Monthly Archive for October, 2006

Granted, one can interpret the use of the term “one-sided” for a description of the lop-sided score as the NY Giants seemed to coast on the backs of the mighty defensive front headlined by the Twin Pro Bowler DEs Michael Strahan and Osi Umenyiora who subdued the Dallas Cowboys, 36-22 Monday night in the final game of Week 7 action. When either these or any other defenders of the “Big Blue” rampaged into the back field for a sack, they would mimic a basketball jump shot in a gesture of celebration they adopted from a rap video. But with the number of NY players who busted into the aforementioned backfield, they could have formed a starting five which certainly would have had a shot at dethroning the Knicks as the basketball representatives of “the Big Apple”. (Although in retrospect, no big accomplishment there)

But “one-sided” isn’t intended to describe the scoreboard, but instead the actual location of the rivalry that would have been expected between these 2 teams when they meet normally . . . LET ALONE when first place in the NFC East is on the line thanks to the 62 yard FG smack by Tampa Bay Buccaneer K Matt Bryant that toppled the Philadelphia Eagles in the closing seconds of their scorching showdown in South Florida. Because on THIS Monday night, the REAL contest taking place was not on the field and CERTAINLY not on the scoreboard.
Rather it seemed to plague the Cowboy Bench. The combatants of said rivalry include WR Terrell Owens, Head Coach Bill Parcells, and QBs Drew Bledsoe and Tony Romo. Don’t worry, though, loyal readers . . . T.O. only had a bit part in this week’s sideline drama as the receiver who, in heated fashion, wanted his team to win the game as he brought in a formidable 6 catches for 98 yards with a TD.

It seems for weeks now that Dallas had scorned last year’s starter, Bledsoe, who had Pro Bowl competitive numbers in 2005 since starting the 2006 season struggling while throwing 8 INTs so far this season including one right around the goal line during Monday night’s contest (truth be told, it was one false step from being 6 points the other way for Giant CB Sam Madison). It was this as well as the stone-footedness of the aging veteran that led to Parcells to pulling Bledsoe out of the game early, finishing with 7-12 (58%) for 111 yards, 1 INT and a body-sacrificing rushing TD.

It was amazing how the crowd roared when the young back-up QB, Tony Romo, was given the opportunity to dethrone and for all intensive purposes end the career of Drew Bledsoe by taking the reigns of a game where Big “D” was down Big and in it “D”eep. It had seemed they had received a wish come true . . . a prayer answered from the football gods . . . the makings of some cheesy Disney screenplay — Or so they THOUGHT . . .

How could he do worse? The veteran had been flattened for a Safety by LB Lavar Arrington in one end zone and threw an INT to kill a near-scoring drive in the other. There was hope in this kid who had pep in his step and zip in his throw . . . but not enough to get it passed Strahan’s paw on his first drive as the deflection landed gently into the grasp of LB Antonio Pierce.

Jitters for the rookie? Perhaps . . . but all fans are STILL looking for the excuse and reason as to why T.O. dropped a pass that was RIGHT in his pocket on forth down that squelched a crucial drive.

Lord knows the fans and even a stern coach as “Big Tuna” Parcells were willing to dismiss that single errant INT pass AND the series that was demolished by the blunder of a primadonna. But it was humiliation that was the realization of tragedy as Giant DT Fred Robbins gobbled up Romo’s foolish screen pass to RB Julius Jones (although major props to Jones for making THAT tackle).

Meanwhile, the Giants’ RB Tiki Barber fired off running yards like synapses in the bulbs of the very scoreboard his offense was lighting up as he delivered 114 yards on 27 carries for 4.2 yards/carry. He also had big man RB Brandon Jacobs by his side lambasting 40 yards of his own on 10 carries with a running TD that looked a perfect example of how to display “bowling” in a game of charades. They were supported by QB Eli Manning’s acceptable performance of 12-26 (46%) for 189 yards with 2 TDs and an INT.

And while NY WR Plaxico Burress’s 2 catches for 94 yards with an awesome 50 TD and TE “Cocky” Jeremy Shockey’s 2 for 29 with a TD helped buttress a SOLID offensive attack, the Giants weren’t without their own ironic tragedies as Barber gave up what is nowadays known as a rare fumble since his recovery from “fumble-itis” 2 seasons ago and the seemingly vindicated LB Lavar Arrington suffered a season ending Achilles Tendon tear after his departure from his under-appreciation in Washington.

The Giants “D” may have been icing on the cake in the eyes of their fans, but were the harbingers of pain and frustration for Dallas RBs. Julius Jones turned in an under-performing 13 of 30 for only 2.3 yards/carry as his companion Marion Barber could certainly been referred to as Barber “number 2″ as he managed only 6 carries for 29 yards on the strength of a 22 yard carry that was the longest of the night.

Hope was still present although desperate as Tony Romo marched his Cowboys down the field throwing T.O. his TD pass and following it up with a scamper into the end zone for the 2-point conversion. Another drive began . . . it seemed that Romo had a shot at bringing the score to 29-22. The comeback story only needed a title . . . until DB Kevin “the Dagger” Dockery dashed the hopeful QB’s stab at a one-score deficit. There would be no false step THIS TIME as he went 96 yards to the house.

Sure, Dallas WR Patrick Crayton would bring in a TD reception turning in 3 catches for 69 yards and Cowboy TE Jason Witten certainly earned honorable mention with 4 catches for 72 yards, but Romo’s 14-25 (56%) for 227 yards, 2 TD and 3 INT performance was finished with the Red Zone INT which was similar to Beldsoe’s pic minus the false step. As Dockery ran in the final Giant TD only one word could describe “the page” written by the performance of Big “D” as Big Blue rolled into first place in the NFC East . . . “D”‘OH!