Antonio Pierce talked to Mike Francesa of WFAN yesterday about a hard-fought victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers and their upcoming game against the Cowboys. At the end of the interview, Pierce says that they are going to tee off on Brad Johnson. That’s funny, and I can’t wait to see it. To hear the interview in its entirety, click here.
The Giants went into the Steel City and beat the Steelers at their own game…hard nosed, old school, smash mouthed football. The NFC East is historically known for that as well so it is no shock, but I loved every minute of it. All year, I’ve had to listen to the media say that the Giants haven’t beaten anyone yet. Now we did and came out with the same result. On top of that, we did it on the road in one of the most hostile stadiums in the country…again. The Giants completely lost momentum until John Carney kicked the field goal cutting the deficit to 14-12 with 8:18 remaining in the 4th Quarter. That’s when the Terrible Towels were being waved a little less. Then emergency long snapper James Harrison snapped the ball over the punter’s head which resulted in a safety tying the game at 14-14. The Terrible Towels were being waved even less. Then came the Giants only TD of the game when Eli found Boss in the back of the end zone with 3:07 remaining, and the Giants silenced the stadium. I absolutely loved this game, and I hope that Big Blue can continue to dominate the rest of their opponents in ‘08.
Offense
The Giants offense was average yesterday even though they only got into the end zone once. They came out strong in the 1st Quarter but could not regain momentum until the 4th Quarter. Eli Manning did not have a good night statistically. He went 19/32 which is a 59.38% completion percentage and threw for 199 yards, 1 TD, and 0 INTs. New York was able to move the chains, but Pittsburgh’s defense was able to stop the Giants from reaching the end zone. The Giants’ defense constantly gave the offense great field position, but the offense did not capitalize on as many possessions as they should have. The Jints offense only put up 7 points, but they were playing one of the best defenses in the NFL. Since the Giants were able to move the chains and get into the red zone, they did make 4 Field Goals. On one occasion, Coach Coughlin decided not to kick a field goal on 4th and Inches early in the 2nd Quarter which could have came back and bit them in the buttocks. RB Derrick Ward had 5 receptions for 43 yards while WR Steve Smith had 3 receptions for 45 yards. Plaxico Burress sat the 1st Quarter for missing treatments for his sore neck on Friday. Burress keeps on pissing me off with this crap, but I guess Coach Coughlin feels the same way. As I said last week, I wouldn’t care if this was a one-off incident, but his behavior is reverting. After getting his mega-contract, he has acted like a fool. Instead, he should be helping his teammates improve. The more Burress acts like T.O. or Chad Johnson, the faster the Giants will let him go like they did with his best friend Jeremy Shockey. Kevin Boss was the only Giant to find the end zone yesterday. Brandon Jacobs and Derrick Ward only compiled 84 yards on 31 touches which is only 2.71 yards per carry, but that is a lot more than the Steelers defense gives up. The tandem was also able to wear down the Steelers’ defense in the 4th Quarter which led to the Giants winning this game. The Giants’ offense put up 7 of the 21 points.
Defense
The Giants defense put on a show for America yesterday. They were just nasty for all four quarters. Not only that, they got better as the game went on. The Steelers were able to score on their first drive when Roethlisberger handed the ball off to Mewelde Moore who ran it 32 yards to the house. The Giants missed a tackle which cost them 7 points. The Steelers opened up the 2nd Half by Ben Roethlisberger throwing a 65-yard bomb to Nate Washington for a TD. This was the only play were the Giants’ defense broke. Besides those two bad plays, the defense dominated the Steelers’ offense all day. The defense sacked Ben Roethlisberger 5 times. Mathias Kiwanuka got to him three times, and Justin Tuck and Dave Tollefson got to him once. Add 14 knock downs to that. Kenny Phillips, Corey Webster, James Butler, and Bryan Kehl each had 1 pick yesterday. Mathias Kiwanuka and Antonio Pierce each forced 1 fumble. These stats are similar to what to what they did last week against the 49ers. There’s a big difference between the talent level of these two teams. You cannot ask for better stat lines than this against one of the best teams in the NFL. The Giants’ defense put up 0 of the 21 points.
Special Teams
The bes play of the game took place on Special Teams when the Steelers snapped the ball to high giving the Giants a Safety. John Carney was 4/4 in Field Goal Attempts. The Special Teams unit needs to improve on returns and coverage. The Giants’ special teams put up 14 of the 21 points.
So the Giants won their sixth game which makes them 6-1. They now will face the Cowboys and the Eagles back-to-back which are huge games to set the tone. I’m can’t wait to watch these games. How will Big Blue fair in the next 9 games? I predicted them to be 6-1 after the first 7 games, and they are 6-1. I got 2 games wrong so far because I had the Giants beating the Browns but losing to the Steelers. I predicted the Giants to be 6-3 down the stretch giving them a 12-4 record. The Cowboys are next on the schedule.
Amani Toomer talks to Rachel Nichols of ESPN about the Giants win over the Steelers.
ESPN analysts recap the Giants win over the Steelers.
The Giants beat the Steelers in an extremely physical matchup and came out on top giving them their sixth win of the 2008 Regular Season.
1st Quarter
The Steelers marched 60 yards into the end zone on their first possession, and Roethlisberger handed the ball off to Mewelde Moore who broke to the right side for a 32-yard Touch Down run to cap it off with 11:15 remaining.
During the Giants’ second possession, Manning mixed up some passes along with an efficient running game before getting stopped at the Steelers’ 8 yardline where John Carney made a 26-yard Field Goal Attempt with 4:39 remaining.
Ben Roethlisberger threw an interception to James Butler who lost the ball, and then various players tried to fall on it and Mathias Kiwanuka came up with it at the Steelers’ 42 yardline with 2:53 remaining.
2nd Quarter
The Giants marched right down to the 2 yardline after the interception, but the Steelers came up with a goal line stand which was poor play calling by Coughlin who should have put the field goal unit out there.
The Giants’s defense was successful in making the Steelers go 3-and-out, and Hixon returned the punt to the Steelers’ 19 yardline. The Steelers stopped the Giants at the 17 yardline so John Carney connected on a 35-yard Field Goal Attempt with 10:30 remaining.
Roethlisberger zipped the ball to Nate Washington, but Butler hit Washington so hard that the ball popped out and into the hands of Bryan Kehl who returned it to the Steelers’ 44 yardline with 7:54 remaining. The Steelers were called for a Personal Foul on the play which advanced the Giants another 15 yards so the Giants took over at the 29 yardline instead.
The Steelers were able to stop the Giants from getting into the end zone again, but John Carney connected on a 25-yard Field Goal Attempt with 3:31 remaining.
With 3:21 remaining, Justin Tuck sacked Ben Roethlisberger for a loss of 6 yards. The Steelers were successfully marching down the field using the no-huddle offense until Mathias Kiwanuka sacked Ben Roethlisberger for a 9-yard loss on 3rd down with 0:56 remaining which forced the Steelers to punt.
3rd Quarter
The Steelers opened up the half, but Dave Tollefson sacked Ben Roethlisberger on third down for a loss of 8 yards with 12:30 remaining so the Steelers had to punt.
Off play action, Ben Roethlisberger aired out a 65-yard Touch Down pass to Nate Washington who ran down the left sideline and into the end zone with 10:00 remaining.
4th Quarter
The Steelers were at the Giants’ 34 yardline on 4th and 4 so they went for it rather than kicking a field goal, but Ben Roethlisberger threw an interception to Corey Webster who returned it to the 32 yardline with 14:00 remaining.
The Giants began their fourth possession at the 32 yardline. Coughlin had the offense go for it on 4th and 6 at the Steelers’ 35 yardline, and Manning hooked up with Toomer who got tackled at the 4 yardline. Once again, the Steelers’ defense stopped the Giants from getting into the end zone so John Carney made a 24-yard Field Goal Attempt with 8:18 remaining.
On 3rd and 14, Mathias Kiwanuka sacked Ben Roethlisberger for an 8-yard loss with 7:16 remaining which forced the Steelers to punt the ball away. When punting, James Harrison snapped the ball over the head of Berger and beyond the end zone which resulted in a Safety.
The Giants possession began at the 47 yardline. Manning hit Smith over the middle for 25 yards, and then he found Burress along the left sideline who got tackled at the 10 yardline. Ward broke to the left and got tackled at the 2 yardline. Off play action, Eli Manning fired a 2-yard Touch Down pass to Kevin Boss in the back of the end zone with 3:07 remaining.
The Giants’ defense made the Steelers go 4-and-out so they took over at the Steelers’ 37 yardline.
The Steelers’ defense made the Giants go 3-and-out forcing the Giants to punt.
On 4th and 15, Ben Roethlisberger threw an interception to Kenny Phillips at their own 49 yardline and no return with 1:24 remaining.
The Giants went into victory formation and ran out the clock.
Wrap Up
Eli Manning went 19/32 and threw for 199 yards, 1 TD, and 0 INTs.
Brandon Jacobs led in Rushing Attempts and Rushing Yards with 18 and 47 respectively.
Derrick Ward led in Receptions with 5 and Steve Smith led in Receiving Yards with 45.
Kevin Boss had 1 Receiving TD.
John Carney went 4/4 in Field Goal Attempts.
Danny Clarck and Justin Tuck led the team in Tackles with 4.
Mathias Kiwanuka had 3 Sacks while Justin Tuck and Dave Tollefson each had 1 Sack.
Kenny Phillips, Corey Webster, James Butler, and Bryan Kehl each had 1 INTs.
Mathias Kiwanuka and Antonio Pierce each had 1 Forced Fumble.
The NFL.com Game Center: Post Game is attached.
ESPN previews this week’s Giants - Steelers game.
Over the years, I have learned that certain things just weren’t meant to be. As a kid, I always wanted a brand new baseball glove. I played every season for years and always used one my parents bought at a yard sale. It had to be 40 years old at the minimum. My little sister played softball one year with a brand new glove. A new glove for me to be proud of just wasn’t meant to be. In college, I spent a majority of my one class daydreaming about a believably good-looking girl that sat a row ahead of me, wondering what she looked like without all those annoying and frustrating clothes on but never found out. It just wasn’t meant to be. Life’s lessons never end because on Monday, I just realized another thing in my life that is not meant to be.
After suffering through a painful, horrific, and humiliating loss to the Washington Redskins Sunday, and trying to recoup from the loss, the hits just keep coming. Philadelphia Eagles RB Brian Westbrook now has two fractured ribs. I don’t know who is in more pain; Westbrook or us Die Hard Eagles Fans.
Brian Westbrook is the heart and soul of the Eagles offense. No offense to QB Donovan McNabb but Westbrook is anything and everything to our offense. He instills fear in the minds of opposing defenses. Other teams have to account for him on every play. They have to spend all week game planning for how to stop him as a multi-level threat.
We know what the Eagles can do with and without “Westy”. We saw that for the 2nd half of the Steelers game and unfortunately the entire Bears game. With a current record of 2-3 and a 0-2 NFC East division record, can there be any worse time for this injury? My hopes and dreams of an Eagles Super bowl are fading by the second. Maybe it is just one more thing in our lives that is not meant to be.
With that said, “E-A-G-L-E-S!! EAGLES!!”
On paper, The Philadelphia Eagles defense should match up quite well against The Chicago Bears offense. The Bears passing game is suspect. The Bears have no stand out, “have to stop receiver”. The Bears starting QB, Kyle Orton has not been known to be a top, quality QB so far into his career. Orton is inexperienced and inconsistent but can manage a game with short and accurate passes. However, there are portions of the Bears offense that the Eagles need to be mindful of, or last year’s upset loss to the Bears could be repeated again this Sunday night.
Assuming dangerous return man/WR Devin Hester is still out with an injury as he is listed as Questionable at the time of this post, the Eagles should focus on shutting down two aspects of the Bears offense. The first piece is to make sure they are not hurt continuously by rookie RB Matt Forte. Forte has been a dangerous runner and receiver so far this season and could be the kind of back that gives the Eagles defense trouble. There have been many successful rookie running backs so far into the NFL season, and Forte leads them all in production. The Eagles so far have been extremely successful at shutting down the opposing team’s running backs and will need to keep Forte’s total damage at a minimum. Doing so will put the Bears in a disadvantage, forcing them to have to attempt to pass, leaving them vulnerable to sacks, potential turnovers, and costly mistakes.
The second portion of what the Eagles Defense should prepare for is the athletic ability of Bears Tight End Greg Olsen. So far this season, arguably the Eagles biggest issue defensively has been attempting to shut down the other team’s Tight End. Dallas Cowboys Tight End Jason Witten absolutely owned the Eagles during week 2’s game. Last week, Steelers Tight End Heath Miller was the only success in the Steelers’ passing game. It is crucial for the Eagles to get better at stopping opposing Tight Ends or more and more teams will game plan to pick on this chink in the Eagles defense’s armor.
The Eagles have great Cornerbacks in Lito Sheppard, Asante Samuel, and Sheldon Brown. Add in a ball hawking Safety in Brian Dawkins and an improving Safety in Quintin Mikell and I am quite confident that the Bears receiving core will not be much of a threat despite the fact that WR Brandon Lloyd (questionable) has started being more productive.
With that said, the Eagles would be wise to keep up their aggressive style of blitzing and be in the Orton’s face all day. The Eagles should put as many men as possible up in the box, contain Forte, and bring the heat on Orton, forcing him to try to make the big play. More times than not, the Eagles defense should be on the right side of things, helping our Birds go to 3-1.
With that said, “E-A-G-L-E-S!! EAGLES!!”
The Eagles Defense earned the victory against the Pittsburgh Steelers. In a physical, defensive battle, the Steelers could not find a way to protect QB Ben Roethlisberger from the ever attacking Eagles Defense.
1st Quarter
The Eagles won the coin toss and QB Donovan McNabb moved the offense down the field. FB Tony Hunt caught a ball out in the flat and tried turning it up field. Hunt was knocked silly on the play, suffering a concussion. Worse, he fumbled the ball and the Steelers were awarded possession after a challenge review indicating a fumble.
Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger then successfully lead the Steelers offense downfield and settled for a 37-yard field goal to earn a 3-0 Steelers lead.
2nd Quarter
During the next Eagles offensive possession, RB Brian Westbrook went wide left on a running play and tried hurdling over OT Tra Thomas to avoid stepping on him. When Westbrook came down, he landed awkwardly, spraining his ankle. Westbrook limped off the field and did not return to the game. X-Rays did not show anything broken and he will have an MRI on Monday. A few plays later, McNabb found backup RB Correll Buckhalter open for a 20-yard TD pass. It was McNabb’s 176th TD pass, a new Eagles franchise record. The Eagles lead 7-3.
On Pittsburgh’s next offensive possession, the Eagles defense turned up the heat and shut down RB Willie Parker and the Steelers Offense. Roethlisberger was sacked 3 times and also fumbled where the ball was recovered by Philadelphia.
The Eagles immediately went to work, mixing it up with the pass and some run. They marched down to the Steelers’ 14 yard-line where they settled for a 31-yard David Akers field goal making the score 10-3.
The next possession for the Steelers was similar to the last one where the Eagles defense was flying around the field, causing constant pressure. After being sacked 2 more times, Roethlisberger was intercepted by Eagles CB Asante Samuel, giving the Eagles offense back the football.
After 2 plays, it was third down and McNabb dropped back to pass. Backup RB Lorenzo Booker missed a crucial block to protect McNabb and he forced a ball into coverage. It was intercepted by Steelers CB Bryan McFadden, giving the Steelers great field position, at the Eagles 49-yard line. The Steelers then took the ball forward and settled for a 53-yard field goal by K Jeff Reed, making the score 10-6 right before half-time.
3rd Quarter
After the Steelers Offense came out and was forced to punt, surprisingly the Eagles offense was lead out onto the field by backup QB Kevin Kolb. It was reported that McNabb was in the locker room with a chest injury. Kolb’s first pass was intercepted by Steelers Safety Troy Polamalu.
The Steelers were unsuccessful on their next possession and were forced to punt. Kolb started the offensive drive, but McNabb replaced him, coming back in on a 2nd and 2 play. The Eagles drive stalled a few plays later where P Sav Rocca dropped the ball nicely to the Steelers’ 10 yard-line. The Eagles and Steelers then finished the 3rd quarter by trading possessions, punting the ball back and forth to each other after each team failing to move the ball on offense.
4th Quarter
A few more possessions were traded back and forth as the Eagles defense was too much for the Steelers and their offensive line. The Eagles offense also had trouble in the early stages of the 4th quarter moving the ball.
After a 54-yard punt by Rocca, placing the Steelers at their own 6-yard line, the Steelers were shut down trying to move the ball out from their goal-line. On 3rd down, Roethlisberger was pressured in his end zone and flagged for intentional grounding, giving the Eagles a Safety and increasing their lead to 12-6.
The Eagles received the Steelers’ free kick at the Eagles’ 39-yard line but were unsuccessful in moving the ball. On the Steelers next possession, Roethlisberger was hit by a Eagles Safety Brian Dawkins who forced the fumble and recovered the ball as well. The Eagles settled for a field goal, extending their lead to 15-6.
The Steelers took the ball back but Roethlisberger left the game with a hand injury. Backup QB Byron Leftwhich replaced him and was unsuccessful in leading the Steelers to a score. The Eagles got the ball back, took a knee and ran out the clock, winning this physical battle over The Keystone State, 15-6.
Wrap Up
The Eagles Defense forced 9 sacks, 1 Safety, and 3 Turnovers against the Steelers.
Besides injuries to Hunt, McNabb, and Westbrook, TE L.J. Smith suffered a back injury.
The Eagles Defense held RB Willie Parker to just 20 yards rushing.
With that said, “E-A-G-L-E-S!! EAGLES!!”
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