Die Hard Sports Fan

The Eagles came up the New Jersey Turnpike and beat the Giants at Giants Stadium. The G-MEN looked awful yesterday so they were unable to sweep the season series with the Birds in ‘08. I knew that the Jints were long overdue for a loss, but they looked like they didn’t come to play again. The Eagles came into the game much more desperate and had 10 days off to prepare. It looked like they just wanted it more. This loss along with a Titans victory will keep Big Blue from holding onto the #1 spot in the power rankings.

Offense

The Giants offense was horrible. Eli Manning only went 13/27 which is a 48.15% completion percentage and threw for 123 yards, 1 TD, and 0 INTs. Eli’s passes were off target throughout the game. Wind was a factor, but more running plays may have been able to offset the elements. When Manning was on target, the receivers dropped the passes. The Giants were unable to control the clock or convert on third downs. I believe that Coach Coughlin went into the game thinking that they could beat the Eagles without scoring any points on offense because Eli did not throw his only TD pass of the game to Darcy Johnson until there were 0:15 left in the game when it was absolutely necessary. Steve Smith led with only 4 Receptions for 47 yards. Earth, Wind, and Fire had another less than stellar day on the ground. Brandon Jacobs led the ground game with 10 touches for 52 yards. The running game only amassed 88 yards on 24 carries. It was the third week in a row where they were somewhat contained. The Giants’ offense put up 7 of the 14 points.

Defense

The Giants defense was also awful. Brian Westbrook was a beast yesterday, and the Giants could not figure out how to keep him in check. Westbrook finished the game with 203 total yards and 2 TDs. I’ve heard the Giants fans complaining about how Antonio Pierce got burned a few times, but Pierce was very active and led the team with 12 tackles and 3 assists which was double what the next Giant had. So AP did not have as bad of a day as everybody thinks in a game where all eyes were on him since he had to deal with all of the off-the-field distractions. Justin Tuck was the only Giants who was able to sack Donovan McNabb., and Corey Webster had one forced fumble. The Giants’ defense put up 0 of the 14 points.

Special Teams

John Carney was 0/1 in Field Goal Attempts because Trent Cole blocked it early in the 2nd Quarter. Justin Tuck blocked a 32-yard Field Goal Attempt that Kevin Dockery returned 71 yards to the house right before Halftime. This play was my favorite play of the year so it is unfortunate that it took place in a losing effort. In the 3rd Quarter, Terrell Thomas also blocked a 34-yard Field Goal Attempt. Three blocked FGs in one game? The outstanding effort by the Special Teams unit is what led me to believe that Coach Coughlin wanted to win the game on defense and special teams but came up short. The Giants’ special teams put up 7 of the 14 points.

Heading into this weekend, I felt like the Giants and the Redskins would win their games. The entire NFC Beast lost except for the Eagles. Good thing the Eagles were playing a division rival or they probably would’ve lost too. The Giants lost their second game which makes them 11-2. How will Big Blue fair in the next 3 games? I predicted them to be 11-2 after the first 13 games, and they are 11-2. I got 4 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. The Giants and Eagles split but won on the road. I predicted the Giants to be 1-2 down the stretch giving them a 12-4 record. The Giants will make the trip down to Big D looking to sweep the Cowboys on Sunday night.

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The Giants were unable to overcome the 10 unanswered points put on the scoreboard by the Eagles who prevented the Giants from clinching the NFC East title and a First Round Bye by giving Big Blue their second loss of the 2008 Regular Season.

1st Quarter

McNabb fired a 32-yard pass to Curtis which got the Eagles offense rolling until they got stopped on 3rd and 6 at the Giants’ 34 yardline, and David Akers made a 51-yard Field Goal Attempt into the wind with 0:00 remaining giving the Eagles a 3-0 lead.

2nd Quarter

Jacobs broke right for 23 yards along with a couple of Eagles’ penalties got the Giants offense rolling, but they got stopped at the Eagles’ 30 yardline where Trent Cole blocked a 47-yard Field Goal Attempt by John Carney with 9:27 remaining.

A well balanced attack by the Eagles is what caught the Giants defense offguard as the Eagles went 77 yards on their scoring drive which was capped off by a 30-yard Touch Down run by Brian Westbrook who ran up the middle untouched and into the end zone giving the Eagles a 10-0 lead with 1:52 remaining.

The Eagles began at the 42 yardline after stopping the Giants from converting on 4th Down. McNabb ran the no huddle offense without any time outs remaining to get the Eagles into field goal range, but Justin Tuck blocked the 32-yard Field Goal Attempt by David Akers which was recovered by Kevin Dockery who returned it 71 yards to the house for a Touch Down with 0:00 remaining making the score 10-7 in the Eagles favor before Halftime.

3rd Quarter

The Eagles went ran 7:03 off the clock during their opening drive of the second half as they got themselves into field goal range, but Terrell Thomas blocked a 34-yard Field Goal Attempt by David Akers to prevent the Eagles from extending their lead with 7:57 remaining.

4th Quarter

The Eagles marched 86 yards on their next scoring drive, and Donovan McNabb capped it off by hitting Brian Dawkins over the middle who ran it into the end zone untouched for a 40-yard Touch Down pass extending the Eagles lead to 17-7 with 13:38 remaining.

The Eagles were able to do whatever they wanted against the Giants defense until they got stopped at the Giants’ 16 yardline, and David Akers made his 34-yard Field Goal Attempt with 2:14 remaining giving the Eagles a 20-7 lead.

The Giants, in their no huddle offense, quickly went 70 yards down the field for a score, and Eli Manning found Darcy Johnson open in the end zone for a 1-yard Touch Down pass with 0:15 remaining making the score 20-14 in the Eagles favor.

The Giants were unable to convert on their Onside Kick Attempt giving the Eagles the ball at the 33 yardline, and the Eagles ran out the clock in their victory formation.

Wrap Up

Eli Manning went 13/27 and threw for 123 yards, 1 TD, and 0 INTs.

Brandon Jacobs led in Rushing Attempts and in Rushing Yards with 10 and 52 respectively.

Steve Smith led in Receptions and Receiving Yards with 4 and 47 respectively.

Darcy Johnson had 1 Receiving TD, and Kevin Dockery had 1 Returned a Blocked Field Goal Attempt for 1 TD.

John Carney went 0/0 in Field Goal Attempts.

Antonio Pierce led the team in Tackles with 12.

Justin Tuck had 1 Sack.

Corey Webster had 1 Forced Fumble.

Justin Tuck and Terrell Thomas each blocked a Field Goal Attempt.

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

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After keeping fans on the edge of their seats for a few hours, the Giants came out of the City of Brotherly Love with a victory over the Eagles giving Big Blue their eighth win of the 2008 Regular Season.

1st Quarter

The Giants were able to get one first down on their opening drive before Eli Manning threw a pass that was deflected at the line of scrimmage, intercepted, and returned to the Giants’ 9 yardline by Mike Patterson with 13:30 remaining.

The Eagles quickly capitalized on the turnover on 2nd and Goal as they direct snapped the ball to Desean Jackson who broke to the right side and dove over the right pile on for a 9-yard Touch Down run with 13:18 remaining.

The Giants evened up the score on their next possession going 80 yards on 10 plays, and Eli Manning threw a bullet to Plaxico Burress who was in between two defenders in the middle of the end zone for a 18-yard Touch Down reception with 8:21 remaining.

When the Giants kicked off, Quintin Demps caught the ball at the 5 yardline and returned it to the 25 yardline where Ahmad Bradshaw knocked the ball out and Chase Blackburn fell on the ball at the Eagles’ 14 yardline.

The Eagles were able to stop the Giants from getting into the end zone after giving them great field position, but John Carney made a 27-yard Field Goal Attempt with 6:48 remaining giving the Giants a 10-7 lead.

2nd Quarter

A few runs by Ward along with a few passes to Toomer helped set up the Giants on 1st and Goal at the Eagles’ 1 yardline, and Eli Manning capped it off by throwing a 1-yard Touch Down pass to Kevin Boss in the back of the end zone giving the Giants a 17-7 lead with 14:55 remaining.

On 1st and 10 at the Giants’ 43 yardline, Eli Manning got sacked by Trent Cole and Mike Patterson for a loss of 9 yards with 11:04 remaining on a drive which ultimately led to a punt.

On 1st and 10 at the Giants’ 35 yardline, Manning handed the ball off to Brandon Jacobs who broke towards the left sideline and jumped over defenders near the first down marker but had the ball stripped out of his hands by Chris Gocong and recovered by Mike Patterson at the Giants’ 44 yardline with 6:39 remaining.

The Eagles took advantage of the great field position again as Donovan McNabb found Jason Avant at about the 5 yardline who ran it into the end zone for a 10-yard Touch Down catch with 4:01 remaining cutting the deficit to 17-14.

On 3rd and 12 at the 13 yardline, Donovan McNabb threw an interception to Sam Madison who returned it 19 yards to the Eagles’ 14 yardline with 2:05 remaining.

The Eagles kept the Giants out of the end zone again, but John Carney made his 26-yard Field Goal Attempt giving the Giants a 20-14 lead with 1:49 remaining.

McNabb led the 2:00 offense to the Giants’ 11 yardline with 0:05 remaining so David Akers came out to try a 29-yard Field Goal Attempt which he made with 0:00 remaining cutting the lead to 20-17 before the half.

3rd Quarter

McNabb was spreading the love during the Eagles’ opening drive of the half, and Donovan McNabb lofted an 8-yard Touch Down pass to Hank Baskett who came down with the ball in the left corner of the end zone with 11:24 remaining giving the Eagles the lead 24-20 .

The Giants gave the Eagles’ defense a big dose of Jacobs who kept moving the chains to the Eagles’ 21 yardline before Manning scrambled and threw a shovel pass to Boss at 3 yardline which was ruled a penalty initially, and then the play was challenged and overturned. On 2nd and Goal, Brandon Jacobs bulldozed his way into the end zone for a 3-yard Touch Down run giving the Giants the lead 27-24 with 5:56 remaining.

4th Quarter

The Giants continued to wear down the Eagles’ defense as Earth, Wind, and Fire got them to the Eagles’ 6 yardline before getting held out of the end zone for the third time, but John Carney connected on his 28-yard Field Goal Attempt making the score 30-24 with 13:28 remaining.

Hixon returned the ball all the way to the Eagles’ 15 yardline, but a holding penalty backed them up to the Eagles’ 40 yardline. Bradshaw had a 23-yard run which immediately got the Giants into the redzone. On 2nd and Goal at the 3 yardline, Brandon Jacobs with the help of his blockers broke the plane of the goal line while losing the football which was initially called a Touch Down, and then it was challenged and the ruling on the field was upheld. The Giants failed on their Two Point Conversion Attempt so their lead is now 36-24 over the Eagles with 9:30 remaining.

The Eagles opened up their passing attack on the Giants prevent defense marching all the way down to the Giants’ 2 yardline, and Donovan McNabb rolled to the right and threw a 2-yard Touch Down pass to Kevin Curtis in the back of the end zone on 4th and 2 with 5:30 remaining cutting the lead to 36-31.

The Giants held the Eagles on 4th and 1 at the Eagles’ 45 yardline forcing the Eagles to turn the ball over on downs with 1:48 remaining.

The Giants picked up a first down on 4th and Inches to run out the clock.

Wrap Up

Eli Manning went 17/31 and threw for 191 yards, 2 TDs, and 1 INT.

Brandon Jacobs led in Rushing Attempts and Rushing Yards with 22 and 126 respectively.

Kevin Boss led in Receptions and Receiving Yards with 6 and 69 respectively.

Brandon Jacobs had 2 Rushing TDs, and Kevin Boss and Plaxico Burress each had 1 Receiving TD.

John Carney went 3/3 in Field Goal Attempts.

Antonio Pierce led the team in Tackles with 7.

The Giants had no Sacks.

Sam Madison had 1 INT.

The Giants had no Forced Fumbles.

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

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The Washington Redskins offense we saw that Thursday night that opened up the 2008 NFL Season against the New York Giants is forgotten and long gone.  After that week, out of no where, QB Jason Campbell and the rest of the Skins offense has gone through a metamorphosis, if you will, and has evolved into one of the NFL’s most consistent and steady offenses. 

Week 1, Campbell looked lost.  Campbell came into the season with a lot of pressure, due to learning yet another system in his young career.  However, this time, after 4 weeks, it looks like he has mastered the beginning stages of his journey into his new offensive education.  In 4 games, he has yet to turn the ball over.  He looks cool and collective; progressing through his reads and calmly getting rid of the ball or dumping it off to a short receiver when being hurried.  It looks as if the game has slowed down for him and he can see things before they happen.

With that said, the Eagles defense will bring an entire new test to his journey of learning Redskins Head Coach Zorn’s offense.  The Eagles rotate an almost an infinite amount of Defensive Ends and Tackles to wear down opposing Offensive Lines and get constant pressure on the other team’s Quarterback.  If the Redskins focus too much on pass rusher DE Trent Cole, then it will free up a Juqua Parker or even a Darren Howard.

The Redskins offensive weapons could present dangerous challenges to the Eagles defense.  If TE Chris Cooley is allowed to run free, underneath, and around the line of scrimmage, he could become Campbell’s safety valve, and help the Skins keep McNabb and company off the field.  To date, the Eagles have not been the greatest at shutting down the other team’s Tight End.  Cooley has the advantage as I don’t believe anyone on the Eagles can consistently cover him and effectively make him a non-threat.

WR Santana Moss is a speedster but a quality possession receiver as well who can take a 3-yard underneath pass and turn it up field for bigger gains.  Although he is dangerous, and will have his moments, I think CBs Asante Samuel, Sheldon Brown, and Lito Sheppard will be able to keep his involvement and productivity relatively low.  If the Eagles pass rush and blitz packages can get to Campbell often, it will help limit Moss’s effectiveness.  Moss isn’t the big, strong, and physical receiver that causes more issues for this core of CBs.  However I do expect him to come up with one or two big plays, even one for a long TD if he sneaks by a CB, deep down field.  I can’t expect the Eagles trio of CBs to completely take him out of the game.

The goal for the Eagles should be a steady list of the following combination:  Stay true to their position and hold their gaps to frustrate RB Clinton Portis.  Send the world and blitz to try to confuse Campbell on third and long passing plays.  Be mindful of the underneath routes run by TE Chris Cooley and WR Santana Moss.  The Eagles need to force the Skins into 3^rd and longs, by taking away the run and the short passing game.  If they are successful in the aforementioned, I like their odds, more times than not.

Tomorrow- Die Hard Sports Fan’s version of the Redskins-Eagles Pre Game notes and comments.

With that said, “E-A-G-L-E-S!!  EAGLES!!”

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