Written by Ralph Vacchiano of The New York Daily News
So, what goes through the mind of a professional football player, down 16-7 in the fourth quarter of a key game on a freezing-cold day, when everything looks bleak and there’s no hope in sight? Where do they find the strength to keep fighting? How do they muster the courage to mount an unlikely rally?
“Trust me, as we’re out there and it’s 16-7, I know you guys are writing your stories already,” Michael Strahan said yesterday. “So a lot of you, you may have to change some words. Some of you may have to rewrite the whole story. I’m sitting there thinking, ‘Oh, they’re writing us off already.’ But it is four quarters and I was thinking, ‘God if we win it, it would really screw you guys up.’”
Yes, Michael, I admit it. You got me. My game story was finished yesterday with 11 minutes to go in the fourth quarter of your wild, exhilarating, 21-16 win over the Bears. With three minutes to go, I was frantically rewriting all 900 words, praying for someone to call timeout and loudly thanking Lovie Smith for challenging Plaxico Burress’ catch at the 2. Any stoppage of the clock was greeted with a little cheer from me in the press box. The fact that a story even made the first edition of the Daily News today is as big a miracle as what your Giants did at Soldier Field.
But what a comeback! It was impressive, incredible. What more can you say? If Eli Manning doesn’t rally the Giants, we’re talking about another second-half collapse today. We’re analyzing the Vikings and Cardinals and talking about how hot they are and how tough it’ll be for the Giants to hold them off. And we’re putting Manning on a stick between a piece of chicken and an onion and twirling him over a fire.
Instead, Eli the Terrible is now Eli the Great — a comeback nearly as impressive as the one he pulled off on the field. And the Giants are once again being hailed as the third-best team in the NFC, probably rightfully so. Their confidence is restored and their coach is off the hot seat.
I’m just glad I could help.
A few more thoughts from the Chicago Caper …
• Manning in the first 48 minutes: 9 of 18, 100 yards, two interceptions. Manning in the last 12 minutes: 7 of 9, 95 yards, one touchdown. His inconsistency is really the only consistent thing about him.
• Boy, was I wrong about Derrick Ward. I had been unimpressed with him this season when compared to Brandon Jacobs. I thought he’d max out as a 75-80-yard guy, while Jacobs had a much bigger upside. I didn’t think he could carry an offense by himself. But Ward was tremendous. He showed speed on the outside, toughness through the middle, a good burst in the open field. His injury couldn’t have come at a worse time. I would’ve liked to have seen more.
• On the second series, the Giants send WR Sinorice Moss on a deep pattern and actually threw to him. In fact, he was open despite behind held by the cornerback (the ball was overthrown). That seemed like a smart play, given the fact that Plaxico Burress is hobbled by an ankle and a knee injury. Of course, that was the last time we saw it. On the next series, a gimpy Burress went deep on a similar pattern. Of course, he was double-covered. And of course, Manning threw to him anyway.
• David Tyree’s two catches for 32 yards on the game-winning drive brings up another interesting point about the Giants’ WRs. If they don’t want to use Moss as the third receiver, why not use Tyree? It sure looks like Manning trusts him.
• Even with Kevin Dockery in the game, the Bears sure seemed to throw at Sam Madison a lot.
• The defense was overlooked yesterday because of the Manning miracle, but they deserve a ton of credit. With a patchwork secondary playing, the pass rush harassed Rex Grossman with six sacks. They held the Bears to just 68 rushing yards, even though they had the lead almost all of the game. And they only allowed 98 total yards in the second half — 36 of which came on Chicago’s final, desperation drive.
• It’s official. My 7-9 preseason prediction was wrong. Can I have a mulligan?
• Funny quote from Tom Jackson on ESPN yesterday: “Eli Manning, you play in a city that is the most passionate city in the world, especially when it comes to their sports, and you seem dispassionate which they read as disinterest. So give them something. That would be my advice to Eli. Even, if it’s the finger. Give them the finger. You’d be surprised how much New York fans would appreciate it.”
Oh, I don’t know. I have a hunch that New York fans appreciate Eli today.
By Ralph Vacchiano on December 3, 2007 9:09 AM
So, what goes through the mind of a professional football player, down 16-7 in the fourth quarter of a key game on a freezing-cold day, when everything looks bleak and there’s no hope in sight? Where do they find the strength to keep fighting? How do they muster the courage to mount an unlikely rally?
“Trust me, as we’re out there and it’s 16-7, I know you guys are writing your stories already,” Michael Strahan said yesterday. “So a lot of you, you may have to change some words. Some of you may have to rewrite the whole story. I’m sitting there thinking, ‘Oh, they’re writing us off already.’ But it is four quarters and I was thinking, ‘God if we win it, it would really screw you guys up.’”
Yes, Michael, I admit it. You got me. My game story was finished yesterday with 11 minutes to go in the fourth quarter of your wild, exhilarating, 21-16 win over the Bears. With three minutes to go, I was frantically rewriting all 900 words, praying for someone to call timeout and loudly thanking Lovie Smith for challenging Plaxico Burress’ catch at the 2. Any stoppage of the clock was greeted with a little cheer from me in the press box. The fact that a story even made the first edition of the Daily News today is as big a miracle as what your Giants did at Soldier Field.
But what a comeback! It was impressive, incredible. What more can you say? If Eli Manning doesn’t rally the Giants, we’re talking about another second-half collapse today. We’re analyzing the Vikings and Cardinals and talking about how hot they are and how tough it’ll be for the Giants to hold them off. And we’re putting Manning on a stick between a piece of chicken and an onion and twirling him over a fire.
Instead, Eli the Terrible is now Eli the Great — a comeback nearly as impressive as the one he pulled off on the field. And the Giants are once again being hailed as the third-best team in the NFC, probably rightfully so. Their confidence is restored and their coach is off the hot seat.
I’m just glad I could help.
A few more thoughts from the Chicago Caper …
• Manning in the first 48 minutes: 9 of 18, 100 yards, two interceptions. Manning in the last 12 minutes: 7 of 9, 95 yards, one touchdown. His inconsistency is really the only consistent thing about him.
• Boy, was I wrong about Derrick Ward. I had been unimpressed with him this season when compared to Brandon Jacobs. I thought he’d max out as a 75-80-yard guy, while Jacobs had a much bigger upside. I didn’t think he could carry an offense by himself. But Ward was tremendous. He showed speed on the outside, toughness through the middle, a good burst in the open field. His injury couldn’t have come at a worse time. I would’ve liked to have seen more.
• On the second series, the Giants send WR Sinorice Moss on a deep pattern and actually threw to him. In fact, he was open despite behind held by the cornerback (the ball was overthrown). That seemed like a smart play, given the fact that Plaxico Burress is hobbled by an ankle and a knee injury. Of course, that was the last time we saw it. On the next series, a gimpy Burress went deep on a similar pattern. Of course, he was double-covered. And of course, Manning threw to him anyway.
• David Tyree’s two catches for 32 yards on the game-winning drive brings up another interesting point about the Giants’ WRs. If they don’t want to use Moss as the third receiver, why not use Tyree? It sure looks like Manning trusts him.
• Even with Kevin Dockery in the game, the Bears sure seemed to throw at Sam Madison a lot.
• The defense was overlooked yesterday because of the Manning miracle, but they deserve a ton of credit. With a patchwork secondary playing, the pass rush harassed Rex Grossman with six sacks. They held the Bears to just 68 rushing yards, even though they had the lead almost all of the game. And they only allowed 98 total yards in the second half — 36 of which came on Chicago’s final, desperation drive.
• It’s official. My 7-9 preseason prediction was wrong. Can I have a mulligan?
• Funny quote from Tom Jackson on ESPN yesterday: “Eli Manning, you play in a city that is the most passionate city in the world, especially when it comes to their sports, and you seem dispassionate which they read as disinterest. So give them something. That would be my advice to Eli. Even, if it’s the finger. Give them the finger. You’d be surprised how much New York fans would appreciate it.”
Oh, I don’t know. I have a hunch that New York fans appreciate Eli today.
By Ralph Vacchiano on December 3, 2007 9:09 AM
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