04/18/24
January 15, 2012
Giants Send Green Bay Packing: For the second time in four years, the New York Giants made a playoff trip as underdogs to Lambeau Field and left with a victory over the Green Bay Packers. The Giants advance to the NFC Championship Game with a 37-20 win, powered by Eli Manning's 21 for 33 passing with 330 yards and three touchdowns. Hakeem Nicks caught seven of the passes for 165 yards and two touchdowns. "There is no way to sugarcoat the Packers' performance," writes Gary D'Amato of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel. "It was easily their worst of the season, far worse than their 19-14 loss to Kansas City in Week 15."
My reaction to Green Bay's performance today:
posted by grum@work at 11:49 PM on January 15, 2012
That was rough to watch: I think most people watching assumed that there'd be a point in the game where the Packers' offense would finally start clicking, but that will have to wait for next season. In the third quarter, it looked to me as if receivers were reluctant to fight for extra yards because they were spooked by the fumbles and drops.
The numbers junkies will point to the ugly season-long pass defense stats for Green Bay, which were disguised somewhat by the number of turnovers. Personality junkies will point to Eli Manning and his receivers getting it done on third down.
posted by etagloh at 11:57 PM on January 15, 2012
The roughing the passer call that allowed Green Bay to maintain possession and eventually score was one of the worst calls I've seen this postseason, if not the worst. It seems Rodgers is firmly cemented in the tier of quarterbacks (alongside Tom Brady) who receive a little bit of extra protection from the refs.
posted by Ying Yang Mafia at 02:51 AM on January 16, 2012
I think most people watching assumed that there'd be a point in the game where the Packers' offense would finally start clicking
That says an enormous amount about the mindset the Packers were able to build in most football fans -- not only Packers fans -- this season.
The Giants played like they were on a mission--that they really, really wanted this game. The Packers answered with a sloppy, turnover-filled wreck that looked nothing like their play during the season.
Credit the Giants for playing an astounding game on both sides of the ball. They had a lot to do with Green Bay's turnovers and poor performance. But also blame the Green Bay receivers for having the dropsies and playing tentative football.
posted by roberts at 07:08 AM on January 16, 2012
I don't think I can remember seeing a team that good play a game that bad.
Don't get me wrong - I thought the Giants had a shot going in. They almost beat the Packers in December, and they were on a roll. But the Packers really didn't give the Packers a chance.
posted by fabulon7 at 07:53 AM on January 16, 2012
YYM, that was the second gift to the Pack. The first was them getting the fumble call overturned. That also led to a GB touchdown. I'm glad those calls didn't matter in the end.
posted by bperk at 08:29 AM on January 16, 2012
But also blame the Green Bay receivers for having the dropsies and playing tentative football.
I just want to point out that there were a couple of throws where Rogers either overpowered it (and the receiver had to dive to try and get his hands on it) or simply tossed it to a different shoulder (and the receiver had to adjust quickly just to get his hands on it), and the announcers were quick to call a "drop". They were very much in the "Rodgers can't do no wrong" mentality, and started laying blame on the receivers a bit TOO much.
posted by grum@work at 08:35 AM on January 16, 2012
Seconded. While the drops may have been catchable, most of them were dropped because they were bad passes, not because the receivers let Rodgers down.
posted by bender at 08:53 AM on January 16, 2012
Not that I've been watching them closely, but it seems to me that the Giants excel at taking advantage of the other team's mistakes. If you've got to pick one intangible, that sure would be the one.
posted by lil_brown_bat at 10:39 AM on January 16, 2012
There are no excuses on gameday, but:
It was a tough end to a very tough week.
The Pack looked and played as I feared they might. I figured it was either going to be disjointed, lackluster play or totally electrified, like Favre was on MNF right after his father passed.
I mean to take nothing away from the Giants. They are the current Bushwhackers in this rodeo. Dynamic, relentless hombres.
Haven't run into anyone yet who wants to see a Ravens-Niners SB.
posted by beaverboard at 10:59 AM on January 16, 2012
As far as the Pack is concerned, it is pretty hard to win a championship with the lowest rated defense in the league. That will always come back to bite you as will the turnovers. Congrats to the Giants. Tom Coughlin has his team playing their best football offensively and defensively when it counts the most. It is almost a repeat of the Packers season last year, peaking at the right time.
posted by Atheist at 11:40 AM on January 16, 2012
I guess the Packers can go to State Farm now and do their "Discount Double Choke". (I've read it elsewhere, but it belongs here.)
One thing I wondered about with the Pack is how they would handle a cold weather situation. No running game and a poor defense isn't a recipe for winning when the high-powered offense gets slowed down. They didn't play that well in their one cold-weather playoff game last year (Bears), but they had the luxury of facing a third-string QB. Perhaps the Packers need to go back to the "barely make the playoffs and play every game on the road" strategy.
posted by TheQatarian at 11:47 AM on January 16, 2012
I wonder that too - home field might not be much of an advantage to them, given their style.
And you have to wonder about the bye week, plus having nothing to play for the week before. Does having your starters wait three (or more) weeks between games cause enough rust to screw up your plans against a team like the Giants, who have absolutely needed to win every game they have played since November or something.
Also - Ryan Grant just isn't that good. That fumble at the end of the game was the definitive moment the Packers lost. Until then, it was close enough with enough time that they could have won if that usually crazy offense had been able to get it together.
posted by fabulon7 at 12:08 PM on January 16, 2012
Yes, that roughing call was awful. Especially given that Manning took several hits from Matthews there were far worse than that hit. Totally unacceptable that some QB's get better protection from the officials.
That fumble that was not called was pathetic. Why have the replay if you're not going to get the calls right?
I am so glad that those blown calls didn't determine the final outcome.
And, I also agree that Rodgers got a lot of credit for bad passes that were called drops. Maybe he was too focused on whether, or not, State Farm was stealing his double check move. Can we get a ruling passed that any player in the game can not be in a commercial?
posted by dviking at 12:22 PM on January 16, 2012
OK, anyone out there still think Eli isn't a top 10 QB?
I'll easily concede top 10, and maybe even top 5, but top 3 is a bit of a stretch. He looked very good against a defense that either wouldn't or couldn't get any pressure on him. If he can demonstrate an ability to withstand pressure from the defensive line and linebackers and to fit the ball into tight coverage against San Francisco, then I'll change my opinion.
posted by Howard_T at 12:25 PM on January 16, 2012
OK, anyone out there still think Eli isn't a top 10 QB?
Listening to the media, almost every team has a top 10 QB or one who will be in a year or two, here are 16 possibles: E Manning, P Manning, Rodgers, Brees, Brady, Rivers, Vick, Strafford, Roethlisberger, Romo, Dalton, Flynn, Bradford, McCoy, Newton, Schaub, (Alex) Smith.
posted by billsaysthis at 02:08 PM on January 16, 2012
I know there's two very important games to go before I start thinking this way: but a Giants v. Patriots rematch of Superbowl 42 is NBC's wet dream.
posted by jeremias at 02:10 PM on January 16, 2012
Wouldn't it be #2 versus another Harbaugh bowl? Or do you mean because of media market size?
posted by yerfatma at 02:43 PM on January 16, 2012
Listening to the media, almost every team has a top 10 QB or one who will be in a year or two, here are 16 possibles: E Manning, P Manning, Rodgers, Brees, Brady, Rivers, Vick, Strafford, Roethlisberger, Romo, Dalton, Flynn, Bradford, McCoy, Newton, Schaub, (Alex) Smith.
You apparently forgot Blaine Gabbert.
If I'm making a current top 10 list, Dalton, Flynn, Bradford, McCoy, and Smith don't make it anywhere near it. In fact, I'd place McCoy, Bradford, and Smith firmly down at the bottom half (even for a list projected a year or two in the future). Flynn has too little sample size to be properly judged.
posted by Ying Yang Mafia at 04:33 PM on January 16, 2012
yym, I didn't say, or at least mean, we would rank them as top 10 I said listening to the media makes me think the media do. Listen to any TV broadcast and there are no bad players in the NFL, they all make great plays and super moves!
posted by billsaysthis at 06:05 PM on January 16, 2012
a Giants v. Patriots rematch of Superbowl 42 is NBC's wet dream.
If the Giants make the SB, the theme of the day is high noon payback time no matter who the AFC opponent is.
posted by beaverboard at 06:22 PM on January 16, 2012
Listen to any TV broadcast and there are no bad players in the NFL, they all make great plays and super moves!
Except for Tim Tebow after a particularly bad loss. Then he is the worst thing to happen to the QB position in 50 years.
posted by Ying Yang Mafia at 12:06 AM on January 17, 2012
So the match-up next week is the team with the worst rushing in the league (Giants, in total yards and yards/attempt) against the team with the best rushing defence in the league (49ers, in total yards, yards/attempt, and touchdowns).
The 49ers gave up three rushing touchdowns the entire season.
Three!
posted by grum@work at 01:24 AM on January 17, 2012
Then he is the worst thing to happen to the QB position in 50 years since Ryan Leaf retired.
posted by grum@work at 01:25 AM on January 17, 2012
Listen to any TV broadcast and there are no bad players in the NFL, they all make great plays and super moves!
Except for Tim Tebow after a particularly bad loss. Then he is the worst thing to happen to the QB position in 50 years.
All I heard is how poort Tim Tebow has overcome so many hardships and obstacles in his life- it's been very tough to make it this far, ya know! Don't count him out yet!!!
posted by jmd82 at 09:17 AM on January 17, 2012
There probably aren't any bad players in the NFL because bad players don't make it to the NFL.
posted by bperk at 09:32 AM on January 17, 2012
Except for Tim Tebow after a particularly bad loss. Then he is the worst thing to happen to the QB position in 50 years.
Yeah, I'm not really hearing this at all. I think any quarterback other than Tebow with his numbers would have been burned at the stake by now.
posted by justgary at 12:28 PM on January 17, 2012
"Except for Tim Tebow after a particularly bad loss. Then he is the worst thing to happen to the QB position in 50 years."
Fortunately, this is balanced out by Tebow after Denver's defence keep the scores low and his special teams recover an onside kick, showing what a fantastic Quarterback he is.
posted by Mr Bismarck at 12:52 PM on January 17, 2012
Guys, I think I figured it out. Analysis of Tim Tebow's play is often hyperbolic. No, really, it's true.
posted by tron7 at 01:13 PM on January 17, 2012
OK, anyone out there still think Eli isn't a top 10 QB?
MVP.