Sunday, December 21, 2008

Giants win, 34-28

The New York Giants just steamrolled the Carolina defense in overtime on an 87-yard drive to end the game in overtime with a 34-28 victory.

The Panthers' defense really let them down at the end of this one, allowing backup New York Giants' RB Derrick Ward to rush for an astounding 216 yards -- including a 51-yarder in overtime that broke the game open. The Giants went 87 yards in six plays on the big overtime drive, which came after both teams went 3-and-out on their first overtime possession (and after John Kasay missed a 50-yard field goal at the end of regulation that would have won it).

The Panthers now must beat New Orleans Sunday to be assured of the No.2 seed in the NFC East and a first-round playoff bye.

The Giants have clinched the No.1 seed and homefield advantage throughout the playoffs. These two teams could very well meet again on Jan.18 in the NFC title game -- they showed tonight they are the class of the NFC in what was an absolutely thrilling game that undoubtedly drew huge ratings -- but also broke a lot of Panther fans' hearts.

23 comments:

Jennifer said...

WOW!!!

Whats there left to say...

Wish we had that 50 yarder back for Kasay!!

DrFrankLives said...

I think Ward is still running.

DrFrankLives said...

Not really fair to say the defense let the team down. THe Giant's did receive first in OT, and the defense stopped them on the first series. The offense couldn't move the ball.

Hard to stop the Giants twice.

Joseph3LC said...

Why wasn't John Kasay called for the false start on his field goal ?

I know it woulda made the kick 5 yards further, but it was clear that he stepped early throwing off his rhythm

and how do you go with JStew in OT instead of DeAngelo, clearly the hotter back

panthercrush said...

drfranklives is right!!!!!! Crappy paly calling 2 runs on 1st and 2nd down than pass how predictable!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Unknown said...

You know, I'd rather us flub a game in OT in the regular season when we had our chances and win in the playoffs then win on the 50 yarder, take two weeks off, and come out flat in the playoffs.

We've shown we can hang with the Giants at their home. Fox is excellent at adjusting and hopefully if we meet the Giants in the playoffs we'll have Kemo back.

Gotta take care of business in New Orleans next week.

panthercrush said...

Still Stings!!

Jennifer said...

I totally agree with DrFrank, they always blame the defense in the end, but I dont see where the offense came through when the D held them 3 and out on the first OT series????

I mean they were blazing with Williams....

but enough what ifs...

They have sure given the tv viewers some great games these last few weeks!

MTB said...

Heck of a game, but tought to swallow.

A few feet over on Kasay's kick... a friendlier bounce on the muffed punt in OT... a touchback instead of a late Panther drive starting on the 1.

Oh, and someone tackling Ward within 30 yards of a handoff would've been good, too.

Medlin said...

Fowler. You are wrong. D did great. Offense was lame, as usual in 2nd half. If this jr blog wasn't rated G i would tell you what I really think....

Anonymous said...

why give the ball to delhomme on 3rd and 3, why not give the ball to williams who has carried the team all year....if delhomme puts up a subpar game in NO i say bring back the We Want Moore chants!

Unknown said...

Don't know how you can say the defense didn't lose this game. They rushed for almost 300 yards. Needed critical stops in the last OT series in obvious running situations and they just ran down the field. The offense should have tried to push the ball a little further to give Kasay a better shot. Fox should have known the wind in that stadium. A 50 yarder was about like a 65 yarder in good conditions.

Anonymous said...

Saints will put up 50 on the Panthers next week as Brees breaks Marino's single season passing record.

Unknown said...

The play calling was definitely the downfall to this game. John Fox plays not to lose. Well you can't win if you DON'T PLAY TO WIN!

He needs to get a clue. After the first half, no more passes to Smitty and only a handful of plays for D Will. What's up Fox? Go for the WIN, and stop playing so Fk'n conservative.

Oh, and Lucas.... What can I say? You are such a puss! Stop falling down hoping players trip over you and actually hit a guy, wrap up, and take him down!

All out failure tonight. The coaching of this team is unbelievable. Going to overtime, we finally brought the blitz and pressured the QB and it worked! Why did we only bring it once or twice during the first 4 quarters?! You have got to have pressure on the QB to win. No if's, ands, or buts about it. The coaches need to get a clue, and if they don't the players need to let them know. I know they're ticked off about it. They played their hearts out and the coaches failed them.

Unknown said...

Steve Smith dropping balls and holding penalty pretty much cost us the game.

AriasMommy80Blog said...

Fox is too conservative...That cost us the game.. We should have went for it in ot on thrid and three. give williams the ball..That was bs, we had the game and lost it!!!Fox needs to stop being scared and play to win....Several times we could have went for in on 4th down..then they ran all over us on that last drive...i almose had a heart attack...Get it together Fox

Karl said...

The defense blew it tonight. We would have won the game if not for their exceptionally sorry tackling skills.

Derek said...

Hostile away crowd
Freezing/near-freezing temperatures and lots of players on our roster not used to those conditions
Oh, let's not forget the Giants have been simply superb over the last year and a half.

We made one heck of a run at it. They know we're capable of swinging with the big boys in this league. A little bit here, a little bit there, and the outcome would have been vastly different.

It didn't help that we came up against the perfect storm known as Derrick Ward tonight. I can't help but wonder just how much Maake's absence helped open up a few more gaping holes for Ward to waltz through.

As for blaming Smith for penalties, I would hope we're all astute enough as football fans to understand that stuff like that happens on every play: it's just a matter of when you get caught doing it. Home cooking? Maybe, but looking at most of tonight's plays, we got away with plenty as well.

Defense didn't let us down. Defense did the best they could, but when you get tired and have to go out again in that cold, you make mental mistakes. That's a given.

Unknown said...

Turgovac is a straight idiot. He doesn't understand football, or at least thats what i get from his stupid play calling. The defense did let us down, we put 28 points. That should be enough to win the game. YOU CAN NOT GIVE UP 300 YARDS RUSHING. Scott the next time you get to interview any of our corners, tell them to stop playing 10-15 yards off receivers. they've done that all year and teams have killed us because of it, ask the cardinals. threw 5-8 yard passes all day and we still didn't get a clue.

The play calling is horrible. We have a team with two great running backs, a great offensive line, all world receiver and a former probowler opposite of him, and you still wanna play conservative?!?!?! Just stupid.

SO FRUSTRATING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Unknown said...
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Natasha said...

Game changer...Giants had us pinned deep and we give it to Williams 4 times, getting nothing, fool me once shame on U fool me twice shame on me, fool me more and that's just dumb... Do we not have confidence that Delhomme could have passed us out of it?The run wasn't working, How 'bout a screen, or a fade... Too conservative way too late in the game...and we were three and out...Game changer

Natasha said...

Game Changer...Giants had us pinned way deep...and we try to run it w/Williams 4 times!!! Fool Me once shame on U, fool me twice shame on me, fool me more...show no confidence in Delhomme...Don't you think he could have at least tried to pass us out of it? Try a screen, or a flat for Pete's sake. Too Conservative when our backs were against the wall...That was the game changer! Our D isn't deep enough to be on the field that long, we needed that drive!

Unknown said...

i thought it was a great game, but our offensive play-calling in the second half is what killed us...how are teams in the nfl going to respect us if we can't show enough faith in D-low on third down?

and really, it was the wind that beat us...not their stupid nickname for a guy who is no one without Brandon Jacobs, but literally, the wind.

i am a left footed kicker and unless a kicker follows through wrong, a left foot shot always goes toward the right a little because of the placement and straightness of the non-kicking foot...kasay's kick was perfect all around...the wind just caught it and sailed it left.

we will see the giants again and when we do, there will be blood!