Eli Manning received all of the accolades for leading two touchdown drives that eventually lead to winning the game. The defense received its praise for making big stops when they had to. Something a Giants defense hasn't done since it was anchored by a guy named Taylor. No need to mention a first name of the greatest linebacker in history.
But the game saving play that no one is talking about, even though it should not have gotten to that point in the first place (more on that in a bit), is an open field tackle by rookie defensive back Michael Johnson.
With the game on the line and time running out for the Bears, head coach Lovie Smith signaled in a screen to Bears running back Adrian Peterson. The play went to the right side and was executed near flawlessly. The only man able to have a crack at him was Johnson, who made a diving shoe string tackle. If he had not, there was nothing in front of Peterson except the end zone and 60,000 screaming Bears fans.
Was it something that Johnson did right or did the Bears do something wrong? A little of both actually. When Grossman threw the screen, the wide receiver's job was to take out the defensive back covering him which he did, leaving the Safety, Johnson, to be taken out by a lineman. However the lineman threw a block on blitzing linebacker Reggie Torbor which slowed him to get out in the open field to hit Johnson. Johnson then side stepped the other blocker leading to the tackle, and ultimately saving the game.
Coughlin Gets Lucky
Let us rewind the game a bit. It should have not even made it to this point. With a minute and thirty one seconds remaining in the game, the Bears had one timeout left, it was first down and the Giants were on, roughly, the two yard line.
I believe Coughlin made a mistake by going for the touchdown. Instead he should have ran the clock out, and went for the game winning field goal. We saw it last year when the Saints did it to the Eagles, and it worked to perfection.
If you calculate the time you would see the following. First down, Manning hikes the ball, runs 4 to 5 seconds off the clock, then kneels, Bears use their last time out and now there would be about a minute twenty-seven. Second down, Manning does the same thing and the Giants are down to a minute twenty-three. Run off thirty-nine seconds for the play clock, the Giants are then down to fourty-four seconds. It is now third down, same play, and the Giants can now let the clock run do to four seconds left and let Tynes kick the game winning field goal of about 22 yards. With this scenario, your defense never sees the field, there is no threat of Devin Hester and no chance for a hail mary play.
We know that Tynes hasn't been the best kicker, but the bottom line is this. If you are afraid to put him in that situation, then he shouldn't be on the team in the first place.
By: Michael C. Podlesny
About the Author:
Michael C. Podlesny is the co-host of the Big Blue Review, a weekly podcast featuring the latest news on The New York Giants. The podcast can be downloaded from Michael's blog at http://BigBlueReviewPodcast.Blogspot.com.
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