Distractions Come Back To Bight Giants

EAGLES 20

GIANTS 14

The Giants can tell everyone that they have not been bothered by the Plaxico Burress/Antonio Pierce fiasco, but after watching Sunday's loss to Philadelphia, it is clear that the Giants are distracted.

From start to finish, the Giants looked confused and frustrated. The offense could not get anything going. It was obvious that Burress's presence was missed; the Giant receivers dropped huge passes, like Dominec Hixon's sure touchdown catch and were constantly pressured in double coverage. The Giants' vaunted ground game hit the breaks, as the Eagles found a way to get into the Giants backfield and stop the power of Brandon Jacobs.

It was the worst and most disturbing loss by the Giants in quite some time, perhaps since Eli Manning's four interception afternoon against the Minnesota Vikings last season.

As for Philadelphia, they did a great job of controlling the clock. After the Giants scored on a blocked field goal just before half time, the Eagles took the ball down the field to start the third quarter. Even though the drive resulted in another blocked field goal, it did take seven minutes off the clock, tiring the Giants defense and taking all the momentum out of Giants Stadium.

Brian Westbrook took complete control of the game in the fourth quarter. The running back rushed for 131 yards on the day with a rushing touchdown, including a drive in the fourth where he had 11 touches to set up the game clinching field goal. At the start of the quarter, Westbrook caught a Donovan McNabb pass in the flat and sprinted down the sideline for a 40 yard TD to make it 17-7.

The game represented total domination by the Eagles. You have to wonder whether the events of the past week have gotten to the Giants. No team is immune to controversy, and that includes a Giants team that looked unstoppable for much of the year. The schedule does not get any easier for Big Blue. They have to travel to Dallas next week, welcome home the road warrior Carolina Panthers in two weeks, and finish the season in Minnesota to play the first place Vikings. Could things be unraveling for the Giants? We shall see.