Mon 27 Nov 2006
“I don’t have the words to talk about it right now, and I probably won’t when I see it [on film]. We’re going to be sick about this one forever.”
-Tom Coughlin
“A new low!”
-Donald “Boon” Schoenstein
I.
And you thought you were pissed after the Bears and Jaguars games. But are you even pissed? Is that the right word? Stunned is more like it for me. I think my anger peaked when Young hit Brandon Jones on the slant for the 14-yard touchdown to tie the game. After that play, I can’t say I was surprised or even upset about anything that happened. The dominoes had already started to topple – even if Eli doesn’t throw his latest unconscionable pick, was there any way that we win that game in OT? And even if we had won that game in OT, would you as a Giant fan have actually felt good about it?
In a way, I think it’s actually better that we lost. Bironas’ kick was a swift enough coup de grace. The game ended in a Giants loss, as it should have.
II.
In terms of awful Giants losses during my career, this ranks number 3 on the list, behind only 1) The 49ers loss in the 2002 playoffs; and 2) The Vikings loss in the ’97 playoffs.
The only reason that this isn’t number 1 is because the circumstances weren’t as critical. But in terms of an actual game, this is the most improbably awful chain of events. But the fact that, for better or worse, there will be more Giant football this year and that we can right this ship (at least, like, theoretically), makes it a little easier to swallow this loss. But not really. I am stunned.
November 27th, 2006 at 8:58 am
Very tough loss. Sorta reminds me of the Jets’ loss to the Dolphins in ‘94 (The Fake Spike Game). The good thing for the Giants is that they have the OPportunity to redeem themselves next week. If they beat Dallas, the TENN game becomes much less important. The question is, however, whether the Giants will be able to hold it together to compete against a hot Cowboys team. Or will the internal dissolution, which we began seeing last week, continue in the run-up to the Dallas game.
November 27th, 2006 at 9:44 am
I could not agree with you more. Had the stakes been higher this would have been perhaps the biggest embarassment in franchise history. Still a complete joke. I hope all the finger pointing at the coaching staff this season was worth it to these guys because yesterday they all confirmed that chracter can’t be coached. I am totally disgusted.
November 27th, 2006 at 4:01 pm
Greg, I am speechless…I am without speech. That says a lot for someone who consistently logs long-winded entries on this blog. But where do I even begin? Honestly. It seems as though the concerns that I shared on this website immediately after the Bears’ loss have come to fruition. Otherwise, I don’t know what else to say for the moment.
November 27th, 2006 at 4:41 pm
Let’s pick our poison…
1. Frank Walker’s hit from out of bounds.
2. ‘Nuke not bringing Young down. (Killed me because I love the Nuke).
3. Eli’s 2nd pick.
4. I’m sure there’s a few more.
I’ll give them a pass (a teeny tiny pass) on the first two, because those blunders were almost totally direct causes from the injury issues. As far as Eli goes… never once have I never cringed when he throws the ball over 10 yards since he’s started.
Had any of the top three never happened, the game would have been over. Right now, if at least Osi and Sam Madison are back, I don’t know if I’ll be watching the Dallas game. Hype or not, Romo has Dallas fired up and the G-Men are mentally and physically shot. Things are not looking good.
November 27th, 2006 at 5:56 pm
Fred,
You’re right to point out Walker’s and Nuke’s blunders as being “but for” factors in terms of the Giants’ loss (But for Walker/Nuke’s error, the Giants would’ve won). As incensed as I was about these two plays, I will have to rank Eli’s second interception as the most inexplicable of the various inexplicable instances/errors that made up the inexplicable turn of events that we all witnessed yesterday. Fred, it seems as though you were saying the same thing: what is going on in Eli’s head right now? His performance yesterday, in light of the last however many weeks, was very unsettling for me. I don’t want to jump the gun and say that this guy is finished because to say so would be to ignore Eli’s occasional flashes of brilliance. It’s not like this guy doesn’t have what it should take (x-factors and all). It’s just that I’m at a complete loss right now. What is going on with this kid?
November 28th, 2006 at 12:55 pm
Is anyone else growing increasingly sick of the Colonel’s exasperated facial expression? Wipe that incredulous look off your face Tom, and deal with the horrible mental state of your squad. This team, any team, looks toward its coach to steady the ship. I mean that literally; players literally look at the coach to see how he reacts especially during moments of weakness. Given the tumultuous nature of the Gmen (year after year it seems), the last thing we need is a coach who can’t keep his composure on the sidelines. I’m not sure how he motivates them during practice or in the off-seaon but as far as gameday goes it seems to me that we need a stoic, fearless leader. Week after week the Colonel comes across as outraged yet impotent. It’s not always smooth sailing Coach, steady the ship or walk the plank.
November 28th, 2006 at 4:34 pm
Aren’t you glad you started a Giants blog this year?
Mack
November 28th, 2006 at 7:33 pm
Did anyone (besides me) think that Walker’s hit was perfectly clean? He didn’t hit him in the head, and Young was still in bounds. Young was about two yards away from the first, and could conceivably have extended the ball out. It was close to the line, but given the importance of the Giants stopping him on 4th down, shouldn’t the refs just let them play tackle football, even if there was a precious quarterback involved?
No wonder Nuke was so afraid of getting flagged, and I don’t blame him. If you can’t make a legitimate hit on a QB, they should just suit them up in red jerseys and make it two-hand touch.
November 28th, 2006 at 7:51 pm
I agree with you, zeke. Big, phyiscal QB fighting for the marker to keep his team alive. He was moving forward and in bounds when hit. Walker’s arm followed thru as Young went down. Maybe the zebra thought it was a blow to the head. Anyway you slice it that tackle was a marginal foul at worst. Not the monster screwup it’s been made out to be.
November 28th, 2006 at 9:46 pm
Did anyone happen to see the Coughlin press conference? A few funny things. One, who’s the dude to Coughlin’s right who asked every single question? Two, who’s the chump on the floor who nodded his head in agreement with everything Coughlin said? Three, Coughlin stop talking about “leaving plays on the field”. That doesn’t apply when you blow a 21-0 lead in the 4th. And last, Coughlin went for such a dramatic departure from the podium. By reading Greg’s quote, it seems as though that sentence was fluid. It was extremely awkward in actuality. He went, “We’re going to be sick about this one…. uh… for… uh… for… forever.” And then he attempted the dramatic exit a la Chris Rock at the end of Bigger and Blacker. Like Dino, I’m getting sick of the guy.