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Week 8 Game Recap: New York Giants 21, Pittsburgh Steelers 14
What you need to know
| New York Giants |
The Giants dominated the first half of play, yet only found themselves up by two at halftime. This was due to their inability to convert in the red zone, as the Steelers made an impressive goal line stand, stuffing Brandon Jacobs two plays in a row to force a turnover on downs.
QB Eli Manning received great protection from his offensive line, as the Steelers were unable to generate pressure all afternoon. Manning was not sacked, and because of the extra time he had to make his throws he was able to extend plays and find receivers to keep drives alive. Late in the fourth quarter Manning found TE Kevin Boss in the end zone for a two yard touchdown, which wound up being the game winning score.
The Giants' running game struggled against the Steelers' stout defense, gaining only 84 yards on 31 carries. Brandon Jacobs received the bulk of the workload until the fourth quarter, when Ward took over most of the running duties. Jacobs finished with 18 carries to Ward's 13.
| Pittsburgh Steelers |
QB Ben Roethlisberger struggled under pressure all game, throwing four interceptions. The O-line again failed to protect him, as he often had very little time to complete his throws and was sacked five times. Roethlisberger finished the game with 189 passing yards and a touchdown, the score coming on a 65 yard touchdown pass to Nate Washington.
RB Mewelde Moore had another good game filling in for injured RB Willie Parker, racking up 84 rushing yards and a touchdown. The highlight of Moore's afternoon was a 32 yard score early in the first quarter to give the Steelers the lead. As long as Parker continues to miss games, Moore should continue to see the bulk of the work and experience success.
The absence of Santonio Holmes appeared to hurt the Steelers in this game, as Roethlisberger struggled to find a consistent #2 option to Hines Ward. In Holmes' absence, WR Limas Sweed and TE Heath Miller combined to contribute 80 yards of production. Although Nate Washington also added a 65 yard touchdown reception, he only caught one of his eight targets and had a couple of drops, one which resulted in an interception.
What you ought to know
| QB Eli Manning, Pass: 19 - 32 - 199 - 1 TD / 0 INT, Rush: 4 - -1 - 0 |
Manning did a good job of controlling the game, completing 19 of 32 passes for 199 yards and a touchdown. Manning had some clutch third and fourth down completions to keep drives alive, particularly a 30 yard completion on fourth down to Amani Toomer to begin the Giants' comeback. Later in the fourth quarter, Manning did a good job of finding a wide open Kevin Boss in the end zone for a two yard touchdown to put the Giants ahead for good.
| RB Brandon Jacobs, Rush: 18 - 47 - 0, Rec: 1 - 6 - 0 (2 targets) |
Jacobs gained only 47 rushing yards on 18 carries, failing to score a touchdown despite multiple opportunities. Early in the second quarter, Jacobs had a touchdown overturned when it was ruled his elbow was down before the ball crossed the line. The very next play, the Giants elected to go for it on fourth down, and Jacobs was again stuffed on a run up the middle. In the fourth quarter, Jacobs took a hit on a pass interference play and was seen limping a little bit after the play. Although he continued to play, Ward got the majority of the carries; it is not clear whether or not the two events are related.
| RB Derrick Ward, Rush: 13 - 37 - 0, Rec: 5 - 43 - 0 (6 targets) |
Ward was frequently targeted in the passing game, ending the afternoon with five receptions for 43 yards. He saw the bulk of his action in the fourth quarter, taking the majority of the Giants' carries to close out the game. His long run of the game was for ten yards, and he finished with 37 rushing yards on 13 carries.
| WR Plaxico Burress, Rec: 3 - 15 - 0 (5 targets) |
Burress did not start the game as he was disciplined for skipping an injury treatment session, missing over a quarter of action. Burress came into the game with about eleven minutes left in the second quarter, but didn't wind up being much of a contributor. He finished the game catching three of his five targets for 15 yards.
| WR Steve Smith, Rec: 3 - 45 - 0 (6 targets) |
Smith finished the day as the Giants' leading receiver, bringing in three catches for 45 yards. Smith could have easily had more however. Early in the fourth quarter, Manning put a deep ball right in Smith's hands, but the defender delivered a big hit and the ball popped out, costing Smith and the Giants some significant yardage. Smith's longest reception of the game was for 25 yards, coming on a drive late in the fourth quarter which set the Giants up for the eventual winning touchdown.
| WR Amani Toomer, Rec: 2 - 39 - 0 (3 targets) |
Toomer had just two catches for 39 yards on the afternoon. However, one of his receptions was a key play of the game. In the fourth quarter, Toomer made a clutch over the shoulder catch on a fourth and six play, gaining 30 yards and setting the Giants up inside the ten yard line. The catch led to an eventual field goal, which was the beginning of the Giants comeback.
| WR Domenik Hixon, Rec: 1 - 17 - 0 (3 targets) |
Hixon's lone catch of the game came early in the first quarter, which went for 17 yards and began a drive that would lead to a field goal. He was targeted twice more, but was unable to bring in either pass.
| TE Kevin Boss, Rec: 4 - 34 - 1 (5 targets) |
Boss caught four of his five targets, gaining 34 yards in the process. Boss had a long reception of 16 yards early in the fourth quarter on a key third and long play. Late in the fourth, Boss caught a two yard touchdown to put the Giants ahead. Boss was wide open, as the Steelers were probably expecting a running play.
| PK John Carney 4 - 4 FG, 1 - 1 XP, 13 points |
Carney made all four of his field goal attempts and made his lone extra point attempt.
| NYG Rush Defense |
It was a tale of two halves for the Giants' rush defense. The Giants' rush defense struggled early, allowing a 32 yard touchdown run to Mewelde Moore and 63 yards on eight carries. In the second half however, the Giants buckled down, allowing only 21 rushing yards on 11 attempts the rest of the way.
| NYG Pass Defense |
The New York pass defense did a great job generating pressure on Roethlisberger, sacking him five times and forcing four interceptions. The unit only allowed him to complete 13 of his 29 passes, their lone slip up a 65 yard touchdown to Nate Washington. Aside from that, the defense was spectacular and played a big part in the Giants' win.
| QB Ben Roethlisberger, Pass: 13 - 29 - 189 - 1 TD / 4 INT, Rush: 1 - 3 - 0 |
Roethlisberger had a rough day, throwing four interceptions and only completing 13 passes. Roethlisberger was in a tough spot all game, constantly under pressure from Giants' defenders, and clearly the pressure got to him. Of the four interceptions, only one wasn't Roethlisberger's fault. Early in the second quarter he hit Nate Washington right in the chest, but a big hit on him popped the ball up and allowed it to be intercepted. The lone bright spot of the day for Roethlisberger was when he found Washington wide open deep downfield for a 65 yard touchdown. His day fittingly ended with an interception, on a last minute desperation deep toss.
| RB Mewelde Moore, Rush: 19 - 84 - 1, Rec: 2 - 10 - 0 (6 targets) |
Moore opened up the day with a touchdown capping the Steelers' first drive. Moore took a handoff and found a hole to the right, then with one man to beat blew by him and took it in for a 32 yard touchdown. By halftime, Moore had racked up 63 rushing yards. However, after the half, the Giants stepped up their defensive efforts, and Moore was only able to gain 21 more yards, finishing the game with 84 yards rushing and a touchdown.
| RB Willie Parker |
Parker was inactive due to his knee injury.
| WR Hines Ward, Rec: 3 - 30 - 0 (6 targets) |
Ward finished the day with modest numbers, hauling in three balls for 30 yards. His longest catch came in the first quarter, good for 14 yards.
| WR Limas Sweed, Rec: 3 - 28 - 0 (6 targets) |
Sweed saw playing time due to Holmes being inactive, and caught three balls for 28 yards. His longest reception of the game was for 12 yards early in the third quarter.
| WR Nate Washington, Rec: 1 - 65 - 1 (8 targets) |
Washington only caught one of his eight targets, but he made that lone catch a big one. Early in the third quarter, Washington got wide open deep and caught a 65 yard touchdown. He caught the ball about 20 yards away from the end zone, but the safety got turned around and had trouble locating him, allowing Washington to get the last 20 yards down the sideline as he ran it in for the score. The Steelers next drive, Washington caught what would have been a 53 yard touchdown pass, but it was called back due to a holding penalty.
| WR Santonio Holmes |
As expected, Holmes was not active for this game as he was charged with possession of marijuana earlier in the week.
| TE Heath Miller, Rec: 3 - 52 - 0 (4 targets) |
Miller made the most of his limited opportunities, catching three of his four targets. Early in the first quarter he caught a shallow crossing route and made a big gain out of it, gaining 22 yard, about 15 of them after the catch. Late in the second quarter, Miller caught another short slant for a large gain, racking up 19 yards on the play. Miller finished the day with 52 yards.
| PK Jeff Reed 0 - 0 FG, 2 - 2 XP, 2 points |
Reed made both of his extra point attempts. He didn't attempt any field goals.
| PIT Rush Defense |
The Pittsburgh rush defense did a superb job against the Giants' rushing attack, holding their running backs to a combined 84 yards on 31 carries. The rush defense also held up very well on the goal line, stuffing Brandon Jacobs on a fourth and inches attempt. The longest run of the afternoon they allowed was just 13 yards.
| PIT Pass Defense |
The Steelers' pass defense didn't give up hefty numbers, but overall they didn't perform up to their potential. They were unable to generate any pressure on Manning, not sacking him all game, which allowed him to complete many key passes to keep New York drives alive. One key play that began to turn the tide of the game was on a fourth and six, when the Steelers were unable to stop a 30 yard completion. The play set up the Giants for a field goal, beginning their comeback.