Cowboys vs. Giants: 5 Questions with Big Blue View
It’s time for a playoff edition of 5 Questions. I went back to ETVal over at Big Blue View and got him to answer these queries.
Blogging The Boys: Eli Manning has put together two very strong games and won his first playoff game. How confident are you that he'll make it three in a row? Are the Giants asking him to do less now and that is actually producing more?
Big Blue View: In my mind, Eli is still a question mark. I feel much better about him after what I saw in the last two weeks, though. I see from those games that it is very possible Eli can be more than an 'average quarterback. I disagree with the assessment that the Giants are asking him to do less. Last week the Bills dared Eli to win that game, and in my mind that's what he did. They took away Brandon Jacobs, so the Giants put the game in Eli's hands and he produced. Only 185 yards, but the Bucs were allowing the short routes and Eli took advantage. There were no forced throws, no bad miscues. The Giants will need a great game from Eli Sunday, and that would go a long way toward erasing any remaining questions about his ability to be a big-time quarterback.
BTB: Open invitation to gloat about your defensive line and the ageless one, Michael Strahan.
BBV: Strahan was marvelous last week (9 tackles, 1 sack, countless pressures). He has been good this year, but I didn't think he still had the ability to be GREAT. He dialed up a great game against the Buccaneers. You know about Osi Umenyiora, but Justin Tuck, splitting time between DE and DT, has also been terrific. Fred Robbins and Barry Cofield are good run-stoppers inside, as well. To me, a key on Sunday will be whether or not the Giants can get to Romo with four, or will they have to bring a heavy blitz package?
BTB: What kind of rotation do you'll think we'll see out of Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw? It looked like Bradshaw was the more effective runner against Tampa Bay.
BBV: Jacobs is still the top dog. You guys know what you get from him, and what a beast he is to bring down. Derrick Ward also did a good job for the Giants this year before getting hurt, but Bradshaw gives them a dimension they haven't had. He's a slasher who can make his own hole, and has the burst to run away from people. I still think you'll see more Jacobs than Bradshaw, but who knows? I was stunned last week when the Giants used Bradshaw, who has very few carries on the season, to run out the clock against Tampa Bay. Bradshaw is also a receiving threat, and I'm sure the Giants will want the ball in his hands 15-20 times.
BTB: How about an injury report? Who's in and who's out?
BBV: Well, it looks like center Shaun O'Hara, who missed last week's game, is in. Cornerback Sam Madison, also out last week, is a maybe. Distressingly for the Giants, backup corner Kevin Dockery was on crutches due to a hip injury and seems unlikely to play. So, Corey Webster will have to come up big again for New York.
BTB: What's the Giants gameplan for this Sunday? What will they do differently from the first two games to beat Dallas?
BBV: Damned if I know for sure. One thing I can tell you is I do not think this will be a low-scoring game. The Giants can put a brave face on it and talk about how much their defense has improved -- and it has -- but the Cowboys will still score points. To me, it's can the Giants make 2-3 big defensive plays -- key stops or turnovers. Offensively, can they match Dallas? Can they put up 35 points, or more? To do that, Eli has to be as good or better than he was the last two weeks, rookie tight end Kevin Boss has to abuse Roy Williams the way Jeremy Shockey did earlier in the season and the Giants have to be turnover-free. I'm no fool with blinders on. This is an uphill battle for the Giants, and they will have to be flawless. Seventeen games into their season, the Giants have won 11 times but have yet to play that perfect game from beginning to end. I've been waiting for it, and they will need to come up with it Sunday.
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19 comments
Comments
Seems like
we tend to have some of our best Q&As with Big Blue View. Consistently fair assessments of his and the opposing teams.
by Nelson on Jan 11, 2008 12:13 AM CST reply actions 0 recs
i've said before and i'll say it again...
the giants are not really peaking....they've gone 2-2 in the last four games....manning has thrown for less than 185 yards a game three times in the last four games....they're 2-5 against playoff teams...they've only beaten two teams over .500....the bucs and the redskins...and they were both 9-7...i said the same thing on the giants site....the narrative that the giants team is on fire is a false one...
but i enjoy the assessment from both sides...should be a good one....
by Tuna Helper on Jan 11, 2008 1:37 AM CST reply actions 0 recs
with the giants, two is a trend!
since they didn't play two consecutive good games all season, it seems like a trend when they finally do
by scottmaui on Jan 11, 2008 2:16 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs
No kidding
It's not like they even WON both games. They lost a game they should've lost, nevermind the crucial Eli int late in the game - he's grown up you see - and won a game they should've won against a team with a hobbled offense.
Congratulations to the New York Football Giants for not screwing the pooch twice in a row.
by goodjobtimmyheresabluestar on Jan 11, 2008 8:34 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs
yeah, their trend of two good games
includes one loss. to the patriots, yeah, but they still lost.
by scottmaui on Jan 11, 2008 11:25 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs
broken link
grizz, the .com is missing in your bigblueview link.
by scottmaui on Jan 11, 2008 2:17 AM CST reply actions 0 recs
OHARA
Sure he can play- BUT will he be better then a fully healthy backup- or worse?
by burmafrd1944 on Jan 11, 2008 6:38 AM CST reply actions 0 recs
Rat
Will probably get a consistent double. Hopefully, Spears and Canty can take advantage.
by goodjobtimmyheresabluestar on Jan 11, 2008 8:26 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Good questions
and good answers Grizz. Though I expected more from BBV. It's playoff time and he's asking about Simpson?? As if he hasn't heard enough? How about asking questions about the game?? If I was a Gnats fan I'd be a little more concerned with how the Cowboys are about to ravish your worlds.
by sublimezg on Jan 11, 2008 9:03 AM CST reply actions 0 recs
You're surprised
I asked about Simpson? Personally, I'd rather not have to but since it's the story that is everywhere I felt like I had no choice. I honestly think it's much ado about nothing, but it's fun anyway. Enjoy the game Sunday Dallas fans, but I do hope you wind up crying in your beer!
-- Ed
Big Blue View
by ETVal on Jan 11, 2008 9:48 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs
if it comes to the point of crying in my beer,
I can assure you there will be no beer left. It will have been emptied all over the living room as I am throwing stuff. In my opinion, the Giants need to play a great game and the boys a poor to average game for a win. If both teams play good to great, Boys win.
by nonotmenever on Jan 11, 2008 10:25 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs
I am not
going to argue with that. I have said all week that the Giants have a chance, but that the Cowboys SHOULD win.
-- Ed
Big Blue View
by ETVal on Jan 11, 2008 2:01 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
A question for you Ed
do think the non-objective favoring of the Giants by the NY media has anything to do with the fact that the Knicks are in such poor shape and the yankees have underachieved so much lately? You know, sort of a "power of positive thinking" gone mad? Not to say the giants don't have a chance, I think they do but much of the media is acting like the cowboys don't have a chance, which is just silly.
by Billito on Jan 11, 2008 4:18 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
I'll interrupt....
Since I live in NYC, I'll chime in here. The media loves nothing more than to roast the local teams whenever possible, especially Eli. They overreact to everything, good or bad, but I don't think the local NYC media is doing anything out of the ordinary to create greater interest. The national media, however, wants the New York market, so I guess they have more of an interest (not that Dallas is a small market by any means). I'm not sure what has gotten into the media, other than that they need to pick one upset and this looks the most possible.
Now, as for how Giants fans feel, you could be right on. If I were one of them, I would be excited and talking smack too. While I'm on the subject of Giants fans, BTW, you guys are alright. Compared to Washington and Philly fans, you're downright decent (at least until you put on your Yankees caps :)
by grapejoos on Jan 11, 2008 11:11 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
The New York media...
I don't think there is a concerted effort to play up the Giants' chances against Dallas because of any failure by other NY franchises.
I think the folks in Dallas are oblivious to how tough this game is going to be. The rest of the country realizes that the team trying to beat an opponent for the third time is a year is going against heavy odds, especially when it's "popcorn vendor" may not be playing at 100%.
Look, I know Dallas has been the better team this year. The question is, on this one Sunday will they place a punctuation mark on their season, or can the G-men steal some precious momentum and upset them.
by giants fan since 57 on Jan 11, 2008 7:22 PM CST reply actions 0 recs
not true
The rest of the country realizes that the team trying to beat an opponent for the third time is a year is going against heavy odds
thats statistically incorrect,teams who swept the season series go on to with the playoff matchup 65% of the time(2 out of every three times)
However I do agree with the on any given sunday mantra...It just ain't happening this sunday!
by TrueBlue24 on Jan 11, 2008 8:12 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

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