Week # 5 - October 9, 2011 - vs SEA (Met-Life Stadium)

Once again Victor Cruz walks the tight rope to success

New York 29, Seattle 16 

Seattle entered the 4th quarter with a 16-14 lead.  Unfortunately for them the 4th quarter is where Eli Manning and Victor Cruz do their best work.  Eli put New York up top 6 with a 9 yard toss to Cruz.  Later in the quarter the same combo put the game virtually out of reach with a 58 yard aerial strike.  Eli threw for 376 yard, which included 3 TD passes.  Ahmad Bradshaw and DJ Ware both had TD runs as the Giants remained 1 of 2 teams (Detroit) with 5-0 records in the NFC

Click here to see the box score from the replay

Click here to see a brief slideshow that includes:  scoring plays and game stats

REAL LIFE RESULTS:  SEA 36, NYG 25 (Loss) - click here to see box

REPLAY (5-0) vs REAL LIFE (3-2)

Week # 4 - October 2, 2011 - vs ARI (U of Phoenix Stad)

New York 41, Arizona 32

 Arizona's coach, Michael Hopcroft, said it best:  "I knew I couldn't win a shootout with the Giants, but once my running game couldn't get on track I knew I was doomed".  For most of the game Arizona was right in it.  New York had a narrow 1 point lead heading into the 4th courtesy of a Jay Feeley missed XP attempt.  The 4th quarter would be Arizona's undoing as the Giants scored 10 unanswered points to put it away.  The key play was an 85 yard pitch and catch from Eli to Victor Cruz.  Eli Manning threw 5 TD's and lit the air up with 463 yards.  Cruz also caught another TD pass for 75 yards as this combo is setting the league on fire.  Mario Manningham caught two TD passes and Bear Pascoe caught the game winner from 3 yards out.  Click here to see the box score from the replay

Click here to see a brief slideshow that includes:  scoring plays and game stats

REAL LIFE RESULTS:  NYG 31, PHI 27 (Win) - click here to see box

REPLAY (4-0) vs REAL LIFE (3-1)

League Leaders: 3 Weeks Completed

Standings: 3 Weeks Completed

Paul Dottino's Week #4 Preview: Giants @ Cardinals

By Paul Dottino
» More Columns

The Giants appear to have regained much of their swagger heading into Arizona – and this may be the most visible benefit of last weekend’s 29-16 upset victory in Philadelphia.
Coach Tom Coughlin’s top priority this week has been to use that win to build momentum for his players. Of course, they should not need any reminders of how they bungled their season opener against an inferior Redskins squad – but that’s the danger they face in playing the Cardinals.
The Cardinals, who expect to have RB Beanie Wells (hamstring) this week, have a mediocre offense led by a young quarterback who relies on a pedestrian offensive line and badly needs a strong running game to help him out. In addition, Arizona’s defense (which made the conversion to a 3-4 this season) is a work in progress that features two rookie cornerbacks.
On paper, is there much doubt which team should be heavily favored? Right, I didn’t think so. But remember what happened in Washington.
So, here are three key matchups to watch this week:

1. Giants pass rush vs. Cardinals QB Kevin Kolb. Kolb has made less than a dozen NFL starts and his inexperience has shown over the Cardinals’ first three games.

Despite having a long-distance arm and the ability to make plays, the mental part of the game often seems to go too fast for him at this stage of his career. He does not show the necessary patience in the pocket and doesn’t do a good job going through his progressions. The evidence? He’s favorite target has been TE Todd Heap. No way this should happen when big-play WR Larry Fitzgerald is on the roster.
The Giants are best served by showing blitz and then dropping out to confuse Kolb and, of course, getting enough consistent pressure from their front four – whether it has DEs Justin Tuck (neck, groin) and/or Osi Umenyiora (knee) or not.

2. Giants punt coverage vs. Cardinals rookie PR Patrick Peterson. Peterson is averaging 18.4 yards per punt return, including an 89-yard touchdown on eight tries.
To make it simple, the former LSU star (6-1, 219) has 4.3 speed to go with his size and strength, making him a dangerous weapon when trying to establish good field position. Given Kolb’s inexperience, the Cardinals want to tilt the field for him as often as possible.

3. Giants WRs Hakeem Nicks and Mario Manningham vs. Cardinals rookie CBs Peterson and A.J. Jefferson. Manningham is expected to play after coming back from a concussion, although Victor Cruz caught two TD passes in his place against the Eagles. Cruz likely will see much time in the slot, likely against former Panthers CB Richard Marshall.
Was Cruz a one-hit wonder or can he produce if called upon for a second week in a row? The Cards are expected to double Nicks and there’s no telling how effective Manningham will be in his return.
PREDICTION: Giants 24, Cardinals 10

Week # 3 - September 26, 2011 - vs PHI (The Linc)

New York 35, Philadelphia 7

Victor Cruz scores on a 43 yard toss from Eli to make it 7-0 Jints

A 21 point outburst in the 2nd quarter made this game a blowout in the making.  Eli started the game off by going 3 and out, but made up for it on the next drive by making it a 1 and out to Victor Cruz for a 43 yard TD score.  The Eagles, who were missing starter Michael Vick, had to suffer through poor QB play from Vince Young and Kafka after "Invincable" was injured.  Hakeem Nicks caught two TD passes (15 yards and 54 yard) and Jake Ballard caught one from 26 yards out.  The Giants put the game away when Ahmad Bradshaw caught one in the flat and took it 8 yards to make it 35-7.  The fourth quarter saw many fights in the stands as Giant fans who trekked 90 miles south on the Turnpike were feeling their oats.  Security did a great job avoiding anything major.  New York played without the services of:  Osi and Manningham plus a few others.  Special thanks to Gene Couture for stepping up and hosting and playing with such late notice.

Click here to see a brief slideshow that includes:  scoring plays and game stats

REAL LIFE RESULTS:  NYG 29, PHI 16 (Win) - click here to see box

REPLAY (3-0) vs REAL LIFE (2-1)

Paul Dottino's Week #3 Preview: Giants @ Eagles

No matter how much the Giants try to downplay the trend, it is unmistakable and cannot be ignored.

They have lost six consecutive games to the Philadelphia Eagles – and done so in almost every way imaginable, including DeSean Jackson’s 65-yard punt return for a TD that capped an improbable 38-31 come-from-behind victory last season at the Meadowlands. The defeat put a significant dent in the Giants’ playoff hopes and they never recovered.

Defensive end Justin Tuck explained it does no good to think about the streak, reasoning the Giants cannot do anything to change those six results. At the same time, the Giants blew a 21-point lead in the final 8:17 of last year’s game at home and created a game film that every coach at every level can use to illustrate what happens to a team when it does not finish properly.

Giants need to remember that loss if for no other reason than to apply 60 minutes of pressure on quarterback Michael Vick and Co.

Vick suffered a concussion last weekend against Atlanta, but returned to practice Thursday. Obviously, the Giants would like to hit him hard early and often to see if they can rattle him or send him to the sideline. But for the purposes of this exercise, we’ll assume he’s able to play the entire game.

So here are your three matchups to watch:

1. Eagles WRs DeSean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin vs. Giants CBs Corey Webster and Aaron Ross.

There may be no more dangerous receiving duo in the league. These two have great speed, run solid routes and are quick enough off the line to beat press coverage. Make a mistake in either communication or technique – which have been issues for the Giants’ over the first two weeks – and these receivers will make you pay dearly for it.

Ross said he’s over being benched in the second-half because of his struggles against St. Louis. His mind needs to be right because he must play with confidence against Maclin.

2. Giants RBs Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw vs. Eagles revamped linebacking corps.

The Eagles have allowed nearly 300 combined rushing yards over the first two weeks, prompting them to flip around their linebackers this week. Given that the Giants need to control the clock, it is imperative they take advantage of whatever confusion might occur.

Jamar Chaney slides inside to the middle (where he was at the end of last season), flanked by Moise Fokou and rookie Casey Matthews. Chaney played well against the Giants last year but Foku is undersized and Matthews not very adept at changing direction. Bradshaw or Jacobs, who have been running behind a work-in-progress offensive line, must combine for at least 150 yards for the Giants to have a chance.

3. Giants LT Will Beatty vs. Eagles RDE Trent Cole.

Cole is an explosive speed rusher who also has a knack for causing turnovers – either with a strip or by rushing the quarterback into making a poor throw. In 12 career games against the Giants, Cole has 39 tackles, seven sacks, a forced fumble and an interception return for a TD.

Beatty’s quick feet usually allow him to do better against speed rushers, so this could turn into a very active battle. The Giants cannot afford to move backwards nor can they afford a negative turnover ratio.

DOTTINO'S PREDICTION: Eagles 34, Giants 24