GIANTS 21
There is not much left to say about this 2013 Giants team. A season that many thought could end with the Giants hosting the Super Bowl in their own building, is, and has been DOA for well over two weeks. On Thursday night, the Bears were the next in line to kick the carcass.
Right from the onset things were looking bleak for the Giants after Eli Manning threw two costly interceptions in the opening minutes, one of which was a miscommunication between he and receiver Ruben Randle, as Tim Jennings stepped in front of the Manning pass and took it to the house to make it 7-0, Chicago.
Even with that the Giants played probably their best game of the season. The ran the ball with efficiency from Brandon Jacobs, who turned back the clock to rush for 106 yards and two touchdowns to keep Big Blue in the game.
And after the two costly interceptions, Manning played well, engineering some huge drives to keep Big Blue alive.
However, the Giants defense was once again awful. They were picked apart by Jay Cutler, who found himself laughing at several points in the game. The Giants didn't blitz, didn't frustrate, nor did they harass Cutler, who had his way with the Giants.
The Giants didn't even try to bump receiver Brandon Marshall who had a monster night with nine catches for 87 yards and two touchdowns.
After the Giants had tied the game at 14, it was the Giants defense that once again played the culprit in this losing effort. Chicago efficiently moved the football 53 yards on nine plays in 5:11 with Cutler hitting Marshall for a three-yard score to make it 21-14.
After giving up field goals on the Bears' final possession of the first half and first possession of the second half to make it 27-14, Manning tried everything he could to bring the Giants back.
Manning connected with Victor Cruz for 23 yards, and later Hakeem Nicks for 31 yards to push the Giants into Chicago territory. A pass interference call placed the Giants at the one-yard line, before Jacobs plowed in to cut the Bears lead to six points.
New York appeared to have the game in their hands. Manning was at the ready leading the Giants on a potential game winning drive after converting on four first downs to move the Giants to the Bears 36 yard line.
With the way things were going, it looked like it would be a matter of time before Manning hit someone in the end zone for the game winning score. However, the turnover bug reared its ugly head again.
Manning's pass to tight end Brandon Myers was a tad high, but not high enough that Myers couldn't catch it. In fact he should have caught it. The ball tipped off his finger tips and into the hands of Jennings, who picked it off, sending the Giants to woe and six.
Now full panic has set in among Giants fans. Some calling for Eli's head, others Coughlin's head. But the fact is, neither is to be blamed for what has happened here. The Giants are undermanned on the offensive line, undermanned at running back, and their defense is atrocious. There is enough blame to go around, but at 0-6, one has to wonder when the Giants will ever win a game this season.
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