Monday, February 4, 2008
Monday, January 21, 2008
Giants Pull Off the Unthinkable
In frigid temperatures of the frozen tundra of Green Bay, the New York Giants completed the unthinkable of winning 10 straight games on the road.
They battled the cold. They battled the crafty veteran quarterback, and they battled expert panels of sportscasters who gave them no shot. When it was all over, kicker Lawrence Tynes, booted the Giants into Superbowl 42.
It wasn't easy, and it wasn't pretty but it was a complete team effort. "Keep doing what you've been doing all season long," expressed Antonio Pierce in the post game press conference. "You've doubted us, and we want you to keep doubting us." Although what Pierce says is the truth, as most if not all of the national media, gave the Giants absolutely no chance to win.
Pierce may not be so lucky in his second request. Early indicators show the Giants are already 14 point underdogs to the AFC machine known as the New England Patriots. Although that may be the case, the Giants are gaining support from the so called experts.
Shaun King, former NFL QB, and now host on ESPN's 1st and 10, looked directly into the camera and said the Giants "will beat the Patriots in the Superbowl". Moments later Cato June, a special guest on the same show, did not claim a Giants victory, but did say, that is who he was going to route for.
There is no question, that each successive game has gotten more difficult for the Giants. How befitting though that the hardest game, the Superbowl, are the 18 - 0 New England Patriots. If the Giants are going to become Superbowl champions, they will have to defy the odds, play better then they have to this point, and literally shock the world.
As for the Patriots side of it. They know they are favored. They know they have the better team. However, they also know, none of that matters come in two weeks when the two teams face off.
The stage is set, the teams are decided, and the New York Giants are one of them. Unlike in 2000 when they really had no chance of beating the Ravens, I think this team does have a realistic chance of winning this game. They can score points, the defense is playing better than it has all season long, but more importantly, the Giants players themselves truly believe they will be hoisting the Superbowl trophy at the end of the game.
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.
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
TO Cries The Blues, Giants Get Ready For Green Bay
There is a lot that can be said about the Giants victory over the Cowboys on Sunday. It was monumental, huge, you name it, but no one could predict that the victory would cause a grown man to cry.
Standing at the podium in the post game press conference, T.O. arguably one of the best receivers in football, broke down and started to cry. "That's my quarterback," says Owens with tears coming down his face. "It's not fair that you do that to him."
In that moment a collective cheer could be heard coming from Philadelphia, where Owens single handily destroyed the Eagles season the year after they went to the Superbowl.
With that behind Big Blue, and ignoring the ignorant comments by Wade Phillips the head coach of the Cowboys, who said, "The best team did not win on Sunday", the Giants press on to Green Bay.
The two teams met in week 2 at the Meadowlands with Green Bay coming out as the victor. That was a long time ago, and both these teams are completely different now. Also this Giants team has won an unprecedented 9 straight road games. What does all this means? Absolutely nothing.
This is a huge game for both teams, so the past means nothing, because this will be unlike anything they saw all season long.
As Giants fans we can enjoy the ride. A ride that no one, even their wildest imagination, could have predicted. No one wants this ride to come to an end, however, no one can be upset if it does.
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.
Monday, December 31, 2007
Giants Get Ready for Bucs - 3rd Time a Charm?
It is the magic of three. And if you believe the third time is a charm and are superstitious about things like that, then you probably already know and believe that the Giants will win this Sunday when they travel to Tampa to take on the 9 - 7 Buccaneers.
So what is all this talk about 3? The Giants will face Jeff Garcia for the third time in the playoffs come this Sunday. In the first meeting the Giants lost when they botched a field goal (worth 3 points). In the second meeting they lost on a last second field goal by, you guessed it, 3 points when David Akers kicked the game winning field goal for the Philadelphia Eagles. Along with that, this will be the third year in a row the Giants have made the playoffs.
This year, the Giants get their chance to finally overcome the issue that has been called Jeff Garcia. And this Sunday the third time could really be a charm.
Many experts are split on this contest. Some say since the Giants are 7 - 1 on the road they should win this game, while others say after the emotional loss to New England on Saturday, the Giants might not have much left in the tank.
It was a smart move by Coughlin to play the starters on Saturday as they are still in "game" mode, where the Coach Gruden of the Bucs decided to sit his starters for most of the last two games and keep them fresh.
It will be interesting to see if the Bucs come out flat. And if they do, and the Giants play anywhere near what they showed on Saturday, the Giants should roll over Tampa.
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.
So what is all this talk about 3? The Giants will face Jeff Garcia for the third time in the playoffs come this Sunday. In the first meeting the Giants lost when they botched a field goal (worth 3 points). In the second meeting they lost on a last second field goal by, you guessed it, 3 points when David Akers kicked the game winning field goal for the Philadelphia Eagles. Along with that, this will be the third year in a row the Giants have made the playoffs.
This year, the Giants get their chance to finally overcome the issue that has been called Jeff Garcia. And this Sunday the third time could really be a charm.
Many experts are split on this contest. Some say since the Giants are 7 - 1 on the road they should win this game, while others say after the emotional loss to New England on Saturday, the Giants might not have much left in the tank.
It was a smart move by Coughlin to play the starters on Saturday as they are still in "game" mode, where the Coach Gruden of the Bucs decided to sit his starters for most of the last two games and keep them fresh.
It will be interesting to see if the Bucs come out flat. And if they do, and the Giants play anywhere near what they showed on Saturday, the Giants should roll over Tampa.
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.
Giants Hold Their Own Against the 16* - 0 Patriots
Eli Manning played one of the greatest games of his career, Kevin Gilbride called one of the greatest games of his career, and all of the players, played as if there was no tomorrow. When it was all said and done the Giants fell just 3 points short. Experts and analysts can go back and forth all day about how great the New England Patriots are. However, regardless of their 16 - 0 * (I'll talk about the asterisk in a second) record, I am not sold that they are great.
A great offense yes, a great defense? Not even close. If any of you, like me, were around for the '85 Bears, then you already know that team would more than likely beat this Patriots team. A great team doesn't surrender 35 points to another team, that, lets face it, should have no business competing with.
This has gone on for the Pats in a few games. A coupld of lucky bounces, a few favorable calls by the refs, and whoala, a 16 - 0 record. This doesn't mean the Pats aren't good athletes, but the best ever? No way.
Now back to that asterisk. We have entered an age where athletes take drugs to make themselves better at their sports. Coaches illegally video tape other teams. And what is the punishment for these acts? Absolutely nothing! In sports today it is shown to everyone that as long as you have enough money or can produce enough money with your skills, then the penalty for cheating is minimal. Will Mark McGwire or Barry Bonds' homeruns be removed from the record books? No. They cheated, made millions, and there will be no consequences.
Earlier this year, the Patriots were caught red handed cheating. They admitted to it and the coward Roger Goodell, commissioner of the NFL, fined them some money and took away a draft pick. Whoopie! Now here they are, the cheaters themselves being celebrated for a 16 - 0 season (hence the astersik).
The proper punishment would have been to forfeit the opening game to the Jets and then ban them from the post season. But this is profressional sports, where money is king and cheating is ok.
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
A great offense yes, a great defense? Not even close. If any of you, like me, were around for the '85 Bears, then you already know that team would more than likely beat this Patriots team. A great team doesn't surrender 35 points to another team, that, lets face it, should have no business competing with.
This has gone on for the Pats in a few games. A coupld of lucky bounces, a few favorable calls by the refs, and whoala, a 16 - 0 record. This doesn't mean the Pats aren't good athletes, but the best ever? No way.
Now back to that asterisk. We have entered an age where athletes take drugs to make themselves better at their sports. Coaches illegally video tape other teams. And what is the punishment for these acts? Absolutely nothing! In sports today it is shown to everyone that as long as you have enough money or can produce enough money with your skills, then the penalty for cheating is minimal. Will Mark McGwire or Barry Bonds' homeruns be removed from the record books? No. They cheated, made millions, and there will be no consequences.
Earlier this year, the Patriots were caught red handed cheating. They admitted to it and the coward Roger Goodell, commissioner of the NFL, fined them some money and took away a draft pick. Whoopie! Now here they are, the cheaters themselves being celebrated for a 16 - 0 season (hence the astersik).
The proper punishment would have been to forfeit the opening game to the Jets and then ban them from the post season. But this is profressional sports, where money is king and cheating is ok.
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
Friday, December 28, 2007
Giants Brace for the Storm of the Century
It may not be on the Weather Channel's radar, but come this Saturday, the Meadowlands and the NY Giants are going to be hit with the biggest most fiercest storm this team and stadium has ever seen.
Hurricane New England Patriots will arrive around 8:05pm EST and experts predict although the storm may last for roughly 2 and half hours, the greatest devastation that it will cause will probably occur within the first hour or so.
Although I use these analogies to describe what the Giants will encounter this Saturday, rest assure they are in for a big battle. However, the big question will be, do the Giants rest the starters and get ready for Tampa, or play them and try to foil the Patriots chances at history.
An even more glaring question is, can the Giants, even with their starters have a chance against mighty New England. Many experts, and most I agree with, say they have no chance, so sit the starters and get ready for the playoffs.
Although on paper the Giants are clearly not as good as the Patriots, this game has that same eery feeling that a similar match up had in 1998. That is when then the 13 - 0 Broncos marched into the Meadowlands, to face the Kent Graham lead Giants. The Giants had no business winning that game as they were to be no match for John Elway and the Broncos. A late TD pass from Graham to Amani Toomer sealed the victory, and as fate would have it, Toomer is yet again playing this Saturday in a similar game.
Toomer and Strahan are the only two players that remain from that contest in 1998, so maybe they can shed some light on what it might take to defeat the odds.
Regardless of what happens Saturday, the fate of Tom Coughlin rests in what the Giants accomplish in the post season and not in week 16. My guess is Tom will play the starters to try and win the game, but if it gets out of hand and the Patriots pull away early, look for the backups to get plenty of playing time.
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/.
Hurricane New England Patriots will arrive around 8:05pm EST and experts predict although the storm may last for roughly 2 and half hours, the greatest devastation that it will cause will probably occur within the first hour or so.
Although I use these analogies to describe what the Giants will encounter this Saturday, rest assure they are in for a big battle. However, the big question will be, do the Giants rest the starters and get ready for Tampa, or play them and try to foil the Patriots chances at history.
An even more glaring question is, can the Giants, even with their starters have a chance against mighty New England. Many experts, and most I agree with, say they have no chance, so sit the starters and get ready for the playoffs.
Although on paper the Giants are clearly not as good as the Patriots, this game has that same eery feeling that a similar match up had in 1998. That is when then the 13 - 0 Broncos marched into the Meadowlands, to face the Kent Graham lead Giants. The Giants had no business winning that game as they were to be no match for John Elway and the Broncos. A late TD pass from Graham to Amani Toomer sealed the victory, and as fate would have it, Toomer is yet again playing this Saturday in a similar game.
Toomer and Strahan are the only two players that remain from that contest in 1998, so maybe they can shed some light on what it might take to defeat the odds.
Regardless of what happens Saturday, the fate of Tom Coughlin rests in what the Giants accomplish in the post season and not in week 16. My guess is Tom will play the starters to try and win the game, but if it gets out of hand and the Patriots pull away early, look for the backups to get plenty of playing time.
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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