COWBOYS EIGHTY SIXED IN MEADOWLANDS

Maybe it had to do something with Bill Parcells being back in Giants Stadium, but the way the Giants played Sunday, one would think he was still at the helm of Big Blue. In a 17-10 slugfest against the Cowboys, the Giants looked so 1986 that one had to wonder if Leonard Marshall wasn’t wearing Kendrick Clancy’s number 70 jersey or if Carl Banks wasn’t Antonio Pierce’s stunt double. All that was missing was a punt return cameo by Phil McConkey to cap the afternoon.

Like the days of yesteryear, the defense stepped up where the Giants offense let down. For those longing for old school defensive play, they got everything and a bag of chips. On the flip side, the Giants molluskine movement of the ball made their receiving corps look like clones of Ernest Grey. In many ways it’s hard to believe the Giants were the highest scoring team in September; even drawing juxtapositions to the Air Coryell Chargers for about fifteen minutes.

For Manning it wasn’t a great game. In fact it was a bad game, with one interception that cost them a chance to score and another that all but handed Dallas a touchdown on a silver platter. Sure he’s had great quarters; great fourth quarters, but you’d have to go back to October before Manning has had a completely solid game. As for Sunday’s performance, well, he had good pass protection, with greatly improved left line play by Luke Petitgout (only one false start) and Dave Diehl. Running wise, Tiki Barber 30-115 did his share to keep the pressure off his young QB, however Manning still connected with his receivers like satellite TV in a thunderstorm.

It was also a game of missed opportunities for individuals to step up in a big game. For a few seasons, several Giant players have hung around but have only been used sparingly. Wide receiver Tim Carter has been among them. No doubt he’s got great speed, but Carter has been injury prone and thus never in position to become the “go-to” receiver. He had his shot Sunday, where the entire tone of the game could have shifted had he not dropped a 54-yard bomb while covered by a gimpy Aaron Glenn. He doesn’t get that many chances, plays like that help to explain why.

Defensively, cornerback Frank Walker had his chance to shine in the opening series as the Giants played nickel and dime formations all day long. Flagged first for a stupid pass interference penalty that sustained the drive, Walker got an even more stupid personal foul penalty a few plays later. Welcome to the doghouse express.

Then there’s Jay Feely, making a Namath-esque promise that he’ll hit every kick. He made one low-pressure field goal with the wind to his back. But the one that would have iced the game with a two-possession lead Feely botched; ricocheting the ball off the right upright from just 33 yards out. Not since Ali Haji-Sheik has a Giant place kicker risen and fallen so fast. He’ll soon be going down the road Feely bad if he doesn’t return to form.

Just as some opportunities were missed, others grabbed the reigns. Jim Finn, the Giants underutilized receiving fullback, made a critical drive-sustaining run late in the game. And since Ivy League players are all the rage with the performance of the Rams’ QB Ryan Fitzpatrick from Harvard, perhaps some noise should be made for Jim Finn who went the University of Pennsylvania. Not sure why he’s not used more in screen options, or in third down situations like that of Parcellian niche player Tony Galbreath, but the Giants did make a priority of re-signing him during the off-season. Would like to see more from Mr. Finn.

Justin Tuck, a defensive star waiting in the wings (who also looks a lot like Carl Banks) got his first career sack. A special teams standout throughout the season, Justin Tuck is filling nicely in the interior line play for the injured William Joseph. One play that really looked great was when the Giants stacked their “book ends”, Osi Umenyiora and Michael Strahan, on the left side which gave Tuck a clean lane to Drew Bledsoe from the right. This kid has been on my watch all season.

What really seemed interesting about this game was the indifference the crowd showed for the offense and the passion they showed for the defense. When Feely missed that second field goal, for sure a cascade of boos would fall upon him. But no, that’s not what happened, instead there was a sense that indeed, the Giants defense will not fail. Soooo 1986. A few months ago, Big Blue was tagged as “not your father’s New York Giants”. Well, if this game is any indication, I think Daddy has done much to repossess his old team. After all, New Yorkers hate change even more than they hate the Dallas Cowboys.