Call it like it is–the sky is now falling

Okay folks.  When the Giants lost two in a row, we knew we were in trouble.  Then when they lost to the Eagles badly in Philly last Sunday, major problems were exposed and the season was pretty much on the brink at 5-3 with a tough schedule remaining.  So naturally when we in the media began asking coach Coughlin about the game against the Chargers being must-win, he agreed, and he and his players were deeming this their “Super Bowl” because it was that much of a must-win. 

So now after looking really good most of the game, the Giants are left licking their wounds again following a devastating 21-20 loss that quite honestly might be one of the most horrific regular season losses in team history.  And it’s that horrific for a few reasons–because they absolutely should have won, and because they would now have to just about win out to have any chance of making the playoffs.  And after a 5-0 start, that is just brutal to think.  But it’s reality, so let’s examine the good, the bad and what it all now means to the G-men in 2009:

THE GOOD

Okay, so first off, I live in Tennessee and decided that since I have NFL Red Zone and it was a late game with only three other contests, that I’d get to watch most of the Giants’ game.  But of course, there were almost no plays in the red zone the first quarter and just about the first half, so I missed quite a bit of everything you saw.  But I did see the horrific ending.  Anyway, back to the good….

The G-men controlled the clock big-time, 37:37 to 22:13, and out-rushed the Chargers 116-34.  Eli Manning had a decent game, with 215 yards, 2 TDs and zero picks, and Brandon Jacobs was effective as well, rushing for 67 yards on 11 carries.  Steve Smith caught 8 passes for 57 yards and a TD, and one of those catches was a 19-yarder in traffic on third and 18.  (does anyone remember Phil Simms, ironically calling this game, throwing a similar pass to Bobby Johnson against the Vikings back in 1986?).  Mario Manningham caught a few passes, as did Hakeem Nicks, and Kevin Boss caught two–one when he took a vicious hit over the middle and a TD late in the game to give the Giants the lead.

Defensively, there was more of a pass rush, as the Giants sacked Philip Rivers twice and were in his face most of the game.  They covered much better (except on that last drive) and also held LaDainian Tomlinson to just 22 yards on 12 carries. 

THE BAD

First off, a botched snap on a field goal attempt early in the game was just the start of a bad special teams day once again.  Jeff Feagles is regressing badly and so is Domenik Hixon as a return man.  We can’t keep giving the other team great field position the entire game and not have it bite us in the butt.  Still, that wasn’t what lost the game.

The sequence that did us in was when Terrell Thomas intercepted Rivers (the Giants’ second pick of the game) and ran it all the way back to the San Diego 4-yard line.  At that point, we were up 17-14 and going up by two scores there pretty much ices the game.  So what happens?  Chris Snee gets called for holding, and now it’s first and goal at the 14.  A botched pass play and then two runs up the middle, and coach Coughlin’s conservative play-calling and hope that the Chargers take a time out turned out to be a poor decision.  The Giants settled for a field goal, and were now up 20-14 with a little under two minutes remaining.  Now, the way our defense had been playing to that point, you still had to feel good, because we had to stop Rivers from driving all the way down for  a TD.  But once he got them to mid-field, it only took two plays to score–that pass play to Darren Sproles down the middle with LB Michael Boley and his bad knee unable to cover, and then the dagger of Rivers to Vincent Jackson, with Corey Webster and a safety (I’m pretty sure it was Michael Johnson) just totally blowing the coverage. 

You can blame Coughlin and Kevin Gilbride about playing too conservatively at the end there, but in the big picture you can’t really blame them considering how well his defense was playing.  It was really the defense that let us down, and that’s the bottom line and totally a shame.

It also didn’t hurt that the G-men collected 9 penalties for 104 yards, including that devastating holding call on Snee.  And we won’t let the offensive line off the hook in general, because they also allowed 5 sacks of Manning.

FINAL ANALYSIS

Despite calling this their “Super Bowl,” the Giants did not deliver and now have to swallow the fact that they are 5-4 with seven to play and an absolutely brutal schedule after the bye week.  They are also looking up at Philly and Dallas.  So considering that their main competition for a wild card spot would be Philly, Atlanta or both, the G-men absolutely have to win home games against those two teams to even think about having a shot at the playoffs.  It can be done, but the way they’re playing, it’s just not likely.

It was nice to see a lot of things fixed offensively and defensively, and winning the turnover battle.  But in the end, penalties and breakdowns on defense cost the Giants this game.  You could also argue that the botched field goal in the first quarter cost us the game.  But the bottom line is, there is a sour taste in everyones’ mouth heading into the bye, and if you thought the sky was falling after last Sunday, it’s definitely falling now.  I just don’t think this team can recover and will likely miss the postseason for the first time since 2004. 

FANTASY IMPACT

For the Chargers, Rivers had just 209 yards passing but 3 TDs (and 2 picks), and Vincent Jackson caught 5 passes for 58 yards and two scores.  Antonio Gates caught 5 for 67, but LT was held to just 22 rushing yards on 12 carries, something I don’t think anyone expected.  The Chargers’ defense gave up a fair amount of yards but sacked Manning five times. 

As for the G-men, it was at least a good day for fantasy….Manning threw for 215 yards and two scores with zero interceptions, and Steve Smith was finally a factor again, catching 8 passes for 57 yards and a score.  Mario Manningham woke up again too, hauling in 6 for 52.  Brandon Jacobs rushed 11 times for 67 yards but was kept out of the end zone, and Ahmad Bradshaw was a non-factor with 14 carries for 39 yards.  Tynes had an average day with two field goals, but he should have had three.  The Giants’ defense, for the most part, did well fantasy-wise, with two picks and two sacks of Rivers.

Tags: Ahmad Bradshaw, Antonio Gates, Brandon Jacobs, Chargers, Chris Snee, Corey Webster, Cowboys, Darren Sproles, Domenik Hixon, Eagles, Eli Manning, Falcons, Giants, Hakeem Nicks, Jeff Feagles, Kevin Boss, Kevin Gilbride, LaDainian Tomlinson, Lawrence Tynes, Mario Manningham, Michael Boley, Michael Johnson, NFL Red Zone, penalties, Philip Rivers, play-calling, playoffs, Steve Smith, Terrell Thomas, Tom Coughlin, Vincent Jackson