SNF Live-Blog: Giants @ Eagles, First Half
Sunday, November 09, 2008
Brandon Jacobs and his luxury ride are ready to roll over the Eagles' front four tonight, as we recover from two great games (one expected to be so, one not so much, but elevated by announcer and surprising play) by heading right into what should be another good one.
"The Giants won both meetings last year [with the Eagles]." - Al Michaels
"And all 4 of those games came down to the last play." - John Madden (via JFein)
Madden, forgetting basic math in the NFL schedule. No teams meet more than twice in one year, of course, unless they happen to be division rivals who play each other in the playoffs.
Andrea Kremer in the purple coat, telling us about the defensive coordinator mentor-student match-up in Philly's Jim Johnson and NY's Steve Spagnuolo. Giants will receive the kickoff. Ahmad Bradshaw brings it out to the 22. Jacobs gets the first carry for four yards. Eli Manning spreads out in the shotgun and throws over the middle to Amani Toomer. Manning's next pass is tipped by Mike Patterson, and the defensive lineman comes down with it and rumbles to the Giants' 10! Philly ball.
Donovan McNabb gets rushed by Justin Tuck, and has to sail one out of bounds on 1st and goal. Wildcat formation with DeSean Jackson in the shotgun -- he rushes to the sideline, stretches, and TOUCHDOWN, EAGLES! Akers kick is up and good, 7-0, Eagles.
Everyone's got a fuckin' Wildcat package now. Derrick Ward kneels on the kickoff after bobbling it.
Alright we get the Manning Face early. - 49er16.
The Eagles using the wildcat, wow, who knew Andy Reid was capable. Wait, is it still the wildcat if the wide receiver takes the direct snap like Jackson just did? - JFein
It is to me, anyway. Jacobs gets 9 on first down and then Ward gets a few more to move the chains. Manning hits Kevin Boss at the 35 yard line, complete with Jeremy Shockey reference by Al. Handoff to Ward, and he gets about four after getting bumped around early in the rush. Manning hits Boss again past midfield on a 3rd down play fake and rollout for 21 yards. Shotgun on first, the pass to Michael Matthews sails over his head.
"Ward, it's a 3-headed, or, hydra-headed monster" - Al Michaels, trying to describe the triple-RB attack of the Giants. (Via JFein)
Jacobs rumbles inside the 20 for another first. Ward runs out of the shotgun for two or three, and they're talking about Chris Snee, Giants right guard and son-in-law of Tom Coughlin.
"We asked him about that, what it's like when he has a bad day and is complaining about his coach. He told us that his wife says, 'Suck it up.'" - Al
"She's her father's daughter." - John
3rd and 9, Manning to Plaxico Burress in the back of the end zone for a score, TOUCHDOWN, GIANTS. Kick is up and good, 7-7 tie.
That was quick. Kickoff to Quentin Demps, and he catches a case of fumbleitis! Chase Blackburn recovers it at the Philly 15. Nice job by Ahmad Bradshaw to knock the ball away. Manning misses Madison Hedgecock on 3rd down, and the Eagles limit the Giants to a field goal try.
Heh....Hedgecock. John Carney to try an FG, up and good, 10-7, G-men.
"So it's a 86-year old combination to try a field goal, and it's good." - Al, as we are taken to break by Stone Temple Pilots. Demps takes the kickoff out to the 36, and we get Seal's cover of the Steve Miller Band's "Fly Like An Eagle." Hey, it's better than "Gonna Fly Now," right? Right.
It's hard to believe Donny Mac has been in Philly for 10 years. Man, that's a long time for Syracuse football to be completely irrelevant. L.J. Smith drops the first down pass. Westbrook gets his first carry for a couple. Incomplete again to Smith, and the Eagles are gonna punt. Sav Rocca boots one into the end zone. Touchback, as NBC gives us the Black Crowes covering Otis Redding's "Hard to Handle."
Ward picks up 7 yards on the first carry.
"Kareem Ward looking very professorial." - Al
"They're gonna catch heck for that. There's an old rule: offensive linemen never pose." - John, after a display of mag shot type photos of the Giants' offensive line
Toomer catches another one over the middle near midfield, breaking down the anti-bodies in the Philly D's immune system. Ward gets eight more, 2nd and 2, then catches the next play and gains 14. He's tackled by Joselio Hanson, who isn't notable save for being caught naked during a locker room interview a while back.
Brandon Jacobs busts through for some more yardage, as John says, "That's a lot of weight to fit into one hole." 3rd and 7 at the Eagles' 10 now, after a couple of failed plays. Manning throws to Toomer again at the 1-yard line, and the first quarter ends with a first and goal for the Giants.
Madden has a rager over Toomer because he went to De La Salle High School in the Bay Area. Madden speaks every year at their football awards show. - 49er16
Useful, and good to know. Manning, play fake, hit as he throws -- right to Kevin Boss in the back of the zone again over the middle. Touchdown, Eagles. Kick up and good, 17-7, Giants.
The Eagles have landed, early.
"Nobody misses Tiki Barber, I mean, he's a great guy, but..." - Al, backtracking so as not to make it awkward when he and Barber run into each other or talk before games on FNIA any more than it has to be. Demps takes the kickoff to the Philly 48, but they won't be happy with him until he takes one to the house to make up for fumbling.
Westbrook to midfield for three yards. McNabb is nearly picked off by Aaron Ross on 2nd down, he read the pattern easy and had safety help. 3rd and 7 is incomplete, as Kenny Phillips gets right in McNabb's face. Sav Rocca will come on to punt again. Domenik Hixon fair catches inside the 20.
The boo-birds are already out at the Linc, and they beat my O/U of 5:30 in the 2nd. Damn.
Jacobs rumbles out to the 34, Ward get ssome more after that and Manning throws to him on 2nd down for about six or seven.
"And if he gets 1,000 yards a year for a while, he'll be the one owning movies. What do they call them, investors....moguls." - John on Derrick Ward, who used to be a production assistant for TV after college at Fresno State.
Play fake and all the receivers are covered, so Trent Cole gets ahold of Eli Manning for the first sack of the game on the younger slack-jawed yokel. Philly takes a timeout to an NBC bump of Lenny Kravitz's "Are You Gonna Go My Way" (which is probably the last good song he's written and that was 17 years ago.)
John does a useful breakdown of why the Eagles can't load up on the run: safety has to stay back to keep Plaxico Burress honest. Kevin Boss gets the catch, but nearly gets to the first down. Jeff Feagles comes on to punt to DeSean Jackson. Punt goes out of bounds at the 18.
Yeah, the prevent defense. We all know what that means. - James Craven
Yup, it means you want to prevent yourself from winning. Jackson goes end around for a first down. McNabb overthrows again; he's still lacking a completion. He hits Reggie Brown for six yards to get off the schneid. Donny Mac goes over to Jackson at midfield, and it's dropped on third down. Here comes another punt.
Oh yay, an Eli Manning Citizen EcoDrive ad. Y'know, we made fun of those for the longest time, and then he actually justified those ads calling him "unstoppable" last year. Followed two ads later by Paula Creamer, lady golfer, getting her own EcoDrive ad.
Yes, and more please.
Jacobs, rumbling....FUMBLE!! And Mike Patterson comes up with another turnover. McNabb hits Jason Avant inside the 25.
"The Eagles offense trying to get on track, and when they get on track, it will be Westbrook doing the on-tracking". - Al (via JFein)
DeSean Jackson on the end around again, gets to the 15, and Sam Madison hits him out of bounds, so make that first and goal at the 8. So, let's see: get ball in DeSean Jackson's hands, get massive amounts of yardage. How hard is this, Andy Reid? McNabb to Avant, who drags a defender with him into the end zone, TOUCHDOWN, EAGLES! Akers' kick is up and good, 17-14, Giants.
"He beats the rookie Terrell Thomas from USC, who looked like a rookie on that play." - Al
Derrick Ward takes it out to the 34, and as we get a reel of the Giants' errors, Al describes them as "ignominious." +1 for a $50 word, Al. Manning throws it into the ground on the play fake, and we got a Joe Biden sighting in Jeff Lurie's owners' box. 3rd and 4 is incomplete, as Steve Smith is tackled by Joselio Hanson and his extra appendage. Big stop for Philly, and Jackson is back for the punt return. Feagles kicks it out of bounds.
"Most coaches have muttered minds. Most wedge-breakers have muttered minds." - John
McNabb throws to Jackson on a screen, but it loses yardage. That coordinator story was good: Spagnuolo wanted to leave Philly to go join Brad Childress in Minnesota, but Reid said no, and said he could take the next DC job he was offered -- which turned out to be the Giants.
"Andy said, 'I made a bad move there.'" - Al, on that move.
McNabb goes for Jackson again in double coverage, and gets picked by Sam Madison at the 35, who gets a nice chunk of yardage on the return. Ward buries in for a few, it's 3rd and 4 after a couple plays at the Philly 8. Manning goes for Boss, it's incomplete, and here comes Jay Carney again. FG try is up and good, 20-14, Giants.
McNabb on a screen to Westbrook for 9, after John finishes rambling about how good of a cook Donovan McNabb's mom was. Gunned over the middle to the Giants 44 to L.J. Smith, Philly calls time out. Another pass completed, and McNabb spikes it to stop the clock.
Ah yes, it's nice to see we're channeling Iowa at the end of the first half with our clock management. - JFein
Westbrook lunges outside for a first down at the 32, and Philly takes another time out with 36 seconds left in the half. McNabb hits over the middle, then runs another play to Westbrook, who scampers to the 11 and gets out of bounds. Shot at the end zone to Kevin Curtis is incomplete, and the FG team comes on.
Akers bangs it through, and the half ends 20-17, Giants. Be seeing you in the second half thread.
106 Comments:
I put my dick into an alligators mouth, and then he CHOMPED and shit, and my dick being so powerfully awesome ripped the alligators head into shreds!
Keith in "Little Big Show": "Of course [Mason Crosby] missed [a 52-yard field goal against the Vikings], he was crossed up by the graphic!"
All we need is Swearing Man to comment.
Anyone want to agree not to allow anonymous posts in the future?
Dear God, NO, SSReporters! Not Swearing Man!!!
@ James, this happens time to time, I'm sure it will die down soon.
Gus Johnson was great once again today.
I'll try not to let my homerism get in the way...
"We're 6-3 , I think. We won pretty convincingly" - The Gunslinger at a postgame conference on NFLN.
"The Panthers go home to take on the Lions next week." - Eisen
"That's a homecoming" - Deion Sanders
"The Giants won both meetings last year [with the Eagles]." - Al Michaels
"And all 4 of those games came down to the last play." - John Madden
Al was talking about last year. John was talking about the last 4 meetings between these Eagles and the Giants in Philly.
Alright we get the Manning Face early.
Eli Manning trying (and failing) to tackle Mike Patterson was sort of humerous.
The Eagles using the wildcat, wow, who knew Andy Ried was capable.
Wait, is it still the wildcat if the wide receiver takes the direct snap like Jackson just did?
"Ward, it's a 3-headed, or, hydra-headed monster" - Al Michaels
What?
What was Al talking about there
And Michaels was talking about the Giants 3 running backs after mentioning Ward.
jfein
Hydra is a multi-headed monster from Greek mythology.
Chris Snee is Coughlin's son-in-law. Al is going to the tired storyline use only in the case of blowout material early.
This really isn't fair to Donovan McNabb. Only one play under center thus far.
@ jg: Maybe he figures he has to get the blowout story lines early because there's very little chance of this game being a blowout.
Either that, or Al had a couple of Johnnie Walkers before the game and somehow in his mind 7-0 (the score when he said that) is a blowout.
"Demps again, gets some redemption." - Al Michaels
No, redemption in the mind of us Philly fans would have been taking that to the House (or at the very least inside field goal range).
If they're gonna play Seal, they have to give us the Heidi Klum Guitar Hero commercial in the same break.
Yea, about the only part Al left out was Snee played for Coughlin at Boston College.
"Donovan McNabb does not throw interceptions" - John Madden
That's because McNabb either misses low where only an ant can catch it, or he way overthrows the deep ball, where only the guy in the third row can catch it.
Those Mac commercials do have a point, Vista does suck.
Although on the flip side, I have a friend with a Mac who had important data on the Mac and it crashed. So maybe a Mac is not all that better. But yeah, I really miss XP.
Last thought on computers, Microsoft actually now lets you downgrade from Vista to XP for an extra $100-...
"They have 6 interchangeable WR's and they use them all." - Madden acting dumbfounded that the Eagles would actually use all the players on their roster.
Did not know Al reads GQ
Is Reid able to make it through an entire half without eating or does he have someone bring him a cheesestake during commercials?
Madden has a rager over Toomer because he went to De La Salle High School in the Bay Area. Madden speaks every year at their football awards show.
90 seconds, impressive!
John Madden just talked about how Tom Coughlin was saying that the Eagles goalline defense is the best he's ever seen. Well the Giants are at the one foot line, so we'll see.
And that opinion from Tom Coughlin comes from personal experience.
"The closer to the end zone you get, the better their defense is." - Madden, I hope so the goal is to keep them from scoring.
Why is Al sitting and John standing? Al must think he's Joe Buck, always trying to be shorter on camera than his analyst...
What's more played, Brett Favre traded to NY, Tom Brady knee injury, or the Tom Coughlin was almost fired last year, then lead the team to the Super Bowl.
@ S2N: Al is probably already at uncomfortable at those meetings as Keith Olbermann is there. And isn't Al Michaels really conservative?
@ 49er16: Brett Favre to NY.
"Tiki retired nobody misses him"
"Shockey traded to the Saints nobody misses him" - Al, stating the obvious
JFein - if so, I don't know much about it.
Jonathan Goff is tougher than you.
What a scary-looking collision.
Are Philly fans ready to riot already?
Okay, 49er16, another option is "All of the above".
Remember, 49er16, if we win, we riot. If we lose, we riot...
Anyone else catch the comment on Brees chewing Shokey's ass today? On the CBS postgame, they show a clip of Brees just laying into Shockey, and someone at the CBS desk (Boomer?) says,"See, that's what Eli should've done, then Shockey would've respected him."
GM Financing that fits = Buy a car from us while you still can.
So Eli didn't "Manning Up" oh Shockey?
PM - saw that, loved it. Brees doesn't take any shit. He knows he's the man in NO.
If Brandon Jacobs had played 15 years ago, he'd have been an o-lineman or a TE.
"Here's ward, drafted by the Jets, er, drafted by the Giants." - Al Michaels
After seeing Sarah Palin would be on [i]Today[/i] this week, I think we may be better off with Tina Fey-as-Sarah Palin for that interview!
Yeah, S2N, it was good to see. Shockey's needed someone to put him on blast on the sideline for years. I'm just amazed by the perfect hindsight that Dan and Boomer have.
Has the Eagles' alarm clock gone off after Eli got sacked?
PM saw that too. Shockey just another arrogant player from the U.
GM Financing That Fits.
We're more desperate than that fucking Toyota "Saved By Zero" shit!
Gotta love NBC's conflicting graphics. The on-field arrow said 2nd and 20, while the scoreboard said 2nd and 19.
Yeah, the prevent defense.
We all know what that means.
@ S2N: The only thing that I remember from Kravitz was that song a few years ago that went something like "Once you dig in, you'll find it coming out the other side". That song always gave me a bad mental picture.
And could the sound that graphic made get anymore annoying???? Holy shit!
Like I said a few minutes ago, the alarm clock must have gone off on the Iggles' sidelines...
@ James Craven: They must have hit the snooze button.
And Andrea is talking about McNabb's streakiness. I really hope she doesn't have thoughts of Joselio Hanson in her mind...
No, Al. In the words of Chase Utley, the "World FUCKING Champion" Philadelphia Phillies!
Those lights under the Schuylkill (or "Surekill") River Bridges need to be replaced soon.
Surekill Distressway joke for all the Philly blogmeisters.
That smarts for Jacobs. He takes a vicious hit and he develops a case of fumbleitis! That replay made me cringe!
Does the internet feed have a dedicated cheerleader camera ?
"The Eagles offense trying to get on track, and when they get on track, it will be Westbrook doing the on-tracking". - Al Michaels making little sense.
Sorry, jg. Can't help ya on the cheerleader cam!
First penalty and only an hour and fifteen minutes into the game...
That'll be an extra 15. And let me tell you what, he may make some bone-headed mistakes from time-to-time, but DeSean Jackson is the real deal. I was stoked when he initially drafted him and I'm certainly glad we got him.
Jonron!
jamescraven
I was just hoping, as a Skins fan this is a no win game for me.
Yay, we're being outgained 232-67!
A three city trip with Nickelback? Is it a reward or a punishment?
That was a long day yesterday with the Pammy Chronicles and over 300 posts. Must be some sort of regular season record for a live blog...
BTW, will there be a World Series of poker November Nine live blog Tuesday, so we can poke fun at Norman Chad's endless jokes about his many ex-wives?
@ jg: Well, look on the bright side, one team will lose.
All right, our VP-elect, Joe Biden is in the house.
Joe Bidden looks like a used car salesman.
And he's smarter than Sarah Palin!
We like to get drunk and boo a lot
Michaels: "I'm not sure how you mutter in your mind, but you know what I mean."
@49er16.... that would be a used-car salesman from Scranton fesh off his latest botox injection.
Also, Paula Creamer sounds like a porn star name.
@ James Craven: I'm pretty sure even George Bush is smarter than Sarah Palin, but I digress.
The eagles taketh, and they giveth back...
jfein
The Giants winning puts the division further out of reach, and the Eagles winning makes the wildcard tighter, so maybe I can get a tie out of this.
And jfein, George Bush XLI is a lot fucking smarter than Adolph Bush XLIII!
What a shocker five dollar footlongs
I TOUCH 10 YEAR OLD BOYS AND I GET AN ORGASM!
Enjoy the heightened security getting into sports events, Philadelphia if Biden will be a regular guest at them.
So hare, that five dollar footlong line somehow sounds like a cheap porno joke...
Stay classy, pervert man, and stay under that bridge looking for those three billy goats' gruff, ya fucking troll!
Subway > Quizno's
Here's hoping the Eagles can channel the 49ers and block this field goal.
Or not.
"And the former notre damer will bang this one through". - Al Michaels
Whoa!
No Saved By Zero?
JamesCraven we have five dollar footlongs too.
@ James Craven: He must be a relative of swearing man.
Mmmmmmmmm... Thanksgiving... hey, we're home that night!
DAMN FUCKING STRAIGHT MOTHERFUCKING PERVERT MAN SHIT!!!!!!!!
Hey, subway. That was meant as a joke!
Subway > Quizno's
I found that out the hard way after I ducked out early of the abomination that was the AI home debut against the Celtics.
Shocking! Madden ate at the team dinner.
Ah yes, it's nice to see we're channeling Iowa at the end of the first half with our clock management.
[sarcasm]Swearing Man: Once again, I say "stay classy."[/sarcasm]
I HAVE A FOOTLONG!!!
Using your final timeout with 36 seconds in this situation is never a good idea...
@pervert man: Stop it. Just stop it.
Now you know why. Now we only have a chance for one shot in the endzone...
Andy Reid learns from Mike Holmgren when it comes to stupidly taking timeouts.
Well, it's 20-17 G-Men at the intermission...
Saved by Zero!
CHUG!
@ S2N: And the other game was de-elevated by Jim Ward, er, Nantz.
I'll make a pledge right now to try not to get too emotional or too homerish for this live-blog.