...He looked like an actual NFL QB against a defense that was supposed to read him his last rites before the game was over. As a Steelers fan, I also have to give a great deal of credit to the Giants O-Line, as they did a good job protecting Eli and giving him a chance to do something other than pick himself up off the turf all day. When his protection did break down, I thought he acquitted himself well from a mobility standpoint, and did a good job of eluding the rush. In fact, the only time he really had no chance and got slammed was on the failed two-point conversion attempt, which brings me to my last point: Why in God's name did Coughlin decide to go for 2 in that situation?
Even if the Giants make it, it's only a six-point game, and it certainly isn't likely that Jeff Reed would have missed an extra point and made Coughlin look like a genius. If he just kicks the extra point, it ends up being 33 to 31 when the Giants get the ball back. I understand that the Steelers would likely have attempted to get a 2-pointer to try to get up by a field goal if that had happened, but it certainly would have been in the best interest of the Giants to make them get that 2-pointer to go up by 3, instead of just kick the extra point like they did. I think that the Giant play-calling would have been at least somewhat different had the Steelers only been up 33-31, but that's just me.
(Way too early) Super Bowl Prediction: Steelers 27, Eagles 17
Eli did look damn fine today, surprising this Giants fan. Hopefully he will get a few healthy Offensive Linemen for Christmas this off season and be able to get in a rhythm next year.
Going for 2 was sub-moronic on the part of Coughlin. Did the Steelers reveal an achilles heel in this game though? Special teams killed them in the AFC Title Game against New England in the 2001 season, and it looked like their coverage unit was badly exposed by the Giants.
I'm not saying that Eli will be as good as his brother, but he does have the last name Manning. He's going to have plenty of productive years in the NFL. Along with a good offensive line, he needs a big-time, big-play receiver.
"Special teams killed them in the AFC Title Game against New England in the 2001 season, and it looked like their coverage unit was badly exposed by the Giants."
Shhhh.
As frustrating as it was, the kickoff unit was missing some of its regulars (Clark Haggans and James Harrison) so I've decided that they are The Key.
The Giants looked very good on Saturday. Were it not for a couple of really bad calls by the officiating crew, the Giants may have won.
The roughing call on Roethlisberger was asinine, especially after Tiki had just been tackled over by the bench and no call was made. Just a brutal call since that would have had been 4th down and Steelers would have punted. They immediately put up six points thereafter. I thought I had stopped caring about the season, but I was screaming at the TV after that call. Stupid refs.
I think Eli's still going to be good down the road, and Saturday's game certainly showed the potential he has. However, I think Tom Coughlin should've never put Eli in the situation he was put in. They were doing fine with Kurt Warner, even if Warner's last two games were not good. They were still a solid 5-4 at that point. I realize firings after one year are rare, but Coughlin should be fired after his poor handling of the Giants' QB situation. He should've kept Warner at starter much longer.
The roughing call was legit since the ref blew the whistle three times and then the linebacker slammed him down to the ground. Its in the rule book once the whistle sounds you can't slam a person down to the ground. I'd be complaining that you had no defense since the Steelers were pretty much scoring at will. I will give you the Tiki call should have been made, but neither were some of the holding calls on the Giant's O-Line. The refs were very favorable to the Giants in a number of ways.
I consider the Steelers' less than great performance due to the short week and the pressure of trying to keep pace with the Patriots since no one else can beat them, I'm looking at you Peyton and Pennington. So, I think the six days off to nail the Baltimore coffin shut will do them some good.
"All faith reguires is giving into the possibility of hope."
Originally posted by A FanThe roughing call was legit since the ref blew the whistle three times and then the linebacker slammed him down to the ground. Its in the rule book once the whistle sounds you can't slam a person down to the ground.
I'm not sure we're talking about the same play since it was Brent Alexander, a safety, that was called for unnecessary roughness. Three Giants were tackling Roethlisberger and Alexander did not even have his arms around him. He fell on top of him as Roethlisberger fell.
By the way: Brent Alexander is 5'11" and 200 pounds. Ben Roethlisberger is 6'5" and 240 pounds (as listed on nfl.com). There was no blow to the head. Poor call especially on the heels of the Tiki non-call where he WAS thrown to ground about four steps out of bounds.
We can agree to disagree on this one, but you'd be wrong.
Originally posted by A FanThe roughing call was legit since the ref blew the whistle three times and then the linebacker slammed him down to the ground. Its in the rule book once the whistle sounds you can't slam a person down to the ground.
I'm not sure we're talking about the same play since it was Brent Alexander, a safety, that was called for unnecessary roughness. Three Giants were tackling Roethlisberger and Alexander did not even have his arms around him. He fell on top of him as Roethlisberger fell.
By the way: Brent Alexander is 5'11" and 200 pounds. Ben Roethlisberger is 6'5" and 240 pounds (as listed on nfl.com). There was no blow to the head. Poor call especially on the heels of the Tiki non-call where he WAS thrown to ground about four steps out of bounds.
We can agree to disagree on this one, but you'd be wrong.
Hate to go against a Steelers fan on this one, but that was a bad call. Yeah, I was happy that we got the call, because I'll take a win however I can get it, but pieman's right, there was no way that should have been unnecessary roughness. Put it this way: If the same thing happens to a running back as he's being driven back at the line of scrimmage, it's just another play. Happens in every single game every week.
(Way too early) Super Bowl Prediction: Steelers 27, Eagles 17
Eli took Ole freaking Miss to the Cotton Bowl and tied for an SEC divisional title. Anyone who can do that is a GREAT quarterback. Give him time and he'll have a lot of success in N.Y.
Credit to Eli on a national setting with the only game shown on a Saturday he stepped up... One thing I noticed was that the play calling was much more simplified, lot of quick passes to then open up the deep pass at the end.
The Thrill sayz "a snapshot taken in mid-air when Santa's magic sack finally bursts"... Ahh a mental image for the festive season.