Another convincing win for the Giants yesterday, though the opponent was the hapless Kansas City Chefs. “Our” Steve Smith looks like the real deal. A few more games like this and he will be “the” Steve Smith, and that guy in Carolina will have to become “the other” Steve Smith. Not so sure about Mario Manningham, who was dropping or bobbling every pass that came his way… but my, wasn’t that touchdown run by Hakeem Nicks a pretty thing.

Eli’s injury is a concern, though. Right now they are saying “bruised heel” and “no big thing.” I hope they are right. If we have to go with Davis Carr for any length of time, the season is over, and I may finally be required to maim and kill Pat St. Denis. (I wish they’d kept the Hefty Lefty, I’d have more faith in him than David “Sack Machine” Carr).

The Scottish Kicker missed another field goal that he should have made. That is worrisome as well. Sooner or later his inconsistency is going to cost us a game. It almost cost us the NFC championship two seasons back in Green Bay. Yes, he made the game winning field goal, but only after he had missed two previous tries. They should have kept John Carney.

As for the Jets game… well, I never thought they would go undefeated. The good news was that Rex Ryan’s defense had another great game, shutting down the high-flying Saints O for most of the contest. The bad news, of course, was Mark Sanchez. I don’t blame him for the last two interceptions, which were desperation heaves in the final minutes of the contest. The first one, though, the pick six, that really hurt, and the fumble in the end zone hurt even more, negating as it did a heroic goal line stand by the defense.

Yes, I know, only a rookie, yadda yadda, growing pains, yadda yadda, he’ll learn from this, yadda yadda.

So they lost, but to a strong team. The Saints are for real. Should be fun to see them take on the Giants in two weeks time.

Next week the Raiders come visit the Giants in the Meadowlands, led by my JaMarcus “I Complete More Than a Quarter of My Passes”) Russell. The Jets are on the road for a Monday night game in Miami, where the QB doesn’t have much more experience than Sanchez. Jets / Dolphins games are always exciting.

Current Mood: null

Life is magical and full of joy.

Two more victories for my New York teams today. The Giants totally dominated Tampa Bay, holding them to under a hundred yards of total offense, shutting down their run game completely, pitching a 24-0 shutout. On offense, Jacobs and Bradshaw both ran the ball convincingly, Eli and the receivers looked sharp. The Scottish Kicker did miss a chip shot field goal, probably because the commentators jinxed him by mentioning his name. That, and a few new injuries, were the only flies on what was otherwise a complete victory. I am especially worried about Kareem McKenzie, who was carried off on a cart. The G-Men have looked very strong to date, but the injuries have really started to pile up, and that is worrisome.

The Jet game was much more exciting. Dressed in their throwback New York Titans unis, the Jets jumped off to a fast 14-0 start and for a bit the game looked like a blowout. But a fumble changed the momentum and the Titans (in their throwback Oiler unis) came roaring back in the second and third quarters to go ahead 17-14. Then came another turnover, and Big Mo shifted back. The last quarter belonged to the Jets. Sanchez had some trouble with the wet ball, but played pretty well, all in all. Jericho was a beast, especially on that long catch. The Jets special teams were outstanding. And the defense… what was especially impressive was how much Rex changed his game plan from last week. Gone were all the blitzes. Instead the Jets focused on shutting down the Tennessee running game, their strength, and were successful.

The weirdest thing was that the two games were being played simultaneously, which I don’t recall ever seeing before, in all my years of watching football. I had to switch back and forth between them on my TiVo, and inevitably some plays got spoiled for me.

Next week the Giants go to Kansas City for their third road game in a row, and the Jets face their sternest test yet when they go to New Orleans to play Drew Brees and the high-flying Saints.

Current Mood: null