Week 9: Giants vs Steelers

The Giants were almost due for a let down. After three huge wins for them they didn't have enough steam for a fourth emotional win in a row. Despite getting some breaks from the officials, the Steelers having to fly in on Sunday morning, and even with the ridiculous fake field goal, the Giants couldn't get the job done. They were outplayed by the Steelers.

First Quarter:
Aside from an Eli Manning "aw shucks" interception, the first quarter was uneventful.
Score: Giants 0-Steelers 0

Second Quarter:
Early on, Big Ben connected to Emmanuel Sanders to give the Steelers the lead at seven to zip. On the Giants following possession, they drove down to the Steelers' two yard line but, you guessed it, fizzled out. Luckily, the officials flagged Ryan Clark on a questionable personal foul penalty against Victor Cruz. This penalty leads to a Browntown Express rushing touchdown.

How can you throw with Krazy Glue on your glove?

Following that Giants scoring drive, Osi used his patented QB strip move on Ben Roethlisberger, which was recovered and housed by Michael Boley. This play wasn't without controversy as well. First off, it wasn't a clear fumble, but it wasn't clearly not a fumble, so it wasn't overturned (did that make sense?). If Ben wasn't wearing his sticky receiver gloves maybe it would be a more clear fumble. Secondly, during Boley's return a block in the back wasn't called on the Haitian of Domination.

As the first half was winding down, the Giants were in a field goal situation. More specifically, a fifty-one yard field goal situation. An over fifty yarder for noodle leg Tynes - don't hold your breath. Sure enough, Legatoni didn't disappoint as his Chad Pennington leg kicked it straight, but short. Unfortunately, Shaun Suisham didn't miss his thirty yard field goal to end the half.
Giants 14-Steelers 10

Third Quarter:
Not a lot happened here either. Although Legatoni did hit a fifty yard field goal, Webster picked off Big Ben, and Tynes nailed a chip-shot field goal. There should have been a touchdown instead of that last kick since the Giants were at the front stoop of the endzone.
Giants 20-Steelers 10

Fourth Quarter:
It didn't take long for the Steelers to score in the fourth quarter. Forty-five seconds in, Big Ben throws a short pass in the middle of the field to Mike Wallace and Wallace did the rest as he ran to the endzone for a fifty-one yard touchdown reception.

Then the Giants went three and out.

The Steelers came down with a case of the Giants and were settling for a field goal on the Giants three yard line. But it wasn't a field goal, it was a fake field goal running play. The Giants didn't fall for it, and Suisham was tackled for a loss on that play.

Then the Giants went three and out.

With their next possession, the Steelers were driving down the field. They were in field goal range and on a third and seven at the Giants' fourteen yard line.  Roethlisberger missed his receiver to bring up fourth down and most likely a field goal. But hold your horses, Jayron Hosley was called for offsides. This gave Pittsburgh another chance to move the chains with a third and two opportunity, and that's what they did. They got the first and eventually a touchdown to give the Steelers a twenty four to twenty lead with four minutes on the clock.

Then the Giants went three and out.

After that pathetic offensive performance, the Steelers ran out the clock to seal the victory for the Steel City.
Final Score: Steelers 24-Giants 20

To say the Giants offense came out flat is to say that Sandy was just a rain shower. The Giants couldn't achieve a single first down in the fourth quarter. The Giants total offensive yards was one hundred and eighty-two yards. The Steelers total RUSHING yards was one hundred and fifty-eight yards. That means the entire Giants team only had twenty four more yards than basically one guy, Redman, with occasional help from a few more rushers.

"Aw dang, I think I just pooped myself!"

Eli's completion percentage was forty one. He only threw for one hundred and twenty five yards with no touchdowns. But he did have that pick so that's something. 

The Giants running game couldn't get anything started. In fairness to Bradshaw and Brown, it's hard to get anything going with only twenty two carries.

Osi and JPP had one sack each and Tuck had two. They put pressure on Big Ben, but he's at his best when he's throwing under pressure.

The middle of the field was wide open for the Steelers to do anything they wanted. 

The coach of the Steelers, Mike Tomlin, who looks like Omar Epps in a Tilda Swinton looks like Thom Yorke sorta way, did a great job on capitalizing on the Giants inefficiency on offense and their shortcomings on defense. He out-coached his counterpart, Tom Coughlin.

Mike, meet Omar. Tilda, meet Thom. Universe, meet black hole.

So what have I learned?

The Giants truly are an October team. As soon as Halloween is over, the Giants seem to take a huge step backwards.

They aren't the same team after that won in San Fransisco. You can't keep winning games when your offense stalls in the redzone. During Sunday's game, their inability to score finally caught up with them.

Andre Brown needs to get more carries, providing that he doesn't get knocked out of almost every game. Bradshaw is only effective when he gets fired up, but Brown is a smarter runner and he hits the holes that are designed for him.

Chase Blackburn and Jacquain Williams need to come back soon. They are way too soft up the middle. I like Herzlich and I love his story, but he isn't ready to be a starting MLB.

Hopefully, they can bounce back against the Bungles and use the bye week to figure out what the hell is wrong with the offense.