win. Play the game and get the results you know you can.

Prediction: Giants 35-14

Week 7: @ Dallas

First NFC East game of the season, Giants embarrassed Dallas in their home opener last season, it won’t happen this season. Big Blue falters here, Dallas takes the win in a shoot out.

Prediction: Dallas 42-28

Week 8: BYE

Week 9: @ Seattle

Pete Carroll takes one step forward but releasing T.J. is two steps back. I have a lot of faith in the guy (and not just because he’s sitting on my fantasy bench!) I think cutting him was a mistake. Hasselbeck is left with an unproven, and maybe even untalented group to work with. Giants take this one easy.

Prediction: Giants 28-10

Week 10: vs. Dallas

The NFC East rivals meet again, and again the Cowboys prove to be too much for Big Blue (the Giants get them back in the playoffs though).

Prediction: Dallas 28-13

Week 11: @ Philadelphia

Big Blue rolls in to town looking for their first division win. New running back, new quarterback, same old beating. Giants get them good this time.

Prediction: Giants 14-10

Week 12: vs. Jacksonville

The Giants really play the leagues best running games this season, MJD runs into town and the Giants better be ready. Unfortunately, MJD is a one man team and can’t make up for a poor passing game and a bad D.

Prediction: Giants 28-14

Week 13: vs. Washington

The Giants know McNabb well, they know the Redskins too. I don’t see the Giants having much trouble here. Of course, it is an NFC East matchup, so anything can happen but for this articles sake, it won’t.

Prediction: Giants 24-14

Week 14: @ Minnesota

Whoever made this schedule really wanted to test the Giants run D. AP is ready and waiting to tear Big Blue apart and expose any holes there may be. Normally seeing Farve late in the year could be a good thing but in his own dome? I don’t think so.

Prediction: Minnesota 35-14

Week 15: vs. Philadelphia

It’s the end of the year, the Eagles have had some time to learn, grow, and gel. They don’t let this division showdown go…

Prediction: Philadelphia 28-21

Week 16: @ Green Bay

Aaron Rodgers puts up MVP like numbers and the game is away at Lambeau Field in winter. Giants continue their skid in this game.

Prediction: Green Bay 17-7

Week 17: @ Washington

Giants stumble into the playoffs after this final NFC East showdown where they regain some of their steam. Should be a good confidence booster.

Prediction: Giants 35-17

So the Giants go 11-5, grab a wild card spot behind Dallas. They only go 3-3 in the division which is a tough pill to swallow. The G-Men beat Dallas in the Divisional round of the playoffs but Green Bay beats them in the NFC Championship game. This season should be an obvious improvement for Big Blue. I think the D is significantly improved. The linebackers are probably the weakest part of the team as of now but by the bye week they will be playing well. The O-line has some concerns so look for Eli to be on his back a bit and neither Bradshaw or Jacobs to have a spectacular season.

Overall, the Giants get better. I think they are set up very well for the 2011 draft. Either Osi or Kiwi will leave next season but JPP is a suitable replacement. I think next years draft will have the G-Men taking a running back in the first round, draft O-line in the next 3 rounds, draft a return man, and maybe a punter in the last. Then, after a healthy camp, the Giants win the Super Bowl 512 days from now in Indianapolis.

Josh Berman- nygreporter.com