Giants 23 Redskins 17

The Big Blue Report

Week 1: Giants 23 Redskins 17

The much anticipated 2009 New York Giants season opened with a home game against an improved division rival in the Washington Redskins. New York received the kickoff and began the game with a good mix of passes, aided by Rich Seubert's heads up fumble recovery. Mario Manningham made two impressive plays, particularly heartening to see after missing most of 2008. Eli Manning led the offense well, making smart decisions until reaching Washington's 20. I loved the first down pass to Brandon Jacobs, setting up a short 2nd down- which as any loyal Giants fan knows, spells disaster. Kevin Gilbride called pretty much the only plays that guaranteed a 4th down situation: slow-developing rushes by Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw. Washington stuffed both, and the Giants settled for a Lawrence Tynes chip shot to give them a 3-0 lead.

Washington took over and gained 34 yards on a Clinton Portis rush bringing their net offensive yardage to plus thirty-four. It took eleven more plays from scrimmage (almost 19:00), including an interception to replicate that. A botched trick play took Washington out of field goal range when Justin Tuck and Chase Blackburn swarmed Antwaan Randle El and sacked him. As a huge proponent of creativity, I always try to give coaches the benefit of the doubt when a good idea doesn't work out as planned. Not this time. The vaunted Giants' defense didn't even have time to get their feet wet before the play. Best case scenario: Redskins score on a miracle pass, take a 7-3 lead, and put their tired defense right back on the field against Brandon Jacobs & company. Washington couldn't recover and punted it into the Giants' endzone.

Manning took over at the Giants' 20 and quickly found himself facing third and long. He delivered the ball to his favorite third down target, Steve Smith, to give Big Blue a new set of downs. Superior play from the offensive line was the key as the Giants drove back into the Red Zone. Facing 2nd and 3 on Washington's 5, the Giants faced a situation where they'd really love to have 3rd round draft choice Ramses Barden. Instead, the Giants gave the ball to Jacobs three times in a row. Everyone and their brother knew what was coming; the Giants turned the ball over on downs. I didn't like the calls on either 2nd or 3rd down, but took my hat off to Coach Coughlin for going for it on fourth down so early in the game. Best case, the Giants are giving the best defense in the league an early 10-0 lead. Worst case, the Giants are giving the best defense in the league a 97 yard field. As it turns out, Jacobs came up short- but I was more comfortable up 3-0 with the ball on Washington's 3 than I'd be up 6-0 on a shorter field.

Sure enough, Washington couldn't get the ball moving. The biggest threat to the Giants' defense ended when Corey Webster threw a feisty Santana Moss right onto the turf. The Redskins went three and out, giving the Giants the ball on Washington's 44.

Two negligible runs by Bradshaw set up 3rd and 9, outside Lawrence Tynes's field goal range. Manning found Domenik Hixon for a 10 yard gain. Two plays later, Manning hooked up with Manningham for a 30 yard touchdown, the ex-Wolverine star's first of his professional career. Tynes's extra point was true, giving the Giants a 10-0 lead with just over 10:00 remaining in the half.

Taking over at Washington's own 26 yard line, Jason Campbell completed consecutive passes of seventeen and thirteen yards, the first progress Washington's offense made since Portis's first touch. On 2nd and 8, knocking on the doorstep of field goal range, Campbell gave Santana Moss his first look since fighting Corey Webster, who came out on top again. Webster intercepted Campbell and gave the Giants a position to take a commanding lead.

Manning hit Smith and Jacobs to set up three productive runs by Bradshaw, but Eli fumbled as he was being brought down by Andre Carter. Lorenzo Alexander recovered the ball as the Redskins regained field possession.

With 3:49 remaining, the Redskins took over from their own 37. Portis picked up two yards on a first down rush that made very little sense. An incomplete pass set up 3rd and 8 pass from Campbell to Randle El to give Washington just enough for a new set of downs. The very next play, a rejuvenated and healthy Osi Umenyiora forced the ball out of Campbell's hands, picked it up, and scampered the rest of the way for a touchdown. After nailing the extra point, Tynes kicked off for the Redskins who took over from their own 23.

With only 2:05 remaining in the 1st half, the Redskins put together their first scoring drive of the game. Passes to Cooley, Betts, and Randle El brought Washington inside New York's ten. Once again, the Giants defense bent but didn't break. After three plays went nowhere, Jim Zorn dialed up another trick play. With the field goal team lined up on the 15, former Colts punter Hunter Smith faked out the Giants' defense with an 8 yard sweep around the right side and scampered into the end zone. Washington executed a brilliantly drawn up play to perfection and pulled to within 10 at halftime.

The Giants' defense took the field in the second half having scored more points than they'd allowed. A touchback gave Washington the ball at their own 20 yard line. The Redskins gained yardage on seven of eight plays to set up a 3rd and 2 on the Giants' 43. Umenyiora made another big play to force a punt that pinned the Giants inside their own 10.

The first possession of the drive had a promising start. Eli hit first round pick Hakeem Nicks to pick up a first down. Jacobs gained nine yards on the ground to set up 2nd and 1, and Eli just missed Nicks deep downfield. This was one of the only good short yardage play calls of the game and showed a dangerous downfield threat in Nicks. The Redskins sniffed out the draw to Jacobs and forced the Giants to punt the ball away.

Two short gains by Portis set up 3rd and 5 for Washington. Campbell found Chris Cooley to pick up a new set of downs. Washington again tried and failed to establish the running game and punted the ball, pinning the Giants back at their own ten yard line.

The Giants' had a very short possession. Jacobs picked up two yards on the ground before DeAngelo Hall intercepted an ill-advised Eli Manning pass and returned it well within Shaun Suisham's range.

Eleven yards from paydirt might have well been an eternity for the Redskins or any other team facing Justin Tuck. Tuck dragged Clinton Portis down 6 yards behind the line of scrimmage on first down. Campbell completed a 10 yard pass to Clinton Portis but was brought down for a sack by Tuck on third down. The Giants weren't going to be fooled twice by a fake, so Shaun Suisham hit a 27 yard field goal, leaving the score Giants 17 Redskins 10.

Replacing the injured Danny Ware, Hakeem Nicks returned the following kickoff to the Giants' 29. After the most expensive addition to the NFC East this offseason dragged Ahmad Bradshaw down for a short loss, Manning responed with a 24 yard completion to Kevin Boss. Bradshaw picked up a first down with two rushes . The teams exchanged five yard penalties and a seven yard completion from Manning to Nicks set up another third and short.  Manning missed Manningham, setting up a 45 yard field goal for Tynes who put the GIants up 20-10.

A good kickoff return by Ladell Betts gave the Redskins great starting field possession from their own 38. Washington tried to fool the Giants with an end-around, but got nothing. A short completion to Randle El and incompletion intended for Santana Moss gave the Redskins another 4th down where they punted the ball away. 

A Madison Hedgecock false start and incompletion intended for Domenik Hixon set up a long 2nd and 15. Back to back completions to Steve Smith moved the Giants all the way into Washington territory. The Giants really couldn't run out the clock on the ground. Jacobs lost a yard on his only carry of the drive. Bradshaw followed up by picking up a mere yard after a Carlos Rogers illegal contact penalty gave the Giants a new set of downs. Eli hit Kevin Boss downfield to pick up the Giants' last first down of the game when the Giants settled for another Tynes field goal.

The Redskins took the field with 3:12 to go and put together a garbage time drive against the Giants' prevent defense. After a failed onside kick, the score stood at 23-17, giving Washington the backdoor cover but the Giants the opening day victory and the tie at the top of the NFC East.

Heroes 

Rich Seubert- Game MVP in my opinion. The longest tenured New York Giant is also the most underrated. Seubert did a phenomenal job of neutralizing Albert Haynesworth. Seubert set up a couple nice Bradshaw runs to keep the defense honest and gave Eli Manning enough time to figure out the Redskins defense.

Osi Umenyiora- It was particularly rewarding to see Umenyiora as effective as he was before his injury. Umenyiora made his presence felt all game, especially on his touchdown. Look for this to be just the beginning of another All-Pro season from Umenyiora.

Justin Tuck- It seems that bad things happen for an offense whenever either Giants' defensive end faces single coverage. Tuck earned NFC Defensive player of the week honors for disrupting so many Redskins drives.

Corey Webster- Though he's one of the most overpaid players on the team, Webster earned his contract last Sunday by locking down Santana Moss all day. Webster got the better of Moss both in their scuffle and on the few times Jason Campbell looked his way.

Bill Sheridan- In his predecessor's first five halves, Steve Spagnuolo's defense looked terrible. Sheridan's defense looked crisp the entire game. The Giants went more than 58 minutes before allowing an offensive touchdown and held Washington running backs to 27 yards on the 17 carries after Portis's first run. The Giants' defense looked like the best defensive unit in football.

Lawrence Tynes- Tynes reclaimed his staring job in style, connecting on field goals from 28, 45, and 28 yards. He kicked a couple of nice balls on kickoffs and allowed the Giants to capitalize on their offensive successes. It's easy to forget a kicker's impact, especially if the game doesn't come down to a last second kick, but Tynes did very well. 

Goats

Kevin Gilbride- Gilbride showed some creativity in the beginning of the game but called a truly terrible game, especially in short yardage situations. The Giants were a paltry 2/10 on situations with three or fewer yards to go for a first down. That's pathetic. The Giants need to do a lot better in Dallas.

Brandon Jacobs- Jacobs needs to be much more effective for the Giants to succeed this year. Let's chalk this one up to Washington's playing the run on defense and look for Jacobs to bounce back Sunday night in Dallas.