Giants Report Card

Here is a position by position analysis for how the Giants did against the Jets.

QUARTERBACKS

Eli Manning threw an ill-advised pass toward WR Amani Toomer, who was double-covered, and ILB Jonathan Vilma intercepted it the Giants’ 28, with about 25 seconds left in the second quarter. The turnover cost them three points just before halftime, as K Mike Nugent drilled a 47-yard FG as time expired. Manning’s intentional grounding infraction cost the Giants 12 yards on a third-and-eight play from the Jets’ 28 late in the second quarter. They couldn’t attempt what would’ve been a 58-yard FG, so they punted on fourth down. Bottom Line: Manning completed 10-of-15 second-half passes, including two touchdowns.

RUNNING BACKS

RB Brandon Jacobs easily slipped a tackle attempt by SS Eric Smith near the Jets’ 10, en route to a 19-yard touchdown run that helped bring the Giants within a field goal (17-14) early in the third quarter. With ILB Eric Barton tackling him around the waist, Jacobs wasn’t aware of FS Kerry Rhodes, who stripped the ball from his left arm from behind. Rhodes returned the fumble 11 yards for a touchdown that helped put the Jets in front 7-0 just 6:24 into the game. Bottom Line: Jacobs and Derrick Ward worked well together.

WIDE RECEIVERS/TIGHT ENDS

WR Plaxico Burress stiff-armed LCB Andre Dyson near the Jets’ 40, slipped his second tackle attempt around the 25 and raced to the end zone for a 53-yard touchdown that helped place the Giants ahead, 28-24, with 7:52 left in the game. TE Jeremy Shockey’s two receptions went for a 20-yard catch that moved the Giants to the Jets’ 7 on a scoring drive early in the second quarter and a 13-yard touchdown that got the Giants within a FG (24-21) late in the third quarter. Bottom Line: Burress was a second-half sensation.

OFFENSIVE LINE

RG Chris Snee sealed off ILB David Harris at the line of scrimmage, creating the opening through which Ward ran for an 8-yard touchdown run that helped tie the score (7-7) with 10:54 left in the second quarter. Bottom Line: Manning wasn’t sacked and they rushed for 188 yards.

DEFENSIVE LINE

NT Barry Cofield blew a sure sack midway through the fourth quarter, when he somehow allowed QB Chad Pennington out of his grasp near midfield. DE Justin Tuck, lined up at DT, blew by LG Adrien Clarke to drop RB Leon Washington for a 5-yard loss in the second quarter. Tuck’s play forced the Jets into an obvious passing situation (second-and-15 from the Giants’ 37) and RCB Sam Madison intercepted a telegraphed Pennington pass intended for WR Jerricho Cotchery. Bottom Line: Other than Osi Umenyiora, they afforded Pennington plenty of time to throw.

LINEBACKERS

SLB Mathias Kiwanuka was flagged for a 15-yard face-mask penalty against Washington that he seemingly didn’t deserve late in the second quarter. Bottom Line: They combined for 18 tackles and defended two passes.

DEFENSIVE BACKS

LCB Kevin Dockery turned the complete opposite way when Pennington lofted a 16-yard touchdown toss to WR Brad Smith in the back corner of the west end zone, a score that helped place the Jets ahead 14-7 with 33 seconds left in the first half. Backup RCB Corey Webster was unaware that a well-thrown ball by Pennington was about to reach WR Laveranues Coles, who deftly made a 28-yard, over-the-shoulder catch at the Giants’ sideline with 7:44 to go before halftime. Bottom Line: What would have happened had Aaron Ross played the whole game?

SPECIAL TEAMS

K Lawrence Tynes disrupted any shot the Giants had at preventing KR Leon Washington’s 98-yard kickoff return, when his feeble tackle attempt moved him into SS Gibril Wilson, who seemed to have a chance to at least slow down Washington near the Giants’ 40. Jeff Feagles’ booming, 60-yard punt gave the Giants much more breathing room, as it forced the Jets to start a drive at their own 20, with less than five minutes left in the game. Feagles placed a punt at the Jets’ 7 late in the second quarter, too. Bottom Line: The kick return coverage was inadequate.

COACHING

Tom Coughlin’s challenge of an interception momentum call early in the fourth quarter wasn’t wise. It cost the Giants a timeout and they still started a drive at their own 2, following Aaron Ross’ interception near the end zone. Eli Manning wasn’t exactly effective throughout the first half, so why were the Giants throwing the ball late in the first half? Manning’s interception cost them three more points and left them down 17-7 at halftime. Bottom Line: They’ve won three straight.