Connor Hughes/BBI

Connor Hughes has been working in both the broadcasting and journalism fields for the last seven years. His work has been heard on WMCX, WBZC and Lenape District Television, while read on the pages of The Star-Ledger and The Burlington County Times. Connor can be reached via email ([email protected]) or on twitter (@Connor_J_Hughes)

Nov 302014
 
Rashad Jennings, New York Giants (November 30, 2014)

Rashad Jennings – © USA TODAY Sports Images

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The defense had their shot.

For one meaningless Sunday in November, the New York Giants defense could right so many of the wrongs that had plagued the team throughout the 2014 season. All it needed to do was not let rookie quarterback Blake Bortles lead the 1-10 Jacksonville Jaguars into field goal range.

11 plays and 55 yards later, Jacksonville kicker Josh Scobee trotted onto the field and kicked a 43-yard field goal to give the Jaguars a 25-24 victory over New York in Jacksonville. The loss drops drops New York’s record to 3-9, with seven straight losses.

“I’m upset with everyone,” Giants coach Tom Coughlin said. “I’m upset with me.”

When the game began, it appeared as if the Giants were going to snap their six-game skid. After punting on their first possession, New York scored touchdowns on its next three. Manning took the Giants on drives of 91, 54 and 63 yards. Rashad Jennings rushed for a pair of touchdowns and Manning found Preston Parker for a three-yard score in between.

With the Giants defense matching its offense’s success, shutting down the Jaguars through the early portions of the game, it was the New York offense that began to struggle. On the team’s remaining nine possessions, the Giants punted four times, missed a field goal, made a field goal, and fumbled three times, two of which were returned for touchdowns.

“We could have knelt on the ball in the second half and had a better chance to win,” said Coughlin.

Jacksonville’s comeback began with a Scobee field goal at the end of the first half. Then, a Manning fumble was recovered by J.T. Thomas in the end zone. Bortles found Marqise Lee for a 30-yard touchdown in the third quarter and then Aaron Colvin returned a Larry Donnell fumble 41 yards to put the Jaguars in front by two.

Trailing late in the fourth quarter, Manning brought the Giants back. The quarterback took New York 54 yards in eight plays to set up a Josh Brown field goal. The kick put New York up one with 3:26 to play, but Bortle’s heroics would provide the final say.

Video highlights/lowlights of the game are available at Giants.com.

—–

Quick Hits and Observations

  • QB Eli Manning completed 24-of-34 passes for 247 yards and a touchdown. RB Rashad Jennings rushed for 91 yards on 26 carries. As a team, the Giants averaged 3.3 yards per carry.
  • WR Odell Beckham Jr. led all Giants receivers with seven catches for 90 yards.
  • LB Jameel McClain (1), S Stevie Brown (1), DE Jason Pierre-Paul (1.5), LB Devon Kennard (2), DE Kerry Wynn (0.5) and DT Johnathan Hankins (1) all recorded sacks for the Giants defense.
  • For the first time in his career, Jaguars quarterback Blake Bortles finished a game without throwing an interception. He came in leading the league. Bortles finished 21-of-35 for 194 yards with a touchdown.
  • RB Rashad Jennings (ankle), OG Geoff Schwartz (ankle), OT James Brewer (concussion), DE Robert Ayers Jr. (pectoral) and LB Terrell Manning (ankle) all left the game with injuries and didn’t return. The status of all five is unknown, but Schwartz is said to have tendon damage.
  • The last time Giants lost seven straight game was 2003, the last year of of the Jim Fassel era, when they dropped eight straight to end season and finished 4-12.
  • Inactive for the Giants were OT Justin Pugh (quadriceps), OG Adam Snyder (knee), OG Brandon Mosley, DE Mathias Kiwanuka (knee), DT Cullen Jenkins (calf), LB Jacquian Williams (concussion), and CB Jayron Hosley.

Nov 282014
 
Eli Manning, New York Giants (November 23, 2014)

Eli Manning – © USA TODAY Sports Images

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New York Giants at Jacksonville Jaguars, November 30, 2014

Before December, the Giants have been officially from playoff contention. It is the third season in a row, and fifth time in six years, the Giants will not be in the playoffs. The remaining five games are now more about preparing for 2015.

FOUR DOWNS:

First Down
What does Odell Beckham Jr. do for an encore?
It was the catch that broke twitter as Odell Beckham Jr. dove backwards and pulled in the uncatchable with three fingers. So, what’s he do for an encore? Despite missing the first six games of the season, Beckham is closing in on 1,000 yards receiving and making general manager Jerry Reese look very smart for drafting the rookie with the No. 12 pick int he draft this year.

Second Down
Can Perry Fewell save his job?
There’s a good chance nothing can save Fewell’s job as the Giants defense, even with its additions, is 31st in the NFL. Last week’s game-winning drive by the Dallas Cowboys was filled with questionable calls from Fewell and even bigger questions as to the players he chose to put on the field. Can Fewell salvage something, anything, these last five games to show he can still be a solid defensive coordinator in the NFL?

Third Down
Will Damontre Moore play more?
The New York Giants are in desperate need of a pass rusher. Arguably the team’s most talented continues to sit on the sideline. With the team officially eliminated from the playoffs with the Detroit Lions victory over the Chicago Bears on Thanksgiving, there’s nothing to lose by playing Moore every snap. Mathias Kiwanuka has struggled this year, Moore hasn’t been given the chance to. Will the defensive coaches put the second-year pro on the field?

Fourth Down
How will the Giants play against Jacksonville?
The New York Giants got through the easy portion of their schedule with victories over the “bad” teams in the NFL. After going winless against the good teams, how will New York now play against the one-win Jaguars? There’s nothing to play for anymore for the Giants, will they play down the Jaguars?

BREAKING DOWN JACKSONVILLE:

OFFENSE – by Connor Hughes
Strength?
With Maurice Jones-Drew in Oakland, Denard Robinson has been a pleasant surprise for the Jacksonville Jaguars on offense. Robinson has rushed for 508 yards this season and four touchdowns. He’s averaging 4.5 yards per carry.

Weakness?
Blake Bortles had a nice preseason for the Jaguars. Blake Bortles has not had a nice regular season for the Jaguars. Since being handed the starting quarterback job back Sepember 21, Bortles has thrown just eight touchdowns to a league-leading 15 interceptions. Bortles has thrown an interception in every game he’s played and multiple interceptions in five of nine starts. The rookie is taking his lumps and the Giants secondary should be able to take advantage.

DEFENSEby Eric Kennedy
Strength?
Despite the fact that the Jaguars are 30th in defense, they can rush the passer. Jacksonville is third in the NFL in sacks with 33. And 14.5 of those sacks have come from the interior defensive line. The defense of the Jaguars is also extremely tough in the red zone, allowing an NFL low 39 percent conversion rate.

Weakness?
The Jacksonville secondary is not very good. Not only are the Jaguars 27th in pass defense but secondary only has two interceptions on the season (three others by non-defensive backs).

SPECIAL TEAMS – by Eric Kennedy

Jordan Todman leads the NFL with 23 kickoff returns of 20 or more yards and his 26.3-yard average is sixth in the league.

PLAYERS TO WATCH:

Eli Manningby Connor Hughes
Eli Manning has been under fire the last two games as the quarterback has been one of the reasons the Giants have lost each. Had it not been for five interceptions versus the San Francisco 49ers, and an overthrow to Preston Parker against Dallas, there’s a chance New York sits better than 3-8. Manning has always been a quarterback that puts his numbers aside and takes chances when things start looking bad. Things are now looking bad, Manning could look to start forcing the issue.

Against Jacksonville, Manning should be able to find the same success he had earlier in the season. Or, things continue to spiral down.

New York Giants Offensive Line – by Eric Kennedy
As noted above, the Jaguars can rush the passer, statistically better than the 49ers and Cowboys who gave New York’s line problems. The Giants offensive line needs to protect Eli to allow him time to get the ball to downfield targets who should be able to exploit a pretty bad secondary. Also of note, the Jaguars are 28th in run defense. New York’s ground game has been anemic for six games. It’s time to turn that around.

FROM THE COACHES’ MOUTH:

Tom Coughlin – “I worry that we’re not winning the games that were the close games. I worry that we put ourselves in position to score and we don’t score, and we don’t win. One week, it’s score and the next week, it’s stopping them…There is no doubt that (the team almost waits for something to go wrong). Why would we have the ball first-and-goal at the four (against the 49ers) and not score?…(Against the Cowboys), they’ve got to go 80 yards. We have eliminated getting beaten by a field goal. They’re got to score a touchdown. They’ve got to go 80 yards and they’ve got to score a touchdown. Why would that not be a challenge?”

Gus Bradley – “I think their skill positons, their receiving corps, tight end, and Eli Manning, I think they are very talented on the perimeter. Obviously with Odell Beckham Jr., he has kind of made a name for himself the last five games. We really liked him coming out in the draft, as did many teams.”

FINAL WORD:

(by Connor Hughes) The Giants aren’t a very good team right now, but they’re much better than the Jacksonville Jaguars. Truthfully, I believe it will take New York making all the wrong mistakes to even give Jacksonville a chance, and even then New York could probably still pull out a win. The Giants offensive line should be able to control the line of scrimmage which in turn will open up running lanes. If the Giants can establish a rushing attack, that then makes the passing game more effective. I believe they’ll get both going against Jacksonville. Giants 24 – Jaguars 14.

(by Eric Kennedy) The Jaguars may be 1-10 but they continue to play hard and many of their games against far better teams have been very competitive, including the Colts last week. For weeks, some of the Giants players have been saying they could still make the playoffs. Well, officially that pipe dream has ended. Will the team come into this game with the proper frame of mind with reality finally hitting them in the face? I think Perry Fewell’s defense is simply just bad and the defensive players uninspired. I also worry about Eli against this pass rush. Jaguars 20 – Giants 3.

Nov 242014
 
Odell Beckham, New York Giants (November 23, 2014)

Odell Beckham – © USA TODAY Sports Images

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The New York Giants lost their sixth consecutive game of the season Sunday night to the Dallas Cowboys, 31-28, dropping the team’s record to 3-8 and eliminating it from from a potential NFC East divisional title.

New York got things going early. On the team’s first possession, quarterback Eli Manning marched the Giants 80 yards in 13 plays before finding receiver Odell Beckham Jr. for a three-yard score. After Dallas scored a field goal on their next possession, New York again got in the end zone.

With a first and 10 and the Cowboys 43 yard line, Manning dropped back and fired a pass deep down the right sideline in the direction of Beckham. While being interfered with, Beckham dove backwards and reached his right hand out. Beckham managed to gain control of the ball and pull it into his body for the score. On the night, Beckham finished with 10 catches for 146 yards.

Dallas was able to rebound from the Giants surge. Quarterback Tony Romo took the team 77 yards on nine plays before finding Jason Witten for a four-yard touchdown pass. On the Giants next possession, Manning again took the Giants on a scoring drive, setting up Andre Williams with a three-yard touchdown. Manning finished 29-of-40 for 338 yards with three touchdowns and one interception.

Leading 21-10 at the half, New York had the momentum, but the red-hot offense cooled off in the third quarter. The Giants punted on their first two possessions of the quarter and Manning threw an interception deep in Cowboy territory on the third. Dallas took advantage of New York’s stagnant offense, scoring a pair of touchdowns on a Romo 45-yard touchdown pass to Cole Beasley, then a 31-yard score to Dez Bryant.

With nine minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, Manning finally got the offense going again. The quarterback took the team 93 yards in 14 plays before finding Adrien Robinson for a one-yard touchdown. The score put the Giants up four with just over three minutes to play.

After a touchback put the Cowboys at their own 20, Romo deflated the home crowd at MetLife. With little pressure from the Giants defensive front, Romo had near all night in the pocket. Quickly, he took the Cowboys to the Giants 13 yard line with 1:11 to play. In the shotgun, Romo moved slightly to extend the play 10 seconds before finding Dez Bryant in the back of the end zone.

The Giants had a chance to tie the game on their next possession, but went four-and-out when a pass to Rashad Jennings on fourth and two came up inches shy of a first down.

The loss drops the Giants to a two-way tie for last place in the NFC East with the Washington Redskins. Dallas remains in a two-way tie with the Philadelphia Eagles for first play. Dallas and Philadelphia play each other Thursday afternoon on Thanksgiving.

Video highlights/lowlights of the game are available at Giants.com.

Nov 162014
 
Eli Manning, New York Giants (November 16, 2014)

Five Interceptions for Eli Manning – © USA TODAY Sports Images

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The opportunity was there.

With five minutes to play and the New York Giants trailing the San Francisco 49ers by six, Eli Manning and the offense had a first and goal at the San Francisco four yard line.

In spite of Manning’s then four interceptions, the lack of a running game and continued offensive dysfunctions, the team was still in a position to win. It needed just four yards in four plays.

New York didn’t get a yard before Manning was intercepted on fourth down, all but sealing the deal on the team’s 16-10 loss Sunday afternoon in East Rutherford.

“Four shots from the four yard line,” Giants coach Tom Coughlin said. “It’s inexcusable that we didn’t score.”

Throughout the game’s entirety, the calm, cool and collected Manning that had taken the field for New York’s previous nine games was no where to be found. Manning missed passes low, high, inside and out. Coughlin said Manning was dealing with “accuracy issues” and the quarterback’s play made it abundantly clear.

Manning, who entered the game having thrown six interceptions all season, was intercepted five times, three of which when targeting Rueben Randle. He completed just 22-of-45 passes for 280 yards.

“You’re not going to win a game turning the ball over five times,” Coughlin said. “I can guarantee you that.”

Early in the game, it appeared as if the game was headed in the complete opposite direction as what it ended up. On the Giants first possession, Manning marched New York 63 yards in five plays before finding tight end Larry Donnell for a 19-yard touchdown. The drive was set up when Zack Bowman recovered a Frank Gore fumble.

But after New York’s touchdown, the offense went cold. The team’s ensuing drives resulted in  a punt, two interceptions and two more punts before finally getting on the scoreboard with a Josh Brown field goal in the third quarter. With the Giants offense in a rut, San Francisco did just enough to win the game.

Following Gore’s fumble, the 49ers kicked three consecutive field goals to go on top, 9-7. On their first drive of the second half, quarterback Colin Kaepernick hit receiver Michael Crabtree on a slant. The former first-round pick burst through the center of the Giants defense for a 48-yard score.

New York answered with Brown’s field goal, but were unable to put any additional points on the board after. Manning was intercepted for a fourth time at the San Francisco 20, but the most back-breaking pick came with New York deep inside 49er territory.

Starting at their own 35 with 6:18 to play, Manning marched the Giants quickly into San Francisco territory. On second down at the 49er 41, Manning went deep to Odell Beckham Jr. down the right sideline. The rookie made a leaping grab to set New York up at the four. On first down, Manning threw a fade to Beckham that was out of reach. On second down, Manning threw a fade to Randle which fell in complete. On third down, Manning threw a fade to Larry Donnell who landed hard on his shoulder and dropped the ball. On fourth down, Manning forced the ball inside to Preston Parker. As the ball hit Parker’s hands, the receiver was hit and the ball popped up and into the arms of San Francisco linebacker Chris Borland.

“We need to bounce back,” Coughlin said. “Now we’ve had a defensive fiasco, we’ve had an offensive fiasco. Perhaps maybe now we’ll be able to go out and put something together.”

The loss for New York drops its record to 3-7. It faces the Dallas Cowboys at home next Sunday night.

—-

Quick Hits and Tidbits

  • The Giants lost their fifth consecutive game to fall to 3-7. It is their worst record after 10 games since 1998, when they were also 3-7 and finished 8-8.
  • Inactive for New York were cornerback Mike Harris, linebacker Jacquian Williams (concussion), guard Adam Snyder, defensive end Kerry Wynn, offensive tackle James Brewer, offensive guard Brandon Mosley and defensive tackle Cullen Jenkins (calf). Mike Patterson started for Jenkins and Mark Herzlich for Williams.
  • Offensive tackle Justin Pugh left the game with a quad injury and did not return. Speaking after the game, Coughlin said Pugh originally hurt his quad in last week’s game against Seattle, but practiced fully all week. It acted up against San Francisco.
  • Receivers Rueben Randle and Preston Parker each left the game at various points in time with ailments. Both returned and were said to be fine after the game.
  • Of Manning’s interceptions, three were intended for Randle. Two were intercepted by Chris Borland, one by Michael Wilhoite, one by Chris Culliver and one by Eric Reid.
  • Odell Beckham Jr. finished with six catches for 93 yards. Rueben Randle caught seven passes for 112.
  • Earlier in the week, Coughlin spoke about how he wanted his “big players” to make “big plays.” The comment was in response to a question about Jason Pierre-Paul. On Sunday, Pierre-Paul had one tackle. Receiver Preston Parker had two.
  • Defensive end Robert Ayers Jr. recorded a sack bringing his season total to five. Since the start of last season, Ayers has 10.5 sacks. In his first four seasons, he had 6.5.
  • The San Francisco 49ers rushed for 148 yards on the Giants defense and averaged 4.0 yards per carry.
  • The Giants recovered an onside kick in the third quarter, their first successful onside kick since Nov. 7, 2004 vs. Chicago.

—-

Head Coach Tom Coughlin’s Post Game Press Conference: The transcript and video of Head Coach Tom Coughlin’s post-game press conference are available at Giants.com.

Post-Game Player Media Q&As: Transcripts and video of post-game media sessions with the following players are available at Giants.com:

Video highlights/lowlights of the game are available at Giants.com.

Nov 142014
 
Steve Weatherford, New York Giants (January 22, 2012)

Steve Weatherford – © USA TODAY Sports Images

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San Francisco 49ers at New York Giants, November 16, 2014

The New York Giants once promising three-game winning streak seems like a far distant memory as the 2014 season is beginning to seemed headed for a very familiar path. With the San Francisco 49ers coming to MetLife Sunday afternoon, a loss could all but eliminate the Giants from postseason contention for a third consecutive year.

FOUR DOWNS:

First Down
Can Odell Beckham Jr. continue to be special?
Odell Beckham Jr. is looking like he could be arguably the best player selected in the 2014 NFL Draft. In his last two games, Beckham has 254 receiving yards and, despite playing in just five games overall, could become the Giants leading receiver this week.  The 49ers are another tough task defensively, especially if Aldon Smith dresses. How will Beckham play?

Second Down
Can Rashad Jennings make an impact if he returns?
Since Rashad Jennings suffered a knee sprain versus the Atlanta Falcons, the Giants have yet to win a game. Andre Williams has shown promise, but is far from a feature back at this point in his career. Peyton Hillis is what he is and Michael Cox is now on injured reserve. When Rashad Jennings left the Giants lineup, so to did their rushing attack. Jennings is expected to return this Sunday, but will he make an impact? He hasn’t played in a month. How much can he handle?

The Giants have been known, at least as of late, to not baby players in their first game back (i.e., Beckham and Andre Brown). Will the Giants lean on Jennings heavily as well?

Jason Pierre-Paul (90), Justin Tuck (91), New York Giants (January 22, 2012)

Pierre-Paul and Tuck – © USA TODAY Sports Images

Third Down
Where is Jason Pierre-Paul?
This is Jason Pierre-Paul’s contract season. The season where players normally break out. While Pierre-Paul has been stout against the run, the fierce pass-rushing, unblockable, first-team All-Pro from 2011 still hasn’t taken the field. He’s flashed, sure, but has yet to do it on a consistent basis. This season, he’s on pace for under seven sacks (6.2).

Fourth Down
Can the defense stop the read option?
It’s coming, you can better believe that. Back when Colin Kaepernick led the 49ers to the Super Bowl, he did it by unleashing the read option. If anything, the Seattle Seahawks, who ran for 350 yards against New York last week, learned a thing or two from San Fran. Kaepernick is faster than Russell Wilson and is a better runner. Can Perry Fewell’s defense keep him contained? If not, New York has very little chance to win.

BREAKING DOWN SAN FRANCISCO:

OFFENSE – by Connor Hughes
Strength?
While Kaepernick hasn’t taken the “next step” as an elite passer in the NFL, it isn’t for lack of targets. Be it the receivers, or tight end, the 49ers have some of the best weapons in the NFL. At Kaepernick’s disposal this year are Anquan Boldin, Michael Crabtree, Stevie Johnson, Brandon Lloyd and Vernon Davis.

Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie should be able to handle whomever he lines up from, but those after? The Giants cornerback position, which was once one of the deepest in the NFL, is dangerously thin. Not to mention, who will cover TE Vernon Davis?

While the game plan will be to shut down the 49ers running game, containing the pass is another must for New York. If one gets going, the other is sure to follow. The Giants can’t put a ton of small bodies on the field because the 49ers will then run the ball. They can’t come out in their base constantly as the 49ers will pass.

Sunday is a very, very tough test for the Giants.

Weakness?
Since dazzling the NFL his first year seeing extensive action, Kaepernick has struggled at times with San Francisco. His decision making has been questionable, his accuracy subpar and Kaepernick has struggled getting off his first read.

Kaepernick has thrown 13 interceptions in his last 25 games. He completed 58 percent of his passes last year, and 61.9 this year. He’s averaged just 7.69 and 7.50 yards per completion sine 2010.

DEFENSE by Eric Kennedy
Strength?
A week after playing the NFL’s 4th-best defense, it doesn’t getting any easier this week with the Giants facing the 3rd-best defense in terms of yards allowed (5th against pass and 7th against the run). The strength of this 3-4 defense team remains the front seven with stalwarts such as LDE Ray McDonald, RDE Justin Smith, and outside linebackers Ahmad Brooks and Aldon Smith. Rookie inside linebacker Chris Borland has been exceptional.

That all said, don’t discount the secondary. The safeties have been excellent. Free safety Eric Reid is fast developing into one of the best in the game. Ex-Colt strong safety Antoine Bethea is having an excellent season.

Weakness?
It’s not so much a “weakness” as the corners simply are not as strong as other areas of the defense. Also, the 49ers lost their nose tackle last week, but Glenn Dorsey returns this week after a preseason biceps injury.

The biggest weakness to date has been the 49ers are 25th in the NFL in sacks. Getting Aldon Smith back from suspension should improve their pass rush however.

PLAYERS TO WATCH:

Connor Hughes –
Colin Kaepernick
While not as efficient as a passer, Kaepernick is a far better runner than Seattle’s Russell Wilson. After struggling against Seattle, how will the Giants defend Kaepernick? It’ll be an interesting test for the Giants and it’ll be fun to watch how Fewell elects to defend it.

Eric Kennedy –
Rashad Jennings
For the Giants to have a chance in this game, the need the running game to be more productive. That will be difficult against one of the NFL’s best run defenses. Plus Jennings is still not 100 percent and likely to be rusty. Still, he should be a shot in the arm to the offense and might make a bigger impact as a receiver.

FROM THE COACHES’ MOUTH:

Tom Coughlin – “(The 49ers) are going to run. That is their deal. They are going to set things up with the run. You have to be very, very good and very, very strong. We need turnovers. We need field position.”

Jim Harbaugh – “(Against the Seahawks, the Giants) got hit on a couple quarterback-sucker plays and a few zone-read keepers by the quarterback that amounted to some big yardage. I anticipate that will be fixed by the time we play.”

FINAL WORD:

Connor Hughes – It’s truly mind-boggling how injury depleted the Giants have been over the last few years, but this year is even more than most. The Giants are without nearly half their starting lineup and truthfully, I don’t believe they have enough to stick with San Francisco for four quarters.  New York will keep it close, but in the end, the 49ers pull it out. San Fransisco 28 – New York 20.

Eric Kennedy – It makes little sense to pick the Giants in this spot but I think New York rebounds with a win this week. I expect the 49ers to come into this game overconfident, and two back-to-back cross-country road trips should take some life out of them. The San Francisco win against the Saints in New Orleans was impressive, but the 49ers have been a bit shaky this year. Much depends on which version of Colin Kaepernick shows up. When he is “on”, he can make some unbelievable throws, especially outside of the pocket. But when Kaepernick is “off”, he can be really bad. Pray for the latter this weekend. Giants 24 – 49ers 13.

Nov 072014
 
Antrel Rolle, New York Giants (December 15, 2013)

Antrel Rolle – © USA TODAY Sports Images

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New York Giants at Seattle Seahawks, November 9, 2014

The 3-5 New York Giants (1-2 in the NFC East) will travel to Seattle to play the defending Super Bowl Champion Seahawks in a stadium where the road team rarely wins. Despite injury issues at quarterback, the 6-2 Philadelphia Eagles (2-0 in the division) and 6-3 Dallas Cowboys (1-1) in the division have all but left the Giants in the dust. The Giants have zero wiggle room. They must win this game or their season is all but officially over.

FOUR DOWNS:

First Down
Will Jason Pierre-Paul be Jason Pierre-Paul?
While few players on the Giants defense played well Monday night, Pierre-Paul was one of those that stood out as being abnormally quiet. Just a week after his best game of the season, Pierre-Paul was kept in check all night in prime time. The same statement that was made before the season still holds true today, in order for the defense to be successful, Pierre-Paul need to be a force. Be that against the run, the pass, or both. He can’t go invisible as he did on Monday.

Second Down
Will New York’s rebuilt secondary hold up?
It seems like a very, very long time ago that the Giants secondary was considered the deepest and strength of the team. Injuries have ravaged the position, taking the teams No. 2, No. 3, No. 4 and now, with Zack Bowman in the hospital, No. 5 cornerbacks. Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie has been banged up and now, New York may be starting a combination of Jayron Hosley and Chandler Fenner opposite DRC. It’s gotten ugly, very ugly. With a pass rush that has been sporadic, the New York secondary may be ripe for the picking Sunday.

Third Down
Can Odell Beckahm Jr. continue to progress?
If the Giants season ends short of the playoffs, one of the things that will be interesting to watch progress is the play of Odell Beckham Jr. The rookie has progressed each game he’s played with his play coming to the forefront on Monday night. The potential of Beckham going up against Richard Sherman will be fun to watch.

Fourth Down
Will Eli Manning throw an interception?
Eli Manning is going through his best interception-less streak of his career, but is this the week it finally comes to an end? The Seahawks have one of the better secondaries in the NFL and there’s a chance if New York falls behind early, Manning will need to air it out. One of the biggest positives of this season has been the progression of Manning after the regression from a year ago.

BREAKING DOWN SEATTLE:

OFFENSE – by Connor Hughes
Strength?
The Seahawks rushing attack is one of the best in the NFL with its combination of power and technique. The team simply wears opponents down throughout a game and by the fourth, no one wants any part of Marshawn Lynch. Couple the running game with the smart play of Russell Wilson, and Seattle has quite the 1-2 punch.

This season, Seattle is No. 2 in rushing yards per game, averaging 148.5.

Weakness?
Aside from Russell Wilson and Marshawn Lynch, the Seahawks don’t really have another dynamic playmaker on the team’s offense. Golden Tate is in Detroit, Percy Harvin was traded to the Jets. There really isn’t anyone as a receiver that scares an opposition. From that standpoint, if New York can contain the run, the Seahawks lack-of receivers may be exactly what the Giants beat-up secondary needs.

DEFENSE by Eric Kennedy
Strength?
While not quite as intimidating defensively as last season, the Seahawks are still very good on defense. In terms of yards allowed, they are fourth in the NFL (4th against the run and 6th against the pass). But they are 10th in points allowed. When healthy, the Seahawks are strong on the defensive line and have the best secondary in the NFL. While Seattle’s cornerbacks receiver a lot of media attention, they have the best starting safety combination in the NFL. Bruce Irvin is a play-maker at linebacker.

Weakness?
Injuries. Seattle has had injury issues both at linebacker and in the secondary. And while Seattle can still rush the passer, the sack numbers haven’t been there  yet with Seattle only accruing 11 sacks on the season.

PLAYERS TO WATCH:

Connor Hughes –
Odell Beckham Jr.
Yeah, I most definitely was not the guy that wrote the mathematically article about how the Giants should hold off on any lofty expectations about Beckham. The receiver looks like the real deal and is getting better and better each passing week. It will be very interesting to watch Beckham against the Seattle secondary and against Sherman when he wonders over to that side.

Beckham does things athletically I’ve never seen before. The one-handed grabs that were shown on tape on Monday Night Football were the same catches he was making every day from the jugs machine in training camp. Now that he’s healthy, the world is seeing what he’s capable of.

He’s surprised me. A lot.

Eric Kennedy –
Jason Pierre-Paul
If Robert Ayers plays as well as he did last week, and Jason Pierre-Paul can re-gain the form he showed only a few weeks ago against Dallas, the Giants defensive line could cause all kinds of problems for a Seahawks offensive line that has really struggled with injuries. The pass rush is important, but this week, run defense will be the greater emphasis. Stop the run.

FROM THE COACHES’ MOUTH:

Tom Coughlin – On the Seahawks leading the NFL with 5.1 yards per carry: “They definitely build themselves on that aspect of it. Now, they do it from open formations, too. It’s not just regular personnel. They want to run the ball first, and off of that comes all of their play-actions, which are outstanding, and then the quarterback (Russell Wilson) and his ability to keep the ball on the bootleg – scramble, get on the perimeter, make plays outside the pocket, that’s his game. He has a strong arm and he’s smart…Keep him in (the pocket). Keep him in there. He’s their second-leading rusher and he runs up and down the field if you’re not careful.”

Pete Carroll – “I think (Odell Beckham) looks terrific. We had him really highly rated in the draft. (We) loved his overall football ability. He was a terrific returner. His great speed and also he has just great athleticism and he is great competitor and smart player. You put it all together. He is a tremendous prospect for them and he is really coming alive and you can see that he has great potential.”

FINAL WORD:

Connor Hughes – I have a feeling this game will be a lot closer than many think, but this season as an entirety feels like it may spiral out of control after this loss. Antrel Rolle’s comments seem to have ruffled a few feathers and there’s only so much that can be expected from the Giants’ secondary. If Rodgers-Cromartie goes down, how much can really be expected of Chandler Fenner and Jayron Hosley?

It really is the strangest thing I’ve ever seen – the injuries that constantly seem to attack the Giants. More than anything else, the secondary injuries. Every year it seems players drop like flies. I don’t have any explanation for it, but this year may be the worst in recent memory. Realistically, because of injuries, the Giants could enter Sunday’s game without the following starters:

  • Running back (Jennings)
  • Receiver No. 2 (Cruz)
  • Receiver No. 3 (Jernigan)
  • Left guard (Schwartz)
  • Right Guard (Snee)
  • Left Guard (Richburg)
  • Defensive Tackle (Jenkins)
  • Defensive End (Kiwanuka)
  • Middle Linebacker (Beason)
  • Stronside Linebacker (McClain – who’s playing middle because of Beason)
  • Cornerback No. 2 (Amukamara)
  • Cornerback No. 3 (Thurmond)
  • Cornerback No. 4 (McBride)
  • Cornerback No. 5 (Bowman)

How many teams can take claim to that? How many teams can survive that? Seattle 28 – New York 17.

Eric Kennedy – I really want to pick the Giants in this game, but I can’t. Seattle doesn’t appear to be the same team as they were last year and I think they can be beaten at home. And in some ways, this game is a good match-up for the Giants in that the strength of Seattle’s offense is their running game rather than their passing game – which is key for the G-Men given New York’s incredibly banged-up secondary. But I just don’t see how the Giants are going to move the football in this game unless Eli Manning and Odell Beckham put on a 2-man show. The Seattle defensive line is going to dominate the Giants offensive line. In particular, their big defensive tackles are going to take away the inside running game. The Giants will become one dimensional. Rueben Randle will be easily handled and the Seahawks have the linebackers and safeties to cover Larry Donnell pretty effectively. If I’m Coughlin and McAdoo, I replace Preston Parker in the slot with Kevin Ogletree and perhaps the Giants could do some damage there.

Seattle just needs to play it conservatively and keep pounding the ball. With the Giants unable to move the rock and likely to be punting frequently with an injured punter (back problems now for Steve Weatherford), the Giants defense will eventually break. Look for Eli to be under duress, get frustrated, and throw a pick or two.

Bottom line…the Giants are 3-0 against bad teams; 0-5 against better teams. And the five losses haven’t been close. Giants keep it interesting until second half, but New York loses 29-9.

Nov 042014
 
Jason Pierre-Paul, New York Giants (November 3, 2014)

Jason Pierre-Paul – © USA TODAY Sports Images

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The waning seconds ticked off the New York Giants 40-24 loss to the Indianapolis Colts and the few hundred fans remaining in the stands headed for the exits. The enthusiasm honorary team captain Michael Strahan and many ex-Giants legends who were on hand helped to build was was now long gone.

Andrew Luck and Co. marched into East Rutherford, put up more than 400 yards of offense through the third quarter and all but ended New York’s season. It wasn’t close. It never was. And the 3-5 Giants now look headed for mediocrity once again.

“We knew full well the explosiveness of this team and the production of their quarterback,” Giants coach Tom Coughlin said.

After kicking a field goal to make the score 10-3 in the second quarter, Indianapolis scored on its next five possessions discounting the end of the first half. Luck connected on a 31-yard touchdown pass to T.Y. Hilton, a 40-yard score to Reggie Wayne and a two-yarder to Dwayne Allen during a 21-point explosion in the third quarter. When the game mercifully ended, Luck was 25-of-46 for 354 yards with four touchdowns and no interceptions.

While the Giants the Giants were able to hit Luck with a variety of blitzes, the team’s secondary couldn’t hold up. After starting cornerback Prince Amukamara was lost with a torn bicep, Luck went to work on the likes of Jayron Hosley and Zack Bowman. Nine different receivers caught passes from he former No. 1 overall pick. Six of those players caught passes of 20 or more yards.

Former Giants Hakeem Nicks and Ahmad Bradshaw enjoyed their first games against their former teams. Nicks caught three of the four passes thrown his way for 44 yards. Ahmad Bradshaw rushed seven times for 50 yards and had 29 yards receiving.

“They go fast,” Coughlin said. “Whenever they make a bit play, they go fast. We talked about it all week. Our defense had prepared for it all week along. All of a sudden we weren’t getting lined up as fast as we should.”

Offensively, New York failed to establish anything on a consistent basis. While quarterback Eli Manning’s 359 passing yards and Odell Beckham Jr.’s 156 receiving yards tell one story, the game says another. On the Giants first eight possessions, the offense managed three points. It wasn’t until the third quarter, with the Colts leading 23-3, that New York found the end zone.

The running game was nonexistent. Starting running back Andre Williams rushed 12 times for 22 yards, Peyton Hillis four for 20.

There were dropped passes, fumbles, missed opportunities and more. The plays that regularly haunt a bad team popped up time and time again with the ball in the Giants’ hands.

“We continue to have the same problems,” Coughlin said. “Three points in the first half isn’t going to give you much of an opportunity to beat the No. 1 offense in the National Football League.”

New York will travel to take on the Seattle Seahawks next week.

Post-Game Notes: CB Prince Amukamara tore a bicep muscle and is likely done for the season. OG Weston Richburg left the game with an ankle injury and was wearing a walking boot and using crutches after the game. WR Preston Parker sprained his foot and was also in a walking boot.

Inactive for the Giants were RB Rashad Jennings (knee), DT Cullen Jenkins (calf), DE Kerry Wynn,  CB Mike Harris, OT Charles Brown, OT James Brewer, and OG Brandon Mosley.

Oct 312014
 
Eli Manning, New York Giants (August 16, 2014)

Eli Manning – © USA TODAY Sports Images

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Indianapolis Colts at New York Giants, November 3, 2014

The New York Giants look to snap their two-game losing streak against a tough opponent Monday night in the Indianapolis Colts.

Ahmad Bradshaw, New York Giants (August 18, 2013)

Ahmad Bradshaw – Photo Courtesy of Evan Pinkus and the Giants

FOUR DOWNS:

First Down
Old faces in new places
A former New York Giant is making quite the impact for the Indianapolis Colts… it’s just not the player anyone expected. A year after dealing with neck injuries, Ahmad Bradshaw has found new life with the Colts and has all but supplanted Trent Richardson as the team’s starting running back. As for the other former Giant? Hakeem Nicks hasn’t had any impact on the offense. Last week, he played in just 19 of the team’s snaps.

Both players will sure be revved up to play their former team again in their former stadium, will the Giants contain them?

Second Down
Can the Giants establish a running game?
One of the things that made Giants running back Rashad Jennings so special was his vision. Even if option one wasn’t open, Jennings found the second and third holes that were formed as the play developed to turn negative plays into positive ones. It’s a trait Jennings developed over time. Andre Williams just doesn’t have it yet.

Williams has struggled to get things going for New York on a consistent basis. If the initial hole isn’t there, the play usually doesn’t work. Williams’ vision will develop over time, it just isn’t there yet. Will this be the game he breaks out?

Third Down
Will New York be able to contain Andrew Luck?
The odds of New York shutting down Andrew Luck are slim, but the team can contain him. Pressure Luck, forcing him out of his comfort zone and to roll out of the pocket and across his body. That’s easier said, than done. Can the Giants execute the defensive game plan?

Fourth Down
Can for one week there not be a miscommunication in the secondary? 
Just once, can the Giants not have a defensive meltdown in the secondary? Can someone not think someone else has their help? Can everyone just be on the same page as everyone else? It’s a weekly occurrence and it needs to stop. Every year the defense starts this way and then needs to be ‘dumbed down.’ Not sure if that’s on the players, or the coaching staff.

BREAKING DOWN INDIANAPOLIS:

OFFENSE – by Connor Hughes
Strength?
The Colts offense is littered with playmakers all across the field. Reggie Wayne (questionable to play), T.Y. Hilton, Dwayne Allen, Coby Fleener, Hakeem Nicks, Ahmad Bradshaw and Trent Richardson are all capable of making plays at any point in time. Couple that with one of the best quarterback’s in the game and the Colts have one of the better attacks in all of football.

Weakness?
The interior offensive line can be had. The Colts guard play has been suspect this year and have struggled at times. The playmakers and Andrew Luck overshadows the line play.

DEFENSE by Eric Kennedy
Strength?
The Colts defense had been ranked 3rd in league in terms of yards allowed until the game against the Steelers where they gave up over 600 yards of offense. That likely anomaly dropped them to 15th. Until that game, the defense was performing at a high level and had shut out the Cincinnati Bengals. The Colts are outstanding on 3rd down. And while they have a lot of “no-name” defensive players, they are very well coached and can confuse opposing offenses with their various 3-4 and 4-3 schemes. No player has more than four sacks, but the team has 21 overall. The run defense is giving up less than 100 yards per contest.

Weakness?
The sum of the Colts defense is stronger than their component parts as the team lacks impact defensive playmakers. They have a lot of “solid” guys, but there is no one to really fear. The defense benefits from the fact that the Indianapolis offense is so productive, allowing the defense to pin its ears back against what often becomes a one-dimensional opponent.

Eli Manning and Hakeem Nicks, New York Giants (September 15, 2013)

Eli Manning and Hakeem Nicks – © USA TODAY Sports Images

PLAYERS TO WATCH:

Connor Hughes –
Hakeem Nicks
When Hakeem Nicks was at his best with the New York Giants, he was the team’s No. 1 target. He’s not that in Indianapolis and his numbers have reflected that. Nicks will revved up to play Monday night to play against his former team at his former home. While Nicks hasn’t been a focal point of the offense this year, he should be on Monday. Will he be a factor?

Eric Kennedy –
Eli Manning
The Giants season is on the line. If the Giants have any shot to make the playoffs this year, Eli will have to carry this team like he did in 2011. New York desperately needs for him to out-play Andrew Luck, which is no small feat.

FROM THE COACHES’ MOUTH:

Tom Coughlin – “(The Colts are) number one in the league on offense, first place in the AFC South, an exceptional fast start team. Sixty-four points in the first quarter, the opponents, 13. They are the number one passing team as well, big plays, you name it. Defensively – very, very aggressive. Prior to the Pittsburgh game, they were third in the league on defense. They have a high percentage of pressure on each and every down and distance. Special teams is outstanding as well with McAfee and Vinatieri and Whalen doing the returning.”

Chuck Pagano – “Eli (Manning) is obviously going to end up in the Hall of Fame with his brother one day. He is one of the elite quarterbacks in this game. If you don’t pressure and you can’t get pressure on him or do some things to disrupt the timing and rhythm of that offense that (Offensive Coordinator Ben McAdoo) is running over there now, then (Manning) will rip you to shreds. He can make all the throws and he has great touch and great vision and does a great job controlling safeties and people with his eyes. There isn’t anything that he hasn’t seen from a defensive standpoint.”

FINAL WORD:

Connor Hughes – The difficult part of the Giants schedule began two weeks ago and it won’t get easy Monday night. Luck and the Colts march in after having a dreadful performance against the Pittsburgh Steelers and will be ready to go in prime time. I’m just not sure the Giants match up.

The running game hasn’t been there the last two weeks, the team refuses to take shots down the field and the defense is questionable. If Wayne plays, the Colts bring three No. 1 receivers to the table. If the Giants match that with their secondary, that opens up room on the ground for Ahmad Bradshaw and Trent Richardson to run against a smaller front. It doesn’t favor New York, and it could get out of hand quick. Colts 31 – Giants 10.

Eric Kennedy – Many fans charge me with being a Debbie Downer or pessimist. Others will say I simply sound like a dreadful broken record. But Giants fans probably need to come to the recognition that this team simply isn’t very talented. One post in The Corner Forum really resonated with me this past week:

The Giants won the super bowl in ’11 with a team that was basically in decline. The ’10 Giants were a better squad overall that pissed away the year with an insane number of turnovers and a historic collapse at home. In ’11 the Giants peaked at the right time and won a title due to one of the greatest quarterbacking performances of all time. I loved every minute of it but I do not think anyone can truthfully argue that the 2011 Giants were loaded with talent. They had the best QB play in the NFL and an awesome receiving corps. But they did play “over their heads” and a lot of that has to do with coaching. TC does not get enough credit for that. Late 2012 and the shit show that was 2013 finished the collapse and now the team is rebuilding. Luckily this can happen quickly in the NFL when you have a franchise QB.

– BBI Poster rocco8112.

Bad drafting and injuries have decimated New York’s 2008-12 NFL Draft classes, and the Giants are suffering the consequences. Simply put, since the middle of 2012, the Giants have been a bad football team. Now, they are relying on veteran and rookie free agents at far too many positions, and unfortunately, injuries (yet again) have hit the team hard across the board. The Giants are not talented enough to overcome it. The Colts are clearly the better football team. And Ahmad Bradshaw is going to show Jerry Reese he made another mistake. Colts 34 – Giants 17.

Oct 192014
 
Daniel Fells, New York Giants (October 19, 2014)

Daniel Fells – © USA TODAY Sports Images

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DALLAS COWBOYS 31 – NEW YORK GIANTS 21

The New York Giants dropped their fourth game of the season, and second consecutive divisional game, to the Dallas Cowboys, 31-21. Below are several quick hits and tidbits from the Giant defeat, including stats and post-game notes.

Game Inactives
Dallas Cowboys

  • OLB Bruce Carter
  • DT Davon Coleman
  • DE Jack Crawford
  • OT Doug Free
  • DB Jakar Hamilton
  • OT Donald Hawkins

New York Giants

  • OT James Brewer
  • DT Jay Bromley
  • RB Rashad Jennings
  • OG Brandon Mosley
  • OG Adam Snyder
  • WR Corey Washington

NOTES:

Offense…

  • On the Giants second touchdown, quarterback Eli Manning hit tight end Daniel Fells for a 27-yard touchdown. The touchdown marked the eighth for a Giants tight end this season. The eight scores by the tight ends are the most by the positional group since 2009 when Kevin Boss caught six touchdowns and Darcy Johnson two. If another tight end catches a touchdown pass this season, it will mark the first time in more than two decades that the positional group had nine touchdowns or more.
  • For the third straight game, Eli Manning did not throw an interception. In 2013, Manning threw interceptions in all but three games. It is the first time Manning has gone three games without an interception since 2008.
  • Through the season’s first seven games, Eli Manning has thrown just five interceptions. At this point last year, Manning had thrown 15.
  • After catching just one pass the last two games, Larry Donnell caught seven passes for 90 yards. With Victor Cruz absent, the team used both Preston Parker and Odell Beckham Jr. in the slot.

Defense…

  • Jason Pierre-Paul had two sacks versus Dallas. It was his ninth multi-sack performance of his career and his first since Oct. 14, 2012 versus San Francisco.
  • Prince Amukamara and Jacquian Williams led the Giants with seven tackles each.
  • After allowing LeSean McCoy to run for 149 yards a week ago, Cowboys running back DeMarco Murray rushed for 128.
  • Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie started the game playing just third downs, but did not play the second half. Amukamara guarded Dez Bryant for the majority of the game. Bryant caught nine passes for 151 yards

Injuries…

  • Giants DT Cullen Jenkins left the game with a leg injury and was seen in a walking boot following the game. The Giants used both Markus Kuhn and Mike Patterson in his place.
  • Linebacker Jon Beason left the game in the first half and was taken back to the locker room for x-rays on his injured toe. The x-rays came back negative, but Beason did not return to the game.
  • Jason Pierre-Paul missed a few plays with an unknown injury, but returned to the game.
Oct 192014
 
Tom Coughlin, New York Giants (October 19, 2014)

Tom Coughlin – © USA TODAY Sports Images

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Good teams don’t make these plays.

On fourth and one, a good team’s offensive line won’t jump offsides. Trailing by seven in the fourth quarter, a good team’s tight end won’t fumble a ball after picking up a first down deep inside their own territory.

A good team’s tight end won’t fumble again with under a minute to play.

A good team won’t claim a game as a ‘Must Win,’ then get gashed for more than 400 yards on defense, including 156 on ground.

Maybe the New York Giants are what the preseason expectations stated they were: An average, to slightly below average, football team.

Sunday afternoon, the Giants lost their fourth game of the season – second in a row to a divisional opponent – falling to the Dallas Cowboys, 31-21. The loss dropped New York’s record to 3-4, 1-2 in the NFC East and 2-4 in the conference.

“We had opportunities,” Giants coach Tom Coughlin said. “We couldn’t stop them when we had to stop them.”

Odell Beckham, New York Giants (October 19, 2014)

Odell Beckham – © USA TODAY Sports Images

In the first half, New York looked to be ready for the divisional fight many expected. After Dallas took the lead on a first quarter touchdown pass from Tony Romo to tight end Gavin Escobar, the Giants scored 14 unanswered points.

Quarterback Eli Manning marched the Giants 71 yards in 10 plays, capping the drive off on a nine-yard touchdown to rookie wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. After a Prince Amukamara interception got the Giants the ball back five plays later, Manning took just one play to get New York back in the endzone.

At the Dallas 27 yard line, Manning rolled out on a play fake and found tight end Daniel Fells for the score. Manning finished 21-of-33 for 248 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions. It was the third straight game Manning did not turn the ball over.

But the Giants lead was short lived. On the ensuing possession, Tony Romo hit Terrance Williams for a 18-yard touchdown to tie the game. In the second half, Dallas snapped the 14-14 tie when Romo found Escobar for a 26-yard touchdown past Zack Bowman.

With the Giants down seven, Manning looked to march the team on a game-tying drive, but quickly the one-possession game turned into two. Facing a third and 8, Manning fired a pass over the middle to Larry Donnell.

Daniel Fells, New York Giants (October 19, 2014)

Daniel Fells – © USA TODAY Sports Images

As Donnell fought forward for the first, the tight end fumbled the ball. Dallas recovered and four plays later, DeMarco Murray ran in from a yard out to put Dallas up, 28-14. After allowing LeSean McCoy to rush for a season-high 149 yards, Murray tallied 128 on the ground against New York.

Murray has now tied an NFL record with seven 100 yard rushing games in a season, and set the NFL record for most 100 yard rushing games to start the year.

With Dallas leading 28-14, Manning marched the Giants 80 yards in 11 plays, taking 3:43 off the clock, before finding Beckham for his second touchdown of the game.

Facing a fourth and goal at the five, Manning hit Beckham on a slant. Beckham finished with four catches four 34 yards and two touchdowns.

With New York back in the game, it turned to its defense to get a stop and give Manning the ball back, but those hopes never materialized. Romo took Dallas on a 10-play drive, eating up 4:29 of the clock. Dan Bailey capped the drive with a 49-yard field goal, putting Dallas up 10 with under a minute to play.

With little hope left, New York fumbled away its final chance when Donnell was stripped for a second time.

New York (3-4) will have a bye next week while Dallas (6-1) will host the Washington Redskins (2-5).