"Dominating" is the word I keep coming back to in trying to
describe New York’s performance on Thursday. The Giants looked as complete as
I’ve seen them in a regular season game in years, and they looked it with a
defensive secondary that has suffered some key early-season injuries.
I picked the Panthers to win for a few reasons. I know Cam
Newton is much better in the passing game when he can run the ball, and though
I didn’t expect the Giants’ defensive line to give him much room to do so, I
wasn’t sure that the secondary would be able to contain the passing game
regardless. I also counted on Eli Manning being lethargic for three quarters
and then coming alive in the fourth, but with one less key weapon available to
him – Hakeem Nicks.
I still don’t think it was a terrible pick, but it looks
awful on the final scoreboard. 36-7, a dominant
performance by the defending Super Bowl champs.
The Giants opened the game with the ball and immediately
drove the field for a touchdown. The Panthers have now allowed a score on the
first drive of every game this season. The touchdown came on a pass from
Manning to Martellus Bennett, the former Cowboy, who is the first player in
history with a touchdown reception in each of his first three games with the
Giants.
‘SuperCam’ came out hoping to lead his own team to a score
and keep the score close in the early stages, but he didn’t look so super last
night. Where Carolina couldn’t seem to make Manning break a sweat, New York was
breathing down Newton’s neck from the start. Both teams finished with two sacks
in the game, but those were probably the only two times Eli was put on his back
all game; Cam felt the pressure much more.
New York’s secondary was the story of the game, but it was
helped by the linebackers, which is remarkable because it means that the Giants
were getting pressure on Newton even when only their four down linemen rushed
him. For example, linebacker Terry Jackson became the first Giant to record an
interception in each of the first three games of the season since cornerback
Michael Boley did it in the late 70s.
The game wasn’t a total disaster for the Panthers. They
actually did drive the ball on the Giants a few times, but early on it seemed
like the 50 yard-line was to New York’s defense what the fourth quarter is to
Eli Manning.
After the halftime break, the Panthers game out hoping to
cut into a 20-0 New York lead. They didn’t even get the opportunity thanks to a
fumble on the opening kick return of the 2nd half.
The Panthers did get on the board midway through the third
quarter and it looked like they had a chance to at least make a game of it, but
the next time they drove into the red zone Newton threw an interception.
By the end of the fourth quarter, David Carr was running the
Giants’ offense and Derek Anderson was in for Carolina. I know it was garbage
time, but Anderson looked much more comfortable than Cam did at any point in
the game. That might be because Newton was held to just six rushing yards a
week after a career high game where he rushed for 71 yards against the Saints.
Perhaps the most glaring thing about the game for me was
that the officiating didn’t ruin the game. Sure the refs were shaky at times,
stumbling over their words as they announced penalties, but even the real refs
have occasionally had the same trouble. But there were no glaring mistakes, and
even the one time I thought the call was questionable (a holding call against
the Giants on a run off tackle), the replay showed that there was in fact a
hold, a minor one that could have as easily been a no-call, but a legitimate
call nonetheless.
I only hope the rest of the week goes as smoothly with the
refs, but we’re off to a good start and it was the first game I really enjoyed
watching so far this season.
My next posts will come next Monday. I will have one for the
1:00 games and another for all the later games, including the Sunday Night
game, so be sure to check those out.
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