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Week 6 Game Recap: New York Giants 31, Atlanta Falcons 10
What you need to know
| New York Giants |
Eli Manning may be the Mr. October of the NFL, as he has now won eight straight starts in the month of October after leading the Giants to a convincing win over the Falcons. He looked very comfortable sitting in the pocket finding the open receivers in the first half. At one point he completed 12 consecutive passes in the first half as they built a solid lead on Atlanta. The offense wasn't as effective in scoring points in the second half as New York only scored ten points. But Atlanta's offense was so ineffective they never really threatened the Giants in the second half and they gave the New York little reason to throw the ball deep. But Manning had a very nice game throwing for 303 yards and two touchdowns, and looked real solid throughout the game despite having two interceptions. He has had at least one pick in every game this season.
WR Plaxico Burress caught his eighth touchdown pass of the season giving him a tie for the most in the NFL. He has now caught one touchdown in every game this season. Burress got open deep down the middle of the field and QB Eli Manning hit him on a 43 yard strike in the second quarter. Despite an injured ankle he has been dealing with all season, he was able to use his height and leaping ability to go up and get passes most receivers and defenders could not get too. He was clearly Manning's most reliable target and Manning went to Burress often when he needed a big catch on third down. Burress finished with six receptions for 97 yards and one touchdown.
RB Brandon Jacobs played in his second game since coming back from a knee injury and had a solid game with 86 yards rushing on 13 carries but, did not score a touchdown. Jacobs seemed to injure his shoulder on the first play of the game, and came out for a short time before returning to the game. It was reported as a burner in his shoulder. He was able to break a couple of long runs in the game, but the Giants did not use him in short yardage situations in the first half when the game was still in doubt. Instead, RB Reuben Droughns got all the short yardage carries in the first half, including a one yard touchdown run in the first quarter. Droughns got a lot of carries in the fourth quarter when the game was out of hand and ended up as New York's leading rusher with 90 yards. RB Derrick Ward had the other Giants rushing touchdown on a nine yard carry late in the game.
| Atlanta Falcons |
The big question mark coming into this game for the Falcons was how their injury-plagued offensive line was going to hold up against the Giants' pass rush that piled up 12 sacks against the Eagles two weeks ago. Atlanta lost their two starting tackles last week to injury, and was forced to start an undrafted rookie at LT and a second year player at RT. Their line already features one rookie starter in Justin Blalock at LG. As expected, Atlanta struggled to protect QB Joey Harrington in passing situations and they gave up four sacks to New York. The Giants harassed and pressured Harrington most of the game and gave him little time in the pocket. Harrington had a terrible game and he had trouble finding receivers as he completed only 18 of 39 passes. He had 209 yards passing but 57 of those yards came with little more then a minute left in the game as the Falcons moved the ball in a meaningless drive.
RB Jerious Norwood's night got off to an explosive start as he took his first carry of the game 67 yards for a touchdown. He showed his great speed in taking it through an open lane and outrunning the New York secondary. Unfortunately, Norwood would not get many rushing opportunities in what turned out to be a one sided game. He was the only bright spot of the Falcons' offense as he finished the game with 138 total yards on only ten touches in the game.
WR Roddy White came in as the Falcons' leading receiver and led the team with four catches for 64 yards in the game. The Atlanta receivers didn't do much to help QB Joey Harrington as they dropped several passes in the game.
What you ought to know
| QB Eli Manning, Pass: 27 - 39 - 303 - 2 TD / 2 INT |
Manning came out strong completing six of eight passes for 52 yards and a five yard touchdown pass on the first drive of the game for Giants. The drive was extended after a roughing the punter penalty gave New York a new set of downs. Manning took advantage of the penalty by leading his team to a 73 yard touchdown drive. On the second drive of the game, he came back and completed three passes for 58 yards and almost had a second touchdown pass when he hooked up with WR Amani Toomer to the one yard line. The Giants punched it in on the next play for their second touchdown of the first half. Manning's excellent first half continued when he hit a wide open WR Plaxico Burress deep down the middle of the field for a 43 yard touchdown. Eight of Manning's 11 touchdowns this season have gone to Burress. He finished with great numbers in the first half by throwing for 208 yards and two touchdowns. His only hiccup was a late second quarter interception.
Manning threw his second interception of the game while trying to hit Toomer deep down the right side line, but he under threw him a little. He led the Giants offense deep into the Falcons territory early in the fourth quarter, but had to settle for a field goal. Manning had 95 yards passing in the second half but, he and the passing game weren't asked to do much as Atlanta's offense could do nothing most of the second half.
| RB Reuben Droughns, Rush: 14 - 90 - 1 |
Droughns got his first carry with the ball on the one yard of the Falcons, and cashed in with a touchdown. It was Droughns' third touchdown of the year, all of them have been from one yard out. His next carry came on a third and short play in the second quarter, and he got all the carries in short yardage situations in the first half. He got more carries in the second half as RB Derrick Ward rested his injured ankle most of the second half. Droughns broke off a long 45 yard run late in the game. He had 12 carries in the second half and ended up being the Giants' leading rusher with 90 yards.
| RB Brandon Jacobs, Rush: 13 - 86 - 0, Rec: 1 - 2 - 0 (1 targets) |
Jacobs had to leave the game after carrying the ball on the first play of the game for the Giants. He came to the sideline holding his shoulder, and it was reported that he suffered a burner in his shoulder. He returned to the game about six plays later. Jacobs broke off a nice 20 yard run down the left side of the sideline on the Giants second drive of the game. In somewhat of surprise, RB Reuben Droughns got the goal line carry from the Falcons' one yard line and the touchdown run on that drive. Droughns had been getting the goal line carries while Jacobs was out with his knee injury until last week. Jacobs is 6' 4", and 260 pounds, and one would expect him to get most of the looks around the goal line. His shoulder injury on the first play of the game may explain why he did not get the short yardage carries in the first half. He had five carries for 36 yards in the first half.
Jacobs had his second big run of the game early in the third quarter when he had a 20 yard run down the right sideline. New York ran the ball more in the second half as they built on their lead and tried to run down the clock. He finished the second half with seven carries for fifty yards, and had some nice runs in the game.
| RB Derrick Ward, Rush: 8 - 12 - 1, Rec: 2 - 16 - 0 (4 targets) |
Ward is dealing with an ankle injury and was listed as questionable coming into this game, but saw equal playing time with starter RB Brandon Jacobs in the first half. He only had six yards on five carries and two catches for 16 yards in the first half.
Ward missed most of the second half after it was reported he reaggravated his ankle injury. He only had one carry in the second half until coming back into the game with three minutes left and rushing for nine yard touchdown.
| WR Amani Toomer, Rec: 7 - 89 - 1 (8 targets) |
Toomer caught his first pass for ten yards and a first down on the first drive of the game. On the same drive, he caught a five yard touchdown pass over the middle in the end zone. He almost had a second touchdown on the next drive when he took a 17 yard pass to the one yard line. Toomer caught a big 15 yard pass in the second quarter on third down play to extend a drive that would result in a Giants' touchdown on the next play. Toomer had four catches for 47 yards and a touchdown in the first half.
Toomer's first catch of the second half came on a 15 yard completion for first down late in the third quarter. QB Eli Manning tried to hit Toomer on a deep pass down the right side line but, it was intercepted. On his seventh catch of the game, he became the Giants all time leading reception leader breaking former teammate Tiki Barber's record. It was a 16 yard catch for a first down. He finished the second half with three catches for 47 yards.
| WR Plaxico Burress, Rec: 6 - 97 - 1 (8 targets) |
Despite dealing with a sprained ankle, Burress has gotten off to a great start this season having scored in every game. He caught his first pass on a third and long play that netted him 15 yards and a first down on the Giants on their first drive. Burress had an 18 yard pass over the middle of the field on the second drive of the first half. He got wide open deep down the middle of the field in the second quarter and QB Eli Manning hit him for a 43 yard touchdown pass. It was Burress' eighth touchdown this season and it ties him for the most scores in league with New England's WR Randy Moss. He got a first down for the Giants on an eight yard pass late in the second quarter to extend their drive. Burress almost had another big touchdown pass on the next play, but the Falcons defender knocked the ball away. He still finished the first half with great numbers as he caught five passes for 89 yards, including a touchdown. Burress only had one catch for eight yards in the second half as the Giants only tried going deep once in the second half.
| WR Sinorice Moss, Rec: 4 - 19 - 0 (4 targets) |
Moss had two catches for 14 yards in the first half. He added two more catches for five yards in the second half. Moss was used exclusively on short possession routes.
| TE Jeremy Shockey, Rec: 5 - 63 - 0 (5 targets) |
Shockey caught all the passes that came his way in the game. His biggest catch in the first half was a 21 yard pass for a first down in the second quarter. He would add two more receptions for 19 yards in the first half. Shockey's fourth catch of the game was 19 yard reception on the left sideline for a first down. He had one more catch for four yards in the second half.
| PK Lawrence Tynes 1 - 1 FG, 4 - 4 XP, 7 points |
Tynes had a 32 yard field goal in the fourth quarter and added four extra points.
| NYG Rush Defense |
The Giants gave up a 67 yard touchdown run to RB Jerious Norwood in the first quarter but held the Atlanta running backs to just 36 yards rushing besides that big run. Aside from that big run by Norwood early in the game, Atlanta's running game was a non-factor.
| NYG Pass Defense |
The Giants did a good job of getting pressure on QB Joey Harrington as the game wore on and recorded four sacks. They got one interception on the last play of the first quarter.
| QB Joey Harrington, Pass: 18 - 39 - 209 - 0 TD / 1 INT, Rush: 1 - 1 - 0 |
Harrington and the Falcons passing offense did little in the first half as he completed eight for 14 for 69 yards. Atlanta's offensive line came in to the game depleted as both starting tackles were out with injuries. The Giants started to get a better pass rush as the first half went on, and they sacked Harrington three times, and put pressure on him often. On the last Giants' sack of the first half, Harrington seemed to get his ankle twisted, but he was able to stay in the game. He had an interception to end the first half as he threw up a jump ball with one second left.
Things didn't get better for Harrington in the second half as the Falcons struggled moving the ball and sustaining drives. Harrington was very inaccurate only completing 18 of 39 attempts. He was under a lot pressure when he dropped back to pass and his own receivers didn't help him by dropping many balls.
| RB Jerious Norwood, Rush: 6 - 87 - 1, Rec: 4 - 51 - 0 (4 targets) |
Even though Norwood came into this game averaging almost a yard more per carry then teammate RB Warrick Dunn, he has seen less then half the number carries than his backfield mate. He added to that average by taking his first carry to the house on a 67 yard touchdown run on the Falcons' first play of their second drive of the game. Norwood took to the right side and made a great open field move and cut it back to the left side. He showed his excellent speed by outrunning the New York secondary. He also had a nice 16 yard run up the middle of the field late in the second quarter. Norwood had 83 yards at halftime but only had four carries. Norwood would only get four more yard rushing in the second half but did have four catches for 51 yards.
| RB Warrick Dunn, Rush: 8 - 15 - 0, Rec: 2 - 13 - 0 (3 targets) |
Dunn came into this game only averaging 3.4 yards per carry, and didn't do anything in the first half to improve on that because he only had 11 yards on five carries. He did have one catch for 11 yards in the half. Things didn't get any better for Dunn in the second half as the Falcons played from behind. He had three carries for four yards and one catch for two yards in the second half.
| WR Roddy White, Rec: 4 - 64 - 0 (5 targets) |
White came into this game as the Falcons' leading receiver and got off to a good start catching passes for nine and ten yards, both for first downs, on the first couple plays of the game. He did drop a ball he should have had on that initial drive as Atlanta neared the red zone. White finished the half as the Falcons leading receiver, catching three balls for 26 yards.
White made a big play early in the second half to jump start a stagnant Falcon's offense momentarily. He ran a crossing route in man to man coverage and broke free for a 38 yard completion. But that would be White's last catch of the game as the Giants did a good job of shutting him down in the second half.
| WR Joe Horn, Rec: 2 - 25 - 0 (5 targets) |
Horn caught a 14 yard pass for a first down on the first drive of the game, but it was his only catch of the first half. He added one pass in the second half for 11 yards.
| WR Michael Jenkins, Rec: 2 - 23 - 0 (6 targets) |
Jenkins had six targets but only caught two passes for 23 yards in the game.
| WR Laurent Robinson, Rec: 1 - 8 - 0 (7 targets) |
The rookie Robinson almost made a very nice catch along the side line for a first down on the first drive, but was unable to get his feet in bounds. The Falcons had to settle for field goal on the drive. He would only catch one pass for eight yards in the game, even though he led the team in targets.
| TE Alge Crumpler, Rec: 1 - 9 - 0 (4 targets) |
Crumpler criticized his team after week's game, questioning the play-calling and accusing the new coaching staff of favoring young players over veterans. He only had one catch for nine yards in the first half and had no catches in the second half. He did have a drop on easy catch on a third quarter drive.
| PK Morten Andersen 1 - 2 FG, 1 - 1 XP, 4 points |
Anderson just barely hit a 47 yard field goal on the first drive of the game as the kick caught part of the cross bar. Anderson would come up short on a 48 yard attempt later in the half.
| ATL Rush Defense |
The Falcons were not strong against the run as they gave up 188 yards rushing in the game.
| ATL Pass Defense |
The Falcons pass rush forced a fumble by QB Eli Manning in the second quarter. They also had an interception late in the first half and another one in the third quarter.
