Week 7: Giants vs Redskins

“That guy is flat-out unbelievable. I’m not even going to lie. That’s the best quarterback we’ve played this year." These are the words of Giants' defensive end Osi Umenyiora about Robert Griffin III, otherwise known as RG3. Even though it's his rookie year, and the surrounding talent on his team isn't great, RG3 impresses and worries opposing teams. He played well. Well enough for Osi to stop calling him "Bob" and start calling him Sir Robert Griffin III.

"Your name sounds like royalty! Are you royalty?!"

It was a messy game played by the Giants. The running game couldn't get going, Eli made mistakes, and the Giants defense had cleat marks on their jerseys because of how much they were getting trampled.

The game started off slowly, with only three points being scored with a Redskins field goal on their first possession, which consisted of seventeen plays and lasted over nine minutes. The Giants scored on the following possession with an Andre Brown touchdown. The Redskins responded to that with a touchdown, but the Giants tied the game, just before halftime, at 10 with a field goal by Tynes. 

In the third quarter, the Redskins were driving on the Giants Alfred Morris coughed up the ball. As Giants fan think to themselves "This is where we get the lead an never look back," Eli throws a pick and there was a collective palm-to-forehead smack by everyone in the crowd. Luckily, RG3 gave the Giants the ball back again by throwing it to Stevie Brown. The Giants scored on the following possession with a Bradshaw run. This was after Bradshaw and Coach Coughlin got into a heated exchange about Bradshaw wanting to run the ball. At least he backed it up.

In response to that touchdown, the Haitian of Domination stripped the ball loose from RG3. Giants fans think to themselves, "Alright, this time we're gonna step on the Redskins' throat," What happened? An Eli interception followed by Eli face. The collective sound of tens of thousands of people face-palming created a shock wave that blew out windows in Manhattan.

"He did NOT just throw another pick!"

With the time on the game clock counting down, RG3 showed some two minute heroics by making some incredible plays to buy himself time to make throws, plays that worked against even the best executed defenses. He capped it off with a thirty yard pass to Santana Moss to give the Redskins a 23-20 lead. But there was a flaw in that drive - Eli now has ninety seconds and three timeouts to at least get in field goal range. Eli only needed nineteen seconds to throw a seventy-seven yard strike to Victor Cruz. The 'Skins couldn't score, but instead coughed up the ball again to seal the Giants' victory.

"Now you all are in big, big trouble!"

Eli played a sloppy game for the first fifty-eight minutes and thirty seconds. He was missing receivers for the entire game. He still threw for over three hundred yards, but those two picks were frustrating. But, when time is running out and the game is on the line, he turns into Billy Madison playing dodgeball against a bunch of first graders. Eli knew the 'Skins were expecting dink and dunk passes and would play tight on the receivers. That's why he threw the ball over the top to Cruz. He showed the breakout rookie QB how fourth quarter comebacks are really done.

The running game was lack-luster by only getting sixty-four yards on the ground. To be fair, there were less than twenty rushing attempts by the Giants. It's hard to get into a rhythm when you don't run the ball a lot. It was good to see Andre "The Browntown Express" Brown get back in the game, even though it's at the expense of David Wilson.

The receivers did a nice job of getting open for Eli. Bennett came back in a big way, catching five passes for seventy-nine yards. He would have had a touchdown, but Manning missed him in the endzone.

The rush defense had their hands full on Sunday with a very effective rushing offense. The
'Skins had one hundred and forty rushing yards by halftime, two hundred and forty yards by the end of the game. The Giants can usually contain the option style offense, but this one was too good to stop.

The pass rush is starting to click and the big three d-linemen, JPP, Osi, and Tuck, all had sacks. It looked like the Giants figured out how to throw RG3 off of his game and disrupt him, even if it didn't always work out. And any evidence of the Haitian of Domination not having fun was danced away as he performed a most intimidating Gangnam Style dance after a sack.

Are we having fun yet?

So what have I learned?

Whether it's "Drive Angry 3D" or "Face/Off", it's still a paycheck.

This win was a textbook "character win" for the Giants. They hung in there and stole one from the Redskins. Wins aren't always pretty, but like Nicolas Cage choosing a script, you have to take what you can get.

Ahmad Bradshaw has become the emotional leader of this team. He expects a lot from himself and from his teammates. He has replaced Brandon Jacobs as the offensive fire starter.

The defensive line is starting to get hot at the same time. Imagine how effective they would be if they weren't playing against such a phenomenon, like Rex Grossman. Oh that's right, Rex beat them twice last year... go figure.

Most importantly, I learned that I should dread Redskins games for the next ten to twelve years (providing RG3 is healthy and on the 'Skins). Things could get ugly if Sir Robert Griffin III actually gets some substantial weapons.

"Until meet again, Mr. The Third."