The first quarter of the 2011 NFL season is behind us, and the New York Football Giants sit with the Washington Redskins atop the NFC East at 3-1, with Dallas at .500 and the Eagles kicking dirt at 1-3. Is this great or what? Sunday's road matchup in Arizona had trap game written ALL OVER IT. But the Giants came out and showed what winners do in trying times - they claw, scrape, and continue fighting until the final whistle, and we escaped with what was overall a pretty ugly win against the Arizona Cardinals. Believe me, all wins don't have to be pretty, and if the past is any indication, most of ours aren't. Still, like I said earlier this season - you don't get style points for a win. So let the rest of the NFL be put on notice - despite all our injuries, roster shuffling, and whatever other excuses people have made for why the Giants should stink this year, this Giants team is for real.
Before I get to the game, there's something I want mention. Without Kevin Boss or Steve Smith on the roster this year, in the preseason most people simply wrote off our passing attack for 2011. I said at the time we would need guys to step up in their absence, and for Eli to be smart with the ball. Just because the rest of the country hasn't heard of someone on a team's roster doesn't mean that someone won't produce. Everyone is a no name at one point in his career. Be it early in college or early in the pros. That has been the case in the first quarter of the season for both Victor Cruz (we'll get to the non-fumble play later on) and Jake Ballard. While those judgments were happening, people were also jumping all over Eli for having confidence and saying he was in the same elite class as Tom Brady. Which, by the way, every starting quarterback should say! I don't want my starting quarterback to not have confidence in himself. Anyway, taking all that stupidity and cynicism into account, the Giants' "non-existent" passing attack has Eli Manning currently sitting with the 3rd best QB rating in the NFL, behind Aaron Rodgers and Tom Brady. Find something new to complain about, haters.
and Antrel Rolle. For all the whining he did in the off-season, Osi's play certainly spoke for itself on Sunday. First game back, two sacks and one forced fumble. And on his return to his former stomping grounds, Antrel Rolle was a force to be reckoned with. Despite what Beanie Wells did on the ground, he absolutely blanketed their receivers all game, finishing the day with one interception, six tackles, and two passes defended. Without those two on the field, I don't believe the comeback would have been possible. **Non-Gmen Thoughts of the Week:**
•JJ and I played each other this past week in fantasy football. He destroyed me. Of course I had to sit Beanie Wells since he was facing our Gmen, while JJ had three different Giants starting against me. I should've made him sit his stud as well, just to make things even.
•Tony Siragusa, no one cares what you think. Ever. Take note of this please.
•Tom Jackson, stop adding to unnecessary controversy. During Sunday NFL Countdown on BSPN, he said (I'm paraphrasing) that Vick will be singled out every Sunday because referees are also dog lovers. Really? Haven't we moved past this? The "experts" prove year in and year out they don't know what they're talking about. And they get paid. A lot. So frustrating.
•As a Yankees fan, last week was one of the greatest things I've ever experienced, and never have I been so happy to see the Yankees lose to the Rays. Oh, Boston, your consistent floundering never ceases to bring a smile to my face.
•The same goes for Philadelphia. And Dallas. Minus the Yankees' loss, yesterday was a great sports day.Final Thoughts:
Gotta keep our momentum going. I'll be home this weekend for the Yom Kippur holiday, and will therefore be at the game on Sunday when the Seahawks come to town. Time to roast some birds for the third straight week! To talk all things Giants you can, e-mail me at gmensuperfan@gmail.com or find me on Facebook under the name "Gmen Superfan." Until next week, GO GMEN!!
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