So this one took longer than I had expected, thanks to some technical glitches with the embedded videos, but it looks like it's been worked out.
In going with a more "modern" game, this was the winner take all for homefield advantage in the NFC between the Giants and Panthers. It was a running game bonanza on both sides as the DeAngelo Williams ran for 4 TDs, and the Giants rolled up over 300 yards, with 200+ coming from Derrick Ward and Brandon Jacobs scored 3 times, including the OT winner.
The Panthers would jump ahead, and yet again, Eli helped lead the team back in the 4th quarter. A late FG miss by the Panthers put it in OT when the Giants won it. And side note, it was cold as hell at that game, and the temperature dropped (and wind picked up) as it went along.
The next game I'm working on is the 2000 matchup in Week 2 at Philly, when everyone was going crazy about the "Pickle Juice" Eagles and the Giants smacked them down.
http://bigbluevcr.blogspot.com/2016/06/2008-giants-vs-panthers.html - (
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One of the loudest games I've ever been to. Cold as shit too. Got absolutely wasted.
Terps,
Good call on that play. For the majority of the time that I think of 2 point play calls with Coughlin/Gilbride, he favored the shotgun and spread out the defense and then hand off on a draw to the RB. This time they went to Hixon, who was more or less just tabbed as the lead WR after Plaxico shot himself. Steve Smith was still considered to be just a possession guy at that point.
I haven't read the summary or viewed the videos yet, but am looking forward to tonight.
Most fans cite the Burress self inflicted shooting as the downfall of that team, but I see it a little differently. I've always thought the loss of Osi in the preseason as more of a factor. The DL, which was so dominant through the first 2/3 of the season was completely worn out in December. Not having Umenyiora in the rotation affected Tuck and Kiwanuka late in the year. That 3rd-and-19 McNabb converted with his feet in the playoff game is the perfect example. That never would've happened if those guys on defense had fresher legs.
I haven't read the summary or viewed the videos yet, but am looking forward to tonight.
Most fans cite the Burress self inflicted shooting as the downfall of that team, but I see it a little differently. I've always thought the loss of Osi in the preseason as more of a factor. The DL, which was so dominant through the first 2/3 of the season was completely worn out in December. Not having Umenyiora in the rotation affected Tuck and Kiwanuka late in the year. That 3rd-and-19 McNabb converted with his feet in the playoff game is the perfect example. That never would've happened if those guys on defense had fresher legs.
Larry,
Good point, but I think it was also in a way tied to Plaxico. After Plaxico shot himself, teams didn't worry about the passing game as much and they ganged up on the run. The result was that Eli tried to throw, and without really strong WRs to go to (Hixon was thrown into the role as the main guy, and Steve Smith hadn't yet established himself) the offensive line was exposed for poor pass blocking. Eli got sacked something like 8 times the week before in Dallas. So the Giants couldn't run, which meant they couldn't keep the defense off the field and the DL got worn down.
In this Panthers game, Madden over and over spoke of how the Giants coaches decided that they had to run, even if it was an 8 man front. Which is why they kept running that draw to Ward on 3rd and moderate yardage rather than throw.
What still pisses me off about that Eagles loss in the playoffs, the Giants were running the ball on them, they ran for 138 yards and Jacobs was pounding them. But they would go to the pass and messed up the whole flow of their game. Now, it just wasn't mean to be in 2008. I think John Carney hadn't missed a field goal all year as a Pro Bowler, and he missed in the playoffs. It was just a bad vibe that whole day.
huh
That was one of the most frustrating games I ever watched along with the '89 Flipper Anderson game. The Fecals had no answer for the Giants running game, yet they kept forcing the pass.
Quote:
It felt like as soon as Carney missed that kick, all of the air came out of the stadium. Like you just knew right then that it wasn't our day.
huh
What's confusing you here?
Larry,
Not only was I sitting in front of you, we all hugged it out after the game with Hope. And then the Eagles game happened....
Yes, I felt the wheels were off by this time. Hoped against hope they would get it back in the playoffs the way the '90 team did but went into that Eagles playoff game with zero confidence. Only reason we won this one was because the Panthers weren't all that good as their miserable playoff performance showed.
Quote:
And I'm sure you were sitting in front of me Matt. I always felt this game showed that team's wheels beginning to fall off. The defense had nothing left, they were spent
Larry,
Not only was I sitting in front of you, we all hugged it out after the game with Hope. And then the Eagles game happened....
Yeah I totally lost it in the parking lot after the Eagles game due to the magnificent play calling. People thought I was going to hurt someone. Had that same experience after the 2007 patriots game. Luckily I had the last laugh with patriots fans
Man, '08 is so bittersweet.