Die Hard Sports Fan

The Giants went down to D.C. and swept the season series with the Redskins handily. The ‘Skins constantly have said that they are not the same football team as they were in Week 1 which was true because the G-MEN scored more points than they did last time while allowing fewer points than last time. Are the Redskins worse than they were in Week 1? It sure looked that way. This victory along with a Titans victory keeps these two teams in a tie for the best record in the NFL, 11-1, with four games to go. Who team will finish the ‘08 season with a better record? We’ll find out.

Offense

The Giants offense consisted of a whole lot of passing yesterday because the Redskins completely committed to stopping the run. Eli Manning had a great game as he went 21/34 which is a 61.76% completion percentage and threw for 305 yards, 1 TD, and 1 INT. That’s right, Eli threw for over 300 yards. The Giants were able to move the ball between the 20’s with ease all day long but got stopped from reaching the end zone a few times too many. When Manning threw the interception, it was a good pass to Hixon who did not turn around in time so DeAngelo Hall ended up taking the ball away. Eli’s only Touch Down pass was a 40-yard pass to Amani Toomer on the Giants’ opening drive which quickly took all of the emotion out of the stadium. Manning evenly distributed the ball to Toomer, Derrick Ward, and Domenik Hixon who replaced Burress because he was injured. Each of those 3 wide outs had 5 Receptions, and Toomer led with 85 Receiving Yards. Earth, Wind, and Fire were not able to show themselves off as a trio to the Redskins defense because Bradshaw was inactive. Brandon Jacobs led the ground game with 21 touches for 71 yards and 1 Rushing TD. The running game only amassed 116 yards on 36 carries. It was the second week in a row where they were somewhat contained. The Giants’ offense put up 14 of the 23 points.

Defense

The Giants defense was outstanding because they only gave up 1 TD to the new and improved Redskins on a gadget play. What happened to the new west coast offense implemented by Jim Zorn? The defense came out and shut down the leading rusher in the NFL, Clinton Portis, to 22 yards on 11 carries. That’s 2 yards per carry with a long of 5 yards. They also pressured Jason Campbell throughout the game and the defensive backs were extremely physical with the Redskins’ receivers. Justin Tuck led with 2 sacks, and Barry Cofield and Renaldo Wynn each got a sack. Michael Johnson led the team with 7 Tackles. Aaron Ross had the only interception of the game, but Madison had one which was not upheld due to a bad illegal hands to the face penalty. Terrell Thomas and Cofield each had a Forced Fumble, but the Redskins recovered both of them. The Giants’ defense put up 0 of the 23 points.

Special Teams

John Carney returned and was 3/3 (perfect again) in Field Goal Attempts. Nothing else really stood out on special teams yesterday. The Giants’ special teams put up 9 of the 23 points.

Heading into this weekend, I felt like the Giants, the Cowboys, and the Eagles would win because there were not facing any challenging opponents. The Redskins were the only team that took a step back this weekend, but they have an easier schedule than Dallas does down the stretch and could pass them in the final quarter of the season. The Giants won their eleventh game which makes them 11-1. How will Big Blue fair in the next 4 games? They have the toughest schedule remaining of any team in the NFL. I predicted them to be 10-2 after the first 12 games, and they are 11-1. I got 3 games wrong so far because I had the Giants beating the Browns but losing to the Steelers, and then I had the Giants and the Eagles splitting the season series with each of them winning at home. I predicted the Giants to be 2-2 down the stretch giving them a 12-4 record. The Eagles will make the trip up the Turnpike looking to get swept by the Giants on Sunday.

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The Giants scored 13 points before the Redskins who claim they are not the same team as they were in Week 1 got on the board, but it was the Giants put up 10 more unanswered points and came out victorious in our nation’s capital giving Big Blue their eleventh win of the 2008 Regular Season.

1st Quarter

The Giants scored on their opening drive as Manning kept hooking up with Hixon on third and long to keep the chains moving, and Eli Manning capped off the drive with a with 40-yard Touch Down pass to Amani Toomer along the right sideline giving the Giants a 7-0 lead with 9:56 remaining.

Manning kept on finding receivers in the middle of the field to keep their second drive alive, but Anthony Montgomery sacked Eli Manning for a loss of 5 yards on 3rd and Goal from the Redskins’ 7 yardline with 2:35 remaining so the Giants had to settle for a 31-yard Field Goal Attempt made by John Carney with 2:11 remaining giving the Giants a 10-0 lead.

2nd Quarter

The biggest play of the Giants third possession was when Manning threw a short pass to Ward who broke one for a 48-yard catch and run along the right sideline, but the Redskins stopped the Giants from getting into the end zone so they had to settle for a 38-yard Field Goal Attempt which was made by John Carney with 12:01 remaining giving the Giants a 13-0 lead.

The Redskins fourth possession began at the 43 yardline. On 2nd and 5, Barry Cofield and Danny Clark sacked Jason Campbell for a loss of 8 with 11:17 remaining which the Redskins were able to overcome, and the Redskins scored their first score on a gadget play where Devin Thomas followed Moss on a reverse 29 yards into the end zone for a Touch Down with 8:31 remaining making the score 13-7.

The Giants moved from their 20 yardline to the Redskins 34 yardline when Eli Manning threw an interception to DeAngelo Hall, on a pass intended for Hixon, who returned it 5 yards to the 29 yardline with 4:10 remaining.

Campbell marched the Redskins to the Giants’ 30 yardline where they got stopped and attempted a 42-yard Field Goal Attempt by Suisham which went wide right with 0:04 remaining.

3rd Quarter

The Giants took advantage of great field position as they began their drive at the Redskins’ 48 yardline, and then Jacobs finally found a hole up the middle for a gain of 23 yards. On 2nd and Goal from the 1 yardline, Brandon Jacobs ran upright into the end zone for a 1-yard Touch Down run giving the Giants a 20-7 lead with 8:33 remaining.

The Redskins were marched their way down to the Giants’ 43 yardline where Jason Campbell aired out an interception to Aaron Ross at the 3 yardline without a return with 5:53 remaining.

On 1st and 10, Andre Carter sacked Eli Manning for a 2-yard loss with 3:19 remaining on a drive which ultimately led to a punt.

4th Quarter

The Giants began at the Redskins’ 39 yardline due to a failed fourth down conversion, but the Giants could not get into the end zone again so they tried a 39-yard Field Goal Attempt which was made by John Carney with 6:26 remaining giving the Giants a 23-7.

On 1st and 10, Renaldo Wynn sacked Jason Campbell for a loss of 3 yards with 4:13 remaining on a drive where the Redskins ultimately turned it over on downs at the Giants’ 35 yardline with 3:25 remaining.

On 1st and 10, Jason Campbell was sacked by Justin Tuck for an 11 yard loss during their final possession with 1:32 remaining, but the clock was against them.

Wrap Up

Eli Manning went 21/34 and threw for 305 yards, 1 TD, and 1 INT.

Brandon Jacobs led in Rushing Attempts and in Rushing Yards with 22 and 71 respectively.

Amani Toomer, Derrick Ward, and Domenik Hixon led in Receptions with 5, and Amani Toomer led in Receiving Yards with 85.

Brandon Jacobs had 1 Rushing TD, and Amani Toomer had 1 Receiving TD.

John Carney went 3/3 in Field Goal Attempts.

Michael Johnson led the team in Tackles with 7.

Justin Tuck had 2 Sacks, and Barry Cofield and Renaldo Wynn each had 1 Sack.

Aaron Ross had 1 INT.

Terrell Thomas and Barry Cofield each had 1 Forced Fumble.

The NFL.com Game Center: Post Game is attached.

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