NFC Divisional Playoff Live Blog: Eagles @ Giants, 2nd Half
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Because it really isn't a Giants game live-blog if I don't get Abby Manning in there somewhere, right?
Demps takes the kickoff out to the Eagles 47. McNabb to the Avant Garde for a two yard pass. McNabb's pass is knocked down, and it's in the hands of D-lineman Fred Robbins! He rumbles over to the Eagle 30 until Kevin Curtis brings him down.
I don't think I've ever seen 300-lbs move like that before in my life. - JFein
Jacobs drags defenders with him inside the 20 for a first down. He then gets five more on the next carry. Screen to Ward is dropped, who was running before making the catch. The third down pass is behind Kevin Boss, and Carney will have to try for another FG. Kick is up and good, 11-10, Giants.
We'd like to advise Kevin Gilbride to stop being clever and run Brandon Jacobs until Philly proves it can stop him consistently. Right now, I understand why Buddy Ryan punched him in the mouth back in the day, and I'm sure some Giants fans would like to do the same.
Eagles start at the 25, McNabb's pass is off the hands of Celek. After a hold, it's 2nd and 20. Incomplete to Brian Westbrook, 3rd down. McNabb to Avant Garde, wide open, and Avant gets past the first down marker! Donny Mac has a gimme deep ball dropped by Curtis, but an illegal hands to the face penalty is called on the Giants (not much there, ticky-tack). Buckhalter catches a pass for a couple yards and gets nailed. James Butler stops Buckhalter in Giant territory on the run play.
Matt Damon! That's who Myers looks like with that silly hat on! - Anon @ 3:04
Yup, straight out of Ocean's Eleven. Pass incomplete to Avant. McNabb has all day -- finds Buckhalter in the middle and gets a first down on a 3rd and 10. Up the gut with Westbrook for four more yards. Donny goes for Westbrook in the end zone and overthrows him. After another incomplete, Akers hits another FG. 13-11, Eagles.
No one apparently wants to win this game that badly. Bradshaw returns the kick to the 32 yard line.
McNabb could have pulled out a cell phone, call his mom, have her cook and bring him a can of Campbell's Chunky Soup, eat said chunky soup, and still have time to complete that pass. - JFein
Rush for three yards to start. Jacobs gets two more to the left. Eli drops back and goes deep for Domenik Hixon -- and they finally connect in Philly territory! Eli aims high for Hixon, incomplete. Jacobs goes for the right side and gets nothing. Carney on for a long try -- and that's no good from 47.
Westbrook again up the middle for five yards to start. 2nd down incomplete, McNabb got pressured by Barry Cofield. McNabb hits Curtis for eight yards on a five-stepper; great throw away from the coverage by Corey Webster. Webster breaks up the next one to Curtis, and Coach Sgt. Hartman is FURIOUS. Um....he was kinda going for the ball there, ref. A left hand on the left shoulder wasn't enough....and they picked up the flag.
Now Andy Reid is angry too. The only time you see him show this much emotion is when he's thinking Arby's. (Cheap joke, I know.) Next play gets a face mask on Antonio Pierce, getting the Eagles another first down -- and McNabb then hits Curtis at the Giants' 13 for another 15. Celek for another five on the next pass play. Westbrook up the middle for 3 yards; 3rd and 1. Interesting that Reid's going to a running game balance and using him up the middle. That's not his usual play-calling trend.
Pitch left to Westbrook; he gets outside and the first -- and starts first and goal at the three. McNabb drops back, easy flip to Celek in the left corner of the end zone, TOUCHDOWN, EAGLES! Akers' kick is up and good, 20-11, Philly.
Who falls for this play? The tight end either runs this route or across the middle EVERY DAMN TIME. Anyway, G-men have the ball, and Jacobs rushes 11 yards to start it off. He bounces off the right and goes back left for five more yards. 3rd and short after Jacobs gets plugged up.
"That was an interesting play call by Kevin Gilbride there." - Troy, being too diplomatic to say it sucked. Coughlin now has to challenge the spot.
Bill Simmons called this the year that Home field advantage died. Shouldn't every Road dog win? Look out Steelers. - frankasu03
Giants Stadium is not exactly State of the Art. Wind still affects the hell out of everything and it's creaky and ugly. If we're going by those rules, home field ought to apply -- and I can't believe that Eli hasn't figured out how to throw a tighter spiral in this place yet. No wonder they were so happy to go on the road and play all through last year's playoffs.
And Coach Sgt. Hartman just gave away a time out. Eli on the QB sneak -- and he didn't get jack. Eagles' ball!
Westbrook picks up three on the carry. Throw to Curtis, short on the play. 3rd and 5. Swing out to Westbrook, short by two yards. Good tackle by Webster. Rocca punts to Hixon, calls for the fair catch.
Gilbride is a moron. You have a 6'4", 264 pound running back in Brandon Jacobs and you run a QB sneak on 4th and 1? Come on, dude. Derrick Ward gets a first down with 14 yards out to the 25. Another first down for Ward with a two yard carry. Jacobs picks up a yard. Juqua Parker stuffs the run on 3rd -- and Coughlin's gonna go for this one -- has to.
A scary thought: Andy Reid is still making poor challenges and some bad play calls, but he must be transferring his crappy essence on the opposing sideline, too. First Brad Childress, now Kevin Gilbride is getting affected by the suck (although Gilbride has blown for years; one of the great mysteries is how the Giants won an SB with him calling plays.)
And Brandon Jacobs gets stuffed on 4th down. Measurement coming, but he looked short. Yep, turnover on downs.
McNabb airs it out for DeSean Jackson, who beats Corey Webster, and he's down at the one, I think. Looked like his knee hit before he lost the ball, but he fell on it in the end zone anyway. Westbrook stopped on first and goal, and gets caught in mid-air on 2nd down; lost a yard. The Eagles, no matter what, are not a goal line rushing team, period. Play action, boyos.
Turfed and incomplete for Hank Baskett. Kendra isn't happy. Akers on for 21-yard FG try....up and good, 23-11, Eagles. We can probably put this sucker on ice barring anything too stupid.
Manning to Toomer near midfield for a first. Buck talks about Plaxico Burress; I honestly don't believe Plax would have made that much of a difference. I think Jim Johnson would have taken his chances with loading up the box if they saw Eli throwing in the wind like that the whole game....and Eli throws another pick, this one to Quinton Mykell.
McNabb scrambles for nine yards....and dear God, the NFC championship game's gonna be in Glendale, Arizona. Jesus. Please tell me the Chargers aren't going to win. I can't deal with the possibility of a Bolts-Cards Super Bowl. McNabb gets an unsportsmanlike penalty for apparently picking up the phone on the Giants sideline. Neither Spags nor Gilbride are usually in the booth for them, so I wonder whom he was thanking for Eli sucking.
Hixon takes the Rocca punt back to the 20 yard line...and Eli nearly threw another pick. Two minute warning.
I said it once and I'll say it again. Eli Manning was looking ahead... to the Oreo Double Stuff Racing League battle with the Williams sisters. - PricelessCommentary
Joe Buck's outrage at Donny Mac's phone call reminds me of his disgust at Randy Moss faux-mooning Green Bay: totally fake, manufactured, and utter bullshit. Another turnover on downs for the Giants, and we're really just waiting for the kneel downs. Final score is 23-11, Philly, and the NFC championship game will be the Eagles visiting the Buzzsaw That Is The Arizona Cardinals in the Pink Taco next Sunday.
See you up in the 2nd live-blog for Philip and Nantzy Boy in Yinzer Central.
120 Comments:
I hate Chris Berman, when Robbins made that interception, all I could think of was rumblin' and stumblin'. I need some Deux Deux Deux.
Manning face!
Abandon the run again!
Giants feed off crowd. Robbins feeds ON crowd
Wow nice big Manning face after that wobbler on 3rd and 5.
is it possible Arizona is actually better then both of these teams?
"As that ball just went knuckling to Kevin Boss." - Joe Buck forgetting that he's doing a football game.
Wow, what's with the whole Vegas-Polamalu controversy re-emerging today? We have the re-match with SD and Pitt and this game is 11-10.
+1, frankasu03.
Abby Manning gets her picture taken with Mickey and Goofy.
No, Joe. It's a FIELD GOAL. A try, or try for point, is what you get after you score a touchdown. Didn't you listen to your daddy when he had NFL games?
The Lead on ESPN Bottom Line:
Eagles, Giants face off for right to play Cards
WPT meets NFL?
I was rooting for a fat guy to score. Because first you get a fat guy spike, then you get the fat guy dance.
And Joe Buck just pronounce penalty as PEEN-ALTY?
Dave Sims is callin the Giant-Eagle game with Jim Fassel on Westwood One. It is unbearable to listen to. Sims is constantly screaming into the microphone like a lunatic. How this guy has a play-by-play job is a joke.
I've been listening to sports talk radio on ESPN and Fox for years, and recently I've noticed the decibel level of the broadcasters is increasingly in ear splitting territory. The dramatic game call can be achieved in a professional and verbally understandable manner.
The local announcers are even worse since they're total homers. As if they were fans watching the game and not responsible for simply telling the listener what is going on.
What an effort by McNabb and Avant! Damn, the Eagles need more of that.
Matt Damon! That's who Myers looks like with that silly hat on!
Better Automobile: Avant? or Celek?
If Avant catches a few more, Andy Reid will stop calling plays fro him because its too successful.
@ Anon @ 3:03: While I've never heard Bob Papa do a Giants game on radio, as an Eagle fan I can atest to the fact that our radio PbP man, Merrill Reese is as big of an Eagles homer as they come.
Is it possible for me to poof to the Meadowlands and strangle Kevin Curtis for dropping that TD pass?
JFein -- Do you do anything in life beside blog on this site? What a little nit-picker you are. Do you still take a binky to school with you?
McNabb could have pulled out a cell phone, call his mom, have her cook and bring him a can of Campbell's Chunky Soup, eat said chunky soup, and still have time to complete that pass.
And wow, the Cardinals must be licking their chops. These guys are dropping like flies.
Do you think pierce told Tuck to "kneel before Zod!!"? He should try that against Westbrook
@ anon 3:11 - if you're gonna criticize the regulars you gotta be brave enough to attach your name to your dumb remarks.
What a throw.
Stay douchy, anon 3:11/
Why is Lawrence Tynes not kicking?
The Giants are going to lose this game because Kevin Gilbride is being pass-happy.
Hey, be kind to Anon @ 3:11. I love my binky....
If it was not for the fact that I'm an Eagles fan, this game would have me fast asleep. But because I am an Eagles fan, I'm holding my breath on every poor play and every bad decision.
This game just has the feeling that someone, sometime will break through.
Meh, that one could have gone both ways. It's a ticky-tacky call and a ticky-tacky non-call.
As a Dallas fan, I'm getting more and more angry at this game, because even the Dallas that choked everything away in December would probably be winning this game.
As I stated before, Arizona fans are loving this game, especially since the Eagles still have the lead.
This game is even making AA sloppy, since the Eagles are up 13-11, not 12-11.
And if the Eagles hold on, three of the four wild card teams will be playing in the conference championship games, while seven of the eight division winners will be watch at home with us Cowboys fans.
And the great time-out wasting continues by both teams.
Oh yay, one 2nd half timeout blown by Andy Reid, two more to go.
/Wait's for challenge of the penalty.
Was that a bank robber or a ball dude?
Blech. Fuck. Fixing score, Zidane.
Major Facemask? Is that anything like Corporal Punishment or Private Parts?
Not sure if anyone is aware of this, but the Giants haven't registered a sack on McNabb. Just thought I'd be the first person to point that out.
I bet the Giants really miss Winston Justice...
The Eagles will blow the Giants out.
Through 3 quarters - combined QB rating of 70.9.
I didn't mean you making an honest mistake on the score as an insult or anything. I was just pointing out that a game this sloppy is even throwing the viewers at home off their own games, lol. Heck, even I feel lethargic right now, and I love watching NFC East games. I apologize.
The Eagles are going to go to the Super Bowl and win it.
Watch it.
This is Philly's year.
And Arizona fans everywhere start dancing in the streets as it is now a two-possession game.
Wow. An actual great playcall by Andy Reid and friends.
Zidane, I appreciate anyone pointing out where I screw up. Score is important, and frankly, a 13-11 score will throw anyone off.
Bill Simmons called this the year that Home field advantage died. Shouldn't every Road dog win? Look out Steelers.
@ S2N: There's a good chance that Andy Reid was not mad about that penalty but rather the referees' refusal to go out and bring him back Arby's.
Wow....I can't believe the Eagles are up by 2 scores.
The only thing more worthless than QB rating is ProBowl / All Star Game voting.
This game is not over. Pacman's career is.
@ SSR: And to think that if the Eagles win this, they are going to play the Cardinals in Arizona, which just so happens to be the place where Donovan McNabb works out in the offseason.
Honestly, before 2008, this kind of stuff did not happen to Philadelphia. Oh wait, it did, but we choked...
Depends on the spot - Thom Brenneman, I mean, Joe Buck.
Terrible challenge by Coughlin, they will only have 1 timeout left now.
Why can't Mike Golic get Andy Reid a good deal on Nutrisystem?
That detention commercial is hilarious.
Whoa, Tom Coughlin is really channeling his inner Andy Reid with that challenge.
Mike Nolan thinks that was a good challenge.
"To take a challenge, you have to be pretty certain you are going to win the challenge in these types of situations."--Aikman
Wow.
Joe B: "Coughlin either with his eyes or with his heart thought he saw Ward make the 1st down".
Manning wasn't even close on that sneak.
Right play call for New York, just poor execution.
If Mike Carey had spotted the ball even farther back like Joe Buck had mentioned, the Giants would win the challenge and still have two timeouts because the spot changed, right?
And Eli Manning single-handedly proves that the QB sneak is not always the best option.
@ Mal: Joe Buck must have money on the Giants...
And the Eagles are NFC Champions.
Why not give it to Jacobs? I've heard he is a pretty big guy and quite difficult to tackle.
Great tackle by Webster, how did Westbook's pants stay on?
JFein, that was the right playcall for the Eagles.
Sorry, but if Jacobs is barreling over people, why not have him go at it?
Actually, now that I think about it, why didn't the Giants on 4th down hand it off to Brandon Jacobs?
Troy Aikman must have some "conjunction" version of turrets. Every sentence he utters has excessive "ands" and "buts" tossed around.
@JFein: Joe Buck works for Fox. Fox wants the Giants for ratings, right?
Apparently Eli Manning has had a poor day. Thankfully Joe Buck was not calling the Jake Delhomme game yesterday...then I could have heard about him having the worst birthday ever ad nauseam.
@ SSR: I wouldn't be so fast to crown the Eagles. They've blown many games before that were like this. And also, the Cardinals seem to do best when nobody picks them and frankly, I don't think anyone will pick them no matter who wins this game.
Anyone notice the clock has stopped?
@ Secor314: Actually, I think Kenny, Moose, and Goose already covered that ad nauseam. They brought that up way too many times. Of course, Buck would only bring it up more...
@Mal: more than the 'ands' and 'buts', Aikman says 'you know' all the time. He and Madden do it ad naseum.
Andy Reid has hacked into the communication to Eli's helmet.
Eagles are going to Glendale!
The 2009 NFC championship....it's for the Birds...
Hey, I'm willing to say that Coughlin was channeling his inner Norv Turner with that challenge.
The red line is unofficial, and the Giants still didn't make it.
Fire Kevin Gilbride!!!
It will be an Eagles/Steelers Super Bowl. Book it.
Am I the only one annoyed by the Wendy's 3conomics commercial?
And BWAlaska, Aikman and madden have less "you knows" combined than Sweet Caroline (BOM BOM BOM!) Kennedy. Good times never felt so good (SO GOOD! SO GOOD!! SO GOOD!!!) for Eagles fans.
Oh and by the way, one more thing, let's call another terrible play on fourth down!!!!!
Game over.
Andy Reid is now the greatest Eagles coach of all time.
Eagles are Super Bowl bound.
A challenge would've come in handy. The replay showed D-Jax stepping out of bounds at the 7.
@JC: touche
This game is OVER!
Kendra almost got wet.
@ SSR: I'd think I take Eagles/Ravens in the Battle of the Six-Seeds.
Now it's Akers turn to make an ugly looking field goal at that end of the field.
Upon closer look in one reply, D-Jax wasn't even OB.
Real robots don't taunt...
Coughlin face, please?
Pam Oliver: "The Giants are starting to get that look about them".
Could that "look" be Eli face?
Quack Quack Quack.
Am I the only one who feels like I am listening to a Giant radio broadcast? Buck sucks.
Manning face!
I'm not hearing too many Eagles suck chants now......
FUCK YOU FIXED 29! I MISSED A PLAY BECAUSED OF YOUR COCKSUCKING TRAFFIC MANAGER!!! YOU'RE FIRED!!!
Tom Coughlin, you're back to being fired again.
There it is! At 3:07...the manning face!
Shots of "Manning face" = Band shots
Carlos from SD, listen to an Eagles radio broadcast.
I said it once and I'll say it again. Eli Manning was looking ahead... to the Oreo Double Stuff Racing League battle with the Williams sisters.
Donovan, Real Men Don't Taunt!
I apologize for being unable to quote the source, but I read somewhere that the Giants last year had to play at full speed in Week 17 and thus had momentum, whereas this year they played their second string in Week 17, and if the Giants lost today that it would give evidence to the playing hard in Week 17 versus resting argument. I want to say I read it on PFT, but I can't find it.
Anyway, the NFC Championship will not only be hosted by a wild card team, but by the Cardinals of all teams.
And McNabb finds it necessary to make a phone call on the Giants bench that will probably cost him $20,000.
PricelessCommentary, so was Peyton!
I thought playoff beards only worked in hockey
Buck saying McNabb picking up the phone is 'over the top' . . . he really picks and chooses his outrage, huh? I half expect him to ban FOX from ever showing it because of how inappropriate it was for us to see!
"The Eagles played the Cardinals right after Thanksgiving....or rather on Thanksgiving" - Troy Aikman
And the Eagles safety is "Quintin Mikell", not Quinton Mykell.
Donovan owns.
Joe Buck can go away.
Good news, bad news Eagles Fan. Good news: you're in the conference championship game. Bad news: Reid and McNabb will both get contract extensions out of this.
Zidane 4:12
I read something on PFT saying something similar to your post.
Cards are division winners.
Cardinals are the 4 seed not a wild card
Did I say Kendra, I meant Will Leitch.
NUGGET ALERT!
AND NUGGET ALERT 2!!!
Darn you James Craven 4:12, I was about to make that joke! But at least they don't have to worry about football interfering with their big competition, that is obviously way more important and way bigger than the Super Bowl.
Whoa, no game has ever ended 23-11! Nobody score the rest of the game, I want to see history!
MEADOWLANDS POSITION TIME x 3!
It is just me, or can neither the Giants or the Eagles pick up two yards or less on the ground in key situations? Not only that, but nearly 50% of Arizona's runs are for two yards or less. If the Ravens or Steelers advance to the Super Bowl, it is going to be a very long day for NFC fans.
And TOSS just drops the ball without any contact, a perfect play to signify the Giants giving away this game.
Sorry, JFein...
"This one is over." - Joe Buck really not wanting to believe that the Giants lost. The game was over at least 5-minutes of game clock, ago.
Tick.....tick...tick...
HISTORY!
Home field advantage has died.
Err, oh yeah. Why do I keep thinking Arizona is a wild card team? I've been doing that all day. My bad.
If Fox can successfully sell this year's NFC Championship, they will go down as the best network of all time. (Yeah, good luck with that one. We might as well put the Fox suits on suicide watch now.)
Wow arizona hosts and S2N typos the final score 23-111
woops.
"(Yeah, good luck with that one. We might as well put the Fox suits on suicide watch now.)"
And that's bad because....?
I don't think I've ever seen 300-lbs move like that before in my life.