By Billy Fellin
I feel sorry for my family. I really do. They have to put up with not one, but two screaming Giants fans every week. Part of that is because the Giants have had heart wrenching games the past few weeks, either going into overtime, or a late game drive by Eli. However, this game against the Seahawks was crucial, and even though we lost, don’t count this team out just yet.
This game was intense. I don’t think that anyone thought it would that good of a game. The Giants showed that they are a team to contend with in the NFC. Many people thought that Shawn Alexander would run up and down on the Giants all day. The Giants defense held him to only 110 yards, which is significantly less than what most of the so called “experts” thought he would run for. But the Giants did exactly what they needed to do to win that game. They got the ball to Plaxico Burress six times for 109 yards, including some key catches that moved the chains late in the game and kept the Giants in it. Jeremy Shockey made his presence felt all game catching ten balls for 127 yards and that touchdown where he got nailed. I cringed every time they showed that replay. I was happy when he got up off the turf and ran off. Amani Toomer also had an impact on the game, especially when he caught that amazing touchdown in the later part of the game. At that point my Dad and I were jumping up and down in our house, making all of my Mom’s Christmas figurines move around on our wall unit. We then sat back down on the couch after she yelled at us during the challenge. She should be used to it by now, though her team the Patriots have dominated the past few years, my Dad and I have been having heart attacks with the Giants that we love. They out-gained the `Hawks, had the ball for a longer time period, and had more first downs.
But even though the Giants did everything they needed to do in order to beat the NFC best Seahawks, Jay Feely couldn’t come though for the Giants faithful. Every kick that he missed, both in regulation and obviously in overtime, were game winners. He missed a 40 yarder at the end of regulation, a 54 yarder that didn’t have a chance, and a 45 yarder that looked good until my Dad and I realized that it was short. Of course, by that time we were already celebrating and looked back to the TV to see the referees signaling no good. In Giants fan’s eyes, he is the Tommy Maddox of our team. I hope that he doesn’t have trash in his front yard.
However, all the blame can’t be put entirely on Jay Feely’s shoulders. The Giants offensive line was horrendous in terms of penalties Sunday, committing 5 false start penalties ON ONE SERIES. That’s 25 yards backward, and last time I checked, the object of football is move in the forward direction. The Giants committed 16 penalties total in the 3 hour, 51 minute long game, which was one short of the franchise record of 17 set against the Boston Yankees and Washington in 1948 and 49, respectively. Luke Pettigout and Dave Diehl committed the majority of the false starts, but Plaxico Burress had one as well. The Giants committed penalties that shot them in the foot, and either killed drives or let the Seahawks have the ball in great field position with a fresh set of downs.
Thanks to the Denver Broncos, the Giants and Cowboys are still tied for first place in the NFC’s tightest division, the East. Next week is a Giant (hah I made a pun) showdown in the swamps of Jersey when the Cowboys come to town. As of right now, the Cowboys are the 4th seed and the Giants are the 5th in the East. Ironically, if the playoffs ended today, the Giants and Cowboys would meet again in a Wild Card playoff game. This Sunday’s game is possibly the biggest one to date for the Giants. However, in my opinion, as long as they pull the production from Plaxico Burress, Jeremy Shockey, and Tiki Barber like they did in the game against the Seahawks, they can, and probably will win against the Cowgirls.