Opening Weekend

    To paraphrase Dennis Green, They might or might not be who they thought they were!

    In a very strange game, the New york Giants defeated the Washington Redskins with a hypocrital effort as they continued to show the inconsistency that has plagued them for years. For those who see the glass half full, remember that it was the last third of last season in which they could do no wrong-dominating defensively and operating the offense with care and efficiency. During the playoffs the enigma that is Eli Manning, who threw interceptions more often that a Tour de France cyclist takes enhancers, caught fire during that late stretch and lead the Giants to a historic ending. Well, here we go again.

     In the season opener, the Giants showed why they had become the new Patriots. Scoring at will and dominating on defense, they may have caused the rest of the NFL to wonder if they will ever lose. In fact, they might even win a home game. But, success breeds complacency and so it goes for the Giants. After the first 20 minutes, the Giants fell back to Earth.

      This was the first game of the season of course: and we all know, especially Giants fans, that an early season lackluster performance does not a season make. But, it was an uneven performance against a Redskins team that is trying to find itself(with a rookie head coach no less). There were two very impressive signs that should make future Giant opponents including the rest of the tough NFC East- Philadelphia Eagels and the highly touted yet unproven Dallas Cowboys take notice. New season, same result. 

       For one, the Giants running game is bruising. Brandon Jacobs was bruising. The offensive line was bruising. A great running game is the always a good place to start when you are looking for success in the NFL. Running the ball may not be in vogue in these pass happy times where teams spend so much time in the air that I am afraid that I will have to get to the game the recommended 3 hours early to go through Airport Security checkpoints and get strip searched. Remember, this game was built on running. Even in the old days, they didn't use the archers to start or end the battle. To truly claim the land and victory, you had to take your attack to the ground.

       Secondly, Manning number 2(or 1 depending on which fan base you are talking to) seems to have retained something from his impressive strech drive to the Super Bowl. He has become a talented thrower that is a game manager. In the old days we used to call that a Quarterback. Just as there are pitchers and throwers in baseball, the NFL is riddled with beastly athletic specimens that promise everything and deliver nothing in terms of winning. You know, those combine heroes that are 8 ft tall, throw a football faster than a speeding bullet, and run faster than a locomotive (See Vince Young and Tavaras Jackson).  But the good, and the great, somwhere along the way"get it." The may or may not put up big numbers. They may throw for 50 touchdowns like Brady and lose the Super Bowl, or they may throw 28 TD's and win it all like, umm, yeah, that guy Brady. Manning's other clone Peyton has similar stats. So numbers: height, arm strength, speed, are about as much a formula for success of a quarterback as a 36-24-36 figure is an indicator of female loyalty. Only one number counts-Wins. (Although, I will say that the untraceable number of interceptions by Joe Montana in the Big Game is one of my personal favorite numbers.) Otherwise, you draft gurus can keep your numbers in the same place as people whose names are numbers(See Chad, your a Zero, Ocho Cinco), in the garbage bin.

      Eli didn't throw for 300 yards against the Redskins, but he threw the ball away when he needed to. He audibled into good plays, and most importantly, he allowed his team to win the game. As his winning streak continues, so will his status as a competent, and at some point in the near future, possibly elite quarterback.

      Yes, the Giants were inconsistent in the opener. But with a strong running game and a quarterback that doesn't give the game away, the Giants should be a successful frachise in the years to come.

The Underappreciated

The Baby Brother, the embattled coach

winning it all, was it really a hoax?

No Hall of Famer with a gap tooth

Still on a roll, still raising the roof

No Simms, no Parcells, no Bellicheck

just give them the win, jut sign the check.