The highly anticipated NFL Pro Bowl was played tonight. For those who care, the AFC was victorious. Football fans now only have one game left on the schedule to look forward to. Hardcore fans who still want to see more football after tonight can look forward to some game called the "Super Bowl" that is now less than a week away.
Until then, everyone has the pleasure to enjoy an overabundance of mostly worthless media coverage that surrounds America's marque sporting event. Next Sunday can't come soon enough.
In the meantime, here is an excellent NFL Films highlight package from Showtime's Inside The NFL of the New York Giants victory over the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Championship Game.
Smart. Original. Sports Discussion + Analysis.
Sunday, January 29, 2012
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Giant Run Propels Big Blue Back to Super Bowl
The New York Football Giants went 9-7 during the 2012 regular season....and now the G-Men find themselves in the Super Bowl. The Giants struggled with consistency all season on both sides of the ball. Offensively, the team could never find a running game while defensively a propensity to give up big plays plagued them. Only the thing the Giants could rely on was the right arm of Eli Manning and his big play receivers coming from behind and pulling games out in the 4th quarter.
After a four game losing streak in November most observers expected the Giants to continue a seemingly yearly late season collapse and fade into oblivion. Instead, with Eli leading the charge the rest of his teammates finally caught up and put things together in the nick of time. The running game improved and defensively this unit looks like an entirely different squad than the one that showed up earlier in the season. The Giants entered the playoffs peaking at the right time. The end result has been another magical run that has resulted in second Super Bowl appearance in five seasons and a rematch with the Patriots.
More analysis to follow. In the meantime, checkout the highlights from the Giants' triumphs in Green Bay and San Fransisco.
Giants - 37, Packers - 20
Giants - 20, 49ers - 17
After a four game losing streak in November most observers expected the Giants to continue a seemingly yearly late season collapse and fade into oblivion. Instead, with Eli leading the charge the rest of his teammates finally caught up and put things together in the nick of time. The running game improved and defensively this unit looks like an entirely different squad than the one that showed up earlier in the season. The Giants entered the playoffs peaking at the right time. The end result has been another magical run that has resulted in second Super Bowl appearance in five seasons and a rematch with the Patriots.
More analysis to follow. In the meantime, checkout the highlights from the Giants' triumphs in Green Bay and San Fransisco.
Giants - 37, Packers - 20
Giants - 20, 49ers - 17
Friday, January 13, 2012
Giant Run Erases Talk of "Coughlin Collapse"
Bleeding Sports resident General Manager Be Nasty has been a long time critic of New York Giants head coach Tom Coughlin and his coaching staff. Mr. Nasty like to make reference to the annual "Coughlin Collapse" where the Giants usually start the season off fast only to fall apart during the second half of the schedule.
Earlier in the season, the Bleeding Sports GM provided the below analysis to support his incessant clamoring for the franchise to making a coaching change.
NY Giants record under Coughlin - First half of season vs. second half:
2004 - Final record: 6-10
1st Half: 5-3
2nd Half: 1-7
* No playoffs
2005 - 11-5
6-2
5-3
* Lost to Panthers at home in Wild Card round of playoffs
2006 - 8-8
6-2
2-6
* Lost at Eagles in Wild Card game
2007 - 10-6
6-2
4-4
* Spags wins them the Super Bowl
(Notice no credit given to Coughlin)
2008 - 12-4
7-1
5-3
* Lost 3 out of last 4
* Lost to Eagles at home in Divisional round
2009 - 8-8
5-3
3-5
* Started 5-0 then lost 4 straight
* Pathetic losses to Saints, Chargers, Broncos, Panthers, and Vikings
* Charger game was a Coughlin time management blunder as usual
* No playoffs
2010 - 10-6
6-2
4-4
"You can kiss my a$$!" ~ Coughlin Collapse
* No playoffs
This season the after another strong start (6-2), the #NYG didn't fair much better going 3-5 in their last 8 contest. The difference this year is the Giants won the games they had to have down the stretch. New York won three of their last four games including the two wins against Dallas to overtake the Cowboys as NFC East champions. There were certainly reasons to once again doubt the passion of Coughlin's squad after a horrible home loss to Washington. For all their faults, however, the Giants were able to rediscover its vaunted pass rush led by monster Jason Pierre Paul and develop a component running game to complement Eli Manning, Victor Cruz and company on offense just in the nick of time.
Mr. Nasty makes some valid points, but fails to give Coughlin credit for leading the Giants to a Super Bowl championship against in '07 and division titles in 2005, 2008, and this season. The Super Bowl victory against the previously unbeaten, "greatest team ever" New England Patriots was historic and capped off the most remarkable playoff run in NFL history. Even the most passionate Coughlin haters would be hard pressed to label that season as a collapse and while the defense led the way it was a team effort led by its head coach.
As for the 2011 season, while not pretty, the Giants made the playoffs a division champions. Coach Coughlin has emphasized that its all about getting into the tournament and giving yourself a chance to win a championship. The Giants are playing their best football at the right time and how the team played two months ago is irrelevant. Right now the Giants have won 3 must-win games in a row and coming off their most complete performance of the season. There is no reason to believe the Giants can’t win come Sunday in Green Bay. If Tom Coughlin and his team can win its fourth straight game nobody will remember the Giants finished the regular season at 9-7. All the media and fans will be concerned with is how Big Blue would be just one game away from its second Super Bowl appearance of the Coughlin era.
Earlier in the season, the Bleeding Sports GM provided the below analysis to support his incessant clamoring for the franchise to making a coaching change.
NY Giants record under Coughlin - First half of season vs. second half:
2004 - Final record: 6-10
1st Half: 5-3
2nd Half: 1-7
* No playoffs
2005 - 11-5
6-2
5-3
* Lost to Panthers at home in Wild Card round of playoffs
2006 - 8-8
6-2
2-6
* Lost at Eagles in Wild Card game
2007 - 10-6
6-2
4-4
* Spags wins them the Super Bowl
(Notice no credit given to Coughlin)
2008 - 12-4
7-1
5-3
* Lost 3 out of last 4
* Lost to Eagles at home in Divisional round
2009 - 8-8
5-3
3-5
* Started 5-0 then lost 4 straight
* Pathetic losses to Saints, Chargers, Broncos, Panthers, and Vikings
* Charger game was a Coughlin time management blunder as usual
* No playoffs
2010 - 10-6
6-2
4-4
"You can kiss my a$$!" ~ Coughlin Collapse
* No playoffs
This season the after another strong start (6-2), the #NYG didn't fair much better going 3-5 in their last 8 contest. The difference this year is the Giants won the games they had to have down the stretch. New York won three of their last four games including the two wins against Dallas to overtake the Cowboys as NFC East champions. There were certainly reasons to once again doubt the passion of Coughlin's squad after a horrible home loss to Washington. For all their faults, however, the Giants were able to rediscover its vaunted pass rush led by monster Jason Pierre Paul and develop a component running game to complement Eli Manning, Victor Cruz and company on offense just in the nick of time.
Mr. Nasty makes some valid points, but fails to give Coughlin credit for leading the Giants to a Super Bowl championship against in '07 and division titles in 2005, 2008, and this season. The Super Bowl victory against the previously unbeaten, "greatest team ever" New England Patriots was historic and capped off the most remarkable playoff run in NFL history. Even the most passionate Coughlin haters would be hard pressed to label that season as a collapse and while the defense led the way it was a team effort led by its head coach.
As for the 2011 season, while not pretty, the Giants made the playoffs a division champions. Coach Coughlin has emphasized that its all about getting into the tournament and giving yourself a chance to win a championship. The Giants are playing their best football at the right time and how the team played two months ago is irrelevant. Right now the Giants have won 3 must-win games in a row and coming off their most complete performance of the season. There is no reason to believe the Giants can’t win come Sunday in Green Bay. If Tom Coughlin and his team can win its fourth straight game nobody will remember the Giants finished the regular season at 9-7. All the media and fans will be concerned with is how Big Blue would be just one game away from its second Super Bowl appearance of the Coughlin era.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)