JET LAGGED JINTS SURVIVE FUTILE FISH

With the exception of the history that was made by the NFL playing its first ever regular season game in Europe, there were few memorable things that could be taken from the Giants’ 13-10 win over Miami. As far as this new initiative with transcontinental competition goes, the NFL, at least this time around, exported a game that perhaps could have been outpaced by glacial meltdown.

In much of the same way a productive salesman has to break from his routine to work a tradeshow in Las Vegas, the notion of playing football in England felt more like a contractual obligation than a passionately primal way to earn a living. That said, the Giants in bland, often sloppy, workmanlike fashion did just enough to survive a game with three more points than their winless adversary. Now it’s time for the Giants to go home, but at least they’re coming home 6-2.

Not surprisingly, London provided a meteorologically appropriate welcome with plenty of rain and a thick “pitch”, which provided nice, muddy uniforms that we turf-raised American fans have all but forgotten. However, because of these limiting conditions, the purportedly raucous crowd of 90,000 got a first-hand look at what’s euphemistically known as a “ball control offense”. Better said, it was a game of hand-offs, incomplete passes, and a flag-happy officiating crew that’s now made referee, Gerry Austin, an international celebrity. Add in the fact that Miami’s injury report is now longer than Pacman Jones’ rap sheet, and you have all the ingredients for what should later be known as Yawn Bowl I.

If anyone had an exciting afternoon, it was Brandon Jacobs who ran for a career high of 131 yards. This is finally the Brandon Jacobs that those hailing in Giantdom have been patiently waiting for. When Jacobs is on his game, and the Giants offensive line gelling, the Giants running attack can roll over just about any opponent with Blitzkrieg belligerence. Though despite this, there’s still plenty of trepidation every time he touches the ball. No doubt his 264 pound frame brings relief to defenders once they see he’s running to the opposite side of the field they’re covering, yet Jacob’s durability still comes into question. As of the conclusion of Sunday’s game, there were no injuries to report on Jacobs. Still though, once can’t help but feel that hinging the running game on Brandon Jacobs is like entering a rally race with an armored Fiat.

Come Monday, it’s likely that much of the sports punditry will attack this Giant victory. Much of what’s plagued the Giants in the first three years of the Coughlin regime seemed to rear its ugly head in London; especially in the second half. For most of the first half, the Giants kept control of the game in an effective, albeit milquetoast fashion of running the ball. However, as soon as the third quarter opened up, the Giants abandoned their game plan by passing the ball. One has to wonder if there was some sort of entertainer’s burden to get the English crowd exited; maybe a tap on the door from Commission Goodell, as if trying to inflict some sort of comic relief during Macbeth’s soliloquy. No doubt there was a noticeable rise in the decibel level every time the ball was thrown, but since when should that become a priority? As soon as the running game shifted to the back burner, Miami found new life in the way of creating two turnovers off passing plays. Not good.

More concerning was the rash of stupid penalties, particularly early in the fourth quarter, where perhaps Luke Petitgout was thought to have rejoined the team in order to see London for free. At one point the Giants were even facing a third and 33, with the kicker being the ultimate in bonehead penalties of getting called for an illegal substitution. In another situation, Antonio Pierce, the Giants’ de facto defensive leader, was called for a late hit; making for his third personal foul penalty in the last two games. Again, debate will surely spawn of whether or not the Giants are slipping back to their undisciplined ways, or if it’s nothing more than just sleepwalking through a long business trip and feeling ready to get home.
And with those penalties, the Giants too will be called out for their shoddy tackling. Cornerback Sam Madison was by far the most noteworthy culprit, who must have had both his arms fail to get through customs at Heathrow airport; thus using his upper torso to hopefully impede the ball carrier. Pilots don’t always have to fly perfectly in order to get everyone on the ground in one piece. And with that, one could say it was a turbulent flight for the Giants D, though ultimately ending with a safe arrival. Sometimes that’s the best you’re going to get when playing five time zones away in the rain.

The Giants will now have two weeks to shake off the jet lag and get ready for Dallas. Though watching the film of this game will likely be as tedious as the long flight home (or the game itself), it’s likely to just be cast off as “that London game.” At least they better hope so… November football is here.