On Sunday the Giants proved that help can come from even the unlikeliest of places. Sometimes the most unexpected of players come through in the biggest of spots, sometimes it takes a gut check game for a talented player to prove themselves, and sometimes veteran experience can prove more important than speed or power. Even more importantly they proved a talented, tight knit team that hits its stride at the right time can be dangerous when overlooked.

To be fair, the Bucs came out shooting, clearly the better team in the first quarter. On offense, the Giants failed to pick up a single first down; defensively the Giants were having a hard time stopping a balanced attack from the Bucs. The second quarter opened with the Bucs leading 7-0 and seemingly having all the momentum in the world on their side. But as they had been able to do all season, the defense fought their way back into the game – and the all important field position swung the Giants way. “We started slow,” said Coughlin after the game. “We got some momentum, I think, when we started to get three and-outs, and we got some field position following a three-and-out with a punt around midfield.”

The Giants would strike quickly after gaining possession just outside the Buccaneers’ half. Surprisingly, it would end up being the much maligned passing game and not the running game that lead the way. Manning hit his receivers early and often on the drive, accounting for 49 of the 53 yards on their march down field – culminating in a nearly broken up screen to Brandon Jacobs for the score.

On defense the name of game was pressure, constant and disruptive. As the first half began to give way to half time, Garcia could rarely drop back without a defender in his face. Most of the time it was the veteran, Michael Strahan, who put Jeff Garcia on his backside. Strahan sacked Garcia only once on the day, but forced a fumble and numerous rushed passes left the normally composed quarter back scatter brained and out of his element.

The Giants continued to flash an uncharacteristically composed passing game that began to find holes in a talented Bucs’ secondary. “Eli showed that no matter what he’s going to hang in there,” said Strahan. “He’s going to figure out a way to get it done.” The Giants would push across a go ahead score as half time loomed, Jacobs getting his second score of the game – this time on a bruising run up the middle.

The second half was dominated by a Giants team that would not give the Bucs a break in any facet of the game. The Surprising star of the second half was Corey Webster, only playing because injuries had knocked Sam Madison out of the game all together and limited Kevin Dockery to the point that he could not stay on the field. The second round pick recovered a fumble on the half’s opening kick off, which would allow the Giants to put another three points on the board. On the Bucs’ next possession, the second round pick came up with an interception in the end zone that stole at least three points from the Bucs. “I think it is one of my best games,” said Webster. “It put a lot of confidence in me and showed me that I can go out there and get it done.”

With Brandon Jacobs unable to move the ball consistently, the Giants turned to Ahmad Bradshaw to run out the clock and protect a ten point lead. Bradshaw would end up eating eight minutes off the clock as the Giants wore down the Bucs for a third touchdown on a drive that would have made Bill Parcells smile. “It was time-consuming, it was well-executed,” said Tom Coughlin. “It was methodical; plays were made when they had to be made,”

With the team up by a now insurmountable seventeen points over a Bucs offense that could not get anything started on offense since the first quarter began to find life again. Garcia struck for a second touchdown, but it would end up being an acrobatic interception by RW McQuarters that would seal the deal. A jubilant Giants team seemed to bask in the glow of their first playoff win since 2000, finally getting the Jeff Garcia off their back and advancing to the divisional playoffs next weekend in Dallas.

Game Review
Eli Manning finally came through when the Giants needed him the most. The often criticized quarterback kept the offense rolling, especially when the Bucs stacked the box and forced the Giants to beat them through the air. Manning completed a consistent 20 of 27 for a respectable 185 yards and two touchdowns against a Bucs defense that had been the class of the NFC all season long. Stringing together two very strong games against the Pats and Bucs is a very encouraging sign for the first overall pick, and next week he heads into Dallas, a team he has performed extremely well against during the regular season.

Coming into the game, the running game was supposed to be the focal point of the Giant offense, instead the Bucs brought nine men in the box and stuffed Brandon Jacobs even when they were being beat through the air. Jacobs would finish the game with just fifty yards from scrimmage, but tallied two touchdowns that sent the Giants into halftime up by seven. Ahmad Bradshaw looked eerily like another small, but shifty back from years past. When Jacobs couldn’t find any room in the second half, it was the diminutive Bradshaw that pounded out the tough yardage on the ground. Bradshaw lead a massive touchdown drive that spanned eight minutes of quarters three and four, ultimately it was that drive that put the Bucs down without much time to come back.

It would end up being the crafty pass catching talents of Amani Toomer that dominated the receiving corps. Toomer lit up the Bucs secondary to the tune of 74 yard on sevens catches and a touchdown in the fourth quarter. Plaxico Burress started out slowly but finished strong, running some perfectly timed routes with Manning. Steven Smith and Kevin Boss each chipped in two catches, showing their ability to be two reliable players in the passing game.

The offensive line struggled most of the game in terms of run blocking. They failed to allow Jacobs to reach the edge of runs to the outside, and were beat off the line on plays up the middle. Instead, it would end up being superior pass blocking that would pave the way to victory. The offensive line coped with some big injuries to Shaun O’Hara to start off the game, and later on it was Guy Whimper who stepped in seamlessly for a cramping David Diehl. In the end, the offensive line dominated the line of scrimmage and wore down a hard working front four for the Bucs.

Defense
Looking at the stats, the defensive line only finished with one sack and failed to produce any turnovers – but it was the pressure that constantly got to Garcia just as he released the ball that took the toll on the agile quarterback. Michael Strahan was the unquestioned star of the defensive line, abusing Jeremy Trueblood in the passing and running game. Fred Robbins also found his way into the face of Garcia with some regularity, flushing the pocket and forcing bad passes. In the end, it was this unit that made the defense click yet again, making things easier on a depleted secondary.

The linebackers seemed to flash with some good plays in the game, but were possibly the weakest unit on the team. Reggie Torbor started out like a man possessed, batting down passes and getting to Garcia early but becoming virtually invisible as the game progressed. Antonio Pierce looked to be a step slow at times, but ended up using his wiles to make plays in coverage. On the weakside, Gerris Wilkinson failed to have the same impact; Kawika Mitchell couldn’t stay on the field but should be ready for next week’s game.

When the Giants ended up declaring Sam Madison inactive for their Wild Card match-up against the Buccaneers, there was an audible groan from those considering the only healthy option to replace him was Corey Webster – when Webster began to line-up opposite Joey Galloway, things appeared even bleaker. Ultimately Webster ended up being the star in the secondary, making all the plays and shutting down the opposing team’s biggest threat. The safeties did a great job covering deep, and made some big plays in coverage.

Special Teams
Lawrence Tynes did exactly what was asked of him on Sunday, drilling home every kick he was called upon to make. Tynes may be the most improved player of the second half, turning into a pretty reliable kicker. Jeff Feagles did a nice job at times, helping to control the field position battle that ended up being a big factor in the win. Neither return man did anything exceptional, but the coverage team looked strong – particularly Tank Daniels who forced a big fumble on the second half kick off.

The Verdict
The Giants did a fantastic job controlling every facet of the game. The Patriot game that cost them three starters has appeared to have also given the players a great confidence in their ability to beat any team. Next week holds a big challenge in a divisional opponent who has beaten the Giants twice this year, but history points to a surprise knock off of the Cowboys at the Giants.

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