Well with a 1,000lb g*orilla off his back and although still living in the shadow of his more illustrious brother. Eli Manning finally did what was asked of him . And that was to lead his team to a win in the playoffs. Albeit that he was facing the less than stellar Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Giants' quarterback Eli Manning orchestrates his team's win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday. The Giants won the game 24-14 and now play the Dallas Cowboys in the divisional playoffs. picture courtesy of ap/photos/Doug Benc........
What that teams lacks in offensive capabilities at times can be painstakingly frustrating for a team when they face their defense. And at times so it was for the Giants as the faced the Buccaneers in the supposedly hostile environment of Raymond James Stadium in Tampa. That being said you knew that it was going to be somewhat of a less than competent day for Jon Gruden's team. Who after resting many of his starters saw what the Giants had in store for them throughout much of the afternoon. And less we forget the Buccaneers mistakingly took that the win of NFC South would be something to build upon in the postseason.
Dave Tollefson of the Giants sacks opposing quarterback Jeff Garcia of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. picture courtesy of getty images/Al Messerschmidt......
Whilst the Buccaneers got off to a good start it was plain to see that they'd be in for a less than productive day. Veteran quarterback Jeff Garcia coming of an injury and continuing to show his age, showed that no matter how wily a veteran he might be. His legs can no longer take him where he wants to go. Harrassed and hustled throughout the game and with the protection of his offensive line almost an aberration. He was unable to perform the feats that he was able to during the regular season. Much to the joy of the Giants' fans in attendance and to the woes of the Buccaneers' fans who lamented his performance on the day. What can't be denied on this day was that Manning showed that when poised and not asked to do too much, he's more than capable of leading this team. But his real problem lies in the fact that he's still proned to making the mistakes of a player that hasn't got his head into the game. Something that we've seen all too often from a player who lives in the shadow of his more illustrious brother Peyton Manning.
Manning launches a pass over teammate Ahmad Bradshaw to wide receiver Amani Toomer in yesterday's game against the Buccaneers. picture courtesy of getty images/Al Messerschmidt........
Despite the Giants' impressive away record in the league this season at 7-1 , it was Manning's inconsistent play that came under scrutiny. He was at times competent as he was erratic. And the thought was that if placed under pressure and harrassed by the Buccaneers defense then he'd falter. But if anything it was the other way around as it was the more experienced opposing quarterback Jeff Garcia who had a less than imposing game. With Garcia being unable to produce his usual steady form it was left to others on the Bucs' team to show their grit and determination. They fell short and much to the lament of the home fans whose postseason woes were about to come to an abrupt end. Many left the game before it even ended perhaps showing their indignation at what they thought should've been an easy win for their team. Manning on the other hand showed his composure when needed and although his game stats weren't stellar. It was just enough to lead his team in this game and into the next round where they'll face the Dallas Cowboys.
Manning hands off the ball to running back Brandon Jacobs during Sunday's win over the Buccaneers. picture courtesy of ap/photos/DougBenc...
One doubts that Manning will be able to replicate this feat against the Cowboys in the next round. But for the Giants' fans in attendance and those who saw the game on television they may well be hoping that there's a chance to upend the Cowboys at Texas Stadium. Something that they'll have to do against a divisional foe that has already beaten them twice this season. Not out of the realms of possibility but something that could happen should they show belief in themselves. It was something alluded to by veteran defense player Michael Strahan in his postgame interview with the press. When he stated that if the team plays like a team then on the day they're capable of beating anyone. And for the Cowboys' fans that'd be anyone but them. They won't willingly succumb to Manning or the rest of his teammates in the divisional playoffs. So it's to be expected that this game will be a good one.
Teammates Eli Manning and Plaxico Burress at the start of the first quarter of the game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. picture courtesy of ap/photos/ Doug Benc...........
At this juncture Manning can live with the fact that he's guided this team diligently but knows that the next time around it won't be that easy. And it would be redundant to think that he'd so easily rest on his laurels knowing what's in store for him against the Cowboys. A game that'll determine a winner and entry in the NFC championship game. Something that mightn't been on everyone's mind when looking at this team at the start of the season. As good as they appear to be on paper there was always that underlying thought that they could only go as far as Manning could indeed take them. And with the inconsistency of his game being what it is. Many of us are somewhat surprised at this juncture as to what has happened with the Giants. But what was really surprising was the consistency with which Manning played during the game. Perhaps at long last the signs of maturity are beginning to show ?
Bush's tail of sweet revenge is none other than Kim Kardashian.
More of Kardashian and less of Reggie I say, off the playing field that is !
Good Blog! I think the factors that you outlined (consistent QB play coupled with a strong defensive) is why the Giants will take care of the Cowboys. Should be a good one!
Dave
Davesdetours.com
If I was Reggie Bush, I'd be a bust too if Kim was my woman.
Practice? Hell no!
Study the playbook? I can't, got other backfield formations to concentrate on.
Eli is an interesting figure. He isn't as bad as the NY media makes him out to be, but he always makes mistakes and poor throws, ones that the big boys don't make.
The Giant defense is getting alot of pub, but c'mon now. The Bucs offense was terrible. They scare noone. The Giants need their D to come up big in a big moment, against a top offense. Name the last time they did that? Can't wait for this weekend!
KKfromBK
I don't think of Bush as a bust. But if he continues to have Kardashian at his side and not concentrate on the game and his form slides. Then offcourse we'll all think of him as bust. But on the other hand I'd wanna spend my time nailin' her #### at six times a week and least twice on Sundays. Wouldn't you ?
As for Manning and the Giants they didn't have much to go up against in the Bucs. They're one of the more inferior teams within the NFC that play in a division that's awful at present.
But who knows what the Cowboys will have in store for Manning and the rest of the Giants next Sunday ?
Davesdetours.com
One doubts that the Cowboys will be that generous next Sunday. As they're liable to want to lay some smack on Manning as well as the rest of the Giants. They feel as though they've got some unfinished business with New England.
mtmarinefan
Your guys will more than have their work cut out for them. The Packers and Favre in particular are playing some inspired football. No one thought that they'd have the record that they now possess in the NFC , let alone homefield advantage.
As for Manning and the Giants the Bucs didn't really put up much of a show. That's a team that's doing it with smokin' mirrors. They're not that good to begin with.
Hi Tophatal, I find it funny and ironic that E. Manning and P. Rivers won their first playoff games on the same day, after beging traded for each other on draft day. I know it is a pipe dream, but I would love to see them face each other in the Super Bowl.
BoltBacker21
From your lips to God's ears but I sincerely doubt that'll happen. The Giants will face an uphill battle in trying to upend the Cowboys. And for what it's worth I think that they're capable of doing it if Manning is consistent. But then it all comes down to which Manning'll turn up on game day ?
Towelboy
I don't doubt that your boys will win. But that could be precluded by which Manning will turn up on game day ? The inconsistent one or the one who showed a great deal of composure on Sunday and didn't make any real mistakes ? If it's the latter then your guys'll have a game on their hands.
You know I follow the Bucs living a few miles away and hearing about them constantly... They put together a nice season and considering Coach Gruden and GM Allen were being questioned, they did the best they could be expected to do with the talent on this team coupled with some key injuries. I think they will break the spell in the NFC South and win the division again next season. Another infusion of youth on the defense and possibly a top young QB to groom behind Garcia... Like they say, "Wait till next year!"
Dwindy1
I live in the Polk Co area in the rural town of Dundee. And as far as all the sports talk on the radio's concerned . It's all about the Bucs in season or not. It's the only game in town. And as we all know this area is the epitome of the bandwagon jumper when it comes to sports. If they ain't winning then there's no real support for the team.
And say what you will when it concerns the Devil Rays but they're going nowhere over the next couple of years with the present management. They're so far behing the 'eight ball' that it's a friggin' joke. Say nothing of the pain and torture that Tortorella is now suffering with the Lightning.
So when it comes to the Bucs I've had my belly full of their antics.
Gruden's got a lot more to worry about than an aging quarterback and his replacement. What he's also got on defense is still learning the rudimentaries of it by way of the youngsters installed there. Who'll be there when Brooks and Barber decide to retire ? As that's not certainly a long way off at this juncture.
dashman68
Without Owens playing on Sunday then I'd say it wouldn't still be such a sure thing. But as of now I do believe that it'll be a more compeitive game than most of us will have envisaged. With Manning now confident of having led his team to a postseason victory. There's nothing to stop his confidence growing or his teammates finally believing in his overall abilities. That's what I see coming out of this altogether. As for the pic of Kardashian I thought it would brighten up everyone's day. Afterall into everyone's day a ray of sunshine has to be seen ? It doesn't aways have to be cloudy does it now ?
canadavis
Your boys outlpayed with the 'skins with some ease. But I doubt you'll fare so well against Favre and the Packers. Those guys consider themselves on a mission and are out to prove everyone of their doubters wrong.
If you do get passed them then you'll either have to face the dreaded Cowboys or the Giants. Somehow I think you'd rather face the Giants at this juncture ? As they're the easier option. But who knows what'll be thrown in amongst this all ?
top,
three entities deserve credit for Eli Manning's suprisingly good play. 1) Eli Manning - of course, 2) Tom Coughlin - for making Eli and the rest of the starters play in the Patriots game, and 3) the Patriots - playing very well against the best team in the NFL should not be understated.
had the last game been against a team like the Rams and had the Giants done what they normally do which is just survive, I think that Tampa Bay might have won that game. but the Giants are confident and that's always a major plus in the postseason.
KKfromBK
The Bucs aren't that good to begin with and Grunden as a coach is overrated. His assessment of talent is mediocre at best when it comes to young players. And he's always the first to lay blame elsewhere when he's the one to blame for a team's failure.
As for next season if Garcia is around for a full season then they might fare well. But if he's not then return to mediocrity where they seem to feel at home.
divineswine
What we're now seeing from Manning may well be new found confidence in his abilities. And at the same time the growing respect of his teammates. As for the Bucs they didn't adjust to anything that the Giants threw at them and they're too reliant on the arm of Garcia and the running game of Graham. Also it didn't help either that other than Galloway they've got no other real option. And the defense in terms of its veterans is beginning to show its age once and for all. As for next year they'd better have someone in there that can take over should Garcia go down injured.
Hey Top, I also believe Eli will be fine, his biggest problem is his demeanor. He's too quiet and people deam that as weak. I would love to see him more vocal. His skills are there, his command of the huddle there for getting the respect of his team mates is questioned. The Manning family is great for the game so I wish him well.
degraff
It wouldn't surprise me to see him and the team pull the upset over the Cowboys. Even though the odds are against them. Even the guys in Vegas must know something at this juncture.
If they catch Romo and the Cowboys cold then that'll be it. And then Romo can take Simpson home and smack that ####.
JoshQ
At this juncture I do believe that the Giants and Manning in particular may have caught lightning in a bottle. And they could quite possibly pull off the upset if they catch Romo and the Cowboys cold. Not quite out of the realms possibility but nonetheless it's possible. They're a team that's improved down the stretch of the regular season and they were playing some of the best football in the NFC of the teams there in the playoffs.
I think in todays fast food sports culture everyone is looking for the game to validate someone. It is what it is. An underacheiving first pick in the draft that played a solid game and finally won his first playoff game. The expectation of a first pick in the draft QB is that he will lead you to a Super Bowl title. Until he does that he will continue to face scrutiny and rightfully so.
Hey al, just one question: You said that Eli "led his team to a victory in the playoffs" but then said that Jeff Garcia was bad and, essentially, that the Buc's season was an abberration because they weren't that good either. Well, which is it? Was Eli and the Giants good or were they just the lesser of two bads?
Actually, I think the Giants are by far a better team than Tampa BUT I think Eli is what he is. Sometimes good, sometimes bad, never great.
JC Scheffres
Look at the Bucs' schedule over the regular season and you'll see the competition faced wasn't equal to that of the Giants. Manning's inconsistency has been a problem from the outset. And a lot of this has been the high expectations placed upon him because of his supposed pedigree. The name isn't the thing that makes the player but his deed on the field. That's what so many of us are forgetting. As for Garcia and the Bucs they've had their own problems. Their offense is anemic and they've no 'go to guy' on this team inn terms of real 'playmaker'. Garcia on the day made mistakes that during the regular season he'd have cautiously wouldn't have made. The Giants outplayed the Bucs in every facet of the game where it really mattered.
Whether or not Manning can reproduce the form showed last Sunday will be dependent upon his overall confidence on the day.
Street Cred
Pedigree being what it is ought we to expect Eli to be a replica of his more esteemed brother ? That's a lot to be expected to live up to. To my mind he'll make his own leagacy within the NFL. And if he's successfull then so be it. And if not then that'll be either his fault or the fact that he just wasn't prepared to do what it takes to make it to the next level.
There have been a hell of a lot qb's that've come out of college with a lot more talent than Manning and have failed at the professional level.
It's a game where your deficiences can be easily identified once you've made that first mistake and then it becomes repetitive in naure. You're seen as a complete failure. Leaf, Akili Smith are two who immediately come to mind.
I agree, I don't think the Giants will advance on in the playoffs either. Tom Coughlin did a good job this year but I don't like him much and I think he got lucky. Although historically the odds are stacked against me, I believe all four favorites will win this weekend.
broblog
If Manning can keep his composure and the game is kept close. Then just about anything can happen.
I only hope that Romo isn't thinking about Simpson come day ? If he is then their chances will be shot to hell.
JC Scheffres
This game'll be dependent upon a number of things. Manning has to keep his composure and not be harried into making unwanted mistakes. In doing so he'll place the team in a situation that they mightn't be able to recover from.
That being said who necessarily knows what could happen on game day ?
Best case scenario the Cowboys pull off the win and await their next opponent. For Manning it'll be a learning experience which'll serve him in good stead.
I think a lot of the credit has to go to the offensive line play that day. Either TB was slow and rusty or the O-line dominated the line of scrimmage after the first quarter.
Credit should also go to Coach Tom. He had a great game plan and when things didn't go their way in the first quarter, he didn't divert from his game plan.
Ravenattack
What was impressive about the game as far as I was soncerned was the composure shown by Manning. He comported himself with great poise and he was just as responsible for the victory , as was Coughlin.
If he can show that also in the game against the Cowbiys then they'll be in with a chance.
Born in the UK of Caribbean parentage and having lived in the US for the last 15 years. A keen martial artist (Black Belt 2nd degree in karate. I also practice savate , tae - kwondo ) College Grad BA's in Econ and Int' Fin. Served five years in the British military. I've gotten use to the American way of life and the language. The women on the other hand, that's something else ! Sports is my great passion along with music and the movies. However I feel that having resided here for all this time , I still somewhat miss the land of my birth. That being said I 'love this great country and all that it has afforded me' An avid Pats and Spurs' fan. Soccer Chelsea ,
tophatal..... ....
Giants' quarterback Eli Manning orchestrates his team's win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday. The Giants won the game 24-14 and now play the Dallas Cowboys in the divisional playoffs. picture courtesy of ap/photos/Doug Benc........ 
Dave Tollefson of the Giants sacks opposing quarterback Jeff Garcia of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. picture courtesy of getty images/Al Messerschmidt......
Manning launches a pass over teammate Ahmad Bradshaw to wide receiver Amani Toomer in yesterday's game against the Buccaneers. picture courtesy of getty images/Al Messerschmidt........
Manning hands off the ball to running back Brandon Jacobs during Sunday's win over the Buccaneers. picture courtesy of ap/photos/DougBenc...
Teammates Eli Manning and Plaxico Burress at the start of the first quarter of the game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. picture courtesy of ap/photos/ Doug Benc........... 
