Defense wins championships.  The Giants  don't  have  a  defense.  Thus, they are a mediocre team that is going nowhere.

When you are up 31-17 in Q4 and you hang on to win in OT, it is NOT a step in the right direction.  The Giants had this win gift-wrapped and did whatever they could to try to lose it.  If Atlanta has Michael Turner, the Giants lose this game.  If Atlanta has Jerious Norwood, the Giants lose this game.  If Atlanta wins the (OT) coin toss, the Giants lose this game. 

Yes, it's a win for the gmen, but the Giants are NOT a good team that is going anywhere.  Tom Coughlin preaches improvement, but the Giants have not improved.

"We have to learn how to finish games, but we didn't do that today," said Justin Tuck after the game.  For all of you out there who want to call us nitpickers for belittling this win, you just heard one of the stars making the same candid admission of failure.  Give credit to Tuck- he would have said the same things if Atlanta won the coin toss and the Giants lost 34-31.  And so do we.  

The Good  

1) Eli Manning was old Eli in Q1 and then he was strong the rest of the way.  He made some very nice passes after an ugly start and found a lot of open receivers who benefitted from a lot of blown defensive coverages by ATL.
2) When you take WRs at #2 (Smith), #3 (Manningham) and #1 (Nicks), you are going to have offensive firepower.  These young players are the future, they keep making plays, getting separation, making great catches.  Manningham saved the Giants on a number of occasions with big catches at big moments. He had a Toomer Toe too. Without his receptions (6 for 126 yards) this team simply will lose the game.
3) Kevin Boss is fantastic. Carl Banks: "He is as money as you can get. Doesn't go pumping his chest. The same guy play after play."
4) Gilbride shook things up enough and FOUND HIS TIGHT END.  2 TDS, 76 yds, both career bests.
5) Corey Webster shut down Pro Bowler Roddy White.  White's stats say 4 catches for 45 yards, but White got some of those vs different coverage. When Webster was on him, there was nothing doing.  In fact, Webster was on Gonzalez occasionally and did well against that Pro Bowler too, all things considered.

The Bad

1) Chris Snee spoke with Johnston during the TV prep before the game and made an honest confession (paraphrased): "We're not getting it done at OL this year."  On 3rd and 1 the Giants throw a 27 yard reception to Manningham, but that is because the Giants cannot run for a short yardage first down to save themselves.  If the pass is incomplete everyone is yelling bloody murder.  All it is is bad schemes and lack of surge from the OL.  This is not a RB problem, it is a problem with Gilbride AND the short yardage package.
2)  ATL was 9 for 11 in the second half on 3rd down.  And of the 2 where the Giants "stopped them," one was for an 11 yd gain on 3rd and 12 where ATL made the 4th and 1 conversion and the other was a 4th down FG.
3) Michael Johnson is another liability at Safety. He got undressed on more than a few plays.  Aaron Ross is playing some Safety and learning on the job.  It cannot be any worse (i.e. Ross can only improve this ugliness, altho it is a combination of bad players and bad scheme).
4) 8 penalties for 64 yards.
5) Kickoff coverage still spots the Falcons at the 34 yard line average when you throw out the kickoff which ends the first half.

The Ugly

1) Defense cannot give up 14 points like swiss cheese and think that the team is going to go anywhere this season/postseason(?)
2) Lawrence Tynes misses a 31 yarder, short on kickoffs as usual.

Summary

This is not NY Giants winning football. Against winning teams the Giants defense has given up DAL 31, NO 48, AZ 24, PHL 40, SD 21 and ATL 31.  That is an average of 33 POINTS GIVEN UP PER GAME.  You cannot win a title this way.     

Comments (24)

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written by Capt George, November 22, 2009

Took the words out of my mouth.

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NYG Preseason Perceptions
written by Bob, November 22, 2009

It is truly amazing how so many of the preseason perceptions about the NYG were so wrong:

A few predictions from the media genius pool

(1) Our D line would be " terrorizing opposition
QB's" . Our D would be great... reality is
our D is truly struggling even with most
of the players back. Rocky Bernard is a flop.
Canty has not contributed yet.

(2) All the endless chatter about could the " young
receivers contribute ?" should we trade for
a head case like Bolden"...reality is the "young
receivers" + Eli carried the team today with
384 yds in the air....with only 88 on the
ground. Our passing game has 2.5 yds for every
yd on the ground this season.

We will probably wind up with 3 WR's having
700+ yd seasons.

(3) "Our O line is one of the best in football."
Not exactly any more. this is why the ground
game continues to struggle. Eli was under a
fair amount of pressure today, yet still
delivered a great performance.

I just want to enjoy this win and not think past
the Broncos. At this point I think any talk of
the playoffs is foolish. We are not playing
Playoff Caliber football.

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Gillbrown found a TE !!
written by Bob, November 22, 2009

Amazing, Gillbrown discovered a TE in the locker room
named Boss. Even more incredible is what happened when
Eli throws to him in the Red Zone.

Is Gillbrown reading this Blog ?

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...
written by Capt George, November 22, 2009

Bob, i don't agree. I still believe that we have more talent up and down the roster than any other team in the league.

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...
written by Mike Gelb, November 22, 2009

Considering that we had lost four straight, I should be happy with a win. But this was actually very demoralizing. The defense is bad; the kicking game is bad; the running games is inconsistent and, today, was non-existent. The only thing working now is Eli, on his good days, and the receivers.

The one thing that gives them hope is that other than the Saints and the Vikings, nobody else in the NFC is consistently good either.

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...
written by Mitch K, November 22, 2009

Andy...I couldn't agree more. I said it all throughout the game comments...In short...

I'm very happy we won but....this team has a lot of holes....The OL is under performing. Jacobs can't go a whole game without seeing if he has a hangnail, We have a DC who still insists on having zone blitzes where Osi & Tuck are dropping into coverage. Bruce Johnson is a joke. Most of all we have a kicker in Tynes who has missed 4 FG's inside the 40 this season...and even worse he can't get his kickoffs past the 20. At least Carney made his field goals, so I could live with the short kickoffs. The one plus today is that Kevin Killdrive finally realized he has a Tight End.

The next 3 games are critical...I do not know if this team can get it together for the stretch run.

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...
written by Roberts, November 22, 2009

The defense continues to get lit up. When are people going to realize that it is just not that good.

Tuck is playing hurt and he is very ordinary. osi is just not the same. Kiwi hasn't been particularly impressive either.

But are secondary is just inept.

We are our record. no more, no less. But we are not getting better as the season progresses. In fact, I believe we are getting worse.

The way we are playing is not competitive with the likes of NO, Minn, and probably not with either Dallas or Philly.

I too am disappointed in this defense. No one is an impact player right now.

And one last thing, Tynes is such a liability. I don't know why he is on the team.

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take it easy....
written by Coop, November 22, 2009

I agree there should be absolute concerns about the D, but there has to be some perspective on this. I think I saw Osi mentioning it: Atlanta had a lot of pressure to win also - kind of in the 'must win' category. Also realize that the Giants have very shaky confidence - I don't care what anyone says - it shows. So a shaky win that could have easily been choked away shouldn't surprise anyone. They choked SD game. The forecast calls for fragility. If they beat Denver - I expect things to improve as their confidence goes.

Giant fans have to realize there are a lot of other teams out there, and they have talent too. You're not going to feel like cocky champs 100% of the time, nor should you. If you're a Yankee fan - how many times were you watching this season and thought "no way this team is winning a championship" - personally, I said that on more than one occasion. When the Giants won the Super Bowl, I never expected it - because there were tons of games like today - where they flashed talent, and yet also showed they could suck. I'm not saying that they are a championship caliber team - but given the elements here - trying to shake a quickly plummeting season, regain confidence after choking games, and playing a team where there is comparable talent with as much to lose - I think you take the win and wait to diagnose.

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written by ultimatenyg, November 22, 2009

Coop- I have tried to be patient too. Francesa, for example, said before SD that if the Giants lost they would not make the playoffs. I did not go that far, and in fact felt that the bye plus getting healthier would mean a big lift to the team. And if the team had finished the team off when they were up 31-17, I would have felt stronger about the team's chances. But you cannot be that porous and think everything is going to be allright. This team was a coin toss away from losing.

As for that acid test of "how many times did you think this team was not winning a championship".. I have quietly had doubts after the NO, AZ, PHL, SD AND ATL games. I just do not see improvement. The only tangible improvement was in Boss/red zone.

You MUST REALIZE that if Michael Turner is playing today, this GAME IS A WEENIE ROAST. We are skinned alive. He will gash us up and down and their pass will get even more set up. Instead we had a great amount of luck (Chris Simms again on Thurs?) with both Turner and Norwood out or else this game would have been ugly. So that is why I am as sober about this win as I am about the prev 4 losses. As we have shown in our analysis in this blog for years now, it matters how you play. One of the most positive writeups we ever had was when we lost to NE 38-35. Check it out. We said there was something to build on; we went toe to toe with the best and now can win against anyone. Indeed that is exactly how it fell out. So you can win poorly, you can lose well. This was a poor win. It is one thing to give up 38 to one of the best offenses in the last 10-20 years, it is another to give up 31 to a struggling team without its #1 and #2 RB after a bye. Let them play better defense, offense and specials all on the same day and we can say there is something to believe in. For now, all we get is more evidence to the contrary.

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I'll take the win...
written by TrueBlue, November 22, 2009

but the Giants need to take out the garbage. The defense just wasn't getting off the field, some bad penalties certainly provided Atlanta with more opportunity than it should have had, especially the "late" hits but Atlanta didn't have Turner, dropped a sure TD, and pulled a Tynes.

To the defense's credit, I didn't see any big plays that I can recall from Atlanta, although late in the game the wheels came off. This to me is due to some soft coverage which I credit to poor coaching decisions and having Canty, Ross, and Boley still trying to learn their responsibilities and get up to game speed. AP was replaced by Blackburn who I thought played a good if not great game but we may not fully understand what he didn't bring in terms of defensive positioning that AP would have. Overall, the defense needs to get better and soon.

The offense played better and it was nice to see Boss get the looks he did. We weren't quite as predictable until late. There was actually a couple of play action calls in there as well although I think Eli could improve his play fakes. Still very little with the screens and slants and I am still looking for that misdirection run play we used to run so effectively last year. Tynes should be scrapped for whatever kicker is available after missing another short kick. I think he is the only kicker in the league with 2 misses under 30 yards.

I thought we may catch a break with Orton being out since we were on a short turn around but apparently he played the second half of the game and didn't look to bad. We will be tested by the Denver receivers if Orton is healthy so we need to be able to get to him on Thursday.

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written by Gilad, November 23, 2009

Watching the Falcons come back in the 4th quarter, I kept saying to myself that it looked like the Giants had two completely different defenses: a great one on 1st and 2nd down, and a total joke on 3rd down. I think that discrepancy points more toward the coaching than the players -- it's not like they weren't trying as hard on 3rd down.

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Well thought out...
written by Coop, November 23, 2009

Andy,

Not to suck up - but it's well thought out case. I'm not debating the points...Except maybe one. I'm not convinced that Michael Turner means auto-victory for Atlanta. He's a good back - but that doesn't mean the Snelling guy isn't a good back or that he's ok back who was "playing up" in a must win game. That's the thing about the season - the Raiders just beat the Bengals. It's as you said - it's where you play these teams that needs consideration. So, consider that Atlanta, a team with talent, probably just lost their season to the Giants yesterday. If you put it in that light - I don't think you can be AS harsh on the Giants. If this was the playoffs - and in a sense, it almost was - you just take the victory and say "close one". Let's say Jacobs and Bradshaw were out and Ware had a great game and Jints win - would you dismiss it - I wouldn't, I think he might actually be the new Bradshaw. If that happened though - you can bet the other teams' blog would say "we suck - that's a third string back that tore us up!" What impressed me was that Atlanta looks like the G-men o'line from last year. I don't catch much of Atlanta, so this is a one-game education for me - but that O'line is GOOD in my opinion. Flip side: the Giants D is bad.

I'm not disputing that it's a bad win, a distinctly unimpressive one, etc. Nor am I saying that this is a playoff caliber team. Your points are absolutely correct -not much to build on at all. I am going to read up on the Patriot loss, by the way - my counterpoint to that is the Pats game was the LAST game of the season which was otherwise slightly above pedestrian. Much like this season is shaping up. The lightning in a bottle thing can and does happen with other teams(Cardinals last year - speaking of them - I remember in the playoffs last year everyone, and I mean everyone questioned their defense with good reason because they couldn't stop the run. Well, suddenly without notice they did), so I realize the Giants doesn't always call shotgun on being surprising. It wouldn't shock me if it was the Cowboys who get to the playoffs and did damage. Is that nightmarish? It is, but it wouldn't surprise me. A lot of teams seem to respond when experts declare them dead. Of course, a lot of times they are in fact, dead.

There were things to take away - call it luck, etc. Teams need luck sometimes. Boley looks like he's for real. The Giants got the W, if they lose - it's probably over. Yes, hopefully we got Chris Simms instead of the fear-inducing Kyle Orton(?). If the Giants get a win there...everyone will be quick to dismiss that as well. A team can surprise you, but if they don't make the playoffs it's a moot point. So, hopefully the Giants will start playing out of character. It's possible, but certainly doesn't look probable after 10 games. Much is still left to go, and I don't have the mental powers to say whether the Giants are done. I'm more confident that the public option in healthcare will be a government fiasco than I am about predicting football. Sorry to get political.

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...
written by ultimatenyg, November 23, 2009

Coop, yes, let's leave politics to other blogs.

Let's put it this way, "UFN" Until Further Notice. Until further notice that we see improvement from Sheridan and the defense, we cannot expect anything anymore. I expected more yesterday. As good as Boley was in getting 11 tackles, it was him getting beat on the game tieing TD to Gonzalez in double coverage. Canty and Bernard? Mostly invisible.

We'll disagree on Michael Turner. http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-...thers-2009 Watch this video of Turner last game, see how the Panthers have 8 men in the box, how Turner makes alota something out nothing?! Turner has vision, strength and cuts. He is a very important part of their offense. The Giants caught a big break.

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Does the win make you fell all is well?
written by Mitch K, November 23, 2009

It was the kind of a win that does not fill you confidence. Eli was great yesterday, even though he was under tremendous pressure throughout because of the OL. They do not play like the well oiled machine like they were in past years. Eli prevailed...but remember the Falcons were at the bottom of the league in pass defense. I'm thankful it wasn't windy yesterday or Eli might not have had those gaudy stats.

More disturbing to me is the way this defense has continually collapsed late in games, Manning might have to put together this kind of effort more than he'd like.

The Giant formula ought to be great defense, a great running game and very good passing...in that order. But right now, it's the reverse, and it's a disturbing trend.

Sheridan may finally be in Coughlin's crosshairs. For the first time I heard the words, "I am concerned" in his press conference concerning his Defense collapsing in the 4th quarter in their last two games.

Don't forget, that former Coughlin DC, Dick Jauron was fired as the Bills' head coach last week. (just an observation on my part)

But unless this defense gets its act together, it'll all go to waste.

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are we looking at the same video clip?
written by Coop, November 23, 2009

Andy,

Just looked at the evidence of Turner being a great back. Point taken on the politics, and on the further notice bit - agreed...But, on this play you're showing - yes, nice cutback, but the O-LINE is doing it. Panther linebacker has it teed up - and boom - pulling guard blows him up. No one lays a glove on Turner - that's not my idea of something-out-of-nothing, that is probably what Gilbride thinks he has in HIS offensive line. 8 in the box doesn't matter- we're coming and we're running anyway. It's not working out for us this year. Again there was a cutback - but you got two massive dudes on the O-LINE clearing it out completely...Giants O-Line did that stuff in years past. People came away saying Jacobs was great (I'm still unconvinced). People were sold on Ward (I say nice back, but probably nothing special). Bradshaw (special I think - but didn't look it yesterday). So, running backs are a product of great O-Line play and I think the Falcons have something there. When you have a great O-line, backs become great. I'm not saying that Turner isn't a good back. I'm just saying that Snelling isn't a scrub, and I'm impressed with Atlanta's line.

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...
written by bobely, November 23, 2009

i pointed out weeks ago that oline wasn't getting it done. someone pat me on the back. at least we know the giants will go ol, lb and s in the draft.

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Tynes
written by ggggmen08, November 23, 2009

Andy, thank you for being the only Giants Blog that doesn't use the tired excuse of "Tynes hasn't cost us a game yet so lay off of him".

Tynes would have cost use the game if we didn't win the coin toss. Tynes costs us field position on every single kickoff. Tynes costs us momentum when we drive down the field and settle for a field goal, only he decides to either a) not kick or b) miss a 31 yarder.

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Agree but disagree
written by CodyCodyCodyK, November 23, 2009

WE have all seen how a team can get on a roll and come together. I know there are a lot of "if's" out there, but *IF* the D-line can come together, *IF* these blitzes can start to hit home (came close[r] yesterday), *IF* the strong QB/WR play continues, *IF* the o-line can get back in rhythm....then everything is fine.

But that's a lot of *IF'S*. Point is: I'm not fully ready to bury this team yet, because of the personnel they have (ie they have SO much talent on O and on D that I think they can always stay in games). But this coaching staff has some serious problems to fix. STAT.

The defense is particular is troubling. Good to see Rouse getting some decent work in, but bad to see Bruce Johnson and Michael Johnson getting turned around. It's frustrating because the D hs been SO inconsistent. Like on one play (let's give the crucial Sproles 1st down against SD as an example) we saw a great play by Webster in bottling up the opposing #1 WR (V Jackson on that play), but then the D blitzes and a slip-up by the LB corps (an admittedly rusty Boley)leads to a HUGE pick-up.

This is a TEAM sport and until the entire unit all contributes on the same series of plays, we will see the same thing time and again, when the offense simply does just enough to expose that one mistake.

It's really what I absolutely LOVE about football (its really the ultimate example of a "Team Game") but it's wildly frustrating when the unit doesn't play with the desired cohesiveness. One guy makes a mistake and it wipes out the excellent efforts of the other ten.

Ultimately, it's up to Coughlin/Sheriden/Gilbride to get this right. That's it. And that's why I have a tough time foreseeing long-term success for this season, and I hate to say it, but it's simply because of the lack of faith and trust I have in Sheriden and Gilbride. I trust Reese to draft the right guys and bring in the talent. I trust Coughlin to pull everything together. But each passing week makes it more and more difficult to understand the other guys; Sheriden and Gilbride simply haven't shown enough ability to make the requisite adjustment thus far.

Not to be "that guy" - but this is simply a matter of fact: during the past two games, the opposing team simply needed a touchdown (not a FG, I mean driving ALL the way down the field for a TD) at the end of the 4th quarter. And each week, the D couldn't come up with a stop. Those are high-profile failures. It's difficult for the fans to watch and I'm sure it's difficult to for the players to watch. It's just so frustrating and disheartening to sit back and watch the defense helplessly give up these tremendous 4th Q drives. That's GOT to change...immediately. Otherwise this team goes nowhere.

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One more note - re: 4th Q Offense....
written by CodyCodyCodyK, November 23, 2009

I can't simply let the Offense off the hook for their role in the 4th Q. They handed the ball back to the Falcons and (I think) went 3 and out and didn't give a tired D any rest of re-collection period on the sideline.

I'm not supporting Sheriden at all - BUT, to his credit, it's tough to make adjustments when you only get a TV time-out, a offensive 3-and-out, then a TV timeout - and then the D heads back out there.

So yeah, that's tough on the D; O needs to contribute. But still, Defense HAS TO make those adjustments. Clearly they weren't made.

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NYG Talent
written by Bob, November 23, 2009

Capt George

I agree with you that we have very good talent on the
NYG. THe problem is they are not performing. This is why I am Down on the coaching staff. TC included,
because he has not straightened out Gillbrown or
Sherbrown

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...
written by Mitch K, November 23, 2009

I've seen the grades various writers have given the Giants yesterday.

I think one should be added.

Coin toss call in OT.....

I'd give it A+++

If we lost that coin toss we lose the game for sure!

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the silver lining
written by steviewonder, November 23, 2009

I know no one likes to look beyond the game at hand, bu thte GMEN need to step back and realize how fortunate they are. terrible 4 game skid, but then an ugly win that leads us to Denver in a nosedive and three critical divisional games. They have to relaize that if they win these 4, we're going to the playoffs. suck it up, get it together, and get it done.

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Why I Love This Blog WE TELL IT HOW IT IS
written by The Mayor, November 24, 2009

Call it negative call it what you will. Andy your postgame assessment couldn't be more dead on. Johnson looked lost out there in coverage. Horrible typical anti-ny calls not a single hold on the opposition all game, terrible offsides calls, and the defensive holding on 3rd down by Johnson was a complete NFL trying to keep interest in the small markets that cant sell out games (Atlanta). Unreal. Anyways the meat of my post is on the biggest bum of all.

I said in the beginning of the season on that BS fake giant fan site the giantinsider that Tynes will cost us at least 2 games this year and how he's a the biggest bum ever. People laughed at me called me a negative nelly, yada yada yada. That site sucks bunch of TC loving Jerry Reese ass kissing fags. Anyways last season, I called up Sirius on the afternoon blitz pleading with the fact that the Giants needed to cut Tynes last season when we had Carney and keep another kicker on roster that can boot the friggen ball into the endzone on kickoffs. We got killed last season on field position due to every team starting out at their 35 yd line. Ridiculous and this season more of the same problem it is killing us. The guys on Sirius said yeah but then the problem is you lose an extra long snapper and tried to dodge the issue. Whether to back up NFL coaches or what I don't know but they could not have been more wrong. And I couldn't have been more right. So now maybe people are starting to realize. Maybe Gilbride got on here and realized what a piece a shit predictable play caller he's been and saw your recommendation letter to the Bills realized he has a friggen stud of a TE and finally used him. Tynes is absolutely horrible. 2 years ago a Chiefs fan called into sirius before we got Tynes and was saying thank god that bum is out of KC. He stated he will cost us at least 2 games a season. He couldn't have been more dead on. Tynes cost us 1 so far with SD almost 2 right here. And really he came close to missing the GW FG too. If not for us dominating GB he wouldve cost us a Superbowl. The guy is horrible. Giants should pull a move from my alma mater Texas Tech(Mike Leach) and host a kickoff/field goal contest for Giants fans in the tristate area. Whoever can boot the ball into the endzone on kickoffs and make 8/10 field goals in the 10-40 yd range should be our new kicker. Anything would be better than Tynes.

Anyhow, its refreshing to know everyone on here thinks how I think. Our linebackers suck! Secondary with the exception of TT and Corey Webster suck! And all in all our D is just awful right now. There is no excuse to be up 14 with 6 min left and not close out the game. Pitiful! Piss poor execution, horrible game planning, and terrible adjustments equates to terrible coaching Sheridan and Coughlin to blame. Thing is we never had a good secondary even when we won the superbowl and spags knew this, but he disguised it with the unpredictable pass rush, stunts, and blitzes. A pure genius and we let him go Only good news was Turner being out and AP being out. Thats the only way we won the game. Had Michael Turner and Antonio Pierce been starting we would have been FUBAR'D. (F**ked Up Beyond All Recognition) Also, Mario Manningham is a straight up baller, some of the catches he made were amazing! Eli had some perfect throws too. Definitely, the passing game looked tremendous!

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AP Best Work of the Season!
written by PBizzle, November 24, 2009

Antonio Pierce did his best work of the season by far! As a coach on the sideline! Definitely helped us big time!

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