Injuries & Bad Calls

I couldn't believe my eyes when starting LT Luke Petitgout went down. It went to commercial with him still lying face down, and I knew it was another bad injury. His tibia (or fibia) is broken, and although they didn't say, he's probably out for the season. And to add insult (or injury) to injury, Sam Madison didn't return after the 1st quarter. Bob Whitfield's poor play in place of Petitgout may have cost the Giants the game. There were at least 2 plays where he couldn't block Bears DE Alex Brown, who stripped Eli of the ball twice - both were drive killers. No other OL allowed a sack, but backup Whitfield allowed two. It made a huge difference.

But the POG was Devin Hester's TD return on Feely's missed FG. I was saying 'Just punt it,' but Coughlin tried the 52-yarder and it burned them. So many reasons to punt it away: 1. Feagles is great at pinning teams inside the 10; 2. the Bears strength is their defense, not their offense; 3. Feely had already missed a 33-yard FG, how would he ever make a 52-yarder in the rain in Giants Stadium?; 4. a miss gives Chicago great field position, which had already led to most of their points.

Al Michaels kept saying how Thomas Jones' 22-yard run at the end of the 1st half was the POG, but I disagree. Even though it led to Chicago's 1st TD, the Gints still had the lead at halftime (Period).

I can't believe the Bears were getting so much credit from the commentators. If the Giants are just a bit healthier, they're probably looking at a win. So who have we lost you may ask. Let's look at the whole list (which includes a ridiculous 7 starters, almost half of their combined starting 22):
LB Lavar Arrington, LB Brandon Short, LB Carlos Emmons, DE Michael Strahan, DE Osi Umenyiora, DE Justin Tuck, CB Sam Madison, WR Amani Toomer, WR Sinorice Moss, OT Luke Petitgout, RB Tiki Barber (messed up his thumb tonight)

That's all, just a few guys...

38-20 Chicago

Next week they visit Jacksonville for a Monday night showdown. Another tough game.

3*: Tiki, 22 touches, 157 yds
2: Kiwanuka, 2 tackles, 1 int
2: Jacobs, 2 carries, 9 yds, 2 TD
1: Pierce, 15 tackles, 1 QB hit, 1 pass deflection
1: Wilson, 9 tackles, 2 pass deflections, 1 fumble forced, 1 fumble recovered
1: Plaxico, 4 catches, 48 yds