What really amazes me is how much the 4th quarter of Sunday's game was a microcosm of New York's entire season.. a team battered by penalties, with its offense struggling throughout much of the contest, manages to put together a dramatic scoring drive to tie the game in the waning moments - only to watch the defense give it all back on the final possession. When the offense is up, the defense is down. When the defense is up, the offense is down. When yardage is scarce, there's yellow laundry all over the field.. and when it's all said and done, the Giants are a day late and a dollar short.
Imagine the things we'd be saying about Eli Manning if New York can hold Philadelphia on that final drive. First and 30 (first and 30! It might have become part of the New York vernacular in and of itself!) off of three consecutive penalties before clawing their way to a game-tying touchdown late in the 4th quarter. It would certainly have done wonders for Plaxico's image, as he complemented Elijah with several spectacular plays to keep the offense moving. And what about the little guy, putting up 150+ from scrimmage in a gutsy effort to keep his career alive for one more week?
In the end, however, what we've suspected all season long turned out to be the case - that this team would eventually collapse under the weight of all the season-ending injuries and all the locker room strife. It just so happens that there was enough magic in this world to will New York into the playoffs before the wheels came off for good.
After getting over the initial disappointment, I admit that a lot of what I'm feeling now is relief. There's no one to blame. There's no sense in pointing fingers. There's no feeling that you've just been kicked in the stomach, a la last year's disaster against the Panthers. This football team has been hurting, both mentally and physically, for a very long time, and even the most credulous fans couldn't have been thinking about a championship this year - not even deep down, in their safest and most reality-proof places. A lot of forces conspired to sink this season.. and the Giants still managed to come within 3 points of advancing to the second round of the playoffs.
It's time to recuperate, and to restructure, but not to rebuild. The potential for great things is still on the horizon.. we'll just be forging ahead minus one or two familiar faces.
Imagine the things we'd be saying about Eli Manning if New York can hold Philadelphia on that final drive. First and 30 (first and 30! It might have become part of the New York vernacular in and of itself!) off of three consecutive penalties before clawing their way to a game-tying touchdown late in the 4th quarter. It would certainly have done wonders for Plaxico's image, as he complemented Elijah with several spectacular plays to keep the offense moving. And what about the little guy, putting up 150+ from scrimmage in a gutsy effort to keep his career alive for one more week?
In the end, however, what we've suspected all season long turned out to be the case - that this team would eventually collapse under the weight of all the season-ending injuries and all the locker room strife. It just so happens that there was enough magic in this world to will New York into the playoffs before the wheels came off for good.
After getting over the initial disappointment, I admit that a lot of what I'm feeling now is relief. There's no one to blame. There's no sense in pointing fingers. There's no feeling that you've just been kicked in the stomach, a la last year's disaster against the Panthers. This football team has been hurting, both mentally and physically, for a very long time, and even the most credulous fans couldn't have been thinking about a championship this year - not even deep down, in their safest and most reality-proof places. A lot of forces conspired to sink this season.. and the Giants still managed to come within 3 points of advancing to the second round of the playoffs.
It's time to recuperate, and to restructure, but not to rebuild. The potential for great things is still on the horizon.. we'll just be forging ahead minus one or two familiar faces.
posted by z at 5:00 PM
7 Comments:
The frustrating thing about not holding leads is like you pointed out, it wastes efforts like the 1st and 30 scoring drive..
and how about Shockey? What effort to get a first with no helmut.
Coughlin - how soon do we hear about his fate - is the over/under Wednesday?
i'm not sure how soon we'll hear about coughlin, the rumor mill has bellichick becoming the new coach and GM (which i would love) but obviously that can't happen until the patriots' season is over. stay tuned.
I'm always wary of a coach who also wants to be the GM. - Never seems to work out as far as I know (when Holmgren gave up the GM duties, the Hawks went to the SB the following season).
Regardless of the coach, I hope the team learns to keep quiet about being "out coached" during post game press conferences.
Where the sam hell did our defense go? Hopefully Strahan and Harrington can come back and put in a healthy next season.
Hey Z, is there an email address I can contact you at?
Can't believe the Giants are giving TC a one year extension...
my email is holdem@psu.edu. and i just read about the contract extension and am in total shock. follow up post to come.
I too was amazed when Coughlin was offered the extension. The team hates him, actually hates him and has shown little respect for him, questioning his coaching decisions and ideals. It's not as shocking as the Matt Millen situation in Detroit, which is actually probably on a whole other level, but it took me by surprise.
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