Giants @ 49ers

[CoachGugs]

San Frans defense was absolutely amazing, the Giants defense, ....did they stop the 49ers on every third down attempt? wow.....but...injuries can change a game, losing ted ginn jr meant a new punt returner....two botches there and its a L...shame for the 49ers,. an amazing team.

One thing though, I think we can see why singletary was trying to fix #85....two personal fouls.

San Fran no question has the best D in the NFL.  If they can bring those guys back again they will be hard to do anything against. 

The Giants didn't seem to do much to try to adjust.  There was only one screen to a TE and not to Bradshaw which I would have expected.  Didn't keep people in to protect.  There is no way the 49ers would have been able to defend the 3 WRs if the Giants kept the TE and backs in to help with the pressure. 

There was a span at the end of the game where I thought this was going to go into a 2nd OT because neither O could move the ball at all.  It just came down to mistakes.

[Daniel Lyons]

Special teams mistakes was the deciding factor in both games.  Too bad, all the final 4 defenses played their hearts out.

Some players that really impressed me in the last playoff games:

JJ Watt - Houston
Justin Smith - SF
Vonta Leach - FB Ravens (his blocking)
Vince Wilfork - Patriots (MVP in the last game IMO)
Victor Cruz - Giants
N. Bowman - LB 49ers
D. Goldson - S 49ers
E. Reed - Ravens
J. Flaco - Ravens (actually and unbelievably outplayed Brady in the final game)
Giants D Line

Disappointing:

Alex Smith - 49ers - Aside from a few flashes and the 4th quarter against NO the rest of the team carried this guy.  They should have more designed runs for this guy though because he has good speed.

Crabtree - 49ers - This guy was invisible.  Because of close ups on t.v. I can't tell if he is never open, but he doesn't get any catches.

Tom Brady - Still the man, but made some really bone head decisions and missed some wide open receivers.  On the other hand the whole offense runs through him and he made a ton of plays too.

[mahonz]

It would stink to be a 49er or Ravens fan today.

To give up a shot at the SB on wierd stuff that rarely happens....ouch.

[Daniel Lyons]

It would stink to be a 49er or Ravens fan today.

To give up a shot at the SB on wierd stuff that rarely happens....ouch.

I feel really bad for that 49ers return man.  They are going to have to cut or trade him.

[ltlacy]

San Fran no question has the best D in the NFL.  If they can bring those guys back again they will be hard to do anything against. 

The Giants didn't seem to do much to try to adjust.  There was only one screen to a TE and not to Bradshaw which I would have expected.  Didn't keep people in to protect.  There is no way the 49ers would have been able to defend the 3 WRs if the Giants kept the TE and backs in to help with the pressure. 

There was a span at the end of the game where I thought this was going to go into a 2nd OT because neither O could move the ball at all.  It just came down to mistakes.

Yes BUT when Giants come to play there are close to even b/c that front4 is awesome or 6, they threw one to Bradshaw and the OLB ate him for lunch. If it would have been a 2nd overtime I would have been even happier!

I LOVE REAL FOOTBALL!!!!!!!

[ltlacy]

I feel really bad for that 49ers return man.  They are going to have to cut or trade him.

 That is true BUT it was the coach fault if a young player makes a mistake like that they are going to try and make up for it by trying to make a big play, the coach should put in a seasoned vet just to make sure they have a chance to drive the ball!

[ltlacy]

Special teams mistakes was the deciding factor in both games.  Too bad, all the final 4 defenses played their hearts out.

Some players that really impressed me in the last playoff games:

JJ Watt - Houston
Justin Smith - SF
Vonta Leach - FB Ravens (his blocking)
Vince Wilfork - Patriots (MVP in the last game IMO)
Victor Cruz - Giants
N. Bowman - LB 49ers
D. Goldson - S 49ers
E. Reed - Ravens
J. Flaco - Ravens (actually and unbelievably outplayed Brady in the final game)
Giants D Line

Disappointing:

Alex Smith - 49ers - Aside from a few flashes and the 4th quarter against NO the rest of the team carried this guy.  They should have more designed runs for this guy though because he has good speed.

Crabtree - 49ers - This guy was invisible.  Because of close ups on t.v. I can't tell if he is never open, but he doesn't get any catches.

Tom Brady - Still the man, but made some really bone head decisions and missed some wide open receivers.  On the other hand the whole offense runs through him and he made a ton of plays too.

The biggest disappointment for me was to see the Ravens adjust to later by leaving the ILB #59 in the game when Brady was picking on him with the audible delay, they crossing route, and the beautiful overload!

BRADY is AWESOME!

[coachgs]

That is true BUT it was the coach fault if a young player makes a mistake like that they are going to try and make up for it by trying to make a big play, the coach should put in a seasoned vet just to make sure they have a chance to drive the ball!

I could not agree more. I was very happy to see the Giants return men going to the ground before contact on almost all returns. They avoided getting into bad situations.

[jkoester]

You know, I actually feel halfway decent that Flacco had a career day, and they still got held to 20 pts.

Brady was off, for sure.

Was Hernandez healthy for the Giant's game they lost this year?  I was thinking, the way the Giants tend to beat them, Hernandez and Gronk will be huge.

Interesting set up - coming into the year, the Pats had lost their last 3 playoff games, to the Giants, Ravens, and Jets.  The Jets, well, forget about them.  The Pats got the Ravens back.  Now they have a shot at the G-men.

Very interesting.

[Michael]

Was Hernandez healthy for the Giant's game they lost this year?  I was thinking, the way the Giants tend to beat them, Hernandez and Gronk will be huge.

They had 12 catches and 2 TDs between them.

[Rich Kelly]

I gotta say , Manning is one tough kid.   

Though I felt SF gave NY the game, I was absolutely amazed at the resolve of Eli Manning, that dude got the ever loving shit  beat out of him, from the coin flip on, but he just kept coming. 

I've picked against the Giants this entire playoffs, and even as a Eagles fan (in limbo) I have to respect the hell out of that team. 

I picked the patriots pre season to make it there, however after seeing both teams yesterday, I'm leaning strongly toward NY

[Michael]

Defense WINS Championships!

Except when it doesn't.

27th and 31st in yards allowed.

15th and 25th in points allowed.

They were 3rd and 5th in takeaways, though.

Of course, that might mean that if they weren't taking it away, they sure weren't stopping it.

[Rich Kelly]

Except when it doesn't.

27th and 31st in yards allowed.

15th and 25th in points allowed.

They were 3rd and 5th in takeaways, though.

Of course, that might mean that if they weren't taking it away, they sure weren't stopping it.

Mikey stats, who are you taking tonight?

[Michael]

Mikey stats, who are you taking tonight?

What's really funny is that I don't like the Patriots, even though I lived on Cape Cod and then the South Shore until I was 11.  Love the Bruins, Celtics, and Red Sox, can't stand the Patriots.  Of course, the fact that the 2001 Rams are one of my favorite teams of all time (maybe THE favorite) probably has something to do with it.

And I lived in Philly for 11 years, so I'm not a big Giants fan.

I watch every NFL game I can (and that's a lot, since I have the DirecTV deal), but I don't really have a favorite team, and I never really have.  I more follow coaches and players.  I like the Ravens because of Lewis and Reed, I like the Texans because of John Benton, I like the Bengals because of Paul Alexander, I like the Jets because if Rex Ryan and McNally, etc.  I end up like a lot of teams that win, because I admire them, but I don't buy the gear and live and die by them and call them "we" and all that.

Anyway, I think Eli might shred the Patriots.  I can live with a poor running game if it's Eli against the Patriots when it come to passing.  And given a choice between an awesome D-Line and TEs that can't be covered, I'll take the D-Line, so I see the Giants doing at least a semi-decent job of stopping the Patriots.

If I had to make a guess, I think the Giants will be somewhere around 27-35, and the Patriots will be somewhere around 23-31.  A lot COULD happen, and I don't know what WILL happen, but I think the Giants have a better chance of winning than the Patriots do.

And I want the Giants to win, although I'm not ecstatic, by any means, about either option.  Four years ago, I wanted the Patriots, because I can respect 18-0, and Mercury Morris drives me nuts.

[Rich Kelly]

And I want the Giants to win, although I'm not ecstatic, by any means, about either option.  Four years ago, I wanted the Patriots, because I can respect 18-0, and Mercury Morris drives me nuts.

Horrible isn't he