The Giants seem to have finally figured out how to beat Donovan McNabb. Get him off of the Eagles.
McNabb's first game against the Giants since his trade to the Redskins during the offseason could not have gone better for the home team. The final score of 31-7 actually doesn't do justice to how one-sided this game was in the Giants' favor. The running game couldn't be stopped, the defense got a lot of revenge on McNabb for all the times he has made them look awful over the years and even the usually awful Giants special teams did a bang-up job.
It was clear from the start that this was going to be an easy day for the Giants, a nice change from the past few weeks. They scored a touchdown on their opening drive for the first time all season behind some big runs by Brandon Jacobs against a Redskins defense that looked about as interested in putting up a fight as Neville Chamberlain did in the 1930's. The second drive went much the same way, with Ahmad Bradshaw getting the score this time as he made his way out of Tom Coughlin's doghouse.
Bradshaw wound up with 97 yards and two scores, going over 1,000 yards for the season in the process, but still didn't do enough to get his starting job back. That's because Jacobs went for 103 yards on just eight carries while scoring two touchdowns of his own. It was an impressive performance for both backs and should finally put an end to those who insist on making it seem like the Giants injuries on the offensive line matter in the least.
Those overreactors can instead go back to touting the Giants defense as the best in the NFL. They'd at least have a case on that front. They sacked McNabb four times, forced six turnovers and could have probably wound up with a couple more if they didn't fail to fall on fumbles they forced while sacking McNabb. Jason Pierre-Paul had two of the sacks for the Giants and the rookie seems to have found a way to combine his superior athletic gifts with a know-how about the professional game. Good as he is, he's still only the third best defensive end on this Giants team because Justin Tuck and Osi Umenyiora are firing on all cylinders.
When you throw a blocked punt into the mix, it's easy to see just how overwhelming the Giant effort was on Sunday. That's a good sign after some shaky performances in the last three weeks. Steve Smith and Hakeem Nicks are getting healthy, there's another game against the Redskins and, based on the last six quarters, the defense might be peaking.
Now if they could just figure out a way to beat the Eagles everything would be just fine in Coughlin's realm.
U.S. & World
Josh Alper is a writer living in New York City and is a contributor to FanHouse.com and ProFootballTalk.com in addition to his duties for NBCNewYork.com. You can follow him on Twitter.
