Giants Dominant In Rout Of Niners
| 5
|
by Mikelley037
(from my site DaGreatWhiteHype.blogspot.com)
The New York Giants bring a 5 game winning streak into Wembley Stadium for their Week 8 match up against what's left of the Miami Dolphins after defeating the San Francisco 49ers 33-15.
So, how have the Giants gone from the dark abyss of 0-2 (and 40.0 ppg allowed) to second place in the NFC East, one game behind Dallas?
Creating points off of turnovers.
Yesterday, on two interceptions ( Madison and Pierce) and two fumble recoveries ( Umenyiora), the Giants netted 23 points off San Fran miscues. In the past four weeks (not including yesterday's game), the Giants have been able to score 28 points off of six forced turnovers.
Defensive Coordinator Steve Spagnolo has been dialing up blitzes that have turned the defense into a offensive line wrecking crew. Adding 6 more sacks yesterday, the Giants were able to control the line of scrimmage all day. In the 5 games since the 0-2 start, the Giants have only give up 55 points. Eli Manning continued his solid play, hitting TE Jeremy Shockey for a 2 yard TD pass to make it 33-9 which was preceded by delivering a strike to WR Amani Toomer in the end zone for Toomer's franchise record-setting 49th career touchdown reception as a Giant. Manning's one blemish on the stats sheet came on an interception on a drive in the Niners' end of the field, which set up San Fran's only lead of the game.
With RB Brandon Jacobs eclipsing the 100 yard mark for the second time this season, the offense was able to move efficiently while eating up huge chunks of clock.
- Game Ball Goes To... DE Osi Umenyiora. 2 fumble recoveries including one for a TD return, a forced fumble, and a sack demonstrated why he is the NFC's top defensive player of the year so far. Along with Osi, Michael Strahan, Justin Tuck, and Aaron Ross got in on the sack party (no homo).
- I Was Perturbed By... The play of K Lawrence Tynes and the dropped passes by the backfield. Tynes missed his second PAT of the year, and barely connected on his first FG try of the day. Jacobs, Ward, and Hedgecock combined for 5 dropped passes (Ward dropped an easy TD pass from Manning in the first quarter.)
- After 2 Big Mistakes... MLB Antonio Pierce read and stepped in front of an in-pattern beautifully, intercepting a Trent Dilfer pass... almost taking it into the end zone. Pierce was responsible for two personal fouls, both roughing the passer, keeping 2 San Fran drives alive. If the Giants are to be an elite team, they have to minimize the after-the-fact penalties greatly.
- Did You Notice That....? LB/DE Mathias Kiwanuka pulled Trent Dilfer's flag? Oh wait, this is tackle football. In a play that mirrored his phantom sack against Vince Young last year, Kiwi once again had Dilfer in the grasp, yet failed to bring him down. Also, the Giants seem to be real confident with sending CB Aaron Ross on the blitz, and it's paying off. He had another sack yesterday, bringing his season total to 1.5.
Next Week: At Miami (technically... as the game is at Wembley Stadium, London, England... a road game for the G-Men going into the BYE week.) It must be taken into account that the combined record of the teams that the Giants have beaten is 10-22 (not to mention Miami is currently standing at 0-7). But the best teams always beat they teams they should beat, which the Giants have been able to do so far. As per every second half of Coughlin's seasons with New York, his team must find a way to keep momentum going after the BYE week, assuming they dispose of Miami.
