2008 Woodie Awards
G-Men Contiue to Fall Short
Pete DeFelice
Issue date: 12/9/04 Section: Sports
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I don't think I was ever this ill after watching a football game - I had the worst case of the spins (maybe because of the amount of alcohol consumption I underwent just so the Giants looked like a decent football team). I thought this was going to be one of the easier games the Giants were going to have to play for the duration of the season, but once again, I was wrong. After the game, I was a dejected Giants fan for yet another week.
It was supposed to be the turn around game for the Giants, but instead it was just another three-hour disappointment. I watched, but couldn't believe what exactly I was seeing. We all know that Eli Manning is not quite ready for the big time yet. His timing is off, his decision-making skills during the game are lacking, and the ability to read his offense isn't exactly what Coach Coughlin would like. However, before the Eli haters go out and bash him for yet another week, let's look at the Giants' loss as a team loss.
The defense, which was once one of the greatest defenses at stopping the run, got trampled over by Clinton Portis. Tiki Barber, who is usually good at bouncing off defenders and running for big gains, didn't bounce but merely got walked on. All of this, not to mention the Shockey-catching phobia that still continues, and the Amani Toomer "I can't catch a single pass from a rookie quarterback that plants the ball in my chest" great wide receiver.
The fact of the matter is that Manning cannot be the scapegoat for every New York Giants debacle week in and week out. He is doing better than expected, given the surroundings of a ridiculously horrible team. People are wondering how Ben Rothlesburger can win so many when Manning can't seem to find a single win. Well, I think I have the answer to that one. Ben plays for the Pittsburg Steelers, and Eli plays forthe New York Giants
This week, the Giants play the Baltimore Ravens. I dread to predict this game. The Giants, in reality, must win the next four games to even have a chance at the playoffs, not that the NFC is high in the competition chart. However, and I don't know why I am doing this, I predict that the Giants will beat the Ravens this week. The Ravens really only have a defense, and if Eli and Shockey can work on a hookup like they did two weeks ago, they do have a shot to win the game. I say Giants 21 and Ravens 17.
PICKS FOR WEEK 14
PATRIOTS OVER BENGALS
BILLS OVER BROWNS
PACKERS OVER LIONS
VIKINGS OVER SEAHAWKS
RAIDERS OVER FALCONS
JAGS OVER BEARS
SAINTS OVER COWBOYS
COLTS OVER TEXANS
STEELERS OVER JETS
BRONCOS OVER DOLPHINS
PANTHERS OVER RAMS
CARDS OVER NINERS
CHARGERS OVER BUCS
EAGLES OVER REDSKINS
UPSET PICK: GIANTS OVER RAVENS
MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL: CHIEFS OVER TITANS
PLAYOFF PICKS
NFC WILDCARD
VIKINGS VS. RAMS
SEAHAWKS VS. PACKERS
AFC WILDCARD
CHARGERS VS. RAVENS
JETS VS. COLTS
NFC DIVISIONAL
FALCONS VS. VIKINGS
EAGLES VS. PACKERS
AFC DIVISIONAL
PATRIOTS VS. COLTS
STEELERS VS. RAVENS
NFC CHAMPIONSHIP
FALCONS VS. EAGLES
AFC CHAMPIONSHIP
COLTS VS. STEELERS
SUPERBOWL
FALCONS VS. COLTS
CHAMPION: COLTS
It was supposed to be the turn around game for the Giants, but instead it was just another three-hour disappointment. I watched, but couldn't believe what exactly I was seeing. We all know that Eli Manning is not quite ready for the big time yet. His timing is off, his decision-making skills during the game are lacking, and the ability to read his offense isn't exactly what Coach Coughlin would like. However, before the Eli haters go out and bash him for yet another week, let's look at the Giants' loss as a team loss.
The defense, which was once one of the greatest defenses at stopping the run, got trampled over by Clinton Portis. Tiki Barber, who is usually good at bouncing off defenders and running for big gains, didn't bounce but merely got walked on. All of this, not to mention the Shockey-catching phobia that still continues, and the Amani Toomer "I can't catch a single pass from a rookie quarterback that plants the ball in my chest" great wide receiver.
The fact of the matter is that Manning cannot be the scapegoat for every New York Giants debacle week in and week out. He is doing better than expected, given the surroundings of a ridiculously horrible team. People are wondering how Ben Rothlesburger can win so many when Manning can't seem to find a single win. Well, I think I have the answer to that one. Ben plays for the Pittsburg Steelers, and Eli plays forthe New York Giants
This week, the Giants play the Baltimore Ravens. I dread to predict this game. The Giants, in reality, must win the next four games to even have a chance at the playoffs, not that the NFC is high in the competition chart. However, and I don't know why I am doing this, I predict that the Giants will beat the Ravens this week. The Ravens really only have a defense, and if Eli and Shockey can work on a hookup like they did two weeks ago, they do have a shot to win the game. I say Giants 21 and Ravens 17.
PICKS FOR WEEK 14
PATRIOTS OVER BENGALS
BILLS OVER BROWNS
PACKERS OVER LIONS
VIKINGS OVER SEAHAWKS
RAIDERS OVER FALCONS
JAGS OVER BEARS
SAINTS OVER COWBOYS
COLTS OVER TEXANS
STEELERS OVER JETS
BRONCOS OVER DOLPHINS
PANTHERS OVER RAMS
CARDS OVER NINERS
CHARGERS OVER BUCS
EAGLES OVER REDSKINS
UPSET PICK: GIANTS OVER RAVENS
MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL: CHIEFS OVER TITANS
PLAYOFF PICKS
NFC WILDCARD
VIKINGS VS. RAMS
SEAHAWKS VS. PACKERS
AFC WILDCARD
CHARGERS VS. RAVENS
JETS VS. COLTS
NFC DIVISIONAL
FALCONS VS. VIKINGS
EAGLES VS. PACKERS
AFC DIVISIONAL
PATRIOTS VS. COLTS
STEELERS VS. RAVENS
NFC CHAMPIONSHIP
FALCONS VS. EAGLES
AFC CHAMPIONSHIP
COLTS VS. STEELERS
SUPERBOWL
FALCONS VS. COLTS
CHAMPION: COLTS