Falcons Expose Giants For Who They Really Are

Added by Vin D'Anton on December 17, 2012.

The Atlanta Falcons sent the league a strong message by routing the Giants. (Photo from MSG.com)

“Oh boy”

That was the first two words that came out of my mouth when Eli Manning threw the first interception to Asante Samuel yesterday (Sunday). Sure it’s only the first play and in no way was the game over; but when you turn the ball over in your own territory against an opportunistic defense, bad things will happen.

The defense played decent enough in the first half to keep the team in the game, so Eli single handedly may have lost the game for the Giants. When your team leader plays like that you’re most likely to lose.

When Tom Brady has a bad game, the Patriots lose. When Peyton Manning has a bad game, the Broncos lose. When Aaron Rodgers has a bad game, the Packers lose.

Get the point?

The Giants have been built around Eli’s ability to make the big play in a big situation, and for the past few weeks it has not been there.  That is one of two major things that are the identity of the New York Giants this season.

The second, the pass rush from the defensive line. Steve Tisch is a producer; he should produce a Public Service Announcement that Jason Pierre-Paul and Justin Tuck have gone missing. They are nowhere to be found.

The Atlanta Falcons exposed the Giants yesterday for who they really are; an inconsistent offense and an overrated, soft defense.

Look, the main blame here is Eli throwing the early interceptions that led to ten easy points for a team that dominates at home, but you know where I’m going; COACHING.

Tom Coughlin and Kevin Gilbride have to get on the same page with offensive strategy. Coughlin is conservative minded and Gilbride likes to go wild. While I sit here week after week blaming the offensive coordinator, I finally had an epiphany and realized the issue.

It comes down to the head coach. I understand that a bad coordinator can spoil a teams game or season, but Coughlin is an offensive minded guy. He has to find a way to fix this mess.

Four fourth/third and shorts and you fail? That is not acceptable, especially when your defending a Super Bowl title, well what does that matter. Yesterday was the worst loss by a defending Super Bowl Champion ever.

Good for the Falcons though. Everyone, for no reason whatsoever, has doubted them all season. They came out and shut the world up (at least for one week) and showed the NFL who the best team in the NFC is. 12-2 is a great record and if the Packers, 49ers or Giants were having the same type of season the Falcons are, they would be praised. Heck, Colin Kaeparnick gets more respect than Matt Ryan. Just another unjustifiable media disrespect for a quarterback.

As for the Giants, a disaster is not even the word to describe yesterday. The offense lost the game, yes, but the defense has been less than mediocre all season ranking in the bottom 20.

They can’t tackle and can’t cover. Actually, they just can’t play defense. Corey Webster was a clown yesterday getting in a fight with Roddy White out of frustration for straight up sucking not just all day, but all season.

Fine Giants fans, they always do this and they just have to “get in.” Sooner or later, this style of late season play is going to bite you in the rear end.

It’s worked twice, winning the Super Bowl more than once is extremely difficult; but think of what this era of New York Giants football could be if they were one thing: consistent.