2008 NFC Champioship: NY Giants Vs. Washington Redskins
A Rematch 20 Years in the Making
Okay, I know that Jeff Garcia beat the Giants (these Giants) three times last year while substituting for the injured Donavon McNabb, which included an overtime win in the 1st round of the playoffs. I am keenly aware that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have two able corner-backs in Ronde Barber and Philip Buchanon. I know the Bucs play a simple, but Eli Manning killing, cover 2 defense. These facts alone might lead some to predict the division winning Bucs, at home, would breeze by a struggling Giants offense and an opportunistic but inconstant defense. The big question is can the sack happy Giants generate enough pressure on the mobile Garcia to force a few mistakes? Yes. On paper this should be an easy win for the Bucs. Luckily, unlike in fantasy football, this game will not be played on paper.
Speaking of Eli, yes I am aware that he is starting for the Giants. Everyone in the league knows that Eli isn't Payton. Hell, Eli isn't even Eli. He is not the Eli the Giants gave so much to (salary) and so much for (draft pick) to acquire. I get that. The great thing is finally the offense coordinator,Kevin Gilbride,
head coach, Tom Coughlin and Eli know it too. Translation, they will keep this very simple. They will run Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw and Danny Ware. They will run anyone, but they won't put Eli in a position to win the game making the tough throws, because he can't. Eli will throw in only two situations. The first is when Plaxico Burress or Amani Toomer are in one-on-one coverage and the second is when Burress is wide open. This requires assurance from both Giant receivers that they will catch the ball or give back 10% of salary for every drop.
Once the Giants have secured the victory over the Bus, their confidence will be at a season high. That is all they will need to beat the Green Bay Packers whose Cinderella story: Farve and the Rookies has run its course. Don't get me wrong, Favre is still better than most NFL quarterbacks (certainly Eli), but his desire to go out on top and his over confidence in inexperienced starters, may force him into enough mistakes that allow a decent Giant rushing attack to be all the offense needed to win. You say it didn't happen in the early season meeting. You are right. However, That Giants team had not just come back to beat Buffalo in Buffalo (despite Eli's poor play). That Giants team had not given the New England Patriots all they could handle (and if not for an Eli interception which led to the game winning touchdown, a loss). That Giants team will not have just won their first playoff game in 7 years.
So that is the NY Giants road to an NFC Championship versus the Washington Redskins). The Redskins road? A win over Seattle (not far-fetched). A win over the Dallas Cowboys very probable without T.O. And the championship game itself? Giants 35 Redskins 24. It may sound crazy, but 11 months ago so did: "Obama wins Iowa Caucus."
Published by Donnell Russell
US Army Combat Veteran, an EMT, and security guard. I have had it with political parties, the "PC" generation, the religious right, the secular left, network/cable news, reality TV, and standardized testing.... View profile
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5 Comments
Post a Commentit starts tonight enjoy the game if i did somthing wrong im really sorry ,although all i was trying for was to make you feel better! oh well go giants , cmon say it goooooooooooooo giants later
Alyce,
You are so kind. I probably , as the writer, catch more errors (especially now that I have cut down on them) than the readers. I just kinda felt like writing something cute to help remind me to tighten up.
Sorry about the football. Luckily for you the seaon is almost over.
As to the redskins non issue. I bet the American Indians care less about mascots in high-school, college and pro sports and more about seeing the land their ancetors lived with in harmony slowly being destroyed in the name of technological and social "progress."
Your article on New Years resolutions motivated me to make some. Have not done so yet, officially, but resolved to leave one sentence comments on AC articles. I had resolved to start the New Year off being positive. Watching Dire Straits "Walk of Life" had me thinking I should start watching football. Not so much for the game, but for the bloopers, victory dancers and getting excited about outcomes of my team's games. Unlike you, I am resolving to write less for AC to free up time for other stuff, like maybe turning off the computer, turning on the TV and watching football games instead.
So, as I was saying on the mistake article comments...So I was on the east coast being live-in nanny to my granddaughter. The daughters and husbands have a football tradition going~bets on who the winners will be. I declined to participate and Dave insisted I do. We were all amazed how many winners I picked on the list. Made my choices: well, that is ex-husbands fav team I pick them to loose; that underdog is Dave's fav team pick them to win; like the sound of their name...
So how do you feel about changing the Redskins (and others) because some Native Americans feel it is insulting to them. I took a bit of heat because I did not jump on the "outraged" bandwagon on that one. (loose quote: they were not Chiefs, so are wrong to bestow the name upon themselves) My thinking was there are more important issues to deal with. What next, rid ourselves of the Fighting Irish, and the silly little mascot (I like leprechauns) and by the logic in the one critique, we should not then call ourselves Zebras either, eh.