New York Giants 13 – Miami Dolphins 10

Terrible Effort by Giants, But New York Escapes With a Win: Behind terrible play-calling and poor execution, the New York Giants were lucky to escape with a 13-10 victory against the lowly and winless Miami Dolphins in London earlier today.

In forcing the Giants and Dolphins to play a regular-season game in Europe, the NFL corporate types obviously intended this game to expand the international appeal of American football with the obvious goal to make more money.  That plan backfired miserably as the Giants and Dolphins played what will undoubtedly be one of the worst, most boring games of the entire 2007 season.  It’s hard to imagine anyone in Europe would want to watch another football game after that effort.

Simply put, the game was dreadful.  And had the Giants played any other NFL team, they would have likely lost.

How bad was it for the Giants?  QB Eli Manning finished the game 8-of-22 for 59 yards.  He was terribly inaccurate, but his receivers also could not hold onto the football.  The leading receiver for the Giants – TE Jeremy Shockey – only had three catches for 26 yards.  Making matters worse was the atrocious play calling by Head Coach Tom Coughlin and Offensive Coordinator Kevin Gilbride.  Despite the fact that the Giants were facing the NFL’s 31st-ranked run defense, on rainy day in sloppy field conditions, and that Manning and his receivers were clearly struggling, Coughlin and Gilbride continued to call passing plays for much of the contest.

And PK Lawrence Tynes missed yet another short kick, this time a 29-yard effort in the fourth quarter that should have given the Giants a 16-3 lead.

The Dolphins started the game by using the run and short passing game to move from their 25-yard line to the New York 29-yard line.  Fortunately, ex-Giant PK Jay Feely missed his 48-yard field goal attempt.  The Giants did drive 59 yards in 11 plays on their first effort.  But the G-Men settled for a short field goal after having a 1st-and-goal from the Dolphins’ 4-yard line.  On second down, Manning badly overthrew wide open WR Amani Toomer for what should have been a touchdown.  Manning’s third-down pass to FB Madison Hedgecock was also off the mark.

Miami moved the ball on their second drive as well, but turned the football over on a 3rd-and-1, direct snap to the back.  FS Gibril Wilson recovered at the Dolphins’ 48-yard line, but New York went three-and-out and punted.

After allowing one first down on Miami’s ensuing possession, the defense stiffened and the Dolphins punted.  The Giants then drove 69 yards in 14 plays for their sole touchdown drive of the game.  On this drive, HB Reuben Droughns converted first downs on 3rd-and-1 and 4th-and-1.  A low 3rd-and-4 pass to WR Plaxico Burress was ruled incomplete, then overturned by instant replay.  On the very next snap, Manning scored running the ball in from 10 yards out.  Giants 10-Dolphins 0.

With under a minute to play before halftime, the Dolphins did move to midfield, but journeyman QB Cleo Lemon let the ball slip out of his hand and DE Michael Strahan recovered.  HB Brandon Jacobs picked up 11 yards on 3rd-and-10 and Tynes kicked a 41-yard field goal to give the Giants a 13-0 advantage.

The Giants would not score in the second half.

New York received the ball first in the third quarter, but the Giants’ offensive “brain trust” called three straight passing plays in the rain with a 13-0 lead.  Punt.  On the Giants’ next possession, Manning was intercepted but luckily Miami was called for defensive holding on the play.  Three plays later, the Giants punted again.  New York’s third drive ended with a sack and fumble by Manning.  The Dolphins recovered near midfield and drove the football to the Giants’ 2-yard line before settling for a field goal.  The Giants were greatly helped by the fact that Lemon fumbled the ball again on 2nd-and-goal from the 2-yard line, leading to a 9-yard loss.  Giants 13-Dolphins 3.

The Giants responded with a 9-play, 54-yard drive that moved the ball to the Dolphins’ 11-yard line.  But the passing game again let the Giants down and Tynes missed his 29-yard field goal try.

Miami went three-and-out on their next possession with DT Fred Robbins sacking Lemons on third down.  After picking up one first down, the Giants imploded with four penalties, having to face a 2nd-and-37 at one point.

Miami got the ball back at their own 20-yard line with about four minutes to play.  The Dolphins drove 80 yards for the touchdown in two minutes and 11 seconds, scoring from 21 yards out on a 3rd-and-17 pass play with just under two minutes to play.  However, Feely’s onside kick went out of bounds.  The Dolphins were out of time outs and the Giants simply kneeled on the ball to mercifully end the game.

The one bright spot for the Giants offensively was HB Brandon Jacobs who rushed for 131 yards on 23 carries.  But Jacobs also fumbled the ball; fortunately New York recovered.

Post-Game Notes:  Inactive for the Giants were HB Derrick Ward (ankle), SS James Butler (hamstring/ankle), WR Steve Smith (hamstring/shoulder), QB Jared Lorenzen (3rd quarterback), OT Adam Koets, OG Kevin Boothe, DT Manny Wright, and DE Dave Tollefson.

Article on WR Plaxico Burress:  Burrress Gives London a Go by John Branch of The New York Times