Thrash, pummel, trounce, flog, lambaste, pound, or just plain old beat down.
None of the above adequately describes the Giants 45-12 complete domination over the Redskins down in D.C. on Monday Night Football.
In a game Big Blue absolutely had to have to keep a realistic shot at the playoffs alive, the Giants took control on the opening drive and never looked back.
On a 16-play march that took 9:13 off the first-quarter-clock and covered 80 yards the Giants fired the opening shot of a battle that never materialized.
Ahmad Bradshaw scored the TD on a three-yard run and the game may as well have been called over.
Washington's first three drives were all three-and-outs. 'Skins QB Jason Campbell was under constant harassment being sacked five times -- four times by the rejuvenated defensive line.
Eli Manning had another 250 plus yards passing while completing 19 of 26 passes before sitting out most of the fourth quarter.
The Giants converted close to 75% of third downs to sustain numerous long drives.
Even with two of starting offensive linemen out for most of the game, Manning was well protected. Brandon Jacobs and Bradshaw also had plenty of room to work with.
Ten different Giants caught a pass and three separate receivers -- Steve Smith, Derek Hagan and Mario Manningham -- each found the end zone.
Even when the Redskins did punch in a TD, the ineptness was displayed by missing the extra point.
Now, the Giants must take the positives from this shellacking and bring them north for next Sunday's matchup with the Panthers.
Week 15 was loaded with surprises -- one helping and one hurting Big Blue.
The Cowboys upset of the Saints in New Orleans keeps Dallas a game ahead of the Giants in the playoff race. While the Steelers reawakening against the Packers gives the Giants a second team to gun for.
Big Blue needs help to get into the postseason but that's not for Tom Coughlin's club to worry about.
Taking care of business in the nation's capital was all the Giants could do this week, and, oh boy, did they ever accomplish that task.
Monday, December 21, 2009
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Grandy A Yankee, Andy Too
As the Winter Meetings in Indianapolis come to a close, Brian Cashman boards the flight back to New York with a couple of souvenirs in tow.
The Yankees' roster had two major concerns going into this Hot Stove season: Starting pitching depth, behind CC Sabathia and A.J. Burnett, and an incomplete outfield.
Cashman addressed both issues while in the Hoosier State.
The re-signing of Andy Pettitte was inevitable once the 37-year-old lefty decided he was to pitch another season.
The money is a bit higher than the Yankees would have liked, but a Steinbrenner will always shell out an extra million bucks or two to get the man he wants.
The Yanks dodged a bullet in '08 with Burnett not once landing on the DL and needed someone who can step into the No. 2 starter role should A.J.'s slate not be as clean next season.
Pettitte is a proven playoff commodity who has the veteran guile it takes to get it done should his aging arm misbehave.
In a three-way trade with the Tigers and Diamondbacks, the Yankees solved the outfield dilemma acquiring Curtis Granderson while not relinquishing much in terms of major league-ready talent.
Grandy is one of baseball's good guys as well as one of the game's top athletes.
Cashman and the Yankees have put a premium on good attitude after seeing the results of ignoring demeanor early this decade. (Randy Johnson, Gary Sheffield.)
Departing New York in return for Granderson: Phil Coke, a solid lefty reliever who found his way into Joe Girardi's doghouse in the postseason, Ian Kennedy, who has shown nothing more than back of the rotation potential when given a major league opportunity, and Austin Jackson, a 22-year-old athletic center fielder whom many Yankees fans began penciling into the 2011 starting lineup prematurely.
Coke's replacement, Damason Marte, is already on the roster. Kennedy is a 25-year-old coming off an aneurysm. Jackson's upside is fairly similar to what Granderson has already developed into -- though flip-flop Austin's batting average with Curtis's power.
Coming off a down season, as is Granderson, is when quality players are available for cheap. Had this trade taken place in the off-season following Granderson's 2007 MVP-type season, the Yankees would have had to depart with Phil Hughes or Joba Chamberlain.
With his batting average below .250 in 2009 and erratic fielding, the 28-year-old (he'll be 29 by Opening Day) is by no means the perfect center fielder. However, the Yanks can rely on a power bat (19 plus homers each of the past four seasons).
The arrival of Granderson in the Bronx also gives the Yankees leverage in negotiating with Johnny Damon.
Nick Swisher in right field, Grandy in left and a platoon of Melky Cabrera and Brett Gardner in center improves the outfield and only slight downgrades the lineup compared to the 2009 championship club.
If Damon does agree to a reasonable contract -- by Cashman's definition -- the Bombers have upgraded the only weak everyday position.
A meager .183 average vs. lefties has been a point of contention against importing Granderson.
However, in reality, less than one-third of an everyday player's at-bats come against southpaws. The number figures to be even lower if Granderson is sandwiched between Derek Jeter and Mark Teixeira -- his projected lineup spot should Damon not return -- because of the duos prowess against left-handed hurlers.
Rumors will continue to swirl as to the landing spots of Roy Halladay, John Lackey, Matt Holliday and Jason Bay. But, Cashman can sit back, content that the two biggest voids in the Bombers' roster were filled.
Of course, if the Red Sox make a run at any of those four, don't count the Yankees out -- as we learned last year with Teixeira.
The Yankees' roster had two major concerns going into this Hot Stove season: Starting pitching depth, behind CC Sabathia and A.J. Burnett, and an incomplete outfield.
Cashman addressed both issues while in the Hoosier State.
The re-signing of Andy Pettitte was inevitable once the 37-year-old lefty decided he was to pitch another season.
The money is a bit higher than the Yankees would have liked, but a Steinbrenner will always shell out an extra million bucks or two to get the man he wants.
The Yanks dodged a bullet in '08 with Burnett not once landing on the DL and needed someone who can step into the No. 2 starter role should A.J.'s slate not be as clean next season.
Pettitte is a proven playoff commodity who has the veteran guile it takes to get it done should his aging arm misbehave.
In a three-way trade with the Tigers and Diamondbacks, the Yankees solved the outfield dilemma acquiring Curtis Granderson while not relinquishing much in terms of major league-ready talent.
Grandy is one of baseball's good guys as well as one of the game's top athletes.
Cashman and the Yankees have put a premium on good attitude after seeing the results of ignoring demeanor early this decade. (Randy Johnson, Gary Sheffield.)
Departing New York in return for Granderson: Phil Coke, a solid lefty reliever who found his way into Joe Girardi's doghouse in the postseason, Ian Kennedy, who has shown nothing more than back of the rotation potential when given a major league opportunity, and Austin Jackson, a 22-year-old athletic center fielder whom many Yankees fans began penciling into the 2011 starting lineup prematurely.
Coke's replacement, Damason Marte, is already on the roster. Kennedy is a 25-year-old coming off an aneurysm. Jackson's upside is fairly similar to what Granderson has already developed into -- though flip-flop Austin's batting average with Curtis's power.
Coming off a down season, as is Granderson, is when quality players are available for cheap. Had this trade taken place in the off-season following Granderson's 2007 MVP-type season, the Yankees would have had to depart with Phil Hughes or Joba Chamberlain.
With his batting average below .250 in 2009 and erratic fielding, the 28-year-old (he'll be 29 by Opening Day) is by no means the perfect center fielder. However, the Yanks can rely on a power bat (19 plus homers each of the past four seasons).
The arrival of Granderson in the Bronx also gives the Yankees leverage in negotiating with Johnny Damon.
Nick Swisher in right field, Grandy in left and a platoon of Melky Cabrera and Brett Gardner in center improves the outfield and only slight downgrades the lineup compared to the 2009 championship club.
If Damon does agree to a reasonable contract -- by Cashman's definition -- the Bombers have upgraded the only weak everyday position.
A meager .183 average vs. lefties has been a point of contention against importing Granderson.
However, in reality, less than one-third of an everyday player's at-bats come against southpaws. The number figures to be even lower if Granderson is sandwiched between Derek Jeter and Mark Teixeira -- his projected lineup spot should Damon not return -- because of the duos prowess against left-handed hurlers.
Rumors will continue to swirl as to the landing spots of Roy Halladay, John Lackey, Matt Holliday and Jason Bay. But, Cashman can sit back, content that the two biggest voids in the Bombers' roster were filled.
Of course, if the Red Sox make a run at any of those four, don't count the Yankees out -- as we learned last year with Teixeira.
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Big Blue, Big Win vs. Big D
With its back to the wall and down 10-0 in the biggest game of the season against the rival Cowboys, the Giants responded.
Midway through the second quarter, Ahmad Bradshaw lost a fumble on the Giants' side of the field. Seven plays later, Tony Romo hit Roy Williams in the end zone and the Giants season was left for dead.
The Giants resuscitated the season by moving down the field on three consecutive 16-yard gains before Eli Manning found Hakeem Nicks for a TD to give Big Blue some life.
Just a minute-and-a-half later the Giants would once again find the Promised Land after a big play by two key members of the much-maligned D-line. Mathias Kiwanuka forced a fumble that was recovered by the recently-demoted Osi Umenyiora.
The game would be won through big plays.
Brandon Jacobs, still not running the ball to expectations, had a 74-yard catch and run for his second TD of the evening.
The contest was put out of reach by a Domenik Hixon 79-yard punt return late in the fourth.
The D-line showed glimpses of why it was considered one of the NFL's best going into the season. Although Romo threw for nearly 400 yards, he was constantly harassed.
Cowboys' running backs Marion Barber, Felix Jones and Tashard Choice combined for 45 yard on 23 carries.
The Giants did not dominate the Cowboys, but did enough to come away with a much-needed W.
While Tom Coughlin's club did not exactly escape with the win, it did leave room for doubts going into another enormous game vs. the Eagles on Sunday night.
Big Blue must prove it can beat a quality opponent other than the Cowboys.
A loss to Philadelphia would eliminate any chance of taking the East Division -- the Eagles would be up two games and have the tie-breaker. Big Blue was embarrassed in Philadelphia on November 1.
On the other hand, a win at the Meadowlands evens things out in the overall and head-to-head record against Philly. Combined with Dallas' December struggles and the Cowboys rough upcoming schedule, Big Blue would quickly turn into the favorites to win the Division.
After the Eagles, the Giants face two inferior opponents -- at Washington then home for Carolina.
The final game of the season, in Minnesota, may not mean anything for the Vikings. The Giants may be playing for a spot in the playoffs. Such a circumstance would turn the odds in New York's favor.
An old maxim says, "A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step." The Giants took that step on Sunday.
Against the Eagles it will be determined if that step has a true landing that can send the Giants scurrying towards the postseason.
Midway through the second quarter, Ahmad Bradshaw lost a fumble on the Giants' side of the field. Seven plays later, Tony Romo hit Roy Williams in the end zone and the Giants season was left for dead.
The Giants resuscitated the season by moving down the field on three consecutive 16-yard gains before Eli Manning found Hakeem Nicks for a TD to give Big Blue some life.
Just a minute-and-a-half later the Giants would once again find the Promised Land after a big play by two key members of the much-maligned D-line. Mathias Kiwanuka forced a fumble that was recovered by the recently-demoted Osi Umenyiora.
The game would be won through big plays.
Brandon Jacobs, still not running the ball to expectations, had a 74-yard catch and run for his second TD of the evening.
The contest was put out of reach by a Domenik Hixon 79-yard punt return late in the fourth.
The D-line showed glimpses of why it was considered one of the NFL's best going into the season. Although Romo threw for nearly 400 yards, he was constantly harassed.
Cowboys' running backs Marion Barber, Felix Jones and Tashard Choice combined for 45 yard on 23 carries.
The Giants did not dominate the Cowboys, but did enough to come away with a much-needed W.
While Tom Coughlin's club did not exactly escape with the win, it did leave room for doubts going into another enormous game vs. the Eagles on Sunday night.
Big Blue must prove it can beat a quality opponent other than the Cowboys.
A loss to Philadelphia would eliminate any chance of taking the East Division -- the Eagles would be up two games and have the tie-breaker. Big Blue was embarrassed in Philadelphia on November 1.
On the other hand, a win at the Meadowlands evens things out in the overall and head-to-head record against Philly. Combined with Dallas' December struggles and the Cowboys rough upcoming schedule, Big Blue would quickly turn into the favorites to win the Division.
After the Eagles, the Giants face two inferior opponents -- at Washington then home for Carolina.
The final game of the season, in Minnesota, may not mean anything for the Vikings. The Giants may be playing for a spot in the playoffs. Such a circumstance would turn the odds in New York's favor.
An old maxim says, "A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step." The Giants took that step on Sunday.
Against the Eagles it will be determined if that step has a true landing that can send the Giants scurrying towards the postseason.
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Jets Stampede Buffalo
As if repenting for past egregious sins, the Jets went North of the border and took care of business against the inferior Bills, 19-13.
However, the victory may have cost Gang Green the main purpose for playing out the schedule: The development of rookie QB Mark Sanchez.
Sanchez left the field early in the third quarter and did not return.
How much faith does the Jets coaching staff have in backup Kellen Clemens? The Jets handed the ball to a back on 18 of the 25 snaps that Clemens was in the game (not including two kneel-downs).
True, running backs Thomas Jones and Shonn Greene were running all over Buffalo -- even fullback Tony Richardson got in the act with 36 yards on two carries -- but it was clear Rex Ryan and Co. was not going to allow Clemens to lose the game.
The rushing game had another sparkling day running for 249 and averaging nearly six yard a carry.
Sanchez was in the midst of a solid performance before he was forced to the locker room injuring his knee on a head-first dive for a first down.
The rookie completed seven of 14 passes for 104 yards and one TD. Those numbers would look considerably prettier had Braylon Edwards not dropped an 84-yard sure-touchdown pass late in the first quarter.
Edwards continues to display why he'll always have an NFL job, scoring the only New York touchdown in Canada by fighting off several tacklers on the way to the goal line.
But, the reputation of slippery hands continues to stick to the talented wideout.
Darrelle Revis had yet another All-Pro day, this time holding Terrell Owens to three catches for 31 yards.
The win keeps alive the faint hope of a playoff appearance but even that wishful thinking would be quashed should Sanchez be forced to sit any length of time.
With the extra time to prepare the Jets should run all over Tampa Bay in Florida.
However, each of the following three match ups (Atlanta, at Indianapolis and Cincinnati) will be tough tests, and the Jets will have a difficult passing any of them.
The rough schedule will be bearable if Sanchez plays and shows signs of the future. If Sanchez is sidelined, then the whole team may as well be eating hot dogs.
However, the victory may have cost Gang Green the main purpose for playing out the schedule: The development of rookie QB Mark Sanchez.
Sanchez left the field early in the third quarter and did not return.
How much faith does the Jets coaching staff have in backup Kellen Clemens? The Jets handed the ball to a back on 18 of the 25 snaps that Clemens was in the game (not including two kneel-downs).
True, running backs Thomas Jones and Shonn Greene were running all over Buffalo -- even fullback Tony Richardson got in the act with 36 yards on two carries -- but it was clear Rex Ryan and Co. was not going to allow Clemens to lose the game.
The rushing game had another sparkling day running for 249 and averaging nearly six yard a carry.
Sanchez was in the midst of a solid performance before he was forced to the locker room injuring his knee on a head-first dive for a first down.
The rookie completed seven of 14 passes for 104 yards and one TD. Those numbers would look considerably prettier had Braylon Edwards not dropped an 84-yard sure-touchdown pass late in the first quarter.
Edwards continues to display why he'll always have an NFL job, scoring the only New York touchdown in Canada by fighting off several tacklers on the way to the goal line.
But, the reputation of slippery hands continues to stick to the talented wideout.
Darrelle Revis had yet another All-Pro day, this time holding Terrell Owens to three catches for 31 yards.
The win keeps alive the faint hope of a playoff appearance but even that wishful thinking would be quashed should Sanchez be forced to sit any length of time.
With the extra time to prepare the Jets should run all over Tampa Bay in Florida.
However, each of the following three match ups (Atlanta, at Indianapolis and Cincinnati) will be tough tests, and the Jets will have a difficult passing any of them.
The rough schedule will be bearable if Sanchez plays and shows signs of the future. If Sanchez is sidelined, then the whole team may as well be eating hot dogs.
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