Giants take Falcons: January 8, 2012
A season of inconsistency, mediocrity, a team that just a month ago showed little speculation of their attendance in the playoffs, have won their last two big games of the final season defeating the New York Jets and then the Dallas Cowboys to clinch a playoff berth. There is certainly no question that the New York Giants(9-7 in regular season) to showed up big and proved they are worthy of the playoffs. On a Sunday afternoon in East Rutherford, NJ the Giants did just that as they pounded the Atlanta Falcons in a 24-2 victory to secure round one and knock the Falcons out of the playoffs.
There is no question that we saw a completely different team on the field Sunday than we did all year. A team that fans doubted would make the playoffs made the playoffs. A team that many fans see as lacking in many aspects of their game this year especially offensively saw an explosion in the running game. An offense that lacked the consistency of pass-yard completions during the regular season saw an especially improved completion percentage particularly during third-down conversions. A defensive-line that was dotted with injuries and given little hope held the opposing team to 0 points on offense. Much of the New York Giants that we followed during this regular season completely redefined themselves in their impressive performance against the Atlanta Falcons. There seems to be no doubt this moment for the Giants faithful out there of what this team is capable of especially in the playoffs. In fact there is this feeling in the air that is very reminiscent and familiar to that feel that fans remember in the 2007 season.
Could the Giants simply have gotten lucky?! Well ask the defense. Justin Tuck leading that defense was a big part of that, "I just feel like we're playing together, sometimes in this season we were kind of divided in the fact that we just wanted to make plays and also alot of guys were trying to be individual out there, but now there's eleven guys playing at once, we are going to get efforts like this". A defense that saw injuries all year held the Falcons to 64 rushing yards and 183 passing yards. This defense stopped Matt Ryan and the Falcons rushing on 4th down attempts multiple times in Giant territory. It seemed as if when the Giants needed a stop, they made a stop. In fact the only points the Falcons put up were when they sacked Eli Manning in the Giants endzone during a defensive play resulting in a safety. The Giants defense was so key and overly dominating that they allowed 0 Falcons points during their offensive possessions. In fact, this is the first time in playoff history where a team scored as little as two points. Credit Tuck, and Umenyiora on the defensive end. The defensive stops and plays of Jason Pierre-Paul were key in this victory. It was obvious the way the defensive end played, Matt Ryan almost had no chance in this game. Luckily, that scary collision between Jason Pierre-Paul and Aaron Ross did not result in any critical injury although Ross returned to the locker-room.
The defense certainly highlighted this big win, but the offensive line did a great job as well. Eli Manning went 23-32 in pass completions and threw for 277 yards. The rushing game deemed huge for Big Blue. A team that averages around 89 yards a game had a total of 172 rushing yards well over their average in this win. Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw were a huge part of that combining for 155 of those rushing yards. The rushing really opened up the field for the passing game as well. It opened up wide-receivers such as Hakeem Nicks, Mario Manningham and Victor Cruz. The offense showed up as Nicks put it, "we know what we're capable of doing, we gotta step up make plays on offense, we came out second half and that's what we did, running game came out pretty good and the offense was clicking". Hakeem Nicks had 2 touchdowns including a 72 yard touchdown run. When asked about the "dirty-bird" dance in the endzone, he said, "Antrel Rolle told me to do it". The offense proved effective with the running game doing the its job as well as the passing percentage and conversions. The Giants are sure a playoff team. Giants fans as well as the team have to be happy and very pleased with the way they played.
However this only the first week folks. This big win over the Atlanta Falcons only means what is next for the New York Giants, the 15-1 Green Bay Packers. That is right, the Giants travel to Lambeau field next Sunday to face off against this strong Packers team which beat them 38-35 the last time the teams met earlier in the season. This will surely be quite a matchup especially this time of season with the New York Giants winning impressively their last three games and heating up at the right time. This would be the perfect challenge for the Giants defensive line to prove themselves against the high powered offense of Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers. The Giants know they have been in this spot before back in 07' when they defeated Brett Favre and the Packs in the Conference Championship. The ice cold weather will again pose a big factor in Lambeau field. The Packers with 3rd in passing yards and the best record this NFL season will welcome in the Giants. Big Blue will be bringing in a new look, new surge and fired-up defense and offense line. Can the fired-up New York Giants surge and continue to explode in the playoffs or will Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers claim the crown in the NFL this season?
To Lambeau Field, Wisconsin they March!
B.C
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