Week 7: Giants vs Vikings

Well, the Giants finally won a game. It only took them seven tries and one awful opponent to achieve it, but it was still a win. This game was hard to watch at times, like the Kathy Bates’ hot tub scene in About Schmidt. In their previous games, there were bright spots and areas of concern. This game was no different. Let’s dive in head first into this ugly win, not the jacuzzi.

...then things started getting weird at the Jersey Shore house.

1st Quarter:
The game starts off with the Giants on offense. Eli and the Giants put together a seventeen play drive which lasted over nine minutes. Unfortunately on a third and three, Eli slightly overthrows Nicks in the end zone and the Giants have to settle for three.
The Vikings punt the ball away on their first drive.
New York’s following drive stalls so they punt the ball away as well. However, the punt coverage proved to be as useful as a lead life preserver. Not only do they give up a touchdown, but they commit two penalties while giving up the touchdown, so that’s a plus. 
The Giants get the ball back and run one play to end the quarter.
Score: Giants 3-Vikings 7

2nd Quarter:
This fifteen minute chunk of football was pretty tough to sit through. The quarter starts off with both teams going three and out.
After the Vikings punt, the Giants put together a seven play drive that culminates with a twenty-four yard touchdown pass from Eli to Wrong Page Randle.
Another key play was on the Vikings next drive. They drive down to the Giants’ thirty-five yard line when they get stopped on third down. Vikings’ kicker Blair Walsh attempts the fifty-three yard field goal but it didn’t have the distance.
After that missed attempt, the Giants and Vikings just punted to each other for the rest of the half. It was awful.
Score: Giants 10-Vikings 7

3rd Quarter:
Minnesota starts off the half with a drive that doesn’t go very far so they elected to punt the ball away. However, good ol’ Wrong Page coughs up the ball on a punt return and the Vikings get another chance of at least tying the game. But that turnover was wasted as Antrel Rolle intercepts a beauty of a pass from Josh Freeman.

Usually when I need Pepto during a game, it's because of eating wings.

Then the Giants go three and out.
Then the Vikings go three an out.
Then the Giants go three and out again, but this punt return was fumbled by Marcus Sherels, the same guy who housed a punt before.
Then everyone watching the game begins to get nauseous.
But the Giants don’t waste this turnover as newcomer Peyton Hillis rumbles into the end zone for a one yard touchdown.
Then the Vikings punted again.
The Giants start to wrap up the game when the third quarter ends.
Score Giants 17-Vikings 7

4th Quarter:
New York continues the drive that was started in the third quarter, and they finish it with a field goal from Josh Brown.
On the Giants kickoff after their field goal, Vikings return man, Sharrif Floyd, fumbled the ball and the Giants recovered. If you weren’t sure that this game was a prime example of hungover Thanksgiving Day football in pads, then this play confirmed it.
The Giants went three and out but they were able to grab another three points with another field goal by Brown.
The rest of the game included Josh Freeman throwing the ball to people on sidelines and in the crowd, and the Giants running out the clock.
Final Score: Giants 23-Vikings 7

"22's the Mike! OMAHA!"

To be honest, winning a game against a Josh Freeman led Vikings’ team is like beating a pee-wee team. The only problem is that the pee-wee team was giving the Giants some trouble early on in the game.

There are some things that the Giants did well on Monday night. They held Adrian Peterson to a measly twenty-eight yards rushing. There was finally pressure on the quarterback. Hillis looked good in the passing game, in terms of blocking and receiving. The offensive play calling was effective.

But don’t worry, the Giants still give you plenty of reasons to be concerned. They still gave up another punt return for a touchdown. That makes three for the season. Eli was close to getting picked off three times, luckily the Vikings’ secondary has worse hands than Hakeem Nicks. Speaking of which, you’d think that Nicks would be better at catching balls with those monster hands of his. It also doesn’t help that Eli was off target on some of his throws.

So what have I learned?

Jon Beason is a beast for the Giants. At first I didn’t think he’d contribute much to the team, but he’s been an essential part of the Giants’ defense.

Hillis will be serviceable as a third down back for the Giants, but I don’t expect him to be the work horse of the running game.

So for as sloppy as the game was, this was a crucial win for the Giants. Not only was it their first win of the season, but this win gives Big Blue some confidence heading into the second half of the season. Do I think this will spark a playoff run? No, but it may make for more enjoyable Sunday nights.