The NFL Coaches on the Hot Seat in 2009

The 2009 NFL season is already three weeks old and some of the teams are separating themselves already.

There is the good separating like the teams that are 3-0 and 2-1, but some of the teams are falling behind quickly and aren’t looking too good at 1-2 or even 0-3.

For some coaches, they can’t afford to have another losing season, because their job could be on the line.

Mike Shanahan, Mike Holmgren, Jon Gruden and Bill Cowher are all former head coaches with previous success in the league who have won Super Bowls and don’t have a job in 2009. With coaches possible on the hot seat already in 2009, they might find themselves coaching again in 2010.

Who is on the NFL coaching hot seat in 2009? Let’s find out:

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New York Giants Defense Dominates, Shuts Out Tampa Bay Buccaneers 24-0

The Giants came into Sunday’s game a very banged up team on defense.

Justin Tuck wasn’t starting because of a shoulder injury and Kenny Phillips was recently placed on injured reserve with a serious knee injury.

The Giants didn’t feel sorry for themselves, they just continued to play the same type of smash-mouth football they only know how to.

The Giants took the ball from the opening kickoff and drove 80 yards on a weaker Buccaneers defense. The drive ended with Brandon Jacobs almost walking into the end zone from six yards out to put the Giants ahead 7-0.

Early in the second quarter, the Giants took the ball back from Tampa Bay and drove the field again with the drive ending on an Eli Manning four yard touchdown pass to Steve Smith, and the Giants were up 14-0.

The Buccaneers failed to move the ball on offense and Byron Leftwich wasn’t getting the job done and neither was former Giants running back Derrick Ward, who was getting pounded by his former team. Ward only had five carries for two yards.

The Giants tried to tack on a field goal near halftime, but Lawrence Tynes hooked an easy 21-yard field goal and it stayed 14-0 at halftime.

In the second half, the Buccaneers went three-and-out very quickly and gave the ball back, which was a theme during the entire game as the Giants kept taking the ball away from the Buccaneers.

Tynes made up for his miss by making a 26 yard field goal and making the score 17-0 Giants at the end of the third quarter.

At the start of the fourth quarter, the Giants had the ball again and they were driving the field again on Tampa Bay. The drive ended with another Manning touchdown pass, this time an 18 yard pass to Sinorice Moss to put the Giants up 24-0.

That drive was Manning’s last of the game as David Carr took over for Manning in the rest of the quarter.

Manning ended the game going 14 for 24 for 161 yards and two touchdown passes.

The Giants also got the running game established for the first time in 2009 as Ahmad Bradshaw carried the ball for 14 times and 104 yards. Brandon Jacobs carried it 26 times for 92 and a touchdown.

The Giants defense held Tampa Bay to just 86 yards of offense and forced Byron Leftwich out due to ineffective play and may have lost his job to Josh Johnson.

Leftwich was 7 for 16 with 22 yards passing and one interception, a very terrible day for the veteran.

The Giants defense was banged up, but played strong and well enough to pitch a shutout. In the fourth quarter, Johnson was driving the ball on the Giants prevent defense, but Tampa was still showing ineffectiveness to which they failed to get a touchdown when they got in the red zone.

The Giants are now 3-0 and still remain in first place while the Buccaneers drop to 0-3.

In a game that reached over 100 degrees, then rained and had the Giants players banged up, the Giants stepped up and flat out dominated the weaker Buccaneers team. Major credit goes to defensive coordinator Bill Sheridan for the shutout and having a strong game plan.

The Giants will travel again next week and play another 0-3 team, the Kansas City Chiefs.

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NFL Predictions: Week Three

Week Two in the NFL was wild and crazy.

It was filled with a ton of upsets, and a lot of people’s rankings changed with key losses.

For instance, the top two teams in the NFL after Week One were the Steelers and the Patriots. They both took hard losses to the Bears and Jets and were knocked off their top spots.

Because of the weird week, I had quite a few losses but still managed to finish above .500; I finished at 9-7 thanks to the Giants’ Sunday Night Football win over the Cowboys and the Colts Monday Night Football win over the Dolphins.

So after going 9-7, I am currently 21-11 through the first two weeks.

Week Three has a lot of interesting games and contests that could move some teams toward the top, or send them back a couple steps.

Let’s look at the matchups:

 

New York Giants @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The Giants were able to pull off a dramatic victory against the Cowboys in Jerry Jones’s brand new billion dollar stadium Sunday night, making them currently 2-0. Eli Manning has found another go-to target in Mario Manningham to go along with Steve Smith. Each receiver caught 10 passes on Sunday.

The running game for the Giants has gotten off to a slow start, so Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw must get established early against Tampa Bay. The Giants will be seeing Derrick Ward, who was a Giant last year and rushed for over 1,000 yards before leaving for more money.

Tampa Bay is 0-2 and still looks like they are a major work-in-progress under Raheem Morris.

Final Score: Giants 31, Buccaneers 14

 

Tennessee Titans @ New York Jets

Because of the Jewish holiday, the Giants and Jets will both be playing at 1 p.m., which is almost unheard of until this year.

The Titans are 0-2 and desperate for a win, so expect them to come out fired up and playing for their lives. Starting a year 0-3 is not easy to rebound from.

The Jets pulled off a tremendous upset over the Patriots and showed the world their defense is a force to be dealt with. Mark Sanchez is getting better each game, and people are buying into the Rex Ryan system. They’ve blitzed Matt Schaub and Tom Brady, and I don’t expect things to change against Kerry Collins.

Final Score: Jets 24, Titans 13

 

Washington Redskins @ Detroit Lions

The Redskins barely won against a pitiful Rams team off three field goals and no touchdowns scored. That type of performance will not get it done every week, especially since the Redskins are not that good of a team. Jim Zorn, every week, looks like he is coaching his way out of his job with terrible play calls.

The Lions are 0-2, but are playing inspiring football. Washington is for the taking, and the Lions are at home. If Matthew Stafford and Calvin Johnson can play pitch and catch down field, Washington might not be able to stop the tall receiver. I’m going with an upset this week at Ford Field.

Final Score: Lions 24, Redskins 17

 

Atlanta Falcons @ New England Patriots

The Patriots are going to come out in this game fuming after getting embarrassed against the Jets. Bill Belichick hates losing to begin with, but losing to the Jets and Rex Ryan was taking salt and rubbing it into an open wound for him, so the Patriots may be instructed to run the score up. Tom Brady was a little more humble than Belichick, but I expect him to have a rebound game.

Atlanta has played well going 2-0 early, but this will be a huge test for the Falcons’ offense and Matt Ryan. Belichick will be having the defense come after him, so Ryan needs to be prepared. The Patriots’ defense is prone to give up big plays, but they are at home, and I don’t expect New England to lose two in a row.

Final Score: Patriots 27, Falcons 17

 

Kansas City Chiefs @ Philadelphia Eagles

In their last game, the Eagles racked up almost 400 yards of offense. The bad news was they allowed almost 400 yards of offense to the Saints and Drew Brees, who put up 48 points on the Eagles’ defense. Kevin Kolb threw three costly interceptions but showed signs of promise. He cannot make the same mistakes he did last week.

The Chiefs are already 0-2 and took a tough loss at home to the Raiders. Matt Cassel played in his first game as a Chief, but it was in a losing effort. The Eagles’ defense will be a lot more complicated than Oakland’s, and may seem to be too overpowering for Cassel to figure out.

This will also be the first week of eligibility for Michael Vick to play, but Kolb is still the expected starter, so Vick’s role is unknown for Sunday.

Final Score: Eagles 28, Chiefs 10

 

Green Bay Packers @ St. Louis Rams

The Packers suffered a tough loss to the Bengals last week. Aaron Rodgers is not getting enough protection from his offensive line, who seem over-matched by defenses. They must work on protecting Rodgers if they want any success in 2009.

The Rams are a mess. Steve Spagnuolo went from a championship-caliber defensive unit with the Giants to the mess of St. Louis. The Rams almost won their game against the Redskins scoring one touchdown, but it didn’t happen. That one touchdown is the only one the Rams have scored so far in 2009, that’s how bad it’s been for St. Louis.

Final Score: Packers 31, Rams 7

 

Cleveland Browns @ Baltimore Ravens

The Ravens are already looking like an early powerhouse in the AFC at 2-0. Joe Flacco is showing no signs of a sophomore slump and played a great game against the Chargers on the road. Baltimore’s defense cannot give up almost 500 yards of offense though, if they want to win every week. The Chargers, however, are a tough team to play.

The Browns are already doomed, and Eric Mangini is eventually going to lose control. During the week, he fined an unknown player $1,700 for taking a $3 dollar water bottle out of a mini-bar. Little things like that will make your team hate your guts, and if Mangini’s team doesn’t start winning games, they will be muting out Mangini real soon.

Final Score: Ravens 37, Browns 10

 

San Francisco 49ers @ Minnesota Vikings

This is a battle of 2-0 teams.

The 49ers won an impressive game over the Seahawks with Frank Gore running for over 200 yards. So far, Shaun Hill has gotten the job done for the 49ers and into an early first place lead.

This will be a big test for the 49ers as they are in the Metrodome against Brett Favre, who has yet to make any mistakes. The 49ers’ defense will have to figure out a way to stop Adrian Peterson, who already leads the league in rushing.

This will be a close game with lots of running plays with Gore and Peterson, but in the end, home field will play a factor, and I expect the Vikings to just knock off the 49ers.

Final Score: Vikings 24, 49ers 21

 

Jacksonville Jaguars @ Houston Texans

After getting demolished in Week One, the Texans’ offense exploded all over the Titans for 34 points. The Jaguars are going to have a tough time trying to stop the combination of Matt Schaub to Andre Johnson downfield; Johnson is one of the best wide receivers in the NFL. Houston has barely been able to establish the running game with Steve Slaton, so look for that in this game.

The Jaguars need to get Maurice Jones-Drew a lot of carries and big plays if they want to have any chance in this game, but Houston’s offense might be too much for Jacksonville to deal with on the road.

Final Score: Texans 30, Jaguars 14

 

Chicago Bears @ Seattle Seahawks

Jay Cutler had a much better game against the Steelers in his first win for the Bears, and if he can get into a rhythm, he could start airing the ball out to different receivers for the offense. Matt Forte has almost been a forgotten person on the Bears’ offense, and he shouldn’t be because he’s such a dangerous force. Look for the Bears to mix Forte into the offense more this week.

Matt Hasselbeck left Sunday’s game with a rib injury and is questionable for the game. If Hasselbeck doesn’t play, the Seahawks are in trouble without him. If he does play, Seattle must protect him and not allow the Bears to re-injure him. Expect Julius Jones to get a lot of action in the ground game. This will be a close contest in the end.

Final Score: Bears 20, Seahawks 16

 

New Orleans Saints @ Buffalo Bills

Drew Brees for NFL MVP?

It’s happening very quickly as he has thrown for nine touchdowns and 670 yards of offense, which is incredible through two weeks. Brees is running the offense like it is his own army and some have said it resembles the old Rams’ “Greatest Show on Turf” that won a Super Bowl in 1999.

New Orleans’s defense needs to continue to play better and not give up points, and they will be put to the test with Buffalo’s offense.

Fred Jackson has played very well for the suspended Marshawn Lynch and leads the team in rushing and receiving. Terrell Owens must be mixed into the offense more if the Bills want to win games. This could turn into an offensive minded game, but the Saints’ offense may be too much for the Buffalo defense to handle.

Final Score: Saints 35, Bills 23

 

Denver Broncos @ Oakland Raiders

Somehow, Denver is 2-0 with Kyle Orton and Josh McDaniels.

They seemed doomed for disaster before the season started but are actually playing well through the first two weeks, and it’s mostly because of their defense. They’ve only allowed 13 points through the first two games and could be a tough matchup for the Raiders to deal with. The Broncos need to get Knowshown Moreno into the offense more, who has gotten off to a slow start in 2009.

JaMarcus Russell has shown signs of great arm strength but hasn’t shown signs of being great. Mostly, Russell has the look of being an NFL bust. The Raiders will give the Broncos a fight, but in the end, the Broncos’ defense should stop Russell. They should have never of released Jeff Garcia to begin with.

Final Score: Broncos 24, Raiders 14

 

Miami Dolphins @ San Diego Chargers

The Dolphins had the ball for 45 minutes against the Colts on Monday night, yet they still lost the game 27-23. How a team can hold the ball for 45 minutes and still lose is beyond me. It’s not going to get any better for the 0-2 Miami team against the Chargers who lost a tough one to Baltimore.

Phillip Rivers threw for over 400 yards last week in a loss and is looking for a bounce back game. Miami’s secondary can’t cover anybody nor can they tackle well, so the Chargers’ wide receivers should have a field day in their own stadium.

For the second straight week, LaDainian Tomlinson is on the injury report with an ankle injury and is questionable. LT’s career seems like it is fading with the Chargers.

If Miami goes to 0-3 under Chad Pennington, the fans will start to wonder when Chad Henne will take over the job.

Final Score: Chargers 37, Dolphins 20

 

Pittsburgh Steelers @ Cincinnati Bengals

The Steelers took a rough loss to the Bears last week and their defense, without Troy Polamalu, is prone to giving up big plays. Ben Roethlisberger, however, did all he could to try and win the game for the Steelers. The Steelers have yet to establish the running game with Willie Parker, and if they want to get back to playoff success in 2009, especially with the Ravens playing well, the Steelers need to use their running attack more effectively.

The Bengals pulled off an upset over the Packers last week and are looking for two in a row. Chad Ochocinco delivered on his promise to do the “Lambeau Leap” in Green Bay after scoring a touchdown and is playing much better in 2009.

The Bengals always play the Steelers tough at home, but unless the Steelers want to start out 1-2, I expect a rebound victory for the defending champions, but it will be a smash-mouth type game.

Final Score: Steelers 28, Bengals 24

 

Sunday Night Football: Indianapolis Colts @ Arizona Cardinals

For the second straight week, the Sunday Night Football game on NBC will be the best game on the schedule with two potential Hall of Fame quarterbacks in Peyton Manning and Kurt Warner. This will be an offensive explosion on Sunday night, so if you like offense, this is a game to watch and enjoy.

The Cardinals rebounded from a tough first week and dominated the Jaguars as Warner completed over 90 percent of his passes. Expect Cardinal receivers, Larry Fitzgerald, Anquan Boldin, and Steve Breaston to be in the mix.

The Colts had the ball for only 15 minutes, but that was all they needed to score 27 points and improve to 2-0. Anthony Gonzalez isn’t expected to play, so the roles of Dallas Clark, Reggie Wayne, and Joseph Addai are amplified. It’s hard to pick against the Cardinals’ offense at home, but it’s even harder to pick against Manning in a big game on national TV.

But this will be a great game to watch.

Final Score: Colts 38, Cardinals 34

 

Monday Night Football: Carolina Panthers @ Dallas Cowboys

Jerry Jones had his unveiling of the billion-dollar Cowboys Stadium party spoiled by the Giants, so he has probably instructed Wade Phillips to kick the ever-loving tar out of the Panthers.

The Cowboys’ running game was very good last week in racking up over 250 yards, but Marion Barber pulled a quadriceps muscle in the fourth quarter and is questionable for the game. This makes Felix Jones and Tashard Choice the featured backs if Barber can’t go.

Carolina looks like a lost mess in 2009, and Jake Delhomme is very close to losing his job, along with John Fox, if they don’t win. I really don’t think Jerry Jones wants to be embarrassed twice in his new stadium on national TV, otherwise Wade Phillips would probably be fired on Monday morning.

Final Score: Cowboys 27, Panthers 17

 

Well, there you have the picks for Week Three. I’ve picked only one major upset game with the Lions game, maybe two if you consider the Colts an upset on the road against the Cardinals. 

Hope everyone has a safe and enjoyable week, and then, get ready for a fun weekend of football games on Sunday and Monday.

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Giants Upset Cowboys 33-31 on Tynes’ Game-Winning Field Goal

The Sunday Night Football game between the Giants and Cowboys had the buildup of a playoff game.

The Cowboys were opening up their brand-new, billion-dollar Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas and opened up on NBC playing their division rivals.

In the end, the game was a great one from start to finish and had a classic ending that many will be talking about for a while.

The Giants took their opening drive and marched it down to the 12-yard line before settling for a Lawrence Tynes 30 yard field goal to put the Giants up 3-0.

The Cowboys took their second drive and marched it down field on the Giants defense and ended with a Marion Barber two-yard touchdown run for a 7-3 Cowboys lead.

As time was ticking off the first quarter, Tony Romo overshot his target and the ball landed in the arms of rookie Bruce Johnson, playing because of the injuries to the secondary. Johnson ran it back 34 yards for a Giants touchdown to make it 10-7 Giants. In the first quarter, it looked like the Giants had the early momentum.

The Cowboys were taking a kick-off and Felix Jones got bumped into and fumbled the ball and was recovered by Bryan Kehl of the Giants, so the Giants had the ball and the advantage. The only thing was, the Giants weren’t converting in the red-zone, so another Tynes field goal made it 13-7 Giants. Romo was able to again move the ball down field and found his favorite target, Jason Witten, in the endzone for a one-yard touchdown pass and Dallas took a 14-13 lead.

After his touchdown pass, Romo under-threw Witten, and it looked like the ball was incomplete, but Kenny Phillips was running back the ball into the endzone. The referees reviewed the play and Romo’s pass bounced off Witten’s shoe and landed into Phillips arms so the Giants had a second interception off a crazy but bad play by Romo.

On the next drive, Eli Manning threw a 22-yard pass to Mario Manningham that bounced a round  a little and ended up in Manningham’s arms while he was on the ground and the Giants took a 20-13 lead. Before the half ended, the Cowboys were able to get down field and were able to get a 47-yard field goal from Nick Folk to cut the lead to 20-17 at halftime.

In the first half, the Giants were able to move the ball through the air, but hardly on the ground, while for the Cowboys, it was the other way around with Dallas running the ball well and passing terribly. The Giants secondary was making plays off Romo’s mistakes.

On a flagrant play by Flozell Adams, Justin Tuck was tripped by Adams who was beaten off the ball by Tuck and drove his arm into the ground. Tuck had to leave the game and was seen in a sling for the rest of the game. His injury is unknown.

In the third quarter, the Cowboys looked as if they would regain momentum and re-took the lead when Romo ran a quarterback keeper on third and goal late in the third quarter to make it 24-20 Cowboys.

The Giants were struggling to run the ball with Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw and had to punt it away.

However, Romo had no problem letting the Giants stay in the game. Romo aired the ball downfield towards the endzone, but Kenny Phillips was able to easily catch his second interception and Romo’s third of the game and the Giants were back in the game.

In the beginning of the fourth quarter, Manning found another reliable target all game, Steve Smith, for a 22-yard strike that put the Giants back up 27-24. Another field goal by Tynes made it 30-24 Giants.

The Cowboys weren’t giving up on their big night. They marched back down the field on the Giants and ran the ball well and with 3:40 to go, Jones marched into the endzone from seven yards out and reclaimed a 31-30 lead for the Cowboys.

This gave the ball back to the Giants for the rest of the game, and if the Giants were going to win the game, it was on the shoulders of their Super Bowl MVP quarterback, and he was up for the job.

Manning was able to throw the ball effectively to Smith and Manningham well on the drive, including an important pass to Smith with 13 seconds left to get the ball down into field goal range for Tynes. Manning ran a sneak to run time off the clock and center the ball for Tynes and they called time out with four seconds left.

Tynes made his first kick from 37 yards out just barely through the uprights, but Dallas head coach Wade Phillips called time out at the very last possible second, so Tynes had to re-kick the ball. Tynes was seen smiling and looked very cool and composed instead of being shaken by Phillips tactic.

Tynes got another chance to kick the game-winning 37-yard field goal and he drilled it right down the middle and the Giants won 33-31.

The Giants spoil the opening night of the Cowboys new stadium and are now 2-0 and take an early lead in the NFC East.

Manning was absolutely amazing in the game, going 25-for-38 and 330 yards and throwing for two touchdowns and no interceptions. Manning also was not sacked once in the game and did not turn the ball over once, which was critical.

Manningham and Smith both stepped up for the Giants tonight, catching 10 passes a piece. Manningham ended up with 150 yards and Smith with 134 yards.

The Giants passing game, which was once called questionable and weak, was sensational tonight against Dallas.

The running game for the Giants never got going under Jacobs and Bradshaw. Jacobs had 16 carries for only 58 yards and Bradshaw had nine carries for only 37 yards, which accounted for only 95 yards, a low number for a rushing attack that was ranked number one in the NFL in 2008. The Cowboys did well stopping the run. But Jacobs and Bradshaw both need to run the ball better for the Giants to play well in 2009.

On the other side, the Cowboys ran the ball very well. Barber had 18 carries for 124 yards and a touchdown while Jones had seven carries for 96 yards and a touchdown, so the Cowboys duo had 220 yards and two touchdowns, so they were very effective against the Giants defense.

But in the passing game, the Cowboys struggled, especially Romo, who went 13-for-29 for 127 yards, throwing one touchdown and three game-costing interceptions. Romo was terrible tonight and his turnovers, along with Jones’ fumble, killed the Cowboys chances.

Neither team played their best defense, especially since both teams didn’t record a single sack, but the Giants played a better game on defense with three interceptions and causing four turnovers, while the Cowboys did not cause one and that was the difference in the game.

One of the biggest reasons why the Giants were so effective on offense through the passing game was due to the Giants offensive line (David Diehl, Rich Seubert, Shaun O’Hara, Chris Snee and Kareem McKenzie), who did not let Manning get sacked once. In their last game in December at Texas Stadium, Manning was sacked eight times, but this time, Manning stayed on his feet all game, and that was a big difference, which is why the Giants were able to put up 33 points.

This win for the Giants puts them in the driver seat in the division and maybe even in the entire NFC Conference, while the loss for the Cowboys stings and hurts.

While Tom Coughlin looks like a stable head coach and Manning looked like a clutch quarterback with the game on the line, Phillips’ job security will be called into question after this loss and Romo’s big game ability will still be criticized heavily.

Everyone knows Cowboys owner Jerry Jones hates losing on the big stage, especially to a division rival like the Giants, so losing the opening game on national TV in their brand-new billion dollar stadium may really bother Jones for a while.

When the dust was settled and the game was over, the Sunday Night Showdown was a classic and the Rumble in Arlington was worth they drama and the hype.

In the end, the Giants were able to deliver the final knockout blow to the Cowboys.

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Giants-Cowboys: Breaking Down the Sunday Night Showdown

This may be the most anticipated game of NFL week two.

The Giants are 1-0 and coming off a 23-17 win against the Washington Redskins last week.

The Cowboys are also 1-0 after a 34-21 victory against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 1.

Both teams looked impressive during their wins. On Sunday night, the two NFC East rivals will rumble in Arlington, where the Cowboys will unveil the brand-new Cowboys Stadium on NBC’s “Sunday Night Football.”

How does each unit fare against each other? Let’s take a look.

 

Giants Offense vs. Cowboys Defense

On Sunday, the Giants showed they can use a balanced attack when it comes to passing the ball.

Eli Manning distributed the ball to seven different receivers. Steve Smith made tremendous catches in traffic and looks to be Manning’s most dependable receiver. Tight end Kevin Boss has become a great weapon for Manning as has wide receiver Mario Manningham.

The running game must do a better job in short-yardage situations with Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw.

The Cowboys pressure the pass well with DeMarcus Ware, one of the best defensive players in the NFL.

The Dallas secondary might be where the Giants can take advantage down field. So as long as the Giants offensive line stays healthy and keeps Manning off his back, the quarterback will have a chance to pick apart the Cowboys secondary.

 

Giants Defense vs. Cowboys Offense

The Cowboys were able to use a similar passing attack on Sunday as they did last season, but without Terrell Owens demanding the football.

Tony Romo was able to get the ball to Jason Witten, Roy Williams, and Patrick Crayton effectively. The Giants will most likely be without Aaron Ross at cornerback and need Kevin Dockery healthy in order to cover the Cowboys receivers.

The Cowboys running game is similar to the Giants, with power back Marion Barber and speedy complimentary back Felix Jones. The backs did a decent job last Sunday, but weren’t overly impressive.

The Cowboys must protect Romo. The Giants defense was impressive against the Redskins. Their pass rush, bookended by Justin Tuck and Osi Umenyiora, is perhaps the best in the NFL. Up the middle, Chris Canty showed his value on the line and the Giants will get back linebacker Michael Boley.

 

Who has the edge on Sunday?

The Giants and Cowboys are very similar.

Both play receivers by committee and, to the benefit of the quarterbacks, no longer rely on Plaxico Burress and Terrell Owens. 

Both successfully use two types of running backs.

Both defenses put pressure on the opponent’s quarterback, forcing costly mistakes.

So what’s the difference?

The Giants have a slight advantage because of their pressure-packed pass rush that wreaks just a bit more havoc. The Cowboys have Ware, but the Giants have Tuck, Umenyiora, Mathias Kiwanuka and Canty. The more the merrier.

Final Score Prediction?

I’m going with an upset. It’s risky, especially since it’s a road game for the Giants, but I think it’s worth it. I’m picking the Giants to step up on the big stage and ruin the Dallas’ homecoming party by knocking off the Cowboys 28-24.

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Giants Show Great Balance and Strong Defense in 23-17 Win Over Redskins

Week One of the 2009 NFL season finally came for the Giants fans.

All the talk of missing Plaxico Burress finally left when Sunday’s game ended with the Redskins because the Giants balanced offense showed Burress will not be needed.

The Giants took the opening kickoff and moved the ball effectively down the field on the Redskins defense. The Giants running attack of Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw got decent chunks of yards and kept the Redskins defenders moving back.

Eli Manning found some new targets to throw to, including Mario Manningham and Hakeem Nicks.

The Giants still need to work on their short-game situation on third and one and fourth and one, as Jacobs and Bradshaw each got stopped, but an easy 28-yard Lawrence Tynes field goal made it 3-0.

In the second quarter, Manning found Manningham on a screen pass and he made the Redskins tacklers look foolish by juking and moving and scored on a 30-yard touchdown pass to make it 10-0.

Even the defense was getting in on the action. Jason Campbell’s pass to Santana Moss was intercepted by Corey Webster, and Webster was falling out of bounds, he was able to keep his toes in bounds to make the play, a play which will make the ESPN highlight reel because it was a great pick.

Campbell also felt the Giants dreaded pass rush, having Osi Umenyiora sack Campbell, strip the ball away from him and Umenyiora picks it up and ran it back for a 37-yard touchdown run, making the score 17-0 Giants.

Before the end of the first half, the Redskins attempted a short field goal, but faked with punter Hunter Smith and he ran it into the endzone for a Washington touchdown, making it 17-7.

In the second half, the Giants defense put a ton of pressure on Campbell. Justin Tuck recorded 1.5 sacks on Campbell and Clinton Portis was hardly a factor in the game, rushing for 62 yards on 16 carries. If you take away the 34-yard run made by Portis in the first quarter, Portis had 15 carries for 28 yards, so the Giants shut down Portis very well.

Santana Moss also was not a factor in the game, catching two passes for six yards and no touchdowns.

Tynes had two more field goals in the game and Campbell had a garbage-time 17 yard touchdown pass to Chris Cooley with the Giants defense in prevent in the last two minutes of the game and the Giants won the game 23-17.

The Giants running combo combined for over 100 yards; Bradshaw with 60 yards on 12 carries and Jacobs with 46 yards on 16 carries.

Manning was able to spread the ball around to seven different receivers and used Steve Smith and Kevin Boss very well in the game, plus Manningham. Nicks made two catches for 18 yards, but left with a sprained ankle and his status for Week Two is unknown.

Overall, it was a good win for the Giants opening up, but a lot can be done to improve. Their defense really made Campbell feel uncomfortable all day and they put pressure on Portis and Moss.

The Giants must improve on the short-yardage situations as they had to kick a field goal from failing on a third and one and turned the ball over on a fourth and one. If the Giants had done better, the score wouldn’t have been as close and the Giants would have blown out the Redskins.

The Redskins new defensive tackle, Albert Haynesworth, was hardly a factor in the game and the Giants offensive line kept him out of the picture most of the game. He had four tackles, but no sacks and never put any pressure on the line.

In fact, Washington only got to Manning once in the game, so an outstanding job by the Giants offensive line in this game as well.

With the Giants traveling to Texas to play the Cowboys on Sunday Night Football in Week Two, the Giants must make the proper adjustments needed on offense in order to play more effective and score more points against the Cowboys.

However, the major positive was the Giants defense and how strong they played. They didn’t look like they missed a beat under new defensive coordinator Bill Sheridan, who got a Gatorade shower from his unit after the game, and with the return of Umenyiora and strong play from Chris Canty and Rocky Bernard, the defense looked very good.

It’s hard to tell anything from Week One, but the Giants started out their 2009 season on a very positive note with a good home win against an NFC East opponent.

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Do the New York Giants Trade for a Wide Receiver in 2009?

The Giants are coming into the 2009 season as one of the most complete teams with a depth of talent at almost every position.

Almost.

The Giants biggest concern coming into the 2009 season is at wide receiver.

Before December 2008, the Giants had depth and talent at wide receiver. Then, Plaxico Burress brought a gun into a night club and shot himself in the leg, a decision he’ll get to think about in prison for the next two years.

In the off-season, Amani Toomer expressed his displeasure with the Giants coaching (offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride’s play calling) and left for free agency, signing with the Kansas City Chiefs.

Now the Giants are without their No. 1 and 2 receivers since 2005.

The Giants wide receiver corps has a lot of youth, but not a lot of experience.

There is Domenik Hixon, who was thought to take Burress’ spot in 2008, catching 43 passes for 596 yards and two touchdowns. But he dropped key passes down the stretch for the Giants and showed he still needed more time to develop.

There is Steve Smith, who emerged for the Giants in the 2007-08 playoffs, catching key passes in Super Bowl 42 against the Patriots. Smith caught 57 passes for 574 yards and one touchdown in 2008 and he could develop into Toomer’s former role.

Then there is Sinorice Moss, who was drafted by the Giants in 2006, but has been injured most of his career. In 2008, he only caught 12 passes for 153 yards and two touchdowns. But if healthy, he is seen as a speed threat down the field.

There is also Mario Manningham, who was drafted in the 2008 NFL Draft, but didn’t play much, catching four passes for 26 yards. He could develop a bigger role.

The Giants drafted Hakeem Nicks in the first round and Ramses Barden in the third round of the NFL Draft. Both have yet to play in a regular season game, so it’s hard to say what either will do in the NFL.

There is a lot of inexperience in that receiver corps for Eli Manning to throw to, so here’s the big question between now and Week 6, the trading deadline for the NFL, do the Giants make a trade for a big-time proven wide receiver?

The Giants were rumored to be involved in at least two potential deals before the NFL Draft in April, but they never got done. Those players are still out there and could be traded for the right deal. Let’s look at who could be on the market for the Giants in 2009:

 

Anquan Boldin, Arizona Cardinals

Boldin has been very mad at the Cardinals about not getting a new contract and showed frustration over not getting the ball more in the 2008-09 playoffs.

Before Larry Fitzgerald emerged as possibly the best NFL wide receiver, Boldin was seen as the No. 1 guy in Arizona. He caught 89 passes for 1039 yards and 11 touchdowns.

If he’s still looking to make an exit from Arizona, the Giants could still be looking to make a deal. The Cardinals wouldn’t feel as forced to hold onto Boldin with Fitzgerald’s standout ability plus Steve Breaston becoming an impact receiver for Arizona in 2008.

The Cardinals are not shy about giving angry players the boot, as they did to Edgerrin James.

 

Braylon Edwards, Cleveland Browns

Edwards probably should have been a Giant in the off-season, but Jerry Reese was unwilling to part with a first-round pick or Mathias Kiwanuka, so Edwards stayed in Cleveland.

The Browns are not expected to have a good season, and if they look to continue their re-building mode under Eric Mangini, Edwards would be a nice trading chip for a team looking to deal.

The Giants could use their 2010 picks to make a deal for Edwards this time. He caught 55 passes for 873 yards and only three touchdowns in a down year, whereas he caught 80 balls for 1289 yards and 16 touchdowns in 2007.

Edwards production lacked because both Derek Anderson and Brady Quinn were out in 2008 with injuries. Edwards wouldn’t have to worry about that with Manning.

 

Brandon Marshall, Denver Broncos

Marshall has expressed his anger with the Broncos, especially after Jay Cutler was traded to the Bears. It’s apparent that Josh McDaniels has annoyed people in his short time in Denver and Marshall might not be sticking around.

Reports last week said the Jets were interested in Marshall, but nothing has come from them yet. In 2008, Marshall caught 104 passes for 1265 yards and six touchdowns.

However, Marshall has been in trouble with the law many times and is seen as a trouble maker with a bad attitude, which sounds exactly like what the Giants dealt with in Burress.

Trading for a head case is a risk, so Marshall would have to change his attitude dramatically if he were to fit into the Giants, who have developed a great chemistry on the team. If Marshall did, he could only benefit a team like the Giants.

Training camps and preseason games are about halfway done, so the talent on the Giants are still being evaluated, which means Reese is still determining if he would want to go out and make a deal.

If Hicks and Barden develop quickly, plus get better play out of Hixon, Moss and Manningham, the Giants might not be inclined to make a deal.

But if the passing game struggles, Reese might not be trigger shy the second time around and could make an important trade to bring over a wide receiver.

If Lawrence Tynes Gets the Boot, Who’s Got the Leg Up as Next Giants Kicker?

In the NFL, one of the most important elements and one of the most forgotten ones is the kicking game.

Over the last couple years, and especially this past week, it’s clear a lot of people do not like and do not trust Lawrence Tynes.

Tynes has been the Giants kicker since 2007.

His accuracy is not exactly the greatest among NFL kickers, but not the worst ever seen. In 2007, his field goal average was 85.2 percent, making 23 of 27 field goals.

His kicking accuracy was put to the test on January 20, 2008 in the NFC Championship Game at Lambeau Field against the Green Bay Packers.

It was frigid cold, with the weather at -3 degrees in Wisconsin. Many felt the cold played into the favor of the home team Packers, but it didn’t. It was actually a very even contest for the most part.

It was 20-20 with about three seconds left. Tynes was set up to kick a 36-yard field goal to send the Giants to Super Bowl 42. However, a bad snap and a poor kick and miss by Tynes sent the game into overtime.

However, the Giants defense wouldn’t budge in the cold, and they gave Tynes another chance in the cold, a 43-yard attempt. Tynes missed this kick as well, again failing to send the Giants to the Super Bowl.

Because Corey Webster was able to pick off Brett Favre, it gave Tynes a third opportunity to kick a game winner, from 46 yards away. This time, Tynes kick was right down the middle and the Giants won 23-20 in overtime to go to Super Bowl 42.

If Tynes kicks were the downfall of the Giants season, he would not still be here today, but he made the game winner that saved his job.

Tynes wasn’t much of a factor in Super Bowl 42; he kicked the opening field goal to give the Giants a 3-0 lead and kicked the two extra points on the Giants touchdowns, so he wasn’t in any critical situations.

But in 2008, Tynes was out for nearly all of 2008 with a leg injury, so the Giants had to go with 44-year-old John Carney, a kicker in the NFL since 1988 and has played for seven different teams.

The move ended up working for the 2008 season, because Carney was nearly perfect with his field goals, 35-for-38 and 92.1 percent. But most of Carney’s field goals were from either 20-29 yards or 30-39 yards out. Carney was a short distance kicker because of his age.

Tynes came back for the final game of 2008 against the Vikings, but he was going to be kicking off and not doing field goals in the playoffs.

In the second round game on January 11 against the Eagles, Carney missed two critical field goals for the Giants; a 46-yard field goal in the second quarter and a 47-yard field goal in the third quarter. Even with the wind conditions in Giants Stadium, it was clear that Carney couldn’t make kicks over 40-plus yards.

Carney’s contract has since expired.

So for right now, Tynes is the only kicker on the Giants roster. But what if Tynes gets hurt, or what if he starts missing important kicks in games? Kickers can easily be cut if they start missing consistently, and Tynes is a career 80 percent kicker, so if he isn’t reliable, do the Giants have a backup plan to him?

I checked the 2009 free agent list for kickers and it is slim pickings for kickers.

Carney isn’t even on the list because he re-signed with the Saints. He will be 45 this season, however, I don’t think the Giants would have wanted to try him again because of the long-distance kicking issue.

There is a kicker on the list who used to be good, but injury problems hampered his career—Martin Gramatica.

Once nicknamed “Automatica Gramatica” from his clutch kicking days with the Buccaneers, Gramatica was able to drill 50-plus yard field goals. But leg injuries started to bother Gramatica and Tampa moved on from him.

He missed the entire 2006 season with injuries. He was picked up by the Saints in 2007 and 2008 as their second kicker. In 2008, Gramatica was 6-for-10 at 60 percent, so Gramatica’s clutch-kicking days may be over.

There is one final name on the list. He’s 41 and has been in the NFL a long time, but he may be the only choice who is deemed reliable—Matt Stover.

Stover was originally drafted by the Giants in 1990, but was cut and started out with the Browns in 1991. When the team moved to Baltimore and became the Ravens, he stayed on for the last 12 years and has been the only kicker the team has ever known. Until now. Stover is a free agent who has yet to sign with a team.

But if the Giants need another leg if Tynes can not do the job, Stover might end up being the best option out there. The Giants might want to pick up Stover quickly, because once teams start seeing their kickers in action, and if any of the 31 others falter, Stover’s phone might be ringing fast.

For Tynes’ sake and job, you hope he works out whatever leg issue he had in 2008 and comes out strong for the Giants. He missed a field goal in the Giants first preseason game Monday night against the Panthers, and his kickoffs were not exactly strong, which is what started the recent anti-Tynes comments from Giants fans.

One thing is for certain in the NFL, a kicker’s job is never safe unless he is consistently good. If he is consistently bad, he will be quickly out of a job. 

In case Tynes is bad, Jerry Reese, have Stover’s phone number handy.

 

 

Why the New York Giants Are The Best Team in the NFC for 2009

The pre-season will kick off for the Giants on Monday night against the Carolina Panthers, and they will be less than a month away from the 2009 season.

Many are worried that without the true No. 1 wide receiver on the team, the Giants passing attack may falter.

If there is one thing that the Giants can do is learn from the mistakes of 2008 and move on. They did put the bulk of the passing game on Plaxico Burress and when he was gone after the November New York nightclub gun incident, the Giants were a one- dimensional team.

Granted, the running game was probably the best in the NFL with two 1,000-yard rushers in Brandon Jacobs and Derrick Ward, but you can’t run the ball 65 times in a game because defenses will use the 8-in-the-box strategy to stop it.

Late in 2008, many Giants fans though Domenik Hixon would be the new No. 1 receiver to take Burress spot, but he struggled and at times, looked confused.

Hixon can only learn and get better from his mistakes. With proper coaching and a good team to support him, he could turn into the No. 1 receiver. He’s got the speed, agility and skills to be a go-to guy for Eli Manning.

Speaking of the new $97.5 million man, Manning too has a lot to learn from 2008.

His playoff game against the Eagles was not his best performance, mostly because the wind conditions and cold of Giants Stadium played a huge factor in the passing attack.

If Manning is going to stick around for the Giants and continue to take them to the postseason, he has to change the way he plays games in December and January.

Maybe a new grip on the ball or develop a certain type of short passes, but Manning must know January’s performance can not be repeated if he wants to be a champion again.

Manning seems like he has gotten smarter as he gains more experience in the NFL. You learn to adapt to your environment, and Manning must adapt to this stadium and the new one in 2010.

Now, before I was mentioning the whole No. 1 receiver situation during the off-season. Teams in the past have proven they can win without the “No. 1” receiver.

The Patriots of 2001, 2003 and 2004 didn’t need to win with one and the Steelers of 2008 didn’t need one to win Super Bowl XLIII in February. Hines Ward and Santonio Holmes are good receivers, but they aren’t considered Randy Moss or Larry Fitzgerald types.

The Giants will just need to change their offense around to compensate for what they have. They will rely on the powerful running game with Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw carrying the bulk of the carries.

Bradshaw will be the perfect compliment to Jacobs as he is the speed guy who can cut to the outside while Jacobs is a bruiser who pushes the piles and knocks people over.

Not to mention, the Giants offensive line of David Diehl, Rich Seubert, Shaun O’Hara, Chris Snee, and Kareem McKenzie may be the best in the NFL and have great chemistry with each other.

The wide receivers the Giants do have will have to step up, but will also get valuable playing time. Along with Hixon, Steve Smith is the dependable 3rd down conversion receiver and one of Manning’s favorite targets.

Tight end Kevin Boss also stepped up in 2008 and caught six touchdowns last year and will only get better.

But it will be guys like Mario Manningham, Hakeem Nicks and Ramses Barden who will need to prove how good they can be.

Sinorice Moss is factored in to play, but he’s on his last chance. He’s very quick, but very injury prone, but if he can stay healthy, Moss can be another deep-threat for Manning.

One thing will be for certain, the Giants will have a loaded defense, which will be the key to how far they go in 2009.

After missing all of 2008 with a knee surgery, Osi Umenyiora is back on the defensive line, which will add at least 10-12 sacks back on the line. Justin Tuck broke out during Super Bowl XLII and showed how great he was against the Patriots, and he continued to show he could take over Michael Strahan’s place.

Mathia Kiwanuka moved back from linebacker to end and he was good in Umenyiora’s place. Having three top-quality ends on the line will only give opposing offensive line’s trouble, especially since they are all powerful and quick.

In the middle, the Giants can rotate fresh bodies with Fred Robbins, Barry Cofield, and newly added Rocky Bernard and Chris Canty. A seven man line is going to spell trouble for offenses.

Antonio Pierce looks like he is free and clear of the Burress situation, and can get back to being the terror he always is at linebacker.

He may be playing with a chip on his shoulder from the criticism he took, and if so, look out, because he is a vicious hitter to go along with being a smart player.

The secondary is quietly becoming one of the Giants best parts on defense aside from the line. Corey Webster and Aaron Ross are top-quality corners who are young and will only get better with experience.

Their backups, Kevin Dockery and Terrell Thomas, could be starters anywhere else, but they too are good and will get playing time in dime situations and to rotate bodies.

Kenny Phillips, the second year safety for the Giants, is a star in the making. Some have compared him to Ed Reed and he’s shown that he can be a force in the back field.

He hits hard, he can intercept the ball and he can cover receivers if needed. He’s strong, he’s quick, and he’s agile. Wide receivers might want to think before coming over the middle.

Did I forget to mention they are coached by Tom Coughlin, who won a Super Bowl two years ago with this very Giants team. Coughlin believes in great preparation and has his players bought into his system and it’s shown over the last two years.

Overall, from offense to defense to special teams and coaching, the Giants look like the most complete team in the NFC. If their offense can formulate a better strategy of play to go along with their pressure-packed defense, they may be representing the NFC again in Super Bowl XLIV.

Like in 2008, the only team that can stop the Giants, is the Giants themselves. Only this time, Plaxico won’t be around to shoot himself in the leg. And I’m pretty sure Coughlin has forbidden any player to even look at a gun for next season.

The Giants lies on their own shoulders. Barring any setbacks or distractions, and of course the dreaded injuries, 2009 may be a better year for Big Blue.

Why the New York Giants Are The Best Team in the NFC for 2009

The pre-season will kick off for the Giants on Monday night against the Carolina Panthers, and they will be less than a month away from the 2009 season.

Many are worried that without the true No. 1 wide receiver on the team, the Giants passing attack may falter.

If there is one thing that the Giants can do is learn from the mistakes of 2008 and move on. They did put the bulk of the passing game on Plaxico Burress and when he was gone after the November New York nightclub gun incident, the Giants were a one- dimensional team.

Granted, the running game was probably the best in the NFL with two 1,000-yard rushers in Brandon Jacobs and Derrick Ward, but you can’t run the ball 65 times in a game because defenses will use the 8-in-the-box strategy to stop it.

Late in 2008, many Giants fans though Domenik Hixon would be the new No. 1 receiver to take Burress spot, but he struggled and at times, looked confused.

Hixon can only learn and get better from his mistakes. With proper coaching and a good team to support him, he could turn into the No. 1 receiver. He’s got the speed, agility and skills to be a go-to guy for Eli Manning.

Speaking of the new $97.5 million man, Manning too has a lot to learn from 2008.

His playoff game against the Eagles was not his best performance, mostly because the wind conditions and cold of Giants Stadium played a huge factor in the passing attack.

If Manning is going to stick around for the Giants and continue to take them to the postseason, he has to change the way he plays games in December and January.

Maybe a new grip on the ball or develop a certain type of short passes, but Manning must know January’s performance can not be repeated if he wants to be a champion again.

Manning seems like he has gotten smarter as he gains more experience in the NFL. You learn to adapt to your environment, and Manning must adapt to this stadium and the new one in 2010.

Now, before I was mentioning the whole No. 1 receiver situation during the off-season. Teams in the past have proven they can win without the “No. 1” receiver.

The Patriots of 2001, 2003 and 2004 didn’t need to win with one and the Steelers of 2008 didn’t need one to win Super Bowl XLIII in February. Hines Ward and Santonio Holmes are good receivers, but they aren’t considered Randy Moss or Larry Fitzgerald types.

The Giants will just need to change their offense around to compensate for what they have. They will rely on the powerful running game with Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw carrying the bulk of the carries.

Bradshaw will be the perfect compliment to Jacobs as he is the speed guy who can cut to the outside while Jacobs is a bruiser who pushes the piles and knocks people over.

Not to mention, the Giants offensive line of David Diehl, Rich Seubert, Shaun O’Hara, Chris Snee, and Kareem McKenzie may be the best in the NFL and have great chemistry with each other.

The wide receivers the Giants do have will have to step up, but will also get valuable playing time. Along with Hixon, Steve Smith is the dependable 3rd down conversion receiver and one of Manning’s favorite targets.

Tight end Kevin Boss also stepped up in 2008 and caught six touchdowns last year and will only get better.

But it will be guys like Mario Manningham, Hakeem Nicks and Ramses Barden who will need to prove how good they can be.

Sinorice Moss is factored in to play, but he’s on his last chance. He’s very quick, but very injury prone, but if he can stay healthy, Moss can be another deep-threat for Manning.

One thing will be for certain, the Giants will have a loaded defense, which will be the key to how far they go in 2009.

After missing all of 2008 with a knee surgery, Osi Umenyiora is back on the defensive line, which will add at least 10-12 sacks back on the line. Justin Tuck broke out during Super Bowl XLII and showed how great he was against the Patriots, and he continued to show he could take over Michael Strahan’s place.

Mathia Kiwanuka moved back from linebacker to end and he was good in Umenyiora’s place. Having three top-quality ends on the line will only give opposing offensive line’s trouble, especially since they are all powerful and quick.

In the middle, the Giants can rotate fresh bodies with Fred Robbins, Barry Cofield, and newly added Rocky Bernard and Chris Canty. A seven man line is going to spell trouble for offenses.

Antonio Pierce looks like he is free and clear of the Burress situation, and can get back to being the terror he always is at linebacker.

He may be playing with a chip on his shoulder from the criticism he took, and if so, look out, because he is a vicious hitter to go along with being a smart player.

The secondary is quietly becoming one of the Giants best parts on defense aside from the line. Corey Webster and Aaron Ross are top-quality corners who are young and will only get better with experience.

Their backups, Kevin Dockery and Terrell Thomas, could be starters anywhere else, but they too are good and will get playing time in dime situations and to rotate bodies.

Kenny Phillips, the second year safety for the Giants, is a star in the making. Some have compared him to Ed Reed and he’s shown that he can be a force in the back field.

He hits hard, he can intercept the ball and he can cover receivers if needed. He’s strong, he’s quick, and he’s agile. Wide receivers might want to think before coming over the middle.

Did I forget to mention they are coached by Tom Coughlin, who won a Super Bowl two years ago with this very Giants team. Coughlin believes in great preparation and has his players bought into his system and it’s shown over the last two years.

Overall, from offense to defense to special teams and coaching, the Giants look like the most complete team in the NFC. If their offense can formulate a better strategy of play to go along with their pressure-packed defense, they may be representing the NFC again in Super Bowl XLIV.

Like in 2008, the only team that can stop the Giants, is the Giants themselves. Only this time, Plaxico won’t be around to shoot himself in the leg. And I’m pretty sure Coughlin has forbidden any player to even look at a gun for next season.

The Giants lies on their own shoulders. Barring any setbacks or distractions, and of course the dreaded injuries, 2009 may be a better year for Big Blue.

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