Week 6: Giants at 49ers

"The only outcome that would surprise me is if either team is blown out." Sure enough, I was surprised by the Giants when they beat up on the 49ers with the final score of twenty-six to three.

"I DRIVE A DODGE STRATUS!"

There was a lot of banter leading up to this game. Most notably, the Gilbride/Harbaugh back and fourth. Gilbride accused the 49ers top defensive lineman, Justin Smith, of not getting called with holding penalties. "Gets away with murder" is how he stated it. Harbaugh, who is as subtle as a piano tumbling down a flight of metal stairs, took offense to that comment and retaliated by calling the comments "outrageous, irrational, and incendiary." He also said, "It's obvious that the Giants coaching staff's sole purpose is to use their high visibility to both criticize and influence officiating."
This means war...  

The 9ers came into this game looking to get back at the Giants for beating them in NFC Championship game. But, as the old quote says, "He who seeks vengeance must dig two graves." However, the Giants were not the ones who were buried in this game. Not even close.

This was the Giants statement game of the year. What's the statement? The Giants are a serious contender and need to be taken seriously.

The game started off being highly contentious. But it was a bad omen for the 9ers when David Akers, the only place kicker I hate, missed his very first field goal attempt (and another just before halftime). It's probably pathetic, but I'm happy to see him get knocked down a peg.

After some back and fourth between the two teams, the Giants punched the 49ers in the mouth with a Prince Amukamara pick which led to a Victor Cruz salsa dance. After the last two weeks of 9ers absolutely dominating the Jets and Bills, it seems that they forgot how to respond to adversity. Since that point in the game, the Giants beat up on them both offensively and defensively.

The big story on the Giant offense this week is the same as last week; Ahmad Bradshaw. He ran for one hundred and sixteen yards and a touchdown. Fun fact: The 49ers haven't allowed a one hundred yard rusher in their past twenty-two home games.

Eli didn't have a monster game but he played mistake-free, efficient football. He threw for only one hundred and ninety three yards and one touchdown. But, he didn't throw a pick and he didn't get sacked once. That means he won't have to get those stubborn grass and mud stains off of his white jersey.

"Timesies, you guys! My clothes are all yucky!"

 The receivers could only catch for so many yards in this game. But they moved the chains and were all reliable targets for their quarterback. It was good to see Hakeem Nicks and his big hands back in action, even though it looks like he has a way to go to be close to being his former self.

"Heavy. Why are things so heavy in San Fransisco?"

Speaking of former self, the Giants defense must have brought the 2005 rookie version of Alex Smith to the present day with a Delorean, because he was brutal. Smith couldn't get comfortable and he made bad decisions. Hopefully, he didn't decide to bring a 2012 edition of Gray's Sports Almanac back to 2005. That would be a worse decision than throwing that one pass directly to Antrel Rolle.

The 49ers couldn't run the ball either. After running the ball for over three hundred yards last week, they were held to only eighty yards.

This game was won mostly because of the Giants winning at the line of scrimmage. The o-line protected Eli, and gave Bradshaw big holes to run through. The pass rush finally showed up again, coming up with six sacks, two by the Haitian of Domination alone. Maybe Osi, Tuck, and JPP were taken by Albanians earlier this season and then recently rescued by Liam Neeson, and that's why we didn't really see them until now. Hopefully the pass rush doesn't get taken again. I'd hate for Liam to have to go on another killing rampage to find these guys.

"Coach Coughlin, listen to me carefully. Your defensive line has been taken again."

So what have I learned?

Price Amukamara has become a very reliable cornerback now that he's healthy.

David Wilson is earning Coughlin's trust every time he gets the ball. He'll keep his job if he keeps the ball from touching the turf.

With Will Beatty as the new left tackle and Sean Locklear as the right tackle, the Giants running game has been completely revamped.

Weather you call it the "Wildcat" or the "Wild-Kap", the Giants are too fast and strong up front for it to be effective consistently against them. This is important heading into next weeks match-up against the Redskins and RGIII, who uses that kind of offense at times.

Now the cat is out of the bag and they smoked one of the best teams in the NFL, the Giants will have trouble playing the 'underdog" card.

The Giants are now the team with the target on their back. Maybe this will be their new "us against the world" philosophy that motivates them.