Giants Week 7: You Want the Good or the Bad?

Let's start with the bad, and shit is it bad. Lavar Arrington is out for the season with a ruptured Achilles tendon. It happened in the 2nd quarter. It was your normal running play and he was blocked and just rolled over on his ankle. I initially thought it was just a sprain. And the worst part is that he was having his best game of the whole season: he had a sack for a safety, and a pass deflected - big impact plays. So Reggie Torbor took over.

More bad. Osi Umenyiora, our Pro Bowl DE, also left the game in the 2nd quarter with a strained 'hip flexor.' He returned for one play but left again and didn't return. We'll see what the doctors say. He's even more valuable than Arrington (although Kiwanuka and Tuck are better DE backups than Torbor and Wilkinson at OLB).

- Kiwanuka played very well, showing tremendous drive, never giving up on plays.

- Strahan's best game of the year.

- The secondary has played much better since Seattle. Especially Madison, who has 2 ints.

- Torbor and Wilkinson are going to have to step up to replace Arrington. If Osi's down, so will Kiwanuka and Tuck.

- Tiki was the first RB to rush for 100 yds against Dallas.

- I love watching Big J. He literally carries defenders.

- TO gets EVERY call. He got the benefit of 2 pass-interference calls, both of which could have been called AGAINST him.

- Damn is Demarcus Ware good.

There were several turning point contenders: 1. Plaxico's 50-yd TD grab; 2. Madison's pick in the end zone; 3. TO's dropped first down; 4. Eli to Carter on 3rd & 11; 5. Big J's 4th & goal TD. We can eliminate #1 and 4.

Sam Madison's pick came a few plays after Tiki took a shot to the face and fumbled at his own 10-yard line. A few plays later, Bledsoe threw a poor pass and Madison picked it in the endzone. So instead of Dallas going ahead 14-12, it remained 12-7.

TO's dropped first down was on 4th and 2, and would've kept Dallas' drive going (obviously) at the Gints 30. The score was just 19-7 at the time.

The Gints drove back, and Jacobs' TD came on 4th and inches at Dallas' 3. I thought he was fucked when two Dallas defenders looked ready to tackle him, but he sidestepped past one, broke through a tackle, and got in for the score. That was really the nail in the coffin. It put the Gmen ahead 26-7 late in the 3rd.

My POG (play of the game) goes to Sam Madison. His int was huge and not only turned around the game, but caused Parcells to send in his backup QB (who threw 3 ints himself).

A HUGE win for the Giants, who vault into 1st place, pushing Dallas to 3rd. They also play 3 straight homes games and should win at least 2 of them (vs. Tampa and Houston).

36-22 Giants

3*: Strahan, 2 sacks, 5 tackles, 2 QB hits, 1 pass blocked
2: Plaxico, 2 catches, 94 yds, 1 TD
2: Arrington, 1 sack/safety, 2 tackles, 1 QB hit, 1 pass blocked
2: Tiki, 31 touches, 146 yds, 1 (costly) fumble lost
2: Big J, 10 carries, 40 yds, 1 TD
1: Madison, 1 (huge) int, 2 tackles, 1 pass blocked
1: Pierce, 1 int, 5 tackles, 2 passes blocked
1: Osi, 1 sack, 4 tackles, 1 QB hit
1: Kiwanuka, 2 QB hits (one causing an int)