SB Nation New York - Giants 24, Falcons 2: New York Wins Wild-Card Game, Faces Packers Nexthttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48977/ny-fave.png2012-01-10T09:56:36-05:00http://newyork.sbnation.com/rss/stream/24432192012-01-10T09:56:36-05:002012-01-10T09:56:36-05:00The Top 5: Biggest Blowout Wins In Giants Playoff History
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<p>The <a href="https://www.bigblueview.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">New York Giants</a> have an all-time postseason record of 21-24, having won four NFL Championships and three Super Bowls. They did win their first title, in 1927, just by finishing in first place, without having to go through the playoffs, though, as the owners hadn't realized yet how much money could be made with a postseason tournament and championship game (and Al Jolson would have most likely been chomping at the bit to perform during halftime at a 1927 Super Bowl). Though they've played 45 postseason games going all the way back to 1933, the Giants' 24-2 stomping of the <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/teams/atlanta-falcons" class="sbn-auto-link">Atlanta Falcons</a> is the fifth-largest margin of victory in Big Blue's playoff history. Here are the Top 5 postseason blowout wins for the Giants.</p>
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<p><b>5. 24-2 vs. Falcons on Sunday:</b> We just watched this one, so no need for details.</p>
<p><b>4. 31-3 vs. <a href="https://www.windycitygridiron.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Bears</a> on Jan. 13, 1991:</b> The Super Bowl Shuffle was a distant memory while the Giants defined smashmouth football that season. This game was the Divisional round of the playoffs that set the Giants in motion for their second Super Bowl win. The Giants rushed for 194 yards, with Ottis Anderson gaining 80 and Jeff Hostetler 43 (who did he think he was, <span>Tim Tebow</span> -- could we have been Hostetlering back then?). The Giant QB only threw 17 passes (completing 10), but tossed touchdown passes to Stephen Baker and Howard Cross, and he and Maurice Carthon ran for touchdowns as well. The defense intercepted two passes, and the Giants won easily, then defeated the <a href="https://www.ninersnation.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">49ers</a> and <a href="https://www.buffalorumblings.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Bills</a> to win it all.</p>
<p><b>3. 47-7 vs. Bears on Dec. 30, 1956:</b> The Giants were in their first year playing at Yankee Stadium, and the field that day was icy and frozen, so they repeated their 1934 "Sneakers Game" ploy of discarding cleats for sneakers. And it worked like a charm as they rolled all over Chicago in the NFL Championship Game. They spread the wealth, with everyone pitching in: Frank Gifford caught four catches, for 131 yards, scored a touchdown and rushed for 30 yards. Alex Webster scored a pair of touchdowns. Mel Triplett ran for 71 yards and crossed the goal line. Charlie Conerly tossed a couple of touchdown passes. And the D intercepted two passes, one off a young -- was he ever really young? -- George Blanda. It didn't hurt that Giant head coach Jim Lee Howell's two assistants were Vince Lombardi and Tom Landry.</p>
<p><b>2. 41-0 vs. <a href="https://www.dailynorseman.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Vikings</a> on Jan. 14, 2001:</b> Jim Fassel put all his chips on the table, guaranteed that his Giants would make the playoffs and they went all the way to the Super Bowl. They peaked in this NFC Championship Game, destroying the Vikings, with <span>Randy Moss</span> memorably packing it in as early as the first quarter (he only caught two passes, for 18 yards). <span>Ike Hilliard</span> was the receiving star that day, hauling in 10 passes, for 155 yards, and scoring two touchdowns. <span>Kerry Collins</span> tossed five touchdown passes, and the defense recorded four sacks and three interceptions. Once Moss pulled back on a pass going across the middle, letting the ball go by him, afraid to get hit, the Giants had the game won.</p>
<p><b>1. 49-3 vs. 49ers on Jan. 4, 1987:</b> By this point in time, these two teams loathed each other and had a pretty good rivalry going, so the Giants got a lot of satisfaction out of this shellacking. Mark Bavaro opened up the scoring, the 49ers booted a field goal, but the Giants scored 42 unanswered points, thanks to 216 rushing yards (159 and two touchdowns for Joe Morris) and four Phil Simms touchdown passes. The memorable moment from this contest was Jim Burt leveling Joe Montana, knocking him out of the game, with Lawrence Taylor snagging Montana's wayward pass and rumbling 34 yards for a touchdown. The Giants shut out Washington, 17-0, in the NFC Championship Game the following week, and then defeated the <a href="https://www.milehighreport.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Broncos</a> to capture their first Super Bowl.</p>
https://newyork.sbnation.com/new-york-giants/2012/1/10/2696436/the-top-5-biggest-blowout-wins-in-giants-playoff-history-nfl-playoffs-giants-vs-falcons-tim-tebowJeff Freier2012-01-09T13:14:44-05:002012-01-09T13:14:44-05:00Giants 24, Falcons 2: Giants Serious Super Bowl Contenders?
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<p>The <a href="https://www.bigblueview.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">New York Giants</a> -- justifiably -- did not get much love from the national media throughout a mediocre 9-7 season that saw them need victories in their final two games to make the playoffs. Well, that certainly has changed. Look around <a href="http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com" target="_blank">SI.com</a> today and you can see that for yourself.</p>
<p>Peter King praised the Giants in several ways in his weekly '<a href="http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/writers/peter_king/01/08/wild.card.round/index.html" target="_blank">Monday Morning Quarterback'</a> column. King broached similarities to the Giants' 2007 Super Bowl run, praised Tom Coughlin's game management and moved the Giants all the way to No. 6 in his weekly 'Fine 15.'</p>
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<p><a href="http://www.bigblueview.com/2012/1/9/2693927/giants-perry-fewell-defensive-coordinator-head-coaching-vacancies" target="_blank">Perry Fewell: From Genius, To Bum, and Back Again</a></p>
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<p>In reviewing the game, <a target="_blank" href="http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/football/nfl/01/08/falcons.giants/index.html">SI also had this to say</a>:</p>
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<p>In winning their first playoff game since upending the unbeaten <a href="https://www.patspulpit.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Patriots</a> in Super Bowl XLII, the Giants finally showed themselves to be a complete team after relying on Manning's arm (he threw a career-high 4,933 yards) for most of 2011.</p>
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<p>CBS Sports Clark Judge<a target="_blank" href="http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/story/16789099/wildcard-judgements-another-disappointing-finish-for-falcons"> offered this nugget</a> about the Giants' revitalized defense:</p>
<p>Over the last three games, it allowed four touchdowns. Period. That means opponents were blanked on 37 of their last 41 drives, and, yeah, I like that a lot when your next opponent is Green Bay.</p>
<p>ESPN also offers <a target="_blank" href="http://insider.espn.go.com/nfl/playoffs/2011/story/_/id/7427544/eli-manning-strong-defense-reasons-why-giants-win-all-nfl">eight reasons the Giants should be looked at as serious Super Bowl contenders</a>.</p>
<p>Tom Coughlin and company sure have come a long way since a few short weeks ago when it looked like the the Giants would miss the playoffs for the third straight season.</p>
https://newyork.sbnation.com/new-york-giants/2012/1/9/2694139/giants-24-falcons-2-giants-serious-super-bowl-contendersEd Valentine2012-01-09T11:34:44-05:002012-01-09T11:34:44-05:00Marc Ross, Giants Director Of College Scouting, A Hot GM Candidate
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<p>When your team experiences success in the NFL opportunities for advancement can open up for assistant coaches and other members of a team's organization. Well, right now the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bigblueview.com/">New York Giants</a> are experiencing success and Director of College Scouting <b>Marc Ross</b> might be about to reap the rewards of that.</p>
<p>Ross has <a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slug=nfp-20120107_colts_have_seven_gm_candidates_on_radar">already interviewed for the vacant general manager's job</a> with the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.stampedeblue.com/">Indianapolis Colts</a>. The<a href="http://www.suntimes.com/sports/football/9894722-419/bears-might-look-at-giants-exec-marc-ross-for-gm-job.html" target="_blank"> </a>Chicago Sun-Times says <a href="http://www.suntimes.com/sports/football/9894722-419/bears-might-look-at-giants-exec-marc-ross-for-gm-job.html">Ross is a candidate for the Chicago Bears' GM vacancy</a> after the firing of Jerry Angelo.</p>
<p><b>Jerry Reese</b>, general manager of the Giants, <a href="http://www.suntimes.com/sports/football/9894722-419/bears-might-look-at-giants-exec-marc-ross-for-gm-job.html">does not seem surprised</a> that Ross is gathering interest from other teams.</p>
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<p>‘‘He’s a veteran personnel guy and has been around two or three different clubs, so he’s seen how things are done differently at different places,’’ Reese said. ‘‘And he’s smart. He’s a people person, a terrific evaluator, and he’s qualified.’’</p>
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<p>Ross is in his fifth season as Giants' Director of College Scouting. Prior to that Ross spent three seasons as a college scout with the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.buffalorumblings.com/">Buffalo Bills</a> and seven seasons with the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bleedinggreennation.com/">Philadelphia Eagles</a> in varied scouting roles.</p>
https://newyork.sbnation.com/new-york-giants/2012/1/9/2693858/marc-ross-giants-director-of-college-scouting-a-hot-gm-candidate-colts-bearsEd Valentine2012-01-09T08:01:07-05:002012-01-09T08:01:07-05:00Jason Pierre-Paul 'Sure' Giants Will Beat Green Bay Packers
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<p>Jason Pierre-Paul is an All-Pro, a dominant defensive end who might be the NFL’s best defensive player right now. He is also still a young, excitable player and after the Giants defeated the Atlanta Falcons Sunday in an <span class="caps">NFC</span> Wild-Card Playoff game Pierre-Paul could not contain his exuberance.</p>
<p>The Giants’ tremendous second-year player <a href="http://www.bigblueview.com/2012/1/8/2692507/giants-24-falcons-2-jason-pierre-paul-post-game-press-conference" target="new">told reporters he was “sure” the Giants were going to defeat the Green Bay Packers</a> next Sunday at Lambeau Field.</p>
<p>“We are very confident. Last time they came in here and they beat us, which they shouldn’t have, and we are just going to go out there and play some great football,” Pierre-Paul said. “It’s going to be cold and the atmosphere will be theirs but we’re going to be ready to play.”</p>
<p>Pierre-Paul added that he felt the Giants “should” beat the Packers.</p>
<p>None of what Pierre-Paul said is really a guarantee, though it likely will be taken that way in Wisconsin. It does, however, show you how good a team whose season was on a respirator a few short weeks ago is feeling about itself now.</p>
https://newyork.sbnation.com/new-york-giants/2012/1/9/2693483/jason-pierre-paul-guarantee-jpp-giants-will-beat-green-bay-packers-nfl-playoffsEd Valentine2012-01-08T22:12:08-05:002012-01-08T22:12:08-05:00Giants 24, Falcons 2: Mike Smith Defends Fourth-And-One Decisions
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<p>The <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/teams/atlanta-falcons" class="sbn-auto-link">Atlanta Falcons</a> struggled to find any kind of offensive rhythm against the New York Giants during Sunday's NFC Wild Card game. Two key plays factored heavily into the Falcons' 247-yard performance. On fourth-and-inches from the Giants' 24-yard line in the second quarter, head coach Mike Smith opted to run a sneak with Matt Ryan instead of kick a field goal, and was stuffed by a swarming Giants' defensive line. Smith made the same decision in a similar situation from the Giants' 21-yard line in the third quarter, and once again Ryan was rebuffed. After the game, <a target="_blank" href="http://www.bigblueview.com/2012/1/8/2692496/giants-24-falcons-2-mike-smith-post-game-press-conference">Smith defended his decision making</a>.</p>
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<p>"It was less than a yard, it was about half a yard, maybe even less than that," Smith said. "That was the play, again, we go through and sequence those things all through the week and felt like that was the play we had up and we just didn't execute it. We felt like at any point and time we ought to be able to move less than a half-yard with the quarterback sneak."</p>
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<p>Smith called controlling the line of scrimmage "the crux of what we believe will lead us to success," and harped on the Falcons' inability to do so throughout his post-game press conference. <span>Michael Turner</span> was bottled up all day, managing just 41 yards rushing on 15 carries. The Falcons now heads into the offseason having lost three straight playoff games in three seasons.</p>
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<p>"It's not the type of football we want to play and we'll start on the 2012 season, starting tomorrow," Smith said. "That's the way our coaching staff is going to pursue this. It's the next season already. We're going to learn from this. We're going to learn from every game that we play and try not to be in this situation again."</p>
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<p><i>For more Giants coverage, visit our <a href="https://www.bigblueview.com/">team page</a> or our blog <a href="http://www.bigblueview.com/">Big Blue View</a>.</i></p>
https://newyork.sbnation.com/new-york-giants/2012/1/8/2692884/new-york-giants-atlanta-falcons-mike-smith-nfc-wild-cardLouis Bien2012-01-08T21:41:20-05:002012-01-08T21:41:20-05:00Giants 24, Falcons 2: Matt Ryan Atlanta Can't Find Offensive Rhythm In Loss
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<p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/teams/atlanta-falcons">Atlanta Falcons</a> were held to just 247 total yards by the New York Giants during Sunday's NFC Wild Card matchup. Quarterback Matt Ryan could not take advantage of an <span>Aaron Ross</span> concussion that forced rookie Prince Amukamura into the game at cornerback. He threw for under 200 yards passing, and was sacked twice during the game.</p>
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<p>"We never got into a rhythm," Ryan said <a href="http://www.bigblueview.com/2012/1/8/2692518/giants-24-falcons-2-matt-ryan-post-game-press-conference" target="_blank">after the game</a>. "We never moved the ball consistently. We had some opportunities. We fell short on two fourth downs. We just came up short. In a playoff game against a very good football team, you have to make those plays and we didn't make them."</p>
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<p>The Giants' front four was disruptive once again, holding the Falcons to just 64 yards rushing on top of harassing Ryan. After the game, the third-year quarterback put the Giants' corps among the best he has faced this season. Ryan was stuffed twice on fourth-and-one sneaks during the game.</p>
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<p>"Yeah, I think their front four played very well," Ryan said. "That's kind of what we expected. We expected them to play well. We had opportunities. We were in a rhythm at some points and just didn't make the plays on crucial third and fourth downs when we needed them to keep drives going. I think that's probably why we stalled out a little bit."</p>
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<p>Ryan and the Falcons have made the playoffs three years in a row now, and have come away with a loss in their first game in each of those postseasons. </p>
<p><i>For more Giants coverage, visit our <a href="https://www.bigblueview.com/">team page</a> or our blog <a href="http://www.bigblueview.com/">Big Blue View</a>.</i> </p>
https://newyork.sbnation.com/new-york-giants/2012/1/8/2692813/new-york-giants-atlanta-falcons-matt-ryan-2012-nfc-wild-cardLouis Bien2012-01-08T21:07:39-05:002012-01-08T21:07:39-05:00Eli Manning: Some People Will Never Understand His Greatness
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<figcaption>Eli Manning (10) of the New York Giants looks to pass in the first quarter against the Atlanta Falcons during their NFC Wild Card Playoff game at MetLife Stadium on January 8, 2012 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images) | Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Coming on the heels of the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bigblueview.com/">New York Giants</a>' 24-2 domination of the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/teams/atlanta-falcons">Atlanta Falcons</a>, during which the real story was the performance of the team's much-maligned defense, this might seem an odd moment to launch into a post singing the praises of Giants' quarterback <span>Eli Manning</span>. In reality, though, this is the perfect time.</p>
<p>Manning was brilliant Sunday, going 23-of-32 for 277 yards and three touchdowns, a passer rating of 129.3. He scrambled 14 yards for a critical first down, setting up the Giants' first touchdown drive, a 13-play, 85-yarder that took more than seven minutes and was their longest of the season in time of possession. Manning never turned the ball over. He moved masterfully in the pocket, deftly avoiding several sacks. He controlled the line of scrimmage, several times changing the play for a positive result.</p>
<p>By now, no one should question whether or not Manning is an elite quarterback. There are several great quarterbacks playing in the NFL right now. Put them in any order you want, when you discuss them the Giants Manning has to be in that conversation.</p>
<p>Yet, some people will never understand. In discussing<a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2012/1/5/2684201/nfl-playoffs-2012-teams-to-root-for"> the 'rootability' of each team in the playoffs</a> prior to the weekend action, Andrew Sharp of SBNation.com wrote this:</p>
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<p>On the Shooter-Happy continuum, there's no NFL quarterback closer to Happy Gilmore than Eli Manning. He drinks to excess, he's a shockingly obsessive prankster, and some of the decisions he makes on the field are so stupid and incomprehensible that all you can do is smile and shake your head. He may not actually be good, but he's always entertaining one way or another, and if the Giants can get past round one, New York and their goofy ass QB have a chance at sneaking up on everyone all over again.</p>
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<p>The only way to explain that sort of hatred is to look at the writer's profile and discover that he is a <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/">Dallas Cowboys</a> fan. Thing is, though, even having just had a Pro Bowl season during which he passed for 4,933 yards and led five fourth-quarter come-from-behind victories, Sharp is likely not the only one who still looks at Manning and feels that way.</p>
<p>A somewhat giddy <b><span>Brandon Jacobs</span></b> of the Giants <a href="http://www.bigblueview.com/2012/1/8/2692511/giants-24-falcons-2-brandon-jacobs-post-game-press-conference" target="_blank">answered a post-game question Sunday about Manning by saying this</a>:</p>
<p>"But Eli, I can't say enough good things about E. I think E is a beast, and for anybody in this country to think anything different about him...ya'll know what I mean. Peace out."</p>
<p>Giants fans do know what Jacobs means. For those who don't, well, that is their problem. The Giants are lucky to have him.</p>
https://newyork.sbnation.com/new-york-giants/2012/1/8/2692763/eli-manning-some-people-will-never-understand-his-greatnessEd Valentine2012-01-08T21:02:44-05:002012-01-08T21:02:44-05:00Giants 24, Falcons 2: Tom Coughlin Praises Defensive Effort
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<p>There is a lot of praise to go around among the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bigblueview.com/">New York Giants</a> following their 24-2 win over the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/teams/atlanta-falcons">Atlanta Falcons</a> in Sunday's NFC Wild-Card Palyoff game. <span>Eli Manning</span> went 23-for-32 passing for 277 yards and three touchdowns, while <span>Ahmad Bradshaw</span> and <span>Brandon Jacobs</span> led the way for 172 yards rushing. Giants head coach <b>Tom Coughlin</b> saved <a href="http://www.bigblueview.com/2012/1/8/2692503/giants-24-falcons-2-tom-coughlin-post-game-press-conference#storyjump" target="_blank">his highest praise</a> for his team's defensive effort, however.</p>
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<p>"I think today we played outstanding defense and that set the tone for everything else that happened in the game," Coughlin said. "It was wonderful to see it and it has happened over the last two or three weeks of the season. If we can continue to play defense like that, we can make ourselves heard in this tournament."</p>
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<p>The defensive line in particular continued to play stellar football. They harassed quarterback Matt Ryan throughout the game, and held the Falcons running game to just 64 total yards on the day. The front four also came up with two of the biggest plays of the day, stuffing Atlanta twice on what could have been game-changing fourth-and-ones.</p>
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<p>"The two fourth down stops were just outstanding and both were in the shadow of the goal line as well," Coughlin said. "That really inspired everybody, to be honest with you. Those plays that our defense made really inspired everybody."</p>
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<p>Up next for the Giants will be <span>Aaron Rodgers</span> and the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.acmepackingcompany.com/">Green Bay Packers</a>. The Giants lost the regular season meeting between the two teams, 38-35, early in December. The defensive line played well in the loss, however, recording two sacks and holding the Packers to 89 yards rushing with <span>Osi Umenyiora</span> out of the lineup.</p>
<p><i>For more Giants coverage, visit our <a href="https://www.bigblueview.com/">team page</a> or our blog <a href="http://www.bigblueview.com/">Big Blue View</a>.</i></p>
https://newyork.sbnation.com/new-york-giants/2012/1/8/2692730/new-york-giants-atlanta-falcons-tom-coughlin-nfc-wild-cardLouis Bien