I am a New York sports fan. This simply means that I am overly critical about certain New York sports teams and their respective players. New Yorkers only expect the best from their favorite sports teams. No other city holds the most opinionated fan base. New York fans are not as ruthless as Philly fans. They have not remained perennial losers like Chicago or Boston fans (the Red Sox have changed that - the Celtics are about to as well). Yet New York fans tend to put athletes and teams on the chopping block even before careers or seasons begin.
A prime example is Eli Manning (AP Photo / September 9, 2007 right). He is the pipsqueak younger brother of the untouchable 
Peyton Manning of the Indianapolis Colts. Eli has failed to convert a win in the first three playoff games of his career. This past Sunday, Eli erased that statistic by rolling over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Tampa. It took Peyton six seasons and four attempts to get his first postseason playoff win. Eli is not as talented as Peyton, however, he is gaining confidence in his passing game and alertness in the pocket. His inconsistencies in the first few years of his career are diminishing due to a greater pocket awareness and less turnovers due to ill-advised passes. His decision to throw more balls away when hurried is leading to less fumbles and interceptions and in the last two weeks of football (vs. Patriots and Buccaneers) he has thrown 6 touchdown passes and has been the top quarterback. After some slow first half starts, Eli has shown that he can manage a game and handle the pressure and criticism from the New York fans as well as twin brothers Ronde and Tiki Barber. Jon Gruden’s intent was to stop the Giants run game and put pressure on Eli. Teams believe that stopping the Giants running game puts the ball in Eli’s hands which forces him to win, or lose the football game.
All this momentum can prove beneficial when the Giants play the Dallas Cowboys this weekend at Texas Stadium. QB Tony Romo has shown he can make big plays to down-field receivers like Terrell Owens, Terry Glenn, and Patrick Crayton. Tight end Jason Witten is also a threat to the Giants defense that has been relentless this season. But even without Sam Madison, the Giants secondary has been stifling. Dallas has a handful of injured players who are making returns such as Owens (high ankle) and Glenn (two knee surgeries). But inevitably this game will come down to Eli Manning as the Giants look to advance to the NFC Championship. Huge momentum shifts through defense will determine the outcome of this game. Both teams will have to be effective in the trenches to stop the run game and force both Manning and Romo to create effective offensive scoring drives. Giants win 35-31 in a nail biter.
“In fact, the last time the Giants lost on the road was opening night in Dallas (13-3), when the Cowboys beat them 45-35 in a game in which New York had a shot until the end. That was before the Giants’ defence came together - it gave up 35 points to Green Bay the next week before turning around, leading the NFL in sacks and carrying the team in those games in which Eli Manning played badly.”
Tony Romo Website.
Its gonna be a gum fight boys and girls…
S.
Comment by Steve J — January 9, 2008 @ 5:33 pm
“Indianapolis’ track record against 3-4 defenses, including two losses to San Diego, is subpar. Pittsburgh eliminated the Colts from the playoffs in the 2005 season, and New England did the same in 2003 and ‘04. Indianapolis averaged 12.6 points in those contests.”
This is the only thing that scares me about the game this weekend.
Go Colts
Indianapolis Colts fan!!
Steve J
Comment by Stevie J — January 10, 2008 @ 11:52 am