Monthly Archives: September 2009
1. Giants (3-0) – Not much to say about their 24-0 drubbing of the Bucs. The biggest adjustment they need to make is to stay healthy for a change. (Last Week: 1)
2. Saints (3-0) – Drew Brees was held in check, and the Saints still handled the Bills on the road. It wasn’t their prettiest win yet, but it might be their most impressive. (3)
3. Vikings (3-0) – A little luck and a lot of skill helped Brett Favre throw one of his most memorable touchdown passes to win a close game against a good team at home. (4)
4. Eagles (2-1) – At full strength, this team is one of the most balanced in the league. In order for that to happen, Donovan McNabb and Brian Westbrook need to return at full strength. (5)
5. Cowboys (2-1) – The Cowboys bounced back from a tough loss to the Giants to dispose of the Panthers. This team has not yet played up to it’s full potential. (6)
6. Falcons (2-1) – Michael Turner’s 3.5 yards per carry is a bit concerning, but they lost to a good Patriots team. The Falcons are still a playoff caliber team. (2)
7. Packers (2-1) – A six point lead over the Rams after three quarters is a little too close for comfort, but they scored 13 unanswered in the fourth quarter. It may not be pretty, but they got the job done. (7)
8. 49ers (2-1) – They are still the best team in the NFC West, but you have to win games like this. They were one inexcusable touchdown pass away from a 3-0 start and a two game lead in the division. (8)
9. Bears (2-1) – Jay Cutler was great in their hard fought victory at Seattle after being down 13-0. The defense didn’t exactly dominate a shorthanded Seahawks offense. (10)
10. Cardinals (1-2) – Their game with the Colts was closer than the 31-10 score would indicate. Still, they didn’t make the plays when they needed to. (9)
11. Panthers (0-3) – They’ve played the 4th, 5th and 6th best teams in the NFC so far, but a loss is a loss. They’ll get a chance to regroup with a bye week. (11)
12. Seahawks (1-2) – Seneca Wallace showed his grit, but the offense just isn’t much of a threat without Matt Hasselbeck. (12)
13. Lions (1-2) – Matthew Stafford has already etched himself a place in the Lions Hall of Fame. (16)
14. Bucs (0-3) – With the way the Bucs O-line has been protecting, maybe Byron Leftwich should consider himself lucky to be benched. If they play their cards right, the Bucs could end up with a top five pick. (14)
15. Redskins (1-2) – There is no word in the English dictionary that can describe what Redskins fans must be feeling after their loss to the Lions, so I am forced to make one up: scumbarrassment. (13)
16. Rams (0-3) – Sorry, Spags. (15)
Coughlin Sticking With Tynes At Placekicker
Head coach Tom Coughlin told reporters today that he has no current plans to replace kicker Lawrence Tynes. He said there would not even be another kicker brought in “for a look.”
Tynes missed a 29-yard chip shot last Sunday in Dallas and yesterday in Tampa he pulled a 21-yarder, the shortest miss by a Giants kicker in 28 years.
Injuries Have Hardly No Impact In Tampa
The NFL requires teams on game day to dress 45 players and render the other eight inactive. Yesterday, the Giants did not have a choice of who would be on the list. They had exactly eight players that could not have played anyway – they were all injured.
The injuries had little bearing on the game. The Giants may have been banged-up, but they handled the Buccaneers with relative ease. The defense played an awesome game, holding Tampa to 86 net yards and not allowing the Bucs to make a first down until 5:06 to go in the third quarter.
Kansas City (3-0) Is Next
Tampa is the first in a line of patsies on the Giants’ schedule. This week they travel to Kansas City, who are coming off a 34-14 blasting by the McNabb-less Eagles.
According to Ralph Vacchiano the early reports on McKenzie is a sprained knee and a sore shoulder for Rich Seubert. Seubert has been playing with the pain in his shoulder since early in training camp. Most likely this is a re-aggravation of the same injury. The offensive line has a 36 games started streak going, which may be in jeopardy for week 4.
McKenzie was carted off the field so his injury is more worrisome, but he wasn’t walking with a noticeable limp in the locker room and a sprain is far better then expected. McKenzie, a guy who doesn’t talk about injuries, responded this way when asked about the knee “heat stroke.” Good to see he has a sense of humor. Both injuries will be further evaluated Wednesday when the teams gets back to practice.
According to Mike Garafolo Hakeem Nicks intends to begin practicing on Wednesday.
Most fans and analysts feared the receiving unit was the weakest link. With Steve Smith and Mario Manningham turning heads, and Nicks returning they may be one of the greatest strengths. When Nicks is healthy I expect him to take the third wide out spot now filled by Derek Hagan and Sinorice Moss.
The New York Giants defeated the Tampa Bay Buccaneers by a score of 24-0.
This game was every bit as one-sided as the score would indicate, as the Giants dominated every facet of the game.
For a full box score, head over to SNY.
-The Giants defense gave Byron Leftwich no time to operate. He was 7/16 with 22 yards and 1 interception, and was eventually benched.
-Eli Manning looked sloppy at times, but finished with a solid line of 14/24 for 161 yards and 2 touchdowns.
-We have a Sinorice Moss sighting! Moss capped off the scoring with an 18 yard touchdown reception.
-Ahmad Bradshaw had 104 rushing yards on 14 carries.
-Brandon Jacobs had 92 yards and a touhdown on 26 carries.
-The Red Zone offense recorded its first three touchdowns of the season!
-Lawrence Tynes missed a 21 yard chip shot at the end of the of the first half.
-Leaving the game with injuries were: Kareem McKenzie, Rich Seubert and Barry Cofield. McKenzie’s looked most serious, as he was carted off of the field. We hope to get good news on them later today or tomorrow.
The Giants travel to Kansas City to play the Chiefs next Sunday at 1:00 PM.
With 11 minutes still left in the fourth quarter, the Redskins are down 13-7 to the extremely winless Detroit Lions.
If they can hold on here, Detroit will snap their 19-game winless streak…something no team would want to be on the other side on.
Like I (and Joe Theismann) said earlier this week, this game did have the makings, if any, of being the one the Lions break through on.
Over in Phladelphia, Michael Vick and the Birds are destroying the Chiefs, with the score currently at 34-7 half way through the 4th quarter.
Granted it’s the Chiefs, but Kevin Kolb has looked great today currently 24/34 for over 300 yards and two TD’s.
Filling in for the injured Westbrook, rookie Lesean McCoy is having a very nice day rushing the ball where he has 20 attempts for 84 yards.
The humidity will be high (approx 70%) in Tampa today for the Giants-Bucs game.
The temperature will be close to 90 degrees as well……hope the boys can keep hydrated
According to Pat Hanlon, Justin Tuck is dressed..…not sure if this is a good move, or even if he will play….but without him the Giants would only have 44 players in uniform.
Inactive today are: Danny Ware, Hakeem Nicks, Chris Canty, Aaron Ross, Kevin Dockery, Adam Koets, Clint Sintim and Domenik Hixon
According to Pat Traina, none of those players made the trip to Tampa
NY Giants
OUT: Chris Canty DT (Calf), Hakeem Nicks WR (Foot), Aaron Ross CB (Hamstring), Clint Sintim LB (Groin), Danny Ware RB (Elbow), Adam Koets C (Ankle)
QUESTIONABLE: Kevin Dockery CB (Hamstring), Domenik Hixon WR (Knee), Justin Tuck DE (Shoulder)
PROBABLE: Mario Manningham WR (Shoulder)
Tampa Bay
OUT: Jeff Faine C (Triceps), Kyle Moore DE (Knee)
DOUBTFUL: Maurice Stovall WR (Knee), Matt McCoy LB (Back)
QUESTIONABLE: Carnell Williams RB (Knee), Antonio Bryant WR (Knee,) Earnest Graham RB (Hamstring)
PROBABLE: John Gilmore TE (Ankle), Elbert Mack CB (Shoulder), Roy Miller DT (Ankle), Clifton Smith RB (Quadricep)
The 2-0 New York Football Giants are in Tampa today to face the 0-2 Buccaneers. The game will be televised on FOX at 1pm and can be heard on radio at WCBS-FM 101.1.
The Giants
QB Eli Manning is quickly putting a sock in the mouths of his critics. The game’s highest-paid player is living up to his paycheck. Manning has been nothing short of excellent the first two weeks, leading the Giants to victories over division rivals Washington and Dallas.
The Giants heralded rushing attack has been marginalized thus far. Teams are cramming the box, stonewalling Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw. The positive side of this is that Manning has made them pay.
Critics slammed the Giants for not replacing wide receivers Plaxico Burress and Amani Toomer with proven veterans. Again, the Giants are proving to everyone that they know what they are doing. Mario Manningham and Steve Smith are at the top of the league in receiving yards.
The defensive line, which was as deep a line as anyone can remember, is thinning out thanks to injuries. The secondary is experiencing the same fate. The linebackers, however, are playing up to snuff. New addition Michael Boley looks like another coup for the Giants. He is all over the field.
The Bucs
New head coach Raheem Morris is up against it with his Bucs. The defense cannot defend against the pass, and now they face New York, whose no-huddle passing attack is virtually unstoppable.
Tampa has shown a propensity to move the football effectively. QB Byron Leftwich has been getting fair protection and has found a new playmate in TE Kellen Winslow II. The rushing trio of Cadillac Williams, Derrick Ward. and Earnest Graham has been productive also.
The defense has six first-time starters and a new scheme under coordinator Jim Bates. They appear disorganized and are often out of place, which has led to big plays for the opponents.
The Game
The Giants will try to establish the run, as they always do. Should Tampa line up to thwart that plan, Manning will go to work. The Giants will gladly show the Bucs what they’ve been doing with their draft picks the past few years. Smith and Manningham are joined by TE Kevin Boss in group that can make plays and get additional yards after the catch. If the Bucs choose to loosen up in the box, the running game just might get going. Either way, the Giants are going to move the ball and score plenty of points.
The Bucs get a reprieve by playing a Giants defense that is not at full strength. S Kenny Phillips is gone for the year and All-Pro DE Justin Tuck, CB Aaron Ross, DT Chris Canty and LB Clint Sintim will probably be inactive. Leftwich still has to contend with what’s left, which is still too much for his team to handle. DEs Osi Umenyiora and Mathias Kiwanuka will benefit from the mismatch of the Giants’ tackles vs the Bucs’ center and guards. As stated, Boley adds speed and should offset Winslow in the passing game.
The Giants’ ailing secondary also gets break today as WR Antonio Bryant – by far the Bucs’ best receiver – will most likely miss today’s game with a knee injury.
Washington Redskins: Starting RB Clinton Portis is listed as questionable for Sunday’s game against the Lions with a sore ankle. Portis did not practice on Friday, however coach Zorn still expects him to play.
Also, RG Chad Rinehart beat out RG Will Montgomery for the starting job replacing Randy Thomas. Rinehart has never seen the field for an NFL game.
Philadelphia Eagles: WR’s DeSean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin both look as though they are going to start this weekend. Jackson, who has been somewhat bothered by a groin injury, has made progress throughout the week and looks as though he’ll be good to go to start.
Maclin will most likely start in place of the oft-injured Kevin Curtis.
Dallas Cowboys: In a report on ESPN.com, the Dallas Cowboys are leaning towards resting RB Marion Barber. Although he has been practicing in a limited fashion all this week and seems he’d be pretty ready to go, the ‘Boys feel like resting him now would make him 100% ready to go in next week’s matchup.
If he does not play, both Felix Jones and Tashard Choice will get their fair share of carries.
← Older postsNewer posts →
