Giants Win Ugly In Opener

GIANTS 16

REDSKINS 7

This one was not pretty, in fact it was not what you expect from a team that is coming off winning the Super Bowl the previous season. In their season opener at home, the Giants fell into a victory over the Washington Redskins; not because the Giants were playing like it was January 2008, but mostly becuase the Redskins couldn't get out of their own way.

In a second half that went scoreless, the Redskins failed to move the football with any efficancy as time just continued to melt away costing Washington any hopes of having a chance to get back into the game. You can blame new coach Jim Zorn for the poor playcalling; his fourth quarter two minute offense looked like it was drawn up by Herman Edwards of all people. The Skins dinked and dunked their way to nowhere as the Giants were able to hold off Washington on a very long fourth quater drive that sealed the deal for the Super Bowl champs.

With 6:23 to go in the game, the Redskins had the football. One would think the appropiate game plan would be to move the ball down the field as quickly as possible for a touchdown or field goal, leaving yourself at least 3:30 to go to have a chance to get the ball back. Instead, Washington took 4:10 off the clock and ended up turning the ball over on downs with 2:02 remaining in the game.

That was all she wrote in this one, folks. Thanks for coming and drive home safely!

As for the Giant offense, they looked dominate at times, especially early. On the opening drive of the season the Giants compiled an 11 play 84 yard drive that took 5:06 off the clock. The end result...Eli Manning diving over the goalline,on a naked bootleg to his right for the touchdown and a 7-0 lead.

After that it was all field goals for the Giants, as they built a 16-0 lead before halftime. Still you have to give the Giants credit, they controlled the clock throughout the first half. Their three field goal drives consumed 4:38, 4:17 and 6:21 respectively. Overall the Giants had 21 first downs on the night and were an efficient 7 for 14 on thrid down conversions.

Defensivly the Giants showed that they could survive without Michael Strahan and Osi Umeinyora. The G-Men's D held the Skins to just 209 yards of total offense, and kept running back Clinton Portis in check with just 84 yards rushing on 23 attempts.

The Giants now get 10 days off before their next game at St. Louis to play the Rams.