NFL Playoffs Live-Blog: Giants @ Cowboys, 2nd Half.
Sunday, January 13, 2008
David Wells, Michael Strahan, and Bon Jovi keyboardist David Bryan. If we added Phil Rivers, the douche factor would be pinging hard.
Close game as we go into the halftime and the 2nd half. I'll take three competitive games out of four any playoff weekend you can give me. Nathan Jones stumbles on the kickoff return, down past the 20. Romo starts it off with a handoff to Barber for three. He then hits Witten for a first down just past the marker. Barber gets three more, and Buckbot Junior is talking about Romo's trip to Mexico, calling it akin to, almost, a "latter-day Broadway Joe," as Romo hits tight end Anthony Faisano for five on 2nd down.
14-14 at halftime. I've seen this movie before...the plucky, much maligned good guy leads the underdog team to victory over the popular kid's favored douchebaggy team, and then the maligned good guy gets the girl and lives happily ever after.
...until next week when Jessica starts dating Eli and he sets an NFL record for INTs in a game. - NHZ
You might have a plot there. Barber gets outside for the 1st down on 3rd and 2, and gets more on the outside on the next carry. Pitch back to Barber means a loss of two, as the Giants sniff it out. Romo hits Glenn on third down, even as both Buck and Aikman note the difficulty that center Andre Gurode has getting it out on time (I swear there's been a delay of game that hasn't been called.) Julius Jones gets two on first down.
Tony Romo picks up 11 when the Giants should have tackled him for a loss in yardage. Now Aikman is telling us "he knows how to play the game." The Giants defense hasn't a clue, meanwhile. Barber gets tripped up by Ross, who probably aggravated his shoulder injury making that tackle. Gibril Wilson breaks up the pass to Faisano. False start by Flozelle Adams drives em back to 3rd and 12, and Romo overthrows T.O. Nick Folk comes on for a field goal try, and it's a good stop for the Giants regardless of whether the kick is good or not. Kick is good though, and it's 17-14, Cowboys.
I'd advise Coughlin give Eli the go-ahead to work the two-minute drill or go back to the Jacobs/Bradshaw tandem.
according to Troy, Flozelle Adams is the only left tackle in the nfl who goes up against top pass rushers - Anon
Seriously. Domenik Hixon has a great return, bringing the ball out past midfield for the Giants offense. While we've got a break, someone in the Deadspin live-blog suggested a game of "Fuck, Marry, Kill" for Romo's ladies. So, FMK: Carrie Underwood, Jessica Simpson, and Sophia Bush. Go.
Brandon Jacobs just converted a first down. Someone missed an assignment and forgot to block DeMarcus Ware, as he got loose for the sack on Manning. No wonder Eli seems shaky about half the time: if I've got O-linemen who won't even block a top pass rusher...Ware then brings down Jacobs on the next rush after two yards. 3rd and long. No help on third down, and here comes Feagles to punt.
McKenzie as nimble as a brontosaurus. - Mal, referring to the Ware sack.
Feagles punt is a touchback. A penalty drives the Cowboys back inside the 20, and they're working on 3rd and long now -- and Crayton drops the third down pass after it hits him right in the hands.
"Some of these other Cowboys should have gone to Mexico." - JB
Crayton learned first hand from TO how to drop wide open passes - Anon
McQuarters returns the punt well into Giants territory, gaining 25 yards. Eli hits Amani Toomer for a first down -- we'd like to advise both sides that the men in the #81 jerseys are possibly the most dangerous receivers on both sides and they need to be covered. Manning goes for Kevin Boss, and it's incomplete. Manning does hit Smith for a few to end the third quarter -- and then goes back to him to convert 3rd and 6 for a 1st and goal. Ahmad Bradshaw gets around and down to the 1 yard line. Brandon Jacobs gets into the end zone easy. Tynes' kick is good, 21-17, Giants.
Basically, the Giants are going to have to repeat that until this game ends. It's a good spot to be in, up by four points. The Cowboys start at about the 11 or so, and MB3 loses a yard on a nice play by the linebacker. A second down pass is incomplete, but Romo avoids the Strahan rush and hits Witten on 3rd down -- that's nine of 12 converted. Cory Webster breaks up the bomb from Romo to Owens, but just can't work it out as Romo hits Crayton. MB3 only gets a couple at the 43. Romo finally gets sacked for the first time on a rollout, as four Giants surround him. 3rd and 13 -- and the Giants get another pass rush, forcing Romo to throw it out of bounds.
McBriar punts and it's downed at the Giants' 3 yard line. Jacobs takes the pile with him out to the nine yard line. He gets two on the next play after getting stuffed initially, but the third down pitch is short by a yard, and Feagles will punt. Crayton drops it and falls on it on his own 43.
And four of you made cracks about Crayton's vaunted hands. Nice job.
Barber gets four yards, out to the 47. McQuarters gets flagged for holding, auto first down.
"You don't see cowboys making moves like that." - TA
Down goes Romo again! I think his smile stats are going downward the more the Giants' pass rush gets closer to him. Romo then hits Witten on 2nd and 24 -- and that ball was tipped a little -- so it'll be 3rd and 4. Another catch by Witten, two flags down, one on Dallas for illegal formation -- and the second flag for pass interference gets picked up. 3rd and 9. Cory Webster is not having a good day -- he breaks up the 3rd down throwgasm, but gets flagged for hands to the face. Yet I don't see it at all on the replay. Automatic first down.
Romo throws it away, and why aren't they calling grounding at all? OK, thank you.
Dear Mr. Buck,
Pre-snap penalties nullify penalties that happen after the snap, unless they are personal fouls. Get a clue.
Sincerely,
The NFL Rulebook - pm
They probably only called that grounding on Romo to make up for the bullshit hands to the face on Webster. Umenyiora gets a whack at Romo on the next play and it's incomplete. Play clock runs down, Cowboys timeout.
Worst call of the weekend. What was that???? - Mal
I think if the Colts had won, Norv Turner would be bitching about that phantom hold during the Cromartie INT return. That was the worst one so far. But these two games have been a litany of bad officiating. As Hanrahan noted, that hands to the face was a total bail-out penalty. Romo's Hail Mary shot to T.O. is incomplete, and the Giants get the ball back on a punt.
Romo in the huddle: "I think it's time for a little 60 stretch far myahhhhh." - Hanrahan.
+1 to you, sir. Bradshaw for four yards, then about two more. Eli gets sacked on third down by Tank Johnson, and no one really wants to win this game on the offensive side of the ball. Two minute warning before the punt.
Rob Riggle, please stop trying to convince me that Budweiser is anything other than chilled and carbonated piss. Crayton gets past midfield with 1:50 left. Short pass to Barber for eight, rush to Barber for one. Romo hits Witten inside the 25 yard line. Oh god -- the Romo/Favre comparison play. Yeesh. Justin Tuck is hurt, so the Giants do the Cowboys a favor with a time out. False start on the Boys again. Toss to Witten at the side, Dallas has to burn the final time out. Umenyiora whacks Romo on 2nd down, forcing another incompletion.
"Every time Tony Romo's dropped back in the 4th quarter, he's been on his back." - TA, as Romo overthrows Crayton on 3rd down. 4th and 11 here...AND ROMO GETS PICKED BY R.W. MCQUARTERS. Keep the change, Tony.
Jessica has probably text-messaged both Eli and Philip Rivers by this point.
And the kneel down ends it. 21-17, Giants, with both favorites today going down. The Giants move on to Lambeau next week to take on the Packers, and hopefully, we get ourselves another snow game. Thanks for joining me, everyone. See you next week!
134 Comments:
Giants need to stop showing Romo exactly what they're going to do.
How does T.O. heal so fast from injuries other guys sit out forever with?
Steroids anyone?
Maybe because TO's a whiny moron who was probably never hurt all that bad to begin with?
Giants LBs have no idea.
according to Troy, Flozell Adams is the only left tackle in the nfl who goes up against top pass rushers
according to Troy the Dallas Cowboys are the only real NFL team. Everyone else are just practice squads for the Cowboys to disply their greatness.
Does Flozell have bales of weed in the trunk of his car like Nate Newton though?
In reference to the earlier post, it's not a movie plot that stars the good guy vs. the douchebaggy team.
It's the same garden variety plot seen on Monday Night Wrestling...
Terminator!
You gotta love how Aikman and Buck keep touching on it, but never outright say "The Giants keep blowing coverages."
Fuck Sophia Bush, Marry Carrie Underwood, Kill Jessica Simpson...that's really not that tough.
McKenzie as nimble as a brontosaurus.
Jacobs isn't quick enough to make those screens work consistently. They needed Bradshaw in for that one.
Has Romo actually passed to anyone besides TO or Whitten?
...Oh, THATS why he doesn't throw to Crayton.
Buck: "Some of these other Cowboys should have gone to Mexico".
Crayton learned first hand from TO how to drop wide open passes
The Dallas D on that play was stolen from the Giants playbook
"Aaron Ross is officially out for the rest of the game." - Buck
Well, Joe, it was already reported that he was out of pads and in a sling...but I guess its not official until you say so.
Brandon Jacobs hates that play clock.
Brandon Jacobs is not a fan of the play clock
Jacobs doesn't have time for this shit! (tm Nick Saban)
BTW forecast for Green Bay next Sunday: partly cloudy and 4 - yes FOUR - degrees.
"Youve got somebody who can take out the first color he sees" -Troy Aikman
SPP
I bet Aikman is sweating in his Dallas jock strap and his manicure that spells out D A L L A S on his fingernails is ruined by now, friggin homer.
Joe Buck has huge bruises on his shoulders where Aikman keeps hitting him with his fist full of Super Bowl rings.
Aaron Ross is getting gatorade for the giants secondary....thanks for that dynamite insight Pam Oliver
i think Craytons broken arm from 2 months ago must be afecting his crappy receiving
Ed --
They started reported that in Green Bay this morning. Man, I love living here. It's not gonna stop us from partying outdoors though.
TO short-armed that one.
"patrick Crayton may have the best hands on the team" -Troy
Did Aikman just say Crayton might have the best hands on the team? Has he been watching this game? I recall Crayton dropping two right in his bread-basket.
When the Cowboys go to the spread, it makes it easier for penetration.
Think about who the other WRs are? TO? Terry (she) Glenn?
Wait. Did Troy say TR made a mistake? Huh?
@ mal -- Jason Whitten?
"When the Cowboys go to the spread, it makes it easier for penetration."
That's what Jessica said.
At least CBS might have some company from when they are are shitting themselves for not getting their dream Conference Championship matchup
@hanrahan - I know Witten. Just making fun of TA's stupid comment.
I have had an unexpected in-law invasion. Not good for continued game-viewing. I'll try to keep up here, as well.
Romo is looking Grossman-esque with pressure in his face.
Is Coughlin going to go to Caveman Playcalling now?
What am I saying? That's the only kind of playcalling he knows.
Well done Tom, well done.
just keep playing not to lose, im sure that will work out fine
A toss play?!?!?!?! WTF, Coughlin. Sack up and throw the ball.
How do you run a toss sweep with a 260 pound RB on 3rd and 1?
those hands from Crayton are thing of beauty
Clearly the best hands on the team
What hands on that punt by Crayton...
@spp-well, I don't think fox is gonna be too upset with either Giants-Packers or Packers-Cowboys. it's prety much CBS that got screwed over
Maybe he means best hands for juggling?
That ref in the Mac vs. PC commercials would have been better than Jerry Austin was in the SD-Indy game today.
FOX just wants the Packers so they can run endless musical tributes to their man-crush Brett Favre, who, while an amazing football player, is perhaps the most ickily slobbered over player of our generation. Peter King's odes to Favre are positively homoerotic and Buck strays into that territory with him, as well.
As a Bears fan, I am well-acquainted with R-Dub's shortcomings as a CB. Expect more of those.
"you see rodeo cowboys that don't make moves like that" -- Troy
Tony, Tony Tony
Romo - just trying to make a play.
Fortunately for Tony, Tom is coaching against him
Dear Mr. Buck,
Pre-snap penalties nullify penalties that happen after the snap, unless they are personal fouls. Get a clue.
Sincerely,
The NFL Rulebook
I beleive the refs will now do their due dilligence
Webster just became a cuss word in NY.
Worst call of the weekend. What was that????
**BAIL OUT PENALTY ALERT**
wow. that was pretty ticky-tack.
About time with the grounding flag. Geez.
Romo looks like he needs some R&R somewhere on a beach in Mexico
OK - can we at least get that Mac-PC ref to finish out this game?
PM - ref advantage?
j/k :)
Any comment on who the bigger bafoon is between Phillips and Coughlin?
@ed--
Lol! I almost typed it myself. That hands to the face call was atrocious. I propose a new rule that only Ed Hochuli and Mike Carey's crews can do playoff games.
Romo splashed water on his face to mask the tears.
@ssp and pm
The dream matchup the league wants is Cowpokes vs Bellicheats in Super bowl
Goodell has wood over the Giants in the Super Bowl.
Romo is getting more time on his back this game than Jessica did starting her career.
@jgreul - no way. The all time good buys vs. bad guys superbowl is Packers v. Pats. Everybody hates Bellicheat and everybody loves Brett.
Yeah, Romo is getting Nicked up a bit.
@pm - Romo was hoping more for the kneel down.
Rome has fallen apart the last few minutes
Can anyone please explain why my Direc TV is 3 minutes behind the broadcast???
AGGGGHHHH!
Romo in the huddle: "I think it's time for a little 60 stretch far myahhhhh."
I thought Hail Marys were normally tried on the last play. What was that?
Shoulda been picked off. Terrible throw. Romo looking like Grossman more and more.
+1 to hanrahan!
Tis is a career drive for Eli. If he runs this out, he will be seen as legit.
Thought so.
Guy could not have been more wide open on the left side at the LOS.
Tank Johnson with the sack. Now THERE'S a gunslinger.
Who's Dexter Jackson?
@Ed - eli didn't do much, but the play calling was remarkably predictable. If they'd only tried a draw play on that last 3rd down it would have been "perfect".
Which is why he just got sacked on 3rd down.
unstoppable
Did Tom Coughlin lose his play-calling sheet? I think he's called the same two or three plays the entire 4th quarter.
Mal - agree. but any top qb makes that play on 3rd down. the check down was 20 yds open
Nice tackle by Marc Columbo.
Nice tackle by columbo - too bad he was MB3's o-lineman.
God, how the Hell did the Giants make the playoffs with linebackers THIS bad?
That play works with a beach ball in the Mexican sand too.
why are the Jints playing a prevent?
Please God. ANYONE but T.O. ANYONE
They could call a false start on every snap in the shotgun, because Gurode is double-clutching the snap.
New York got away with one there. That was offsides on that one guy from Dallas and everyone on New York's defense.
Thanks for the comment about Rob Riggle. I can't believe that A-B is using this guy as a spokesman, given that he regularly appears on The Daily Show as a journalistic buffoon.
Buck really knows how to make that Terminator show sound exciting.
Buck went to the Thom Brennaman school of enthusiastic broadcasting.
Odds on PI on this play?
Ladies and Gentlemen, introducing the new good Manning brother.
Bye bye Cowboys.
That sound you hear is the Legend of Tony Romo crashing to earth.
Well, that does it. I'm going to have to take all of Peyton's stuff back and buy one of those watches now.
So who had the moneyline parlay today? Wow.
What's the countdown to T.O. laying blame?
And Tom Coughlin just got a contract extension.
67 million for that slop
I can't wait til next Sunday when Eli folds under the pressure of playing in 4-degree weather in Lambeau. I will be partying on Holmgren Way all day.
@kushiro - looking forward to that TO press conference tonight. But, can't be better than The Terminator, Sarah Conner Chronicles which starts tonight at 8 on Fox.
Holy crap. Now we get to hear about the Abominable Snowman a.k.a. Brett Favre and how undefeatable he is in the forzen tundra of Lambeau Field, but if Mike Vick can take down the Pack at Lambeau in the playoffs, Eli can take them down.
3 extra weeks to spend on the beach!
PM --
Difference between that Packers team and this Packers team, we don't have a pear-shaped calling the shots.
The big winner today: Citizen Eco-Drive Watches
Pear-shaped loser that is...
@anon 7:54:
Does that mean that Oreo cookies pushed (Peyton lost, Eli won)?
@anon 7:57
Oreos pushed, Mastercard's the big loser
We all lose with that Oreo campaign:
http://www.nabisco.com/oreo/dsrl/default.aspx
(Killer headband, Eli)
I'm not a Giants fan by all means but I'm a Redskins fan and I'm extremely so happy the Cowboys lost!!!! :) Looks like the analysts sweep picks before the game jinxed Dallas just like I wanted that to lol ;) yay!!!
Actual conversation that just took place in my apartment:
Me: So, Stadium View (bar about a half block from Lambeau) at 11:00 AM next weekend?
Roommate: Oh, God.
Gotta love Green Bay.
Did anybody see Jerry Jones face on the sideline after the game ?
He's gonna make himself coach next year, after he buys Romo a chastity belt.
haha
we did it!!!!!!!!
Back to Mexico for some... R and R!
TO better get his popcorn ready so he and Craighton can watch the game in TO's home theatre next week! Friggin crybaby and mr mouth there. "Oh, am gonna play at a high level". 0 catches 2nd half!!!! ZERO!!!!!
Hmm, a Fuck-Marry-Kill on Romo's women? Now that's my kind of challenge!
F: Jessica Simpson
M: Carrie Underwood ($$$$$$$)
K: Sophia Bush
Love Mark (sp) schlereth on ESPN saying of course the vacation was wrong, if he wanted to get away from everyone, stay in your house!
romo's not getting laid. these stupid blondes are just using him for some extra pub on the sports pages. the dude's UGLY!!!
http://youtube.com/watch?v=PNO6On7cK1M
Terrell Owens crying, lmfao.
14-14 at halftime. I've seen this movie before...the plucky, much maligned good guy leads the underdog team to victory over the popular kid's favored douchebaggy team, and then the maligned good guy gets the girl and lives happily ever after.
...until next week when Jessica starts dating Eli and he sets an NFL record for INTs in a game.