Week 14: Giants vs Saints

"Just when I thought you couldn't play ANY worse, you play a game like this... and totally redeem yourself!" This was a game of redemption for the Giants. After they embarrassed themselves last week in Washington, and after all of the beatings that they've been given by the Saints over the years, the Giants needed a win over the Saints. The Giants got what they needed when they smacked around the Saints on Sunday.

The Giants on the road to the playoffs.

There was a ton of scoring here. This recap may take a while. 

First Quarter:
The action started on the Saints opening possession when Hofstra's finest, Marques Colston, coughed the ball up to the Giants after a long reception.
Eli Manning, trying to capitalize on the turnover, fires off one of his "oopsie" throws which is picked off and housed. Cue the Eli face.
On the ensuing kickoff, the speedy rookie, David Wilson, returned the kick ninety seven yards for a touchdown, followed by a very impressive back flip in the endzone. Fun fact: The last time a kick off was taken to the house was December 29, 2007 against the Patriots. That's sixty eight regular season games and nine post season games during that time span.
The Saints tried to get some momentum back on their following possession. However, the Saints' fullback Jed Collins got the ball stripped by Antrel Rolle, and the ball is scooped up by Linval Joseph.

Sunday, the Black Unicorn leapt into the crowd to stop a crime.

The Giants capitalized on that turnover and Eli connected with the Black Unicorn on a short touchdown pass. The Black Unicorn then leaped over the tall wall and into the crowd of Metlife Stadium.
Score: Giants 14-Saints 7

Second Quarter:
New Orleans started off the second quarter with the ball. This drive resulted in a field goal for the Saints.
The Giants weren't so lucky on their follow-up possession, as Lawrence, Noodle Leg, Tynes misses a field goal attempt.
The Saints scored another field goal on their next possession.
With just under two minutes left in the half, the Giants were looking to get one last score in before they head to the locker rooms. They got that score with an incredible catch by Domenik Hixon. 
Score: Giants 21-Saints 13

Third Quarter:
The third quarter began with a Giants kickoff to the Saints. On his first play of the half, the newest member of One Direction, Drew Brees, over-threw Jimmy Graham and who else but Stevie Brown was at the right spot to intercept the tipped ball.

All of this for a Pepsi?

Wilson ran it into the endzone for a touchdown. Then he followed that up with another back flip.
The Giants got the ball back quickly after a Saints three and out. They took advantage of that as Eli threw a perfect ball to Hakeem Nicks for another Giants touchdown.
Brees and company responded to that drive by showing the Giants how explosive they could be. It only took three plays for the Saints to travel seventy five yards for a Darren Sproles touchdown.
In response to that quick strike by New Orleans, Eli Manning throws another pick. Fortunately, this one is not housed.
The Saints took advantage and Darren Sproles scored another touchdown. This time, it was a pass out of the backfield.
Score: Giants 35-Saints 27

Fourth Quarter:
The fourth quarter was all Giants. A Cruz touchdown, another Brees interception, a Noodle Leg field goal, and a fifty-two yard touchdown run by David Wilson. That run was the nail in the coffin.
Final score: Giants 52-Saints 27

Besides a few "oopsie" throws, Eli had a great game. He tossed four touchdowns and threw for two hundred and fifty-nine yards. He wasn't phased at all by the interceptions he threw, and didn't stop making gutsy throws down field.

The receiving core did a great job also. Four different receivers got touchdown grabs. Cruz had the big plays, but that's his role as a receiver. Nicks and Bennett were steady targets for Eli.

David Wilson, welcome to the NFL. He had one hundred rushing yards and a touchdown, not to mention his incredible kick off returns. I know that the Saints are awful against the run, but he was very impressive on Sunday. His flips were equally as impressive.

Overall, the Giants defense played a great game against a great offense. Brees didn't look comfortable in the pocket for most of the game. Stevie Brown was at it again with his two interceptions. Antrel Rolle was all over the field making plays. Even though they only had one sack, the defensive line was disruptive enough to make a difference. 

So what have I learned?

David Wilson has received the nickname "Turbo" because he's like a video game with a "turbo" button that pushes him through holes. This, of course, means I'm going to be saying "It's Turbo Time!" every time he does something great. I considered the nickname "Flip", but Flip Wilson was an actor/comedian in the 1960s and 70s.

"IT'S TEARBO TIME!"

Hakeem Nicks is in desperate need of an off-season. He walks on and off the field like Bruce Willis at the end of Die Hard.  But, despite looking like he walked over shattered glass, he still is a reliable target for Eli.

I think I'm going to start calling Stevie Brown "Stevie On The Spot" because he's always at the right place at the right time. He has been the big break-out star of the Giants' defense this year.

Using the term "roller coaster" for the Giants' inconsistency isn't accurate. It's more like having an unstable girlfriend. Some weeks go smoothly, and other weeks she's smashing in your car windows with an aluminum bat.

The Giants have three games left of their six game season. I think if they win two of them they should be in good shape to make it to the dance.