Earlier this afternoon, I outlined what the Patriots and Giants would each have to do to win the game. I then made a horrible prediction. What went wrong?
Everything.
I said the Patriots would need to execute offensively and pressure Eli Manning. They didn't. Tom Brady missed on a lot of throws, and I'm fairly certain that Laurence Maroney didn't come out of the locker room at halftime. The Offensive Line had very poor protection and really cost the Patriots the game. Guys like Light, Mankins and the Pro Bowl line, who were very reliable in the regular season, completely broke down. The Giants' Offensive Line, however, tightened up and played great. The Patriots stopped getting any pressure on Eli and allowed him to score touchdowns and become MVP.
I can't say enough about how well the Giants played. I can't believe it. Coming into this season, I didn't think they would even win 6 games. When they started playing well in October, I figured they would blow it at the end. When they clinched a playoff berth, I thought they would be sent home packing again. When they beat the Bucs, I figured they would be one and done. They weren't. They weren't any of these things. In the end, they proved they were a great team. And it's thanks to #10, who proved a lot of people wrong tonight.
Even in the late stages of the 4th quarter, I figured Eli Manning would screw up. He always has before, right? There's no way he would get it done on the biggest stage. Then he did. It wasn't just any drive that ended in an eventual winning touchdown. There were only a few minutes left on the clock. If the Giants didn't score on that drive, they're not going to get the ball back. Not only did he put his team up with 35 seconds left, he was part of a signature, classic play that's going to be shown thousands of times for eternity. Under rare incredible pressure from the New England blitz, Eli somehow stays on his feet, spins away from the pressure, and throws up a pass to David Tyree, a mostly special teams player, who holds the ball against his helmet with one hand and finally secures the catch as he hits the ground. Unbelievable.
Except for the one turnover and Corey Webster falling down, they truly played the perfect game. The defense was suffocating. Eli led his offense down the field and used just about every weapon he had to outscore the Patriots. It was a well played game with one quarter that really stood out. Congratulations to the Giants, as much as I hate to say it. I guess it's pretty hard to buy a home in Mercury Morris' neighborhood.
Showing posts with label eli manning. Show all posts
Showing posts with label eli manning. Show all posts
Sunday, February 3, 2008
Friday, February 1, 2008
Super Bowl Friday
It's Wing Bowl Friday, and that means it's time for my Super Bowl preview. This will likely come in several installments, starting with pass offense and defense and rush offense and defense.
Patriots Passing v. Giants Pass Defense
Regular season:
NE- 4731 yards, 8.29 YPA, 68.8% completion, 50 TD, 9 INT, 116 QB rating, 21 sacks allowed
NYG- 3317 yards, 7.01 YPA, 58.5% completion, 24 TD, 15 INT, 83.4 QB rating, 53 sacks
Postseason:
NE- 456 yards, 7.72 YPA, 78.7% completion, 5 TD, 3 INT, 105.7 QB rating, 3 sacks allowed
NYG- 620 yards, 5.86 YPA, 54.5% completion, 4 TD, 5 INT, 65.1 QB rating, 3 sacks
The Giants' pass defense has been somewhat surprising this postseason. They've really tightened up and fixed one of their weaknesses, despite sacking opposing Quarterbacks significantly less than they did in the regular season. In the week 17 meeting, Brady lit them up to the tune of 356 yards and 2 TDs, but things could be different this time around. The Patriots have sacrificed most of their aggressive, downfield passing attack in favor of more high precentage throws. The bye week should have allowed some of the banged up Giant defenders to get ready to go, and it will be interesting to see if they can begin putting tremendous pressure on the QB again.
Giants Passing v. Patriots Pass Defense
Regular season:
NYG- 3154 yards, 6.21 YPA, 55.5% completion, 23 TD, 20 INT, 73 QB rating, 21 sacks allowed
NE- 3041 yards, 6.43 YPA, 59.7% completion, 23 TD, 19 INT, 78.1 QB rating, 47 sacks
Postseason:
NYG- 560 yards, 7.05 YPA, 62.4% completion, 4 TD, 0 INT, 99.1 QB rating, 6 sacks allowed
NE- 477 yards, 6.99 YPA, 58.6% completion, 2 TD, 3 INT, 71.1 QB rating, 2 sacks
When one first glances at these numbers, something jumps out. That's obviously the huge improvement made by Eli Manning between the regular and post seasons. The completion percentage is good, he's avoiding turnovers and he's making plays downfield. This is only the second time in his career in which he's gone three straight games without throwing a pick. If he avoids them in the Super Bowl, it will be the first time he's gone four straight games. The Patriots, like the Giants, have improved their pass defense just a little bit in the playoffs. Also like the Giants, they've been getting fewer sacks. The plan against Manning has always been to get pressure directly in his face, so look for Junior Seau to continue his solid postseason and maybe force Eli to rush his throws.
Patriots Rushing v. Giants Rush Defense
Regular Season:
NE- 1849 yards, 4.1 YPC, 17 TD, 4 fumbles lost
NYG- 1563 yards, 3.8 YPC, 12 TD, 8 fumbles recovered
Postseason:
NE- 294 yards, 4.9 YPC, 2 TD, 0 fumbles lost
NYG- 251 yards, 3.6 YPC, 2 TD, 0 fumbles recovered
The Patriots have been leaning on their running game a bit more in the postseason. One problem in the regular season is how much they passed and their formations. Obviously increased passing will result in decreased rushing results, but it's more than that. The Offensive Line, as good as they are, can't get in a rythym and can't attack the defense like every lineman loves to do. These guys love blowing players off the ball, and they're getting more opportunities to do it. The Giants' run defense, already pretty good in the regular season, has improved just a little bit in the playoffs. Although some think they have the reputation of being a finesse defense beacuse of their great pass rushing ability, guys like Strahan and Pierce can play the run well and anchor the defense.
Giants Rushing v. Patriots Rush Defense
Regular Season:
NYG- 2148 yards, 4.6 YPC, 15 TD, 13 fumbles lost
NE- 1572 yards, 4.4 YPC, 7 TD, 10 fumbles recovered
Post Season:
NYG- 324 yards, 3.5 YPC, 4 TD, 0 fumbles lost
NE- 184 yards, 4.2 YPC, 0 TD, 1 fumble recovered
As the season has progressed, the Giants' backfield has emerged. Even though Brandon Jacobs has been banged up throughout the year, Ahmad Bradshaw has come out of nowhere to provide a home run threat. The 7th round pick out of Marshall has given the Giants the spark they need that Jacobs' bruising style cannot provide. However, that hasn't shown in the postseason results, which has seen a serious decline in the Giants' running game. Jacobs should be fully healthy and ready to wear down the Patriot defense and allow Bradshaw to get them when they're tired. Will this work? The Patriots have been decidedly mediocre against the run this year, regular and postseasons. Their YPC isn't impressive, and their TD against total might not be either, when you consider that they got up on teams by so much, opponents didn't want to run the ball to put up points.
Tomorrow, I'll preview something I haven't decided yet.
Patriots Passing v. Giants Pass Defense
Regular season:
NE- 4731 yards, 8.29 YPA, 68.8% completion, 50 TD, 9 INT, 116 QB rating, 21 sacks allowed
NYG- 3317 yards, 7.01 YPA, 58.5% completion, 24 TD, 15 INT, 83.4 QB rating, 53 sacks
Postseason:
NE- 456 yards, 7.72 YPA, 78.7% completion, 5 TD, 3 INT, 105.7 QB rating, 3 sacks allowed
NYG- 620 yards, 5.86 YPA, 54.5% completion, 4 TD, 5 INT, 65.1 QB rating, 3 sacks
The Giants' pass defense has been somewhat surprising this postseason. They've really tightened up and fixed one of their weaknesses, despite sacking opposing Quarterbacks significantly less than they did in the regular season. In the week 17 meeting, Brady lit them up to the tune of 356 yards and 2 TDs, but things could be different this time around. The Patriots have sacrificed most of their aggressive, downfield passing attack in favor of more high precentage throws. The bye week should have allowed some of the banged up Giant defenders to get ready to go, and it will be interesting to see if they can begin putting tremendous pressure on the QB again.
Giants Passing v. Patriots Pass Defense
Regular season:
NYG- 3154 yards, 6.21 YPA, 55.5% completion, 23 TD, 20 INT, 73 QB rating, 21 sacks allowed
NE- 3041 yards, 6.43 YPA, 59.7% completion, 23 TD, 19 INT, 78.1 QB rating, 47 sacks
Postseason:
NYG- 560 yards, 7.05 YPA, 62.4% completion, 4 TD, 0 INT, 99.1 QB rating, 6 sacks allowed
NE- 477 yards, 6.99 YPA, 58.6% completion, 2 TD, 3 INT, 71.1 QB rating, 2 sacks
When one first glances at these numbers, something jumps out. That's obviously the huge improvement made by Eli Manning between the regular and post seasons. The completion percentage is good, he's avoiding turnovers and he's making plays downfield. This is only the second time in his career in which he's gone three straight games without throwing a pick. If he avoids them in the Super Bowl, it will be the first time he's gone four straight games. The Patriots, like the Giants, have improved their pass defense just a little bit in the playoffs. Also like the Giants, they've been getting fewer sacks. The plan against Manning has always been to get pressure directly in his face, so look for Junior Seau to continue his solid postseason and maybe force Eli to rush his throws.
Patriots Rushing v. Giants Rush Defense
Regular Season:
NE- 1849 yards, 4.1 YPC, 17 TD, 4 fumbles lost
NYG- 1563 yards, 3.8 YPC, 12 TD, 8 fumbles recovered
Postseason:
NE- 294 yards, 4.9 YPC, 2 TD, 0 fumbles lost
NYG- 251 yards, 3.6 YPC, 2 TD, 0 fumbles recovered
The Patriots have been leaning on their running game a bit more in the postseason. One problem in the regular season is how much they passed and their formations. Obviously increased passing will result in decreased rushing results, but it's more than that. The Offensive Line, as good as they are, can't get in a rythym and can't attack the defense like every lineman loves to do. These guys love blowing players off the ball, and they're getting more opportunities to do it. The Giants' run defense, already pretty good in the regular season, has improved just a little bit in the playoffs. Although some think they have the reputation of being a finesse defense beacuse of their great pass rushing ability, guys like Strahan and Pierce can play the run well and anchor the defense.
Giants Rushing v. Patriots Rush Defense
Regular Season:
NYG- 2148 yards, 4.6 YPC, 15 TD, 13 fumbles lost
NE- 1572 yards, 4.4 YPC, 7 TD, 10 fumbles recovered
Post Season:
NYG- 324 yards, 3.5 YPC, 4 TD, 0 fumbles lost
NE- 184 yards, 4.2 YPC, 0 TD, 1 fumble recovered
As the season has progressed, the Giants' backfield has emerged. Even though Brandon Jacobs has been banged up throughout the year, Ahmad Bradshaw has come out of nowhere to provide a home run threat. The 7th round pick out of Marshall has given the Giants the spark they need that Jacobs' bruising style cannot provide. However, that hasn't shown in the postseason results, which has seen a serious decline in the Giants' running game. Jacobs should be fully healthy and ready to wear down the Patriot defense and allow Bradshaw to get them when they're tired. Will this work? The Patriots have been decidedly mediocre against the run this year, regular and postseasons. Their YPC isn't impressive, and their TD against total might not be either, when you consider that they got up on teams by so much, opponents didn't want to run the ball to put up points.
Tomorrow, I'll preview something I haven't decided yet.
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