Giants vs. Packers (Win 38-10)

What a difference some rest makes.  The Giants almost left for dead, after back to back losses to a good
Steelers team (the one that still had Roethlisberger) and a mediocre Bengals
team, are suddenly being talked about as championship material again after their  blowout win over the Packers.
I was admittedly surprised by it as the Packers were playing great football and
the Giants had not looked good for over a month, even in close wins over the Skins and Cowboys. 
I don’t buy into the whole November jinx.  Sometimes events are just coincidental. This was an all-around team
effort, where the Giants jumped on them early.  The crowd was into it from early on despite the first very cold weather game the Giants have played this season.  

Kenny Phillips, returned to the Giants defense and it made a big difference.  I know Stevie Brown
had a number of interceptions in his absence, but the reality is that opposing
tight ends had big games against the Giants’ in Phillips absence.  Also, Phillips size allows them to get away
with a 3 safety look that they liked to play last year with Deon Grant.  That is probably the Giants best unit
(which will be even more improved when Jacquan William’s returns from injury.  At one point Phillips left with a knee injury.  He was slow to get up, but sounded optimistic it was not major and that he would play in the big game the Giants have against the Redskins this coming Monday night.  
 
The Giants have had games before where the end of game rushing stats have looked good but they really only had a couple of games that they consistently got push from the offensive line and looked really good running the ball.  It’s unclear why this was, but if they can figure it out they should bottle it.  Bradshaw looked good
all night running and looked even better on his big screen play on their opening drive.  Brown looked good running the ball as well but broke his fibula.  Ironically some of the fans were chanting for rookie David Wilson to get into the game at that time, since it was a 4 score game in the 4th quarter.  This is not how we would have liked to have seen it happen, but with Brown will probably be out for at least the rest of the regular season. In light of Borwn's absence, Wilson will need to step up. There is talk of signing another running back, but I have always been a big fan of second year player D’arell Scott who should now get into the rotation. 
 
The defense was also surprisingly good.  Nobody shuts down the Packers and the
Giants did that.  Corey Webster had a nice early interception after being beat deep by Nelson on an opening drive
touchdown.  Despite this one play Webster was one Giant who really struggled.  This is no longer an aberration.  Rather it is a worry.  He can now be added to the list that include Osi, Tuck, and perhaps Canty, of 
guys who will probably not be back next year given their salaries versus their contributions.  I’d love to see Will Hill get more playing time.  He seems to do well when he is out there, but it’s not often enough.

It is interesting that since talk started about Victor Cruz’new contract, he has been horrible.  He was one of the league’s top receivers until the contract talk started a few weeks ago and since then has not had a good game.  If the Giants committed to something they may regret it.  If they did not the last few weeks proves that while a good receiver he is not an elite one in the class of Calvin or Andre Johnson or probably even the
next level down.  He should get in the neighborhood of $5-6m a year and not the $9m per that he was probably
looking for.  
 
Cause for concern? 
Eli’s final numbers were good in terms of touch downs, interceptions, and yards, but his completion percentage (16/30), was nothing to be happy about.  It was mostly because of a large number of drops (something that should
be correctable) and because they kept going for the corner end zone fade play to Nicks every time they got down in the red zone.  That play just doesn’t seem to work.  Why don’t they try it with Barden?  That is exactly where you want to use a 6’5 receiver.