New York Giants

ithout further ado, here’s the season’s last edition of The Final Drive!

(13-7) New York Giants 21
(15-4) New England Patriots 17

This game started with almost as much drama as it finished with. The New England Patriots came out with strong defensive pressure, sacking Eli Manning twice on New York’s first drive and forcing a punt to give Brady the ball. Tom took that opening possession, dropped back to throw from his own endzone, and let a deep ball fly to absolutely no one while the Giants closed in for the hit. That correctly drew an intentional grounding flag, which from the endzone is grounds for a safety. So the Giants jumped to an early 2-0 lead and we were all flabbergasted.

Continue reading "The Final Drive: Super Bowl XLVI"

the lowly Washington Redskins to fall to 7-7 with only two games left, everyone had counted out the New York Giants.  That is, everyone except the Giants themselves, who kept their quiet confidence as they rolled off two victories to end the season and squeak into the fourth seed in the NFC. Then they mustered up two dominant performances as their defense shut out the Atlanta Falcons and stymied the 15-1 Green Bay Packers and Aaron Rodgers. Now they find themselves in a familiar setting: in the biggest game of the year against the New England Patriots, whom I covered yesterday. Now the Giants are up in the rotation!

Continue reading "Breaking Down the Bowl: New York Giants"

 

(12-7) New York Giants 20
(14-4) San Francisco 49ers 17

It may not have been the prettiest of games, but the NFC contest’s final minutes were as thrilling as any we’ve seen this postseason. The Giants came out on top, but they nearly killed themselves by blowing coverages on tight end Vernon Davis on two scoring plays. A simple wheel route to the outside went for 73 freaking yards to paydirt. Though to be fair, Davis managed to take the attention away from the play’s result by standing on the camera stand and posing, prompting an Excessive Celebration penalty and a Twitter debate. In the third, a simple dump-off to Frank Gore in the near flat went for 24 yards, giving Alex Smith an open shot on the next play for Vernon Davis in the deep left corner, beating poor coverage yet again. I’m stunned that the Giants secondary didn’t know their responsibilities when it came to defending Davis. Besides those terrible mistakes, the Giant defense was exemplary, getting pressure on Alex Smith and controlling the Niner ground game. Just as impressive was Jim Harbaugh’s defense, which sacked Eli Manning six times and really put the screws to Brandon Jacobs. They were exposed in the secondary by Victor Cruz, but what team hasn’t?

Continue reading "The Final Drive: 2012 Conference ..."

And by national spotlight, of course I mean The Opening Drive!  

(11-7) New York Giants at
(14-3) San Francisco 49ers
6:30 PM ET, FOX

Yet again Tom Coughlin’s Giants have heated up late and have ridden that momentum all the way through the playoffs. Now his elite quarterback named Manning must overcome a much better defense than the Packers’ unit he faced the week before. The Niners can rush the passer with Aldon and Justin Smith coming off the edges and their run defense is outstanding. Where they really shone last week was in their secondary. Apparently Donte Whitner is still an absolute ball-hawk and head-hunter in the defensive backfield. Carlos Rogers was a great offseason pick-up but proved his worth last week with some key deflections in coverage against the Saints receivers. This week expect him to be on Hakeem Nicks or Victor Cruz all day. The Niners don’t have enough depth to cover all of Manning’s targets, but maybe they can take one out of the action. Though knowing Tom Coughlin, we’re going to see plenty of hand-offs to Bradshaw and Jacobs, if only to keep the Niners honest. Bradshaw should get the bulk of the carries though, as I’m pretty sure Jacobs can’t knock around the Niners. Patrick Willis and NaVorro Bowman will put him down.

Continue reading "The Opening Drive: 2012 NFC Championship"

(So get ready, because this game could suck something awful.)
(10-7) New York Giants at
(15-1) Green Bay Packers
4:30 PM ET, FOX

Everyone’s been talking about the Giant defensive line against the Packers’ banged up o-line (and rightfully so), but I’d be awfully worried about Rodgers’ receivers versus that craptacular Giant secondary. McCarthy has to know this and will probably come out will all sorts of quick passes designed to get that line away from his QB. That’s what Jennings, Nelson, Jones and Driver are there for, isn’t it? Jason Pierre-Paul, Osi Umenyiora and Justin Tuck are going to be rushing Rodgers all day, but if he gets rid of the ball before they get there, their effectiveness will be awfully limited. I’d say the Packers will run the ball in order to ease the pressure off Aaron, but I don’t really believe that. There’s going to be throwing. Lots of throwing.

Continue reading "The Opening Drive: 2012 Divisional Sunday"

e opposite problem as Detroit.

My results so far: 1-1
Back on the horse baby.

(10-7) New York Giants 24
(10-7) Atlanta Falcons 2

Atlanta just could not get anything going today. Though for a while it seemed as though no one would score. It took over a quarter for anyone to get on the board, and that was on a freaking safety. Without production from Michael Turner, the Falcons had to try and air it out, which makes Ryan uncomfortable. The Giants only sacked Ryan twice, but they racked up seven QB hits. Atlanta only tallied 247 yards of total offense! They couldn’t get anything to go their way in the redzone (or in Giant territory at all), failing to convert two fourth downs on which Mike Smith decided to not go for three points. He does not manage these situations well. But let’s give a ton of credit to the Giants, who absolutely shut the Falcons down and got a huge day from Hakeem Nicks (115 yards on 6 catches) and backs Jacobs and Bradshaw, who combined for over 150 yards. Now let’s see if those 24 points is enough to beat Green Bay.

Continue reading "The Final Drive: 2012 Wildcard Weekend"

Let’s break down this action!

 


(10-6) Atlanta Falcons at
(9-7) New York Giants
1:00 PM ET, FOX

Even more of a toss-up than Texans-Bengals, this game seems like it could go either way. Matt Ryan and the Falcons have been hot of late, winning five of their last seven games. However, all of those wins except one (Tennessee) came against sub .500 teams. Atlanta’s been kicking the crap out of crappy teams in 2011. Ryan hasn’t looked as sharp against quality defenses, but he hasn’t been getting help from receivers Roddy White and Julio Jones in those outings. Too many drops in an inconsistent passing attack. As always, the key to their success is the production of Michael Turner. The Falcons have a very aggressive offensive line that excels at run blocking, but their pass blocking hasn’t been as dependable. Defensively they’ve struggled to produce any sort of pass rush, even with Ray Edwards. John Abraham needs to have a big day.

Continue reading "The Opening Drive: 2012 Wildcard Sunday"

I now HATE that stupid trade.

 

(9-7) New York Giants 31
(8-8) Dallas Cowboys 14
This game was way more exciting than the final score would indicate. Tony “Fat Hand” Romo played a pretty decent game (he’s also clearly “tough”), but the Cowboy secondary showed MAJOR lapses on coverage and an inability to make open tackles. Victor Cruz just lit up that backfield and made it crystal clear where the Cowboys need to focus personnel moves this offseason. Terence Newman may have lost them that game with several bone-headed plays. Cut. 

Continue reading "The Final Drive: Week 17, 2011-12"

ber one seed in the AFC, but I don’t feel very confident about their postseason chances.(8-7) New York Giants 29
(8-7) New York Jets 14

PFFT. I’m glad this turned out to be less of a game, because if it had been overly dramatic I wouldn’t stop hearing about it all week. And the rumors that the Jets aren’t completely sold on Sanchez for next year? Frosting on the cake baby. And this picture of Jacobs and Ryan jawing afterward? Weird.

Continue reading "The Final Drive: Week 16, 2011"

(I mean, they didn’t exactly blow out St. Louis.)(7-7) New York Giants at
(8-6) New York Jets

Can a game between a 7-7 and 8-6 team be any more unnecessarily hyped? I know there’s playoff hopes on the line and it’s between the two New York squads, but please, can we settle down slightly? The Jets defense has been utterly mediocre and Mark Sanchez has regressed. Give me Eli and the inconsistent Giants in this one.(2-12) St. Louis Rams at

Continue reading "The Opening Drive: Week 16, 2011"

(5-9) Washington Redskins 23
(7-7) New York Giants 10

BOOM! You got TRAPPED Eli! This was such an obvious upset to pick, even in a day that ended up with a metric ton of stunning results. How the Giants could come out and lay an egg like this when they had a chance to put some distance in front of the Cowboys is appalling. (And hilarious.)(9-5) Detroit Lions 28

Continue reading "The Final Drive: Week 15, 2011"

Let’s set-up for The Opening Drive! 

(4-9) Washington Redskins at
(7-6) New York Giants

We’re starting this week’s drive by diving right into the “Trap of the Week!” The Giants are coming off a huge win against the Cowboys, with whom they’re tussling for the division title. It would be fitting of this annually inconsistent team to lose a game late in the season that they absolutely should win.(8-5) Detroit Lions at

Continue reading "The Opening Drive: Week 15, 2011"

San Fran’s road to the two seed just got more interesting.

(7-6) New York Giants 37
(7-6) Dallas Cowboys 34
How much did you want to see this game continue? After Eli came through with another clutch performance in a touchdown drive, Tony Romo came right back to get the ‘Boys in field goal range… which was promptly blocked by Jason Pierre Paul after Tom Coughlin iced kicker Dan Bailey. For Dallas, the loss of Demarco Murray to a fractured leg might be a bigger loss than the game itself. In Giant land, they hold off a last-second loss and are squarely in command of the NFC East.  

Continue reading "The Final Drive: Week 14, 2011"

nents keep it on the ground, which is exactly what the opposing Raiders like to do most.
(6-6) New York Giants at
(7-5) Dallas Cowboys

Fascinating because of its possible impact on the NFC Division hunt, the Giants can get right back in the thick of the chase with a win in Big D Sunday night. I have to say… these teams are wildly inconsistent to me. The G-Men are feeling good about themselves after a close loss to Green Bay while the Cowboys are reeling due to a crushing overtime loss to the Cardinals. I’m not positive this will be a good game, but it should be an entertaining one. 

Continue reading "The Opening Drive: Week 14, 2011"

card spot, but I don’t see them making much noise yet.(12-0) Green Bay Packers 38
(6-6) New York Giants 35

What a fantastic freaking game this was. Defenses were scarce aside from a few key plays, leaving these quarterbacks plenty of opportunities to light up the scoreboards. I don’t think I want to see what Tom Coughlin’s face looked like this morning. I swear that old man is so mad all the time his face probably takes 2-3 days to un-furiate.(5-7) Arizona Cardinals 19

Continue reading "The Final Drive: Week 13, 2011"

need a noisemaker for anyone to start taking them seriously.(11-0) Green Bay Packers at
(6-5) New York Giants

Either the Giants are going to continue their implosion or they’re going to rise up and meet the monumental challenge that’s on their doorstep. As often as they’ve done the latter in recent years when everyone counted them out, I just don’t see it happening this week. The Giants still have problems in the secondary and don’t have the same offensive line or ground attack anymore. (7-4) Detroit Lions at

Continue reading "The Opening Drive: Week 13, 2011"

hing down and giving one helluva performance Sunday night.

(8-3) New Orleans Saints 49
(6-5) New York Giants 24
Well that fizzled. I was hoping for a little more of a fight from a Giants team on the precipice, but instead they came out flat and laid down against the Saints’ offensive machine. It was fun to see the Saints go off, but this wasn’t even close to being competitive. The Giants are too inconsistent to make the playoffs. 

Continue reading "The Final Drive: Week 12, 2011"

Get ready to watch Phil lose you another game Charger fans.(6-4) New York Giants at
(7-3) New Orleans Saints

Monday night’s contest puts the Giants on center stage after losing two in a row and slipping down the NFC ladder. They’ve gone from leading the East to now trailing Dallas after the ‘Boys’ turkey day win. Unfortunately, Drew Brees and the New Orleans offense stands in their way, fresh off a bye. Yikes. Someone keep an eye on Tom Coughlin during this one. 

Continue reading "The Opening Drive: Week 12, 2011"

Green. 


(4-6) Philadelphia Eagles 17
(6-4) New York Giants 10

Stupid NFC East. The Giants had an opportunity to shut down the Eagles story and put some distance in the division. Instead they fell flat and dropped back down to the rest of the pack. And all of a sudden Vince Young does his “just winning” thing. I hate that. You can’t always win last minute after looking like shit the entire game and get all the credit. Credit the Eagle defense for not allowing Young’s THREE interceptions to hurt them. 

Continue reading "The Final Drive: Week 11, 2011"

(3-6) Philadelphia Eagles at
(6-3) New York Giants

Sunday night’s primetime contest features two teams at the opposite end of the NFC East. The Giants are looking to rebound after dropping one in San Fran last Sunday and they get an Eagles squad on a downward spiral into oblivion, with VINCE YOUNG starting! Imma enjoy this one. 

Continue reading "The Opening Drive: Week 11, 2011"

I cannot take the Ravens seriously right now.(8-1) San Francisco 49ers 27
(6-3) New York Giants 20

Conversely, I take the Niners very seriously. With a ton of divisional games coming up, the Niners are right in line for a first round bye as the NFC’s 2 seed. The Giants shouldn’t take this loss too harshly. They might get to try it again down the road…(6-3) New England Patriots 37

Continue reading "The Final Drive: Week 10, 2011"

t points on the board, something that has looked nearly impossible with John Beck at the helm.(6-2) New York Giants at
(7-1) San Francisco 49ers

One of the games of the week, this game will go a long way in determining how good these teams can be. San Francisco’s been pounding on nearly every opponent they face, but can their defense hold down on of the best QB’s in 2011? After Manning’s miracle versus New England last week, I’m not sure he’s got another in him this week.(5-3) New England Patriots at

Continue reading "The Opening Drive: Week 10, 2011"

If Willis McGahee is racking up 163 yards on you, you’ve got issues.

 

(6-2) New York Giants 24
(5-3) New England Patriots 20

Patriots lose two in a row! Tom Brady loses at home! WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON? Why didn’t anyone tell me we were in Bizarro world? This was a tremendous win for a Giants team that has a helluva schedule coming up. Jumping out to 6-2 could let them finish .500 down the final stretch and still make the playoffs.

Continue reading "The Final Drive: Week 9, 2011"

With two weeks of prep, he needs to make a good showing versus a shittastic Bronco squad. (5-2) New York Giants at
(5-2) New England Patriots

I can tell you ONE thing about this game. There will be points. Oh yes, there will be points. Eli gets to torch a Patriot secondary that is among the worst I’ve ever seen and Tom Brady is well… Tom Brady. (7-0) Green Bay Packers at

Continue reading "The Opening Drive: Week 9, 2011"

(4-2) New York Giants 27
(4-2) Buffalo Bills 24

Continue reading "The Final Drive: Week 6, 2011"

Advantage Lions.(4-1) Buffalo Bills at
(3-2) New York Giants

This is a recipe for an Eli Manning disaster. The Bills have a ball-hawking defense that has nabbed eight interceptions in their last two games. With several injuries on the defensive side of the ball and the Redskins in the division lead, Manning can’t afford to give away points willy-nilly. (1-4) Philadelphia Eagles at

Continue reading "The Opening Drive: Week 6, 2011"

That’s a recipe for success in the NFL.

  

(2-3) Seattle Seahawks 36
(3-2) New York Giants 25

Seattle mounted its own comeback on the road, despite losing Tarvaris Jackson to an injury. (For the best?) After pulling ahead late with a little more than 2 ½ minutes to go, the Seahawks sealed the win with a pick six off Eli Manning at their goal line. Tom Coughlin is going to take his belt off tonight…(4-1) New Orleans Saints 30

Continue reading "The Final Drive: Week 5, 2011"

(2-1) New York Giants 29
(1-2) Philadelphia Eagles 16 

Michael Vick got smacked around for the second straight game, suffering a bruised right hand in his latest debacle. Oh yeah, and the Eagles lost. Whoops! The Giants created mismatches on the Eagle linebackers and even got Victor Cruz a catch against Nmandi Asomugha. Well played G-Men.

Continue reading "The Final Drive: Week 3, 2011"

lip; but I might start feeling differently if they can take it to the Saints on the home turf.(1-1) New York Giants at
(1-1) Philadelphia Eagles

Man, we just barely missed out on the utter boredom that would’ve been a week without Michael Vick in the NFL. You should feel lucky. Vick’s return from a concussion means he’s completely cleared to play, but against the Giants’ front four he could be in trouble again this week. That Eagle offensive line is way too suspect to keep Vick safe in the pocket. Philly’s only saving grace is that the Giants are too inconsistent on offense to keep up. (1-1) Jacksonville Jaguars at

Continue reading "The Opening Drive: Week 3, 2011"

me legitimate talent on that team… isn’t there?(1-0) Washington Redskins 28
(0-1) New York Giants 14

Rex Grossman everyone. Who the **** saw this coming?(1-0) Arizona Cardinals 28

Continue reading "The Final Drive: Week 1, 2011"

win the division.
2010 Record: 10-6
2011 Prediction: 11-5

I claim the redhead.

New York Giants

They’ll need to be with the way they just missed out on the playoffs last year. Eli Manning can’t drop another 25 interceptions if Tom Coughlin hopes for a different outcome in 2011. Look for them to run the ball with more persistency from Ahmad Bradshaw and Brandon Jacobs, but I’m not sold on the wholesale changes they made on the offensive line. Will Beatty is nowhere near a premiere left tackle and David Baas must anchor as the replacement for longtime mainstay Rich Seubert at center. Stemming from the way they looked in the preseason, the Giants seem to be back to their typical pass-rushing shelves. Unfortunately, with their depth at corner stripped away by injuries, the Giants will be forced into too many shoot-outs to hold up over the entire year. They’ll be on the outside looking in again.

Continue reading "Joe's 2011 NFL Season Preview: The NFC East"

After both defenses traded three-and-outs early, the Giants finally found their way on the scoreboard in a 41-6 win over the Bears in preseason action Monday night. For you Bear fans that aren’t throwing your computers away in despair, here’s what I took away from this (meaningless) loss.

Continue reading "What I learned from the Bears' preseason ..."

t year is how much better can Vick get? I’m not sure that magical season can repeat itself.

New York Giants

My prediction: 7-9
What actually happened: 10-6
My result: ***

Continue reading "How Much I Effed Up: The NFC Edition"

I still hate the Cowboys.(9-6) New York Giants at
(6-9) Washington Redskins

It would be hilarious if the Giants lost today. It would just continue the utter crap-pile that has been Big Blue’s late season play. I doubt it will happen, but a loss would put Tom Coughlin squarely on the hot seat.(8-7) Jacksonville Jaguars at

Continue reading "Joe's 2010 NFL Opening Drive: Week 17"

e Colts, they might be hitting a hot streak at the right time.(9-6) Green Bay Packers 45
(9-6) New York Giants 17

So the Giants are in the biggest game of their season and they fall flat on their big blue faces. What a surprise. Since their Super Bowl win, this team’s M.O. is falling apart down the stretch. To me, that speaks volumes about the coaching and their preparation.

Continue reading "Joe's 2010 NFL Final Drive: Week 16"

They could have thrown in the towel weeks ago.(10-4) Philadelphia Eagles 38
(9-5) New York Giants 31

Down 31-10, the Eagles mounted an epic-sized comeback to essentially knock the Giants out of the NFC East title hunt. Punter Matt Dodge had no business kicking it anywhere near DeSean Jackson with 14 seconds remaining. Instead, he line drives it in the middle of the field and Jackson caps off a 28-point fourth quarter for the Eagles. Epic fail.(4-10) Detroit Lions 23

Continue reading "Joe's 2010 NFL Final Drive: Week 15"

I just don’t see that happening.

(8-4) New York Giants at
(5-7) Minnesota Vikings

Delayed until Monday because of a Metro dome collapse (How has this never happened in Minnesota

Continue reading "Joe's 2010 NFL Opening Drive: Week 14"

Leslie Frazier is going to have to lean heavily on that running game to earn that job.

(8-4) New York Giants 31
(5-7) Washington Redskins 7

I hate to say it, but the Redskins needed Albert Haynesworth on Sunday. (The one that actually tries, not the overtly lazy and overpaid version.) The Giants just tore them apart on the ground up the middle and on the perimeter. When they get Brandon Jacobs going, the Giants are nearly impossible to beat.

Continue reading "Joe's 2010 Final Drive: Week 13"

impressive since Big Ben’s return, but they’re quietly staying in the AFC hunt.

(7-4) New York Giants 24
(6-5) Jacksonville Jaguars 20

The Jaguars are legitimately the most two-faced team in the league. This week it permeated the game as they held the Giants to nine points in three quarters, only to give up 15 in the final period. Way to drop the ball. For the Giants, Eli Manning came on late, playing as well as he had all season. If Eli doesn’t commit turnovers, the Giants can beat anyone.

Continue reading "Joe's Final Drive: Week 12"

rady is a killer at Gilette Stadium.

Getty Images

(7-3) Philadelphia Eagles 27
(6-4) New York Giants 17

Not exactly dropping a 59-er, but I’m sure Andy Reid will take the win. The Eagles won a game the hard way without a lot of big plays from the offense. (Aside from 40 and 50 yard runs from LeSean McCoy.) Mike Vick wasn’t electric, but he took advantage of the opportunities the defense presented him. On the other side, Eli Manning can’t stop himself from turning the ball over. Now that he’s without Hakeem Nicks for the next three weeks, they’ll have to rely on that running game. Can’t afford to turn it over now, Eli.

Continue reading "Joe's Final Drive: Week 11"

some publicity.

Getty Images/ Dick on dick hate crime?

(2-7) Dallas Cowboys 33
(6-3) New York Giants 20

You gotta feel bad for Wade Philips. The guy took it easy on the Cowboys, expecting grown professional athletes to take accountability for their play on the field, only to be fired and watch his replacement use some college football coaching tactics to get a win over a superior opponent. And where was all this down-field passing as they were losing three weeks ago? Still, let's not take too much away from one game. Jason Garrett has a long way to go before he can think about earning the head coaching job.

Continue reading "Joe's NFL Final Drive: Week 10"

consistent scoring, as neither defense is all that impressive.

(1-7) Dallas Cowboys at
(6-2) New York Giants

If you like implosions then you're loving the drama in Dallas right now. After firing Wade Philips, they're heading to the New Meadowlands to take on the Giants, who look like the best team in the NFC. Now it's time to find out two things: If Jason Garrett's new hard stance really means anything to these deflated players and if their young talent will start finding their way onto the field so evaluations for next year can begin.

Continue reading "Joe's 2010 NFL Opening Drive: Week 10"

And without Peyton Manning, you can't be the Colts.

(6-2) New York Giants 41
(4-4) Seattle Seahawks 7

This was a whupping. No other way to describe it. The Giants came into Qwest field and blew the doors off the Seahawks, which is not an easy thing to do in Seattle. When they're on their game, the Giants look unbeatable. Their pass rush is beyond intimidating, putting a licking on first-time start Charlie Whitehurst. Now they can run over the rest of the NFC east?

Continue reading "Joe's Final Drive: Week 9"

Still, Schaub and the Texans can and should defend their turf.

(5-2) New York Giants at
(4-3) Seattle Seahawks

Charlie Whitehurst, it's been nice knowing you. You get your first NFL start against the

Continue reading "Joe's 2010 NFL Opening Drive: Week 9"

oo much miscommunication last night between Rodgers and his receivers.

Getty Images

(5-2) New York Giants 41
(1-5) Dallas Cowboys 35

Okay, we're done talking about the Cowboys. They're 1-5 and have lost Tony Romo for an extended period of time with a broken clavicle. They're not making the playoffs. They're not playing in the Super Bowl at their own stadium. Wade Philips is gone at the end of the season. Lock it up. The Giants get the win despite a hefty five turnovers. Tom Coughlin will find plenty to criticize this week.

Continue reading "Joe's Final Drive: Week 7"

(Could be a good euphemism.)

(4-2) New York Giants at
(1-4) Dallas Cowboys

So... is THIS the game the Cowboys need to win or their season's over? Me say yes. 1-5 doesn't make the play

Continue reading "Joe's Opening Drive: Week 7"

Ouch.

(3-2) New York Giants 34
(3-2) Houston Texans 10

After dropping to the depths, the New York Giants have rebounded to stake their claim on the NFC East with an impressive win over the intimidating Texans. They built on their performance against the Bears by shutting down Matt Schaub and the Houston offense. For all the criticism Tom Coughlin received during their tough start, he should be getting a lot of credit now. His team has settled down and has tightened the clamps on defense.

Continue reading "Joe's Final Drive: Week 5"

(2-2) New York Giants at
(3-1) Houston Texans

A week after taking advantage of a weak Chicago offensive line, the Giants are in Houston to match-up with the high-powered Texans. Matt Schaub will take a hit or two, but don't expect another 10-sack performance by the defense though. Andre Johnson is expected to start today, but the Giant are lucky he's not 100%, otherwise I'd give this game to the Texans without question. If Aryan Foster can explode like he did last week, the Giants are in for a rough afternoon.

Continue reading "Joe's 2010 NFL Opening Drive: Week 5"

True to form, the Chicago Bears came out after a great win with an equally horrific loss to the New York Giants Sunday night. Concerns abound for Lovie Smith's team, who never got in sync on offense and lost Jay Cutler to a concussion at the end of the first half. There are plenty of areas to pick on, but here's what I noticed from Sunday night's debacle.

Continue reading "Bears lose Cutler in 17-3 loss to Giants"

he Giants rebound at home? Get your Gameday Preview on here!

(3-0) Chicago Bears at
(1-2) New York Giants

Mike Martz's offense never really got going Monday night thanks to the Packers' ball control offense. This week Jay Cutler will face the fourth ranked pass defense in the NFL, but that stat is marred since the Giants give up more than 135 yards on the ground per game. If Matt Forte and Chester Taylor are going to find their rhthym, this is the game to start looking. With defensive end Mathias Kiwanuka out, the Bears have one less end-rusher to worry about. Kiwanuka has accounted for four of the Giants' six sacks this season, so Perry Fewell's defense is going to have trouble generating pressure from the front four. Add in Osi Umenyiora not playing at 100% thanks to a knee injury and the Bears shouldn't have problems blocking even without Chris Williams. If they can handle the gammut of pass-rushers that Green Bay threw at them, Mike Tice and the Bears will be fine against the 4-3 scheme of the Giants.

Continue reading "Joe's Gameday Preview: Bears at Giants"

r, but he avoided the big mistakes.

Associated Press

(2-1) Tennessee Titans 29
(1-2) New York Giants 10

This was a sloppy awful perfomance from the New York Giants. Dumb penalties, missed field goals and three ill-timed turnovers cost the Giants dearly despite outgaining the Titans by 200 yards (471-271). Chris Johnson's 125 yards and two scores helped take the pressure off Vince Young, who had to attempt only 16 passes. If Eli Manning can stop throwing ridiculous interceptions sometime soon, maybe the Giants can keep up in the NFC East. I mean, someone's knocking...

Continue reading "Joe's Final Drive: Week 3"

Here are the games to watch this Sunday!

(1-1) Tennessee Titans at
(1-1) New York Giants

Both teams were embarrassed last week at the hands of the AFC's elite, so this game has to be a bounce-back win for somebody. Look for Chris Johnson to get back on track running the ball against a Giant defense that still hasn't clicked up front. That should keep Vince Young from making too many mistakes. As highly-ranked as the Titan defense is, they haven't gone up against a decent offense yet, beating Oakland and losing to a Roethlisberger-less Steelers. Eli Manning is the best QB they've faced so far.

Continue reading "Joe's NFL Opening Drive: Week 3"

I needed twelve showers.

Sabo/News

(1-1) Indianapolis Colts 38
(1-1) New York Giants 14

Well, Peyton got the better of Eli yet again, and it didn't take long either The Manning Bowl was over by halftime, punctuated by Brandon Jacobs' idiotic helmet throw into the stands and subsequent benching. Peyton refused to start the year 0-2 and he made sure it didn't happen by throwing it all over the Giant defense. More surprising was the way Indy ran the ball, accumulating 160 yards between Joseph Addai and Donald Brown. If Peyton gets a running game, look out NFL.

Continue reading "Joe's Final Drive: Week 2"

he 20-24 attempt range and the Jags need to dish out a heavy dose of Maurice Jones-Drew. (1-0) New York Giants at(0-1) Indianapolis Colts Sunday night Manning Bowl y'all! Who's ready? The two QB brothers are playing at a high level following week one, but their teams are still feeling things out. The Giants are transitioning to Ahmad Bradshaw at running back, turning them into more of a passing offense. Peyton's Colts have actually lost a regular season game they wanted to win, so that's always odd. What isn't odd is Bob Sanders' injury. The Colts defense was already susceptible to the run, so Bradshaw could factor largely into their demise. Regardless, there will be plenty of aerial barrages tonight, so don't miss it! (1-0) New Orleans Saints at

Continue reading "Joe's NFL Opening Drive: Week 2"

Drama!

(AP Photo) Blow-up in three...two...one. 

(1-0) New York Giants 31
(0-1) Carolina Panthers 18

Well Eli Manning threw three touchdowns... but he also threw three interceptions. Lucky for him Panthers starter Matt Moore threw only one TD and three picks, looking like the late-round pick he is. While their rushing stats weren't great, the Giants stuck with the run, handing it to Ahmad Bradshaw and Brandon Jacobs 32 times. Also, if you hadn't noticed, Giants WR Hakeem Nicks is a red zone beast. Catching three touchdowns out of only four receptions proves it. 

Continue reading "Joe's Final Drive: Week 1"

(I'm not bothering to put their records down. They're all 0-0.)

Carolina Panthers at
New York Giants

If the Giants are going to make strides in the NFC East, this is the type of game they need to win. Unfortunately the Panthers' running game has made better defenses than the Giants look pedestrian. If the G-men don't slow them down early, don't be surprised if the Panthers sneak out of the Big Apple with a victory.

Continue reading "Joe's NFL Opening Drive: Week 1"

In all likelihood, he'll trade Haynesworth before the deadline.

New York Giants

Only a few years removed from their magical Super Bowl win, the New York Giants have lost their grip on the NFC East. Eli Manning is a good quarterback but isn't likely to ever be a great one. Bruising RB Brandon Jacobs doesn't have the same speed anymore and has trouble staying healthy. He's partnered with Ahmad Bradshaw, who without question still has the jets. If only their offensive line was as durable as it used to be.  Injuries across the line are cause for concern for a Tom Coughlin coached squad, as the man likes his football ran. Fortunately, he does have a nice core of young receivers that can make plays down the field. Hakeem Nicks is an up-and-comer in his second season and Steve Smith moves the chains. That's not even mentioning Mario Manningham and tight end Kevin Boss, who caught 57 and 42 passes last year, respectively.

Continue reading "Joe's NFL 2010 Season Preview: NFC East"

regular season with this edition of the Final Drive! 

(12-4) Minnesota Vikings 44
(8-8) New York Giants 7 

Way to not show up for the last two weeks of the season G-men. You're ensured some massive roster changes with your less-than stellar effort. Meanwhile, the Vikings jumped back into the two seed with the Eagles' loss, giving old man Favre a week off before mounting a Super Bowl run. There's cause for concern in Minnesota after the Vikings have failed to get Adrian Peterson going heading into the playoffs. We'll see how that plays out in two weeks.

Continue reading "Joe's Final Drive: Week 17"

That defense isn't good enough to keep teams under 17.

(7-8) Carolina Panthers 41
(8-7) New York Giants 9

Not exactly the way you want to close out your stadium. The last Giants era at the Meadowlands ended with a whimper as the G-men were bullied by the Panther offensive line and running back Jonathan Stewart. New York didn't crack the scoreboard until the third quarter when the game had already been decided. With the loss, the Giants are eliminated from the playoffs. With the win, John Fox saved his job for one more year.

Continue reading "Joe's Final Drive: Week 16"

attack, but they'll get the win thanks to Brady and the offense.

(6-8) Carolina Panthers at (8-6) New York Giants

The Giants need help, but they're currently the only NFC team that still has a shot at the postseason. With a Dallas or Green Bay loss, the G-men have hope. The Panthers are coming off an impressive win over the Vikings where Julius Peppers harassed Brett Favre without mercy and Matt Moore showed plenty of poise They're not about to roll over. Still, with the complete performance they put on against Washington, I think the Giants get the W.

Continue reading "Joe's Opening Drive: Week 16"

need more time in the pocket and a better running game to beat this far superior opponent.

(7-6) New York Giants at (4-9) Washington Redskins

Change is a comin' in D.C., where Vinny Cerato was replaced by Bruce Allen amidst rumors negotiations have taken place with Mike Shanahan to be the 'Skins' next head coach. Perhaps Dan Snyder has finally learned what it takes to be successful in the NFL? For the Giants, a loss would drop them to 7-7 and out of the post-season race. 

Continue reading "Joe's Opening Drive: Week 15"

on an MVP-type performance that no one will notice. 

(9-4) Philadelphia Eagles 45
(7-6) New York Giants 38 

Apparently defense was optional on Sunday night. I didn't get that memo from the league. Maybe it went into my spam folder. The Eagles made big play after big play, thanks to an electric DeSean Jackson. New York racked up over 500 yards of offense and still lost! What up with that G-Men? Tom Coughlin's face is still red. Though even he'd admit that Andy Reid / Jackson jump-bump was pretty cool though.

Continue reading "Joe's Final Drive: Week 14"

(Though how classic and awesome would a tie be?

(5-4) Atlanta Falcons at (5-4) New York Giants

After solid starts to their seasons, both of these squads are heading in the wrong direction and are in serious danger of missing the playoffs altogether. Tom Coughlin's Giants have lost four straight while the Falcons have dropped three of their last four. Big Blue's vaunted defense has failed in recent weeks, but the offense is the real culprit. They've strayed from the running game and Eli Manning has turned the ball over with regularity. Atlanta's Matt Ryan is in a similar boat, with more interceptions through nine games this season that he had all of his rookie year. Whoever loses will almost certainly miss the postseason.

Continue reading "Joe's Opening Drive: Week 11"

More like a Gatorada Tsunami.

(5-3) San Diego Chargers 21
(5-4) New York Giants 20

That’s how you lose a game by making a field goal. After a late interception put him in field goal range, Tom Coughlin seemed content with simply running the ball and the clock down to about two minutes, then kicking a field goal. He didn’t even ask the third-highest paid player in the league (Eli Manning) to make a throw that could put the game out of reach for the threatening Chargers. Instead of going for the win, Coughlin settled for three points. He then watched Philip Rivers march his squad down the field with ease with no timeouts or opposition. That’s how you run a 2-minute offense.

Continue reading "Joe's Final Drive: Week 9"

More like a Gatorada Tsunami.

(5-3) San Diego Chargers 21
(5-4) New York Giants 20

That’s how you lose a game by making a field goal. After a late interception put him in field goal range, Tom Coughlin seemed content with simply running the ball and the clock down to about two minutes, then kicking a field goal. He didn’t even ask the third-highest paid player in the league (Eli Manning) to make a throw that could put the game out of reach for the threatening Chargers. Instead of going for the win, Coughlin settled for three points. He then watched Philip Rivers march his squad down the field with ease with no timeouts or opposition. That’s how you run a 2-minute offense.

Continue reading "Joe's Final Drive: Week 9"

Thanks for arriving late to the party, motor-mouth.

(4-3) San Diego Chargers at (5-3) New York Giants

With their typical slow start, San Diego has another hole to dig out of in the AFC West. For the second consecutive season, they’ll have to overtake the Denver Broncos to get into the playoffs. Unfortunately for Norv Turner’s boys, this isn’t last year’s Broncos. Philip Rivers faces off against the man who forced his way out of San Diego on draft day in a trade. Eli Manning’s Giants are stumbling but have the bonus of a bye next week. Tom Coughlin will have his team ready to play in front of their home crowd.

Continue reading "Joe's Opening Drive: Week 9"

(5-2) Philadelphia Eagles 40
(5-3) New York Giants 17

Um… so the Giants kinda suck right now. I can’t really explain it. After starting 5-0 they have dropped their last three, albeit to formidable opponents. This loss is obviously the worst, getting a forty-burger dropped on them by a division opponent who slides into first place with the win. The Eagles have rebounded nicely after that loss to “the team from Oakland that shall not be named” with big play after big play on offense. Must be nice to have that many weapons.

Continue reading "Joe's Final Drive: Week 8"

what quarterback doesn’t? (Besides Donovan McNabb… that one time.)  

(5-2) New York Giants at (4-2) Philadelphia Eagles 

After failing against the Saints and Cardinals, the Giants’ once mighty hold (as much as it could have been a few week s in) on the NFC East is slowly slipping away. Eli Manning hasn’t played his best football lately and the only players Philly fans treat worse than their own quarterbacks are division rival quarterbacks. (I said it.) Tough stage for Eli, but he’s a Manning. They find a way. Meanwhile the Eagles and Cowboys are both 4-2 and salivating for a G-men loss.  Despite beating the “not ready for primetime” Redskins, the Eagles were sloppy and out of sync on Monday night. They need to bring it to take out the Giants and lay claim to first place. 

Continue reading "Joe’s NFL Opening Drive: Week 8"

r schedule so far this season has been simply brutal. 

(4-2) Arizona Cardinals 24
(5-2) New York Giants 17 

This one was a shocker. Arizona’s pressure on Eli Manning produced three sacks and five hits, causing three costly interceptions from the Giants QB. Even after two straight losses to good teams, the Giants are still in charge of their division. Nothing to panic about… yet. The Cardinals have finally regained their NFC champion composure in spite of an ankle injury to Anquan Boldin. Coupled with the Niners’ loss, the Cards have sole possession of first place. 

Continue reading "Joe's Final Drive: Week 7"

w Brees is far too accurate with the football to be human. 

(3-2) Arizona Cardinals at (5-1) New York Giants 

The past two NFC champions get it on Sunday night on NBC, hoping to maintain control of their respective divisions. Arizona’s Kurt Warner is playing like his All-Pro self, but Anquan Boldin won’t be near 100% for this one, so Larry Fitzgerald and Steve Breaston need to pick up the slack in the receiver corps. Eli Manning and his Giants are looking to take out their anger after being embarrassed by the Saints in week six. Whichever defense can create the most QB pressure will win the game for their squad. My fake money’s on the Giants. 

Continue reading "Joe's Opening Drive: Week 7"

Take that Ray Lewis.

  

(5-0) New Orleans Saints 48
(5-1) New York Giants 27 

What was supposed to be the best game of the weekend was over by halftime. Drew Brees let loose with another four TD’s as the Saints pwned the Giants in Louisiana. But the football sky isn’t falling in New York… at least not for Giants fans. 

Continue reading "Joe's Final Drive: Week 6"

Man I hope the Ravens win. 

(5-0) New York Giants at (4-0) New Orleans Saints 

Total lossless action Batman! Eli and the G-Men head to Louisiana to face a fresh Drew Brees and the New Orleans Saints. Both of these defenses aren’t getting enough love because their quarterbacks are hogging all the attention with outstanding play. Manning has shined in spite of his young receivers and Flacco might have the best long ball in the league. 

Continue reading "Joe's Opening Drive: Week 6"

inking with that Darren Sproles run up the middle on fourth down? Shoddy play-calling.

(2-0) New York Giants     33
(1-1) Dallas Cowboys      31

Continue reading "Joe's Final Drive: Week 2"

Your 200r third-ranked offense should be able to put up more than a touchdown.

New York Giants 23, Washington Redskins 17

Just as in Dallas, sharing the wealth might replace some of the production lost from losing their best receiver. If the G-men’s running game can pound their opponents every week, the receivers won’t have as much pressure on them. Losing rookie Hakeem Nicks for a few weeks won’t do Manning any favors though. Oh, Osi Umenyiora is back and angry too.

Continue reading "Joe's Final Drive: Week 1"

Nine wins for the Texans is a long shot.

Washington Redskins at New York Giants

Week one and we’re already getting an NFC East division match-up. What could be better? After the ‘Skins attempted to bring in every other QB possible, Jason Campbell needs to prove he belongs at the starting position in Washington. A win over the Giants in week one will certainly help his cause. Clinton Portis should have another solid year, but the real story will be on defense. Signing DT Albert Haynesworth and CB DeAngelo Hall in the first few hours of free agency, owner Dan Synder returned to his “buying a Super Bowl” philosophy. If their defense isn’t much improved with those additions, Washington could be the bottom-feeder in the NFC East.

Continue reading "Joe's Opening Drive: Week 1"

Cutler and the first-team offense left the field with a 17-0 lead over the first teamers of the New York Giants.

Solid performances from Bennett, Olsen, and Forte were made possible from a fantastic night for the first team offensive line. Orlando Pace looked young and spry against one of the best defensive lines in the NFL.

Continue reading "Cutler and Bears Dominate Giants"

I can’t remember a busier or more significant Chicago Bears offseason. After the miraculous acquisition of Jay Cutler (which I still can’t believe happened), and then the signing of Orlando Pace, Jerry Angelo could have sat out the rest of free agency and skipped the draft and Bears fans would have been content. Not one to rest on his new QB’s laurels, Angelo refuses to let up.

Continue reading "Bears ink draft class early; Are ..."

 

           Each week, I will look into my (never wrong, just misinformed) crystal ball and give my predictions for that weekend’s games.  I will prognosticate on all the playoff games each week.  Keep in mind, that this is for entertainment purposes only, and that I do not endorse any sort of legal or illegal gambling.  That being said…let’s see what’s in my crystal ball!   

Continue reading "Predictions Super Bowl XLIII"

Obviously, going from an abysmal 1-15 to 11-6 and AFC East Champions was quite the storybook turnaround. But, it wasn't enough, and the team still has a long way to go before it can compete with the AFC powerhouses like the Steelers and the Ravens. 

Continue reading "Dolphins 2009-10 needs — what do you think?"

Just don’t tell Warner that.

Philadelphia Eagles 23, New York Giants 11

So… the Eagles look pretty scary. They managed to hold the defending champ Giants to only three field goals (Pro- Bowl kicker Carney missed two others that were going to be next to impossible in that wind) and a safety. Eli Manning looked incredibly pedestrian, throwing two interceptions and barely completing half of his attempts. Tom Coughlin got away from the run, choosing to take bruiser Brandon Jacobs out of the game every time he was hitting his stride. Jacobs averaged 4.8 yards on his 19 carries, a solid number against Philly’s blitzing defense. Neither defense recorded a sack of the opposing quarterback, but they were both forced into bad throws. Donovan McNabb was the only one to find redemption, throwing a touchdown early in the fourth quarter that gave his Eagles the two-score lead. McNabb has rallied without a true number one wide receiver, and pulled out this victory with next to no production from Brian Westbrook. McNabb and Coach Andy Reid will be around a while, so Eagle fans should accept it as the positive it is. Manning was missing his number one target in Plaxico Burress and it showed as the Giants were unable to stretch the field or find the big plays. This has led to the rumor that Plaxico may not be done in New York, which is quite a turnaround from only a month or two ago. If they can’t acquire another target for Manning, they might not have a choice.

Continue reading "Joey A's Final Drive: Divisional Round"

fair from these teams, so don’t blink or you could miss a touchdown.

Philadelphia Eagles at New York Giants, Fox, Sunday 1:00 PM (ET)

After splitting their regular season series, these two NFC East rivals meet one more time with a spot in the NFC Championship game on the line. Eli Manning and the Giants have used their bye week to heal up, so ground-pounder Brandon Jacobs will play on Sunday. When Jacobs isn’t in Tom Coughlin’s line-up, the running game noticeably suffers, so his healthy return is more than welcomed by Manning. The Giants will undoubtedly run the ball at the Eagles early, trying to soften the Eagles up heading in the latter portion of the contest and keeping the defense from continuing the success that led to ranking third in the NFL with 48 sacks. Donovan McNabb will be under a comparable pass rush that ranked 6th in the league with 42 sacks, so Brian Westbrook and the underneath and screen passing routes will be factor large in Philly’s success. Andy Reid and McNabb have already earned their job security, but you can rest assured they’re still chomping at the bit to prove themselves.  This is a grudge match of the best variety, where the winner moves on the at the expense of a division rival. That’s playoff football at its finest.

Continue reading "Joey A's Opening Drive: Divisional Round"

  

Philadelphia @ New York Giants:  This will be the most heated game of the weekend.  These teams are only a two-hour drive down the turnpike from each other, with no love lost between them!  This is the rubber match, as each team has won on the other teams turf.  This bodes well for the Eagles, as they have had success at the Meadowlands.  The G-Men have struggled offensively without Burress, while their defense has been solid.  The Birds have been on a roller coaster ride all season.  One week they look unstoppable, the next they look mediocre at best!  They have been on a high note for several weeks now.  These NFC East division foes have much history between them, and the crystal ball is a little hazy on this one.  In a toss-up game, the winner will be the G-Men. 

Continue reading "Predictions Divisional Round"

  Drew Brees won the AP Offensive Player of the Year award.  I can’t argue with that pick.  Anytime you come within a deep out route of Dan Marino’s single season passing record, you can be the Offensive POY.Mike Smith was Coach of the Year.  I can’t argue there either.  Any of the successful rookie head coaches, Smith, Sparano, and Harbaugh, could have won this award.  Smith had the toughest situation before the season started and led the Falcons to the playoffs.  The Patriots franchised Matt Cassell.  That was a no-brainer.  Sure, on the surface, $29 million next year for two quarterbacks seems steep.  But the salary cap is going up about $28 million next year.  Take away the $14 million they are giving Cassell and this still have about $14 million more to spend next year than they did this year.  They sure up the most important position on the offense.  Plus, if they trade him they get a 1st and 3rd round pick.  Who knows, there may be a team out there that is only a good QB away from going to the next level.  Hello Buffalo? (And if you think the Pats won’t let Cassell go to Buffalo talk to Lawyer Milloy or Drew Bledsoe.)Did you see Lil’ Wayne on 1st and 10 on ESPN2?  When I heard he was going to be on I set-up the DVR because I had to watch.  Get this….he was really good.  He knows his sports.  His points were lucid and made lots of sense.  He made some statements that were bold and polarizing, which is what you want out of a talking-head.  I must say this though.  Skip Bayless said he loves Lil’ Wayne’s music and thinks Tha Carter III is Weezy’s Purple Rain.  Am I to believe Bayless really listens to hip-hop?  No offense Skip, but you are probably most buttoned up lily white person on ESPN’s roster.  If you’re not, you are in the team photo with Woody Paige and Marty Smith. 

Continue reading "Quick Hits and Playoff Week 2 Picks"

When I was a sophomore in high school playing on the JV basketball team, we went into our Christmas break undefeated and feeling pretty good about ourselves. Over the break we were scheduled to play one game against a team from the division below us. We practiced a few times, nothing too serious, and went into the game feeling good. But the week and a half layoff killed us and we lost by four, our only loss of the season.

Continue reading "Picks for the NFL weekend"

 

The crystal ball had a mediocre performance this past week, going a mere 2-2.  This is playoff time, so that is unacceptable!  The crystal ball took its lumps on the Colts game, but it’s okay with it since Norv’s our buddy!  Anyway, that puts the crystal ball at 2-2 for the post-season, and 35-28-1 overall.  That’s seven games over .500 (.555 to be exact).  Hopefully the crystal ball will perform better this coming week, as the pressure mounts in post-season play!  Let’s take a look back, and review what happened last week.    

Continue reading "Wildcard Weekend Review"

 

           Wildcard weekend had an interesting lineup of games this year.  All four road teams (wildcard teams) were favored to win over the home teams (division winners).  That’s unusual, but this year it actually makes a lot of sense.  Many of the wildcard teams had better records than the division winners.  In the end, the underdogs won two of the four games (both 6th seeds defeated the 3rd seeded teams).

Continue reading "Where Are All The Nay Sayers Now?"

  

The crystal ball had a mediocre performance this past week, going a mere 2-2.  We’re not sure what happened, but this is not acceptable.  The crystal ball took its lumps on the Cowboys game, but it may have been predicting with its heart rather than its fortune-telling powers?  Either way, that puts the crystal ball at 33-26-1 for the season.  That’s seven games over .500 (.558 to be exact).  Hopefully the crystal ball will perform better in the playoffs!  Let’s take a look back, and review what happened last week.    

Continue reading "Week 17 Review"

 

           This past Sunday, the Dallas Cowboys traveled to Lincoln Financial Field to play the Philadelphia Eagles in what was a win and you’re in the playoffs game.  This game had a lot of build-up prior kick-off.  The Eagles found out, about 15 minutes before the game started, that the stars had aligned for them; the Bears and Buccaneers had both lost.  This game had everything football fans wanted.  It was the ‘Boys against the Birds, with their playoff destinies on the line. 

Continue reading "Underachievers"

 

           Each week I will answer questions submitted by my loyal readers.  I personally read every single email I receive.  I will pick out the best five or so to use for the weekly post, as I won’t be able to answer all of them.  I will also answer one or two questions on my daily posts as well.  Now it’s time to open the mail!  

Continue reading "Reality Mail Bag - 12/25/08"

 

The crystal ball had a mediocre performance this past week, going a mere 2-2.  We’re not sure what happened, but we will get to the bottom of this.  The crystal ball took its lumps on the Cowboys game, but it may have been predicting with its heart rather than its fortune-telling powers?  Either way, that puts the crystal ball at 29-22-1 for the season.  That’s seven games over .500 (.563 to be exact).  Let’s take a look back, and review what happened last week.    

Continue reading "Week 16 Review"

  

           On Saturday night, the Cowboys had a golden opportunity to close out Texas Stadium in style.  This was the final game to be played at the stadium.  A Cowboys win would have been a fitting end to a stadium that has had many classic games.  A win, and the Cowboys would have been one step further in their quest for a playoff berth, and a Super Bowl run. 

Continue reading "Not Dead Yet"

em the win here.

Winners - Pittsburgh Steelers

4) Carolina Panthers @ New York Giants

Two 11-3 teams go at it in this one on Sunday night football. The winner of this game clinches the NFC's No.1 seed and homefield advantage throughout the playoffs. Last week the Cowboys stomped the usually sturdy offensive line of the Giants with 8 sacks on Eli Manning. How will the G-Men's O-Line hold up against the Panthers defense which is 9th in sacks in the league? Home field advantage isn't a free pass in the playoffs, since every team has a chance once the post-season starts, but it doesn't hurt! At first glance of this match-up, I went with the Panthers. However, after thinking about it all week....I'm going with the defending Super Bowl Champions. If this game was in North Carolina... I might sway towards the Panthers, but with the game being played in Giants Stadium, I'll go with the G-Men. I think Eli and company will get the job done someway. Hopefully for the Giants sake, Brandon Jacobs is able to play. But Jacobs or no Jacobs, I pick the

Continue reading "NFL Week 16 Predictions"

 

           Each week, on Friday, I will look into my (never wrong, just misinformed) crystal ball and give my predictions for that weekend’s games.  I will always prognosticate on the Eagles and Cowboys games and then pick two or more games of interest (to me, that is, not necessarily to you).  Keep in mind, that this is for entertainment purposes only, and that I do not endorse any sort of legal or illegal gambling.  That being said…let’s see what’s in my crystal ball!  

Continue reading "Predictions Week 16"

Carolina Panthers (11-3) at New York Giants (11-3)

After Sunday night’s “Melee in the Meadowlands” we will know who owns the top seed in the NFC. The Giants are showing c

Continue reading "Joey A's Opening Drive: Week 16"

 

           Last year, the Cowboys sent 13 players to Hawaii for the Pro Bowl.  Granted, a few of those players made it by name alone, but for the most part they deserved it.  When you go 13-3, as the Cowboys did last year, you tend to get a lot of coattail votes.  This year the ‘Boys will be sending only 5 players. 

Continue reading "Snubbed"

They’ll need to win out and get some help.

Dallas Cowboys 20, New York Giants 8

This upset win will provide some much needed levity in a drama-filled Dallas locker room. After the rif

Continue reading "Joey A's Final Drive: Week 15"

ened last week.    

Last Week: 4-0 

Overall:  29-22-1  

New York Giants @ Dallas:  (WIN) This was a classic defensive struggle in the early stages of the game.  Romo was banged up early with a back contusion, but he sucked it up, and was able to continue.  The ‘Boys put a hurting on Eli as well, by sacking him 8 times (ouch)!  The Cowboys were able to take control of the game, but the G-Men tried to make a game of it in the 4th quarter.  Tashard Choice broke a long gainer for a TD to put the Cowboys up for good.  Dallas is currently holding on to the 5th seed in the NFC, but they are still on thin ice for the next two weeks.  

Continue reading "Week 15 Review"

nbsp; Last night, on NBC’s prime time Sunday Night Football, the Dallas Cowboys defeated the New York Giants, 20-8.  The Cowboys desperately needed the win, as they are fighting for their playoff lives.  The Cowboys are now 9-5, but so are the Vikings, the Bucs, and the Falcons.  The Eagles and Bears aren’t that far behind either.  With the Cowboys facing the Ravens and the Eagles in their next two games, the ‘Boys needed a win…desperately. 

Continue reading "Sack-alicious"

us this weekend.   

Last Week: 2-2 

Overall:  25-22-1  

New York Giants @ Dallas:  The G-Men have the division all locked up.  They are now looking to secure a 1st round bye and home field advantage throughout the playoffs!  They are battling with some lingering distractions over the Plaxico Burress situation, as well as the injury to Brandon Jacobs.  The Cowboys are in a state of disarray, as they lost a heartbreaker last week in Pittsburgh.  The ‘Boys are also dealing with distractions that may or may not be real.  ESPN is doing their best to divide the Cowboys as well.  The Cowboys need this game more than the G-Men, so in a must win, the ‘Boys will pull it together with a victory!  Dallas 34,

Continue reading "Predictions Week 15"

There is no doubt that Sunday's game will be a thorough thrashing of the Giants. Need I say more? (Okay, maybe a little doubt.)

What I have no doubts about is that there is NO ONE who will disag

Continue reading "Sunday's Game Against the Giants"