Tag Archives: Eli Manning

Big Blue Does the Bear Minimum

Posted on November 22, 2016 by | Leave a comment
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Landon Collins sealed the deal on Sunday with his fifth pick in four games. (Credit: Jim McIsaac/Newsday)

– Jim Bearor

The New York Giants seem to be approaching football games like I approached academia: the “I’ll get to it when I get to it” model. It’s good enough to skate by, but that’s about it. To the surprise of no one, Big Blue needed a second-half comeback to beat the Bears at home this Sunday. Josh McCown and the Browns are up next, just waiting for Eli and the offense to come play down to their level. Continue reading →

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Big Blue’s Defense Picks Up the Slack Once Again

Posted on November 15, 2016 by | Leave a comment
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The Giants dialed up the pressure on Andy Dalton in the closing minutes of a 21-20 victory over the Bengals on Monday Night Football (Credit: Jim McIsaac/Newsday) 

– Jim Bearor

The Giants squeaked out a 21-20 win over the Bengals on Monday Night Football to make it four straight, bringing them to 6-3 on the year. At halftime, former general manager Ernie Accorsi, former defensive end Justin Tuck, and former head coach Tom Coughlin were all inducted into Big Blue’s Ring of Honor. It was an event of a night, and the stage was set for Big Blue to either send a message or falter while everyone was watching. I expected a bit of both, and I think that’s what we got. Continue reading →

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McAdoo, Do Something!

Posted on October 11, 2016 by | Leave a comment
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Eli’s bad day was made worse by Green Bay’s pass rush. (credit: AP/Mike Roemer)

– Jim Bearor

After two consecutive losses to Washington and Minnesota, I was done giving the Giants the benefit of the doubt, and Sunday night’s loss to the Packers only reinforced that. We’re about to be in Week 6. Football Outsiders has weened off of the preseason rankings in their analysis, and wisely embraced the reality of the 2016 season.  Clinging on to preseason hopes and grudges can put you in a tough position, especially when you’re defending your opinion that the Panthers are going to be fine or how you think this Vikings model isn’t sustainable. This is kinda where I’m at with Big Blue. The smoldering coals of optimism haven’t been completely snuffed out, but the Giants are very much the  2-3 last place team their record indicates – and that’s a tough pill to swallow. They aren’t who I thought they were.

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Odell and Eli Steal the Show in the Worst Way

Posted on October 5, 2016 by | Leave a comment

 

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Odell Beckham Jr. continued to be a distraction in Week 4, while also failing to produce in any meaningful way.  (credit: Foxsports.com)

– Jim Bearor

My biggest takeaway from this game is that the Vikings are very much for real, and their defense is arguably the best in the league. Sam Bradford was in control throughout, converting third downs and spreading the ball around nicely. As good as Minnesota’s offense looked, the lack of production from McAdoo’s offense made New York’s defense look worse than they were. Things on Spagnuolo’s side of the ball were actually going alright considering they were rolling with Trevin Wade in the place of Eli Apple, and Jonathan Casillas had a bad, costly missed tackle that led to a 14-0 Vikings lead. The way I saw it, the defense hung in there and gave Manning and the offense ample opportunities to get rolling, and yet again, Eli, Beckham, and the boys stood them up. Continue reading →

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On Subjective Legacies and Gray Areas

Posted on September 30, 2016 by | Leave a comment
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Tom Brady’s legacy may or may not be written in stone, depending on who you ask       (credit: Damon Winter/The New York Times

“I went from the favorite to the most hated, but would you rather be underpaid or overrated?” – Jay-Z

– Jim Bearor

Legacy is such a heavy concept. It is everything you leave behind and how you’re remembered. It’s also a little subjective. The image you’ve formed in your head about someone is influenced by your own experiences and memories. Your emotions tint legacy as well. The way you felt when somebody did something, and how you feel now as you look back on it, this all plays into how you view them.

Did Tony Romo lose you money? Are you proud of your quarterback? Do you remember the party you were at when you saw so-and-so lead their team back? Continue reading →

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Giants Let One Slip Away to Washington

Posted on September 28, 2016 by | 1 comment
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(credit: Jim McIsaac/Newsday)

– Jim Bearor

Yes, Eli screwed up. Yes, Eli deserves a pass. I’m not going to defend him, because your opinion on Eli is what it is. He is who he is. He’s a leader, a champion, and occasionally the guy who throws a boneheaded interception to cost the Giants the game. Sunday was one of those occasions, and my rationalization of him didn’t make the ending suck any less. Continue reading →

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The Hard Foul Podcast: Episode 68

Posted on September 28, 2016 by | Leave a comment
Jerry Hughes was a frequent visitor to the Cardinals backfield Sunday and Carson Palmer was not pleased to see him. (Getty Images)

Jerry Hughes was a frequent visitor to the Cardinals backfield Sunday and Carson Palmer was not pleased to see him. (Getty Images)

On an all new Hard Foul Podcast, Jim Bearor and Evan Sally take a look at a turbulent week in the NFL. They break down a Giants loss to the Redskins and a Bills win over the Cardinals before discussing the rest of the league. And they have some questions: Who’s actually good? Is Carson Wentz the real deal? Who’s in more trouble between the Panthers, Bengals and Cardinals? And how many interceptions does Ryan Fitzpatrick have to throw before he gets benched?

You can find the answers to these important questions and much more in this episode of The Hard Foul Podcast.

Two Ways to Listen:

iTunes   SoundCloud Continue reading →

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Giant Opportunities: A Giants/Redskins Preview

Posted on September 23, 2016 by | Leave a comment

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– Jim Bearor

Kirk Cousins and an 0-2 Washington team will head into the Meadowlands on Sunday, and their hopes of defending their NFC East title already is kinda sorta in the balance. It’s a long season, but a loss here would put them three games behind the Giants with an 0-2 divisional record. Big Blue has an opportunity to start 3-0 for the first time since 2009, or they’ll fall back to the pack and restore disorder to the NFC East. This is one of those games that only gains importance in the months after it’s played. But even just looking at it in the scope of the 2-3 Week old season, this is a big deal. Continue reading →

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Giant Reactions to Week 1

Posted on September 13, 2016 by | Leave a comment
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The Giants kicked off their 2016 campaign with a big win in Dallas. (AP / Ron Jenkins)

– Jim Bearor

A 20-19 road win over the Cowboys was a solid start to the Ben McAdoo Era, all things considered. Terrance Williams’ poor decision that cost Dallas a chance at the end was huge, but it wasn’t everything. To me – and many other Giants fans, I assume – it felt like sweet poetic justice for Eli’s blunder at the end of this game last year. Continue reading →

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Giants @ Cowboys Preview: McAdoo & What Dak Can Do

Posted on September 9, 2016 by | Leave a comment
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(credit: Kirby Lee / USA TODAY Sports and Giants.com)

– Jim Bearor

In a couple days, the Dallas Cowboys and the New York Giants will do battle at Jerryworld in Arlington, Texas. There will always be the air of familiarity between these two, but Sunday’s game feels like a new book in the series. Continue reading →

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