Week 16: Giants at Ravens

Well, Christmas has come and gone. Santa dropped off presents to all of the kids around the world, and the Giants have collectively dropped a deuce in the stocking of every Giant fan across the globe.

The entire Giants' team is on the naughty list.

Let's get this recap over with. I'll try to keep it brief.

First Quarter:
The Giants received the ball to start the game. They ended up punting without getting a first down.

This is the Human Torch, in case you didn't know.

The Ravens followed that with a long drive, topped off with a short Joe Flacco touchdown pass to Torrey Smith.
In response to that scoring drive, the Giants punted again without gaining a first down.
Then the Human Torch, Corey Webster, gave up another big pass play. Flacco had a one yard run for another touchdown.
The Giants finally got something going after giving up their second touchdown. There was a very nice pitch and catch from Eli to Rueben Randle. The drive culminated in a David Wilson touchdown run and a Turbo Time flip.
Score: Giants 7-Ravens 14

Second/Third Quarter:
The Giants didn't do much offensively during these two quarters. It was nothing but quarterback pressure and punts.
The Ravens, on the other hand, dropped thirteen more points on the defending Super Bowl champs.
Score: Giants 7-Ravens 27

Fourth Quarter:
Baltimore started off the final quarter with the ball. They kicked a field goal to end the drive.
After the Giants went three and out and punted the ball back to the Ravens, Baltimore scored another field goal.
The Giants finally got another touchdown after a long eleven play drive. It was a short pass from Manning to Hixon.
The Ravens then ran out the clock to seal the win for them, and a loss for the G Men.
Final Score Giants 14-Ravens 33

Joe Flacco, who looks like a meat-headed Cillian Murphy, looked like Joe Montana against the Giants.

Cillian Murphy

Joe Flacco

The Giants' defense used a 4-4 defense in order to stop the run. It proved to be as useless as a defensive driving class for Lindsay Lohan since they gave up two one hundred yard rushers on Sunday.

The Giants' offense wasn't any better. Eli was under pressure the entire game. And because the Giants were down so much so early, the running game had to be abandoned like a misfit toy.

Overall, the last couple of weeks, the Giants have been more disappointing than unwrapping socks Christmas morning. They've given their fans nothing exciting, nothing to feel optimistic about.

So what have I learned?

The Giants are hungover. Like "waking up with horrible things drawn on your face" hungover.
What has gone wrong to cause this Super Bowl hangover? I have a few thoughts on why.

"I won a Super Bowl, then I blacked out. What happened?"

-One is that they are the Tinman of the NFL. They are lacking heart. Maybe they need Shane Falco, not Joe Flacco, to suit up to inspire this team.
-Their starting running back is always a game-time decision. It's hard to have a solid game plan if you never know for sure who will be running the ball.
-It also creates a tough situation for Eli, who has to essentially put every game on his shoulders. Normally this wouldn't be an issue but he's taken a step back this year.
-It doesn't help Eli and the running game that the Giants offense line is getting older.
-The secondary and linebacking core is thinner than wrapping paper.
-Usually JPP, Tuck and Osi are disruptive enough to give the secondary some relief, but this year they are only ghosts of what they were in the past.
-Maybe they just believed their own hype of being world champs.
-Maybe they took the whole "backed into a corner" thing for granted.
 The Giants of the past few years took advantage when they controlled their own destiny. Since they couldn't take care of business, they need a lot of help.

It was a nice Christmas present from the Cowboys to lose and give us last chance, even if that chance is as slim as Clark Griswold getting a normal sized Christmas tree.

It's not big, it's just... full.

 It will take more than a Christmas present for the Giants to make it to the playoffs. It will take a Christmas miracle.