New York Giants def. Philadelphia 35-7
It was always going to be tough. Not only did the Giants need a win, but they needed the dreaded "other results" to go their way. Unfortunately, it didn't happen. The Giants won't make the playoffs a year after winning it all. I was sort of prepared for that today. Getting in would have been a crazy stroke of luck, and who knows which version of the team - good or bad - might have turned up next week?
If you're going out before the playoffs, a 35-7 shellacking of the hapless Philadelphia Eagles was a good way to go. This is probably the last time we'll see Andy Reid as a head coach in Philly, and the Michael Vick era might be over, too. The entire defensive staff should clean out their desks at the Eagles facility today and never return. Whoever thought firing Juan Castillo would fix all the issues on that side of the football was dead wrong. Can you say...scapegoat?
The Giants looked like a Super Bowl-capable team today, but the Eagles porous defense probably had a little to do with that. Eli Manning, particularly, was superb, going 13-21 for 208 yards and a career-high 5 TD passes, while Ahmad Bradshaw topped 100 yards and ran in a score. Rookie David Wilson, who's really come on late in the season, and will probably be the one bright spot from a late collapse that's cost New York a chance to defend the Lombardi Trophy they won in February.
So the season is over. And what an up-and-down season it was. Hard to believe Big Blue went from comfortably leading the NFC East, and being talked about, yet again as Super Bowl contenders. Then, everything fell apart, and it was tough to watch. If there's one thing that I'd love to see next year - other than another Super Bowl title, of course - it's a little more consistency, particularly offensively. Manning can't go stretches of games without throwing a touchdown.
At times this year, Big Blue looked like the best team in the NFL. Experts were calling them the best team in the NFL. Then, at other times, they barely looked better than Jacksonville or the Jets. The fortunes of the team, more than ever before, rose and fell with the fortunes of Eli Manning. Such is the way of things in the NFL now. In 2012, the Giants failed to play their best football in December. There were opportunities to get in, but they weren't taken. In past year, the team came alive with the arrival of winter. Not so in 2012, unfortunately.
Now, to enjoy what should be a very interesting playoffs. I'll be cheering for anyone but New England and the winner of Dallas vs. Washington. And at least Giants fans can rest easy during the off-season knowing that their team is in much better shape than the Jets!
Happy New Year!
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