I. Not Invincible

The first lesson from yesterday doesn’t have to do with “distractions” or even the absence of Plax.  Rather, we learned again that even excellent teams are capable of sometimes playing very poorly.  In brutal conditions – trust me, I was there – we turned in an awful performance against very good Eagle team that is probably one of the top five in the league right now.  And we got our asses handed to us.  It happens, even to 11-1 teams.

I’m assuming the Giants will bounce back against Dallas, although yesterday’s loss certainly raises the stakes for that one.  Once that happens, everything will be well and good in G-Men nation again.  In that sense, yesterday’s wasn’t a disturbing loss in that it shouldn’t shake our conception of who the 2008 Giants are: With all due respect to the Titans, we still have to be considered the best team in the league.

But the game reminded us that our path to another title isn’t inexorable.  In any playoff game, we can come out sloppy and get knocked off.  It has been a great season, but just being the best team in the league doesn’t guarantee a championship.  Just ask the 2007 New England Patriots.

II. Eli and the Meadowlands Winds

On the other hand, here’s what emerged from Sunday’s game that has me worried going forward:

We know that teams will stack 8 or 9 in the box for the rest of the year, especially after yesterday.  Therefore, the fate of our offense hinges on Eli, which means that we’re one bad Eli performance away from a heartbreaking playoff loss (and, even though the prospect off a post-season loss is not unlikely, anything short of a Super Bowl title will be severely disappointing.)

So it’s all up to Eli, which is fine except for this: Because we have home-field advantage, there is a chance that we’ll catch a windy-as-hell day like we did today.  And if we do, I think we’re in trouble.  Because as good as Eli has become, he is especially vulnerable to the Giants Stadium winds because he doesn’t throw a tight spiral.

Right now, this is just a theory: I hope Eli proves me wrong.  But, offhand, I can think of three super-windy days on which Eli has played poorly:  The Carolina playoff game in 2005, the Redskins home game late last year, and yesterday.

I know his final numbers weren’t all that terrible yesterday, and I know they were hurt by the Hixon and Smith drops.  But… they were also artificially aided by the garbage-time touchdown drive and the near-interception dropped by Asante Samuel.  (As I said to NYGMen commentator Dan, with whom I attended the game, Asante Samuel has a habit of dropping game-clinching interceptions against the Giants.)

So I can picture a scenario where our home-field advantage turns into a disadvantage.  Back in the ‘80s, people used to talk about how Phil Simms was uniquely qualified to be the Giants quarterback because of his tight spiral.  Isn’t it possible the converse is true with Eli?

III. Lack of Plax

Yesterday’s game answered all those who thought we’d be perfectly fine without Plax based on the Seattle and ‘Zona games.  Surely, he will be missed, especially in windy conditions when Eli’s ball takes unpredictable paths.

I have a feeling that most NYGMen readers weren’t on board with the whole “We won’t miss Plax, just like we don’t miss Shockey” thing.  But here’s why that premise is wrong anyway:

Shockey would brattily demand the ball, forcing Gilbride to draw up plays to keep him involved just so he would shut the fuck up (this according to Ralph Vacchiano of the Daily News.)  But Plax, for all his off-field antics – which, in my mind, have crossed the line and demand his removal from the team – was a total team player between the lines.

It’s qualities like these that make parting with Plax – if that is indeed what we do – so fraught with mixed emotions.  It would be easy to say, “The guy was just a complete tool,” and leave it at that.  But that’s just not the case.

IV.  Free Ahmad

Can’t we get this guy on the field already?  Did we forget how good he was in the playoffs?  At this point, we can’t afford not to use him.  Without Plax, we need playmakers.

The Giants have been really great this year on a play-by-play basis, even moreso on offense than defense.  But often – possibly due to the fact that our offensive dominance is based on the running game, which will usually yield fewer points than an explosive passing game – the scoreboard has failed to fully reflect our dominance.  It’s great to pound the rock down teams’ throats, but no team is without the need of big plays.  A guy like Bradshaw can provide some; at this point, it’s criminal to keep him buried on the bench.

I can totally picture a post-season scenario in which we completely outplay the other team, but only have a 10-point lead in the third quarter.  And then they break off a big play, then Eli throws a pick on a high pass that goes off Hixon’s fingers, and then we’re in danger of an awful loss.

We need firepower.  Put in #44.

(Also on this note, can Hixon please get back to returning kicks?  I’m hoping that Colonel Tom is just protecting him from injury and that he’ll be back deep when the playoffs come.  But please, we’re really sitting on too many resources here.  It really might bite us in the ass.)

V.  The Lack of a Pass-Rush

You can live with a big game by Westbrook – he’s an awesome player who capitalized on some missed assignments to break a couple of long gains.  But to me, what’s more worrisome going forward was our total lack of pressure on McNabb.

Despite our good sack totals – we are tied for fourth in the league with 37, and are seventh in FootballOutsiders’ Adjusted Sack Rate – our pass rush has been inconsistent this year.  Without it, our defense is penetrable.

I suppose the overall theme of this post is that while we are good, we’re not so good that there aren’t scenarios under which we can lose.  At 11-1, it might have been easy to forget that.  Yesterday was a reminder.

Regardless of what happens with the legal process, I think Plax has exhausted his chances with the Giants.  To give him another one would be to play the part of the enabling fool, and would give the impression that his actions – not just in this latest incident, but all year – are acceptable.

They aren’t.  I’ve tried to defend Plax for the past few months, referring to his antics as “manageable.”  This argument no longer holds.  The accumulation of bullshit is too much to overlook.  He has to go.

The Giants organization has always prided itself on its moral uprightness.  Sure, this is a bit of a fairy tale – see LT, LT, and LT – but you’d like to think there is a grain of truth to that.  Now is the time for the Giants to step up and prove it.

That said, I’m sympathetic to the argument that what Plax did doesn’t necessarily make him such a bad guy.  Clearly, he’s not the only athlete bringing a loaded gun into a club.  Just as clearly, there’s some sort of cultural difference at play here, so it’s not entirely fair to judge him by the standards of my culture.

But that’s sort of the problem: The cultural standards that don’t judge Plax harshly for this are wrong.  Because even if he didn’t have malicious intentions, what he did Friday night – he was drinking while fiddling with a unsecured gun in his pants that evidently didn’t have adequate safety controls – was dangerous and uncondonable.  It’s up to the Giants, the NFL, and New York City to send that message loud and clear.  This means punishing Plax in a more severe way than he and many others might feel is warranted.

If Plax feels victimized here, I do have some sympathy. But there’s also a big part of me that says, “Tough shit.”  Throughout his Giants career, the guy has shown no respect for the rules everyone else abides by.  Despite the suspension earlier this year and the 50 slap-on-the-wrist fines, he has shown little contrition for repeated unacceptable behavior.

So the Giants should cut him quickly and in whatever way makes sense salary-cap wise.  The NFL should suspend him for the remainder of the season.  And Bloomberg should keep up his tough talk about punishing him to the full extent of the law.  Guns are some serious shit, and if Plaxico Burress has to pay the price so that people understand this, so be it.

This one is on the Times’ Fifth Down Blog again. Obviously, lots to talk about with Plax, but let’s just win this game and let more details emerge before we concern ourselves with that.

A lot hinges on Sunday’s game for the Redskins, writes Jake Williams, my freshman year college roommate, who introduces us to some key Redskins and spouts some serious cynicism about his Dan Snyder-owned team.

**

On the Sunday morning sidewalk,
Wishing, Lord, that I was stoned.
’Cos there’s something in a Sunday,
Makes a body feel alone.

-Kris Kristofferson

I am nauseous Sundays in the Fall. For a time I thought it was the impending work week or bourbon Saturdays, but then I quit my job and whiskey to no remedy. The writing’s on the wall: I dread the Redskins.

I imagine on some level New York fans can relate. But with the Knicks courting Bron Bron and Bosh, it’s possible that 5 NY teams will soon be contenders. As a Washington sports fan, all I have is the Redskins. And more times than not, they’ve disappointed me.

I was too young to appreciate Gibbs’ glory. I do remember very well, however, the bad teams that followed. The recent return to quasi-prominence has done little to disassociate this franchise with failure. This year is the same. Much promise after the Dallas and Philly wins, but not a good game since.

So I am terribly excited and anxious about Sunday. If we win, we could be the 2008 version of the Giants, propelled late in the season to greatness (I’m two bourbons deep as I write this sentence). But if we lose, let there be no doubt, we are unlikely to make the playoffs.

For those who have not watched the Skins frequently this season, I offer my take on several players of prominence:

Jason Campbell: Needs to take more risks. His interception-less streak was admirable, but was also a result of him checking down too often. Even on 3rd and 10 he’ll throw it 4 yards. It’s maddening.

Clinton Portis: My favorite Redskin and, as Aikman points out incessantly, an incredible blocker. Doesn’t have the burst of speed a lot of elite backs have, but makes up for it by being straight gangster.

Santana Moss: Worst hands for a big play receiver other than Braylon Edwards. He’s a stud #2 wide out or a very mediocre 1. Please God let Kelly or Thomas be legit.

Chris Cooley: Overrated. But I’m probably just jealous.

London Fletcher: My second favorite Redskin. A little ball of fury. London’s calling.

Sean Springs: Gets injured more than Greg Oden. Which is weird because he doesn’t tackle.

Sean Taylor: Let us remember that S.T. had the potential to be a great football player. There has been no one I’ve seen who hit people as hard. Not even close. I imagine it was what watching L.T. was like, although as mentioned I don’t remember the 80s.

Jim Zorn: A for effort. C for execution.

So on the whole as much bad as good, and this has been one of our better teams. But, in this year of hope, I offer the following possibility: Michael Vick, the Wildcat offense, and the Washington Redskins in 2009.

After the Jets smacked around the Titans last week, it’s hard to dispute that the Giants are the best team in the league.  As FootballOutsiders’ advanced DVOA stats show, this isn’t merely my opinion.  By their measurements, it’s a fact.  (For more on DVOA, click here.)

The G-Men rank first in DVOA by a rather massive margin: Their 41.6% DVOA dwarfs the second-best Ravens, who pull in at 27.7%.  (What, you have a problem with the Ravens being second?  Early in the season, the Ravens choked away a 10-point second half lead to the Steelers.  The next week, they almost definitely would have beaten the Titans if not for a bullshit personal foul penalty on Terrell Suggs, which saved the Titans from a fourth-and-10 deep in their territory.)

Anyway, as Aaron Schatz points out in his weekly DVOA analysis, the difference between the Giants and Ravens is roughly equal to the difference between the Ravens and the ninth-best Packers.  They have been that much better than the rest of the league.  Their 14.0% lead in DVOA is the second best since 1995, to when DVOA stats date back. (The FootballOutsiders guys are slowly but surely making their way deeper into history with this, but it takes time to chart the play-by-play data.)

Indeed, their 41.7% DVOA indicates they are worthy of their Best Team in the League status.  After the Steelers game, NYGMen commentator Flume declared the G-Men “The worst Best Team in the League” in recent memory.  I doubt he would make this claim now, but he was wrong.  The 2008 Giants sport the seventh best DVOA after Week 12 since 1995.

Here’s the top 10 list:

1) ’07 Patriots: 71.3%

2) ’99 Rams: 50.0%

3) ’98 Broncos: 46.7%

4) ’01 Rams: 44.2%

5) ’04 Patriots: 43.0%

6) ’02 Bucs: 42.9%

7) ’08 G-Men: 41.6%

’95 Cowboys: 41.1%*

9) ’95 49ers: 41.0%

10) ’04 Steelers: 40.2%

It’s worth noting that four of the other nine teams did not win the Super Bowl – it’s obviously possible that the 2008 Giants, as good as they’ve been, will not either.  Still, whatever happens in the future should not retroactively diminish what we’ve accomplished to this point.

In his column, Schatz makes a good point about how the Giants 2008 season changes the way one views their 2007 playoff run, particularly their “major upset” over the Patriots.  He writes:

“Obviously, hindsight it 20-20, and you can’t predict games using future information.  However, now that we know that they were on their way to becoming the strongest team in the league, last year’s Giants run through the playoffs makes a lot more sense.  If we could put together a hypothetical game between this year’s Giants and last year’s Patriots, a Giants win would be a minor upset, but not a major one.”

* Note: There is a ridiculous smiley-face that keeps showing up here, and I have no idea why.  Just so you know, I didn’t put it there.  There was nothing funny or cute about the 1995 Cowboys.

Yesterday marked the one-year anniversary of the nadir of Eli Manning’s professional career, a game that Ralph Vacchiano describes as “his hideous, 21 for 49, 273-yard four pick performance” against the Vikings.  Two of those four picks were returned for touchdowns in a game we lost, 41-17.

Since then, as Vacchiano writes, the Giants have won 17 of their 20 games.  Eli has completed 58.9 percent of his passes for 4,133 yards, 31 touchdowns and 13 picks, good for a QB rating of 87.3.

I attended this depressing game with loyal NYGMen commenter Dan, and the thoughts running through our heads leaving Giants Stadium went something like this:

Wow, that sucked.  We’re 7-4, so we might luck into another bogus playoff appearance in the weak-ass NFC, but this franchise clearly isn’t going anywhere serious.  After more than three full seasons as a starter, our quarterback has pretty much shown us what he is.  Yes, he’s capable of some clutch moments, but he doesn’t seem capable of exceeding a mediocre 55% completion percentage and 75.0 rating.  And great quarterbacks – the type Ernie Accorsi’s old, deluded, Frankensteinish ass convinced himself Eli was – simply don’t turn in performances like that. 

The Giants are halfway decent now, and we should be halfway decent for the next several years.   But our quarterback will hold us back from elite status, a sad irony considering we drafted him to take us to the Promised Land.  Despite his last name and the early promise he showed, Eli is officially a mediocrity.  And now we have to wait an hour and a half for this fucking bus.  This sucks.

This is worth reflecting upon because 1) It shows us how miraculously our fortunes have turned for the better since then; and 2) It reminds us that there was nothing in Eli’s past performance that pointed to his sudden improvement.  It’s not as if Eli had gradually gotten better since 2004, and that last year’s playoff run represented the culmination of a linear progression.  No, Eli was sputtering more than ever until the New England Week 17 game, when behind his goofy smile and tousled hair, a lightbulb switched on.  Nearly a full season later, it hasn’t gone off.

It’s worth noting that the title for Vacchiano’s blog post – “It all began one year ago today, at rock bottom” – is a bit misleading.  For Eli, there were more depths to plumb after the Minnesota game.  He followed the Vikings game with two uninspired efforts against the Eagles and Bears (granted, in the Bears game, he led one of his patented fourth quarter comebacks).  Then came the ugly Sunday night game against Washington, in which – windy conditions and brutal Gilbride playcalling notwithstanding – he went 18 for 52, averaging an unsightly 3.5 yards per attempt.  Then came the two-interception, five-fumble performance against the Bills the next week, during which he went 7 for 15 for 111 yards.  Think about how bad Eli was at this point.

Anyway, as we approach Thanksgiving, it’s worth reflecting with gratitude upon the miracle we’ve witnessed in the past year.  There was nothing to indicate that this would happen.  No, Eli isn’t a world-beater, but as Tom Coughlin said after Sunday’s game, “He just continues to do what has to be done to win a game.”

A 10-1 start and a the customary day off for NFL players on Tuesday?  Sounds like a good excuse for a party.  Select members of the G-G-G-G-MEN!!! will be hanging out tonight at Branch club on 54th Street between 2nd and 3rd Avenues.  Doors open at 11.

This is the second installment of a series of parties at Branch.  Last week’s fiesta drew R.W. McQuarters, James Butler, Kevin Dockery, and Robert Henderson.  I attended the party and talked to all of them, and they were all really chill dudes.  If you’re thinking that the players are gonna be dickish and inaccessible, you’re wrong, and you should see for yourself.

All G-Men fans 21-and-up are welcome, provided they bring an ID and abide by the dress code: button-down or collared shirts, and absolutely no work boots, baggy jeans, hoodies or hats.

I can’t make it tonight (too much work for my day-job), but I plan on attending these on a semi-regular basis.  But a word to the wise about getting into the club: If you’re a guy, you should probably show up with some sort of female accompaniment.  The G-Men appreciate your support, but they don’t like it when you fuck with the ratio.  Neither would you.

I. A Model Organization

It doesn’t always come easy in this league, and it didn’t today for the G-Men.  But once again, they showed us something: Against a good team in their place with a rowdy crowd behind them, the G-Men won in convincing, if not overwhelming fashion.  Without their most productive running back and wide receiver.

This is an obvious point which is being made everywhere, but this win underscores the amount of talent oozing out of every corner of the Giants locker room these days: Plaxico went down, but Domenik Hixon, Kevin Boss, Steve Smith, Amani, and even Sinorice Moss made big contributions in his stead.

On defense, Kenny Phillips and Terrell Thomas had their official coming-out parties.  Since we know Brian Kehl is at least a serviceable starter already, it seems like the 2008 draft class represents another smashing success for Jerry Reese, the GM with the 1.000 batting average.

At 10-1 and officially the consensus best team in the land now that the Titans have been exposed, the state of our organization has never been stronger.  The success of the rookies for two straight years isn’t just a reflection on Reese’s ability to draft players, but also our coaching staff’s ability to develop them.  All this does not represent a guarantee of another Super Bowl title, but the Giants have become a model organization.

II. Eli

Early in the game, you saw the Cardinals stacking eight guys in the box and successfully stopping the run.  And then you saw Warner catch a rhythm with those receivers and knew they would score some points.  It was then that you knew this game would hinge on Eli.

And boy, did he come through!  Last week, I pointed out that it had been awhile since Eli’s last big performance (against Seattle in Week 5).  I said that it would be unfair to say that Eli had been bad in recent weeks, only that he hadn’t shown us his best in a while, and it was something to monitor.  Today, he showed that the Giants offense is multifaceted – our passing game can hurt teams even without Plaxico.  Eli’s line was awesome: he was 26 for 33 (an amazing 78%!!!) for 240 yards, 7.3 yards per attempt, and three touchdowns without a pick.

I made this point last week, but what continues to impress me most about Eli is his poise in the pocket.  I can think of three plays off hand when this was on display: On a third- and-one in the second quarter, when Eli rolled away from pressure to hit Boss for a first down; later on that same drive in a goal-to-go situation, when he stepped up in the pocket to avoid the rush and hit Toomer on a litter crossing pattern that Amani turned up into the endzone; and on that third quarter 30-yard pass to Smith that set up Hedgecock’s touchdown, when he held onto the ball for long enough for Smith to get downfield, absorbing a big hit in the process.

In the past, Eli would respond to pressure by backing up in the pocket and making throws from his heels, often resulting in him sailing balls high.  Now, he deftly moves in the pocket and buys himself time to deliver crisp passes.  The guy really knows what he’s doing these days.

But most impressive about Eli today was the way performed when we needed it most.  After Tim Hightower’s third quarter touchdown cut the Giants’ lead to 24-19, Eli engineered a touchdown drive that saw him go 6 for 7 for 66 yards, hitting five different receivers.  The drive ended with a touchdown to Boss – and a perfectly placed throw that used Boss’ height advantage – that gave the ‘Men a commanding lead.  To their credit, ‘Zona didn’t go away, but that touchdown sort of sealed the game right there.

That drive illustrated what is so impressive about these 2008 New York Football G-Men: We are often dominant, but when we are not, we are clutch.

III. Hixon

In addition to his 248 all-purpose yards, dude even made a tackle on special teams!  What a ballplayer this kid is, and what better example of the talent up and down our roster?  NYGMen has long called for Hixon to return kicks – he finally gets a chance today and channeled Desmond Howard circa 1996.

As a return-man, Hixon’s best attribute is his ability to time his explosion through the seam.  To paraphrase Walt Frazier, Hixon displays the “uncanny knack” of knowing when to accelerate.  Watching him read and react to his blocks is night-and-day from watching Bradshaw, who never seems to work in concert with his blockers.  Why Ahmad was in there in the second quarter – before that Cardinals penalty nullified his 22-yard return, setting the stage for Hixon’s 78-yarder – is a total mystery.  At this point, it should be obvious to everyone what a weapon Hixon is, and what a squandered opportunity it represents to not have him do what he does best.

But Hixon’s talent goes beyond returns.  He ran his second end-around today, with another good result.  And his abilities as a receiver are no longer be in question.  This guy is a playmaker, and we need to get him more touches.

 IV. Boss, Smith, Toomer, and Sinorice.

How much more do you trust Boss when the ball is in the air than Shockey?  Those hands at one-tenth of the price and on one-thousandth of the bitching?  And a second-round draft pick?  Good job, Jerry.

Smith had been quiet in recent weeks going into this game, but he resumed his status as a first down machine today.  There was no bigger first-down than that 30-yard pass near the sideline that set up Hedgecock’s touchdown, the latest example of Smith’s outstanding body control.

Toomer dropped a pass on the first series of the game, but was his clutch, reliable self after that.  And do you know what was a really important play in this game?  On third-and-three on the Giants third series, early in the second quarter, when Eli hit Sinorice for a 12-yard first down that set up Ward’s touchdown two plays later.  The 2008 New York Giants: Everyone can play some ball, and everyone contributes.

V. Plax

I’m pissed about this one.  If there was a chance he was going to re-aggravate the injury, he shouldn’t have played today.  It’s that simple.  Bad job by Tom and everyone else: his long-term health is not worth jeopardizing. 

VI. Ward, Ahmad, and Hedgecock

Because the Cardinals stacked the box and made Eli beat them – which he did – Ward didn’t have much room to run today.  But despite his mediocre line – 20 for 69, at 3.5 a pop – he was actually pretty clutch in terms of picking up first downs.  Who knows what Jacobs would have fared any better against a defense designed to stop the run as much as the Cards’ was?

But with Ward struggling a bit, why no Ahmad today?  Come on, Tom, when are we finally gonna break this out this weapon, who seems to be a secret only to you?  Did we think his success in last year’s playoffs was a fluke?  I thought I wouldn’t have to say this when I found out Jacobs was scratched today, but…  FREE AHMAD!!!  For Heaven’s sake.

Moving on, give credit to Hedgecock, who rediscovered his hands after a bad case of the drops in recent weeks.  I knew the guy could catch, and combined with his awesome blocking, we can say that Hedge is officially a huge asset at fullback again.  But as much as I love the rowing dance, “rowing to the Pro-Bowl?”  How ‘bout you go a few more games without dropping passes…

VII. Spags’ Game Plan and Blitz Packages

Our strategy for this game was to take away the run, blitz the hell out of Warner, and see who he would hurt more with his passes: us or the Cardinals.  It turned out to be a good strategy.   We didn’t fully stop the Cards’ upper-upper-echelon offense, but we did contain them.  (‘Zona came into the game ranked 2nd in offensive DVOA?  Ranking first?  The NY Football G.)

Sure, their 371 yards and 29 points weren’t too shabby.  But those were helped along by kick returns, and more importantly, came at the price of two critical turnovers in their territory that positioned us for points of our own.  And given the number of tipped passes we had, those two turnovers easily could have been more.

So again, our strategy revolved around a three-pronged approach: 1) Stop the run; 2) Make sure the blitzes get to Warner with enough frequency; and 3) Hope our corners do their best to stay with their receivers.

In the first two areas, we executed about as well as we could have imagined.  The Cards had 14 carries for 23 yards, and even though we sacked him only once, we knocked Warner on his ass all game long.  So great job by both the run defense and the pass rush.

In terms of covering their stud receivers, we did well enough, particularly in terms of making tackles after catches to prevent huge plays.  Our performance in this area would have looked much better if not for some horseshit penalties – and one non-penalty on an obvious pick-play – on the Cards’ third quarter touchdown drive.

On the other hand, it would have looked much worse if…

VIII. Kenny Phillips…

hadn’t made one of the sweetest plays of the season by punching the ball out of Larry Fitzgerald’s strong hands in the second quarter, limiting the Cards to a field goal instead of a touchdown that would have given them a little more control of the game.  Phillips was all over the place – he made another great play on the sideline in pass coverage and had seven tackles, the second-most on the team. 

Who was the team’s leading tackler?  Terrell Thomas, who had eight tackles – including some big ones on special teams – to go along with an interception.  He even drew a 15-yard facemask penalty on specials as the team’s “gunner” on punts.  Jerry Reese was criticized for “reaching” for Thomas with a second round pick, but it seems Jerry knew what he was doing: the guy might not have the best 40-time, but he is a pure football player who, as Jerry said, is contributing already.

There’s a lot more to dissect about the defense, and I’ll get to the tape later in the week.

In the meantime, a couple of other points:

1)    Glad to see Carney in for Tynes, even though his kickoffs are probably a little bit worse.  In no way is Tynes a “hero” in the minds of Giants fans.  Heros are cops, firefighters, teachers, parents, and Matt Bahr.  Lawrence Tynes, you are no Matt Bahr. 

2)    But seriously, the kickoff coverage has been too big a liability for too long.  Is it because of the lengths of the kickoffs?  I don’t know.  But it’s confounding, because you would expect this deep, athletic Giants team to be good at kickoff coverage.

3)    You’ve probably already read this, but with Carolina’s loss to the Falcons, the Giants are now two games ahead of the rest of the conference with five to play.  Time to start saving up for playoff tickets in earnest.

There’s lots more discuss about the Ravens game, but I’ve frankly been swamped/fucked with my day job, so I’ll get to it later.

But a special NYGMen shoutout goes to R.W. McQuarters, James Butler, Kevin Dockery, and Robert Henderson, who I had the pleasure of meeting and chatting with last night at a party.  Going into the night, I feared it would be a sleazy, uninviting club scene where the players would be dicks with no interest in talking to someone like me.  It wasn’t like that at all.  All of these guys were down-to-earth, jovial dudes just looking to have a good time.  They, along with everyone else at the party, did just that.

So those guys are awesome, and provide yet another reason to root for the New York Football GGGGMennnnnn!!!!

 

Tuesday is a day off for football players, which means Monday is party night.  Tonight, two Giants – Ahmad Bradshaw and Kevin Dockery – will host a party at the Branch Club, on 54th Street between 2nd and and 3rd Avenues.  Doors open at 11 p.m.

All G-Men fans 21- and-up are welcome, provided they bring an ID and abide by the dress code: button-down or collared shirts, and absolutely no work boots, baggy jeans, hoodies, or hats. 

In addition to Bradshaw and Dockery, Jacobs will probably be there along with some of the other guys.  And so will I, shaved and showered and, in accordance with the dress code, without my Bradshaw jersey, unfortunately.

So come one G-Men fan, and come all!  And a final word to the wise: The promoters tell me it’s probably best to show up at the door with female accompaniment.  (If you’re a female, don’t worry about bringing a dude.)  This isn’t Green Bay, so we’re not trying to make this a sausage-fest.

To RSVP, email Penetration101@gmail.com.