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Sure, it wasn’t pretty……but it’s a win!   Eli Manning had some problems with the wind, but completed 16 of 31 passes for 154 yards and a TD.  Tiki Barber had a tough time with the Bucs defense, carrying the ball 26 times for 68 yards (2.6 ypc) and catching 3 passes for 20 yards.  Brandon Jacobs carried the ball 7 times for 41 yards (5.9 ypc) and a TD.  WR Plaxico Burress had a good game, catching 7 passes for 86 yards and a TD.

The Giants played great team defense against the Bucs.  The Bucs only carried the ball 13 times for 40 yards (3.1 ypc).  The Bucs only completed 20 of 48 passes for 134 net yards passing. 

This was a solid win against a team the Giants were supposed to beat.

Starting DE Osi Umenyiora could miss multiple games with an injured hip.  He will be replaced in the line-up by first-round pick Mathias Kiwanuka.  Many thought the Giants made a mistake drafting Kiwanuka because DE wasn’t a preceived need, but now the pick is looking like a stroke of genius.  Kiwanuka is under-sized for defending the run, but he is super-quick and a playmaker that is always around the QB.

The Giants are on a roll winning their last three games by an average of 14.3 points per game.  The Buccaneers have won their last two games with 4th quarter comebacks against the Eagles and Bengals.

The Giants offensive players have to be foaming at the mouth after watching game film of the Bucs defense this season that is allowing 354.7 points per game.  Look for the Giants to come out running the football to set the tone for the game.  Tiki Barber (647 yards rushing, 222 yards receiving) should carry the early load against a Bucs defense that allows 152.3 yards rushing per game and 5.1 yards per carry.  The Bucs pass defense hasn’t been too good either allowing 202.3 yards per game.  As soon as the Giants establish their running game, look for Manning (1,518 yards passing, 13 TDs) to throw short passes to Amani Toomer, Jeremy Shockey and Tiki Barber.  Then Manning will go deep to Plaxico Burress (24 rec, 424 yards).

The Bucs need to run the ball effectively if they’re going to have a chance at an upset win.  The Giants have been a little soft against the run, allowing 106.3 yards rushing and 4.0 yards per carry.  RB Cadillac Williams should get the bulk of the carries, as he has 394 yards rushing this season.  For the passing game to have any success at all, the Bucs O-Line had better protect Gradkowski from Osi Umenyiora (5 sacks) and Michael Strahan (3 sacks).

This is the kind of game that can rattle a rookie QBs confidence.  Giants stadium is a pretty hostile environment to play in and the Giants should really paste the Bucs.

The Giants offense has been great so far this season, as the team is averaging 27.2 points per game.  The rushing game has been lights out, averaging 152.3 yards rushing per game and 5.0 yards per carry!  The passing game is putting up 237.2 net yards passing per game and the Giants are ompleting 62.9% of their passes!

The defense is allowing 21.8 points per game this season, but theyve played against alot of high-powered offenses so far.  The Giants allow 106.3 yards per game on the ground and allow 4.0 yards per carry.  Opponents are averaging 224.2 net yards passing per game and are completing 60.0% of their passes.

If the Giants tighten up the defense a little bit, they are a serious threat to win the NFC.

OLB LaVar Arrington ruptured an Achilles tendon in Monday night’s game with the Cowboys, ending his season.  Either Reggie Torbor (who replaced him tonight) or Brandon Short will take over.  This hurts the defense because Arrington has game-changing ability which is something his replacements don’t have.

The Giants came into big D, and whipped the Cowboys on their own field. Eli Manning did a good job of running the offense, completing 12 of 26 passes for 189 yards with 2 TDs and an INT. RB Tiki Barber had another great game, carrying the ball 27 times for 114 yards (4.2 ypc). Barber also caught 4 passes for 32 yards. Brandon Jacobs was a monster carrying the ball with 10 carries for 40 yards (4.0 ypc) and a TD. Plaxico Burress caught 2 passes for 94 yards and a TD. TE Jeremy Shockey caught 2 passes for 23 yards and a TD.

DE Michael Strahan led the charge on defense with 3 tackles and 2 sacks. The Giants stuffed the Cowboys running game, holding them to 69 yards rushing on 21 carries (3.3 ypc). The Cowboys completed 21 of 37 passes for 310 net yards, but….the Giants picked off 4 Cowboy passes and got a safety. Rookie SS Kevin Dockery intercepted a pass late in the 4th quarter and returned it 96 yards for a TD to essentially end the football game. LB Antonio Pierce, CB Sam Madison and DT Fred Robbins had the other INTS.

The Giants have sent a message loud and clear….that they are the best team in the NFC East!

I didn’t get to see Jim Brown,Walter Paton, or Eric Dickerson Play.  However, I was fortunate enough to watch Emit Smith,Barry Sanders, Terrel Davis, and Tiki Barber play this game we all love.  Alot of times we take these great players for granted and don’t realize the significance of their play on the field.  I just wanted to take the time and post this note to salute Tiki’s efforts on the field.   He has mistified and dazzled us with his elusiveness and agility over the years!  Initial I thought he was to small of a running back to be successful in the league.  However, he has earned my respect and the respect of various football people.  When it’s all said and done and Tiki has retired, I will always be conscious of the fact that I got to see Tiki Barber play the game.

Peace!

This is a huge game for both teams.  The Giants and the Cowboys are both 3-2 and tied for second place in the NFC East.  Every game in this division is pivotal, as all four teams are good.  Both teams are coming off of impressive victories.

The Giants would like to run the football against the Cowboys, but that is easier said than done.  The Cowboys only allow 67.0 yards rushing per game and 2.9 yards per carry.  The Giants will still try, and why not when you have Tiki Barber (533 yards rushing) and Brandon Jacobs (177 yards rushing).  The Cowboys allow 212.2 yards passing per game, so look for Eli Manning to aggressively attack them through the air.  Manning likes to spread the ball around to Amani Toomer, Jeremy Shockey, Plaxico Burress and Tiki Barber and that puts alot of pressure on the defense.

When the Cowboys have the ball, look for them to establish their running game early with Julius Jones (494 yards rushing) and Marion Barber (186 yards rushing).  Soon as that is accomplished Drew Bledsoe will take to the air.  The Giants need to mount a good pass rush on the Cowboys and try to rattle Bledsoe into making some mistakes.  Bledsoe has already thrown 7 interceptions this season.  WRs Terry Glenn (25 rec, 337 yards) and Terrell Owens (22 rec, 277 yards) will cause all kinds of problems for the Giants secondary if Bledsoe is given time to throw.  The safeties must always be on alert over the middle, because Jason Witten is one of the best tight-ends in the NFL, and Bledsoe likes to get him the ball too.

This should be a great football game on Monday night.  It will come down to who protects the ball better……Eli Manning or Drew Bledsoe.

Safety Gibril Wilson is ready to return against the Dallas Cowboys after missing last Sunday’s game with the Falcons after ripping a toenail off in practice next week.  The Giants will need all the help they can get for the battle on Monday night with the Cowboys.