Linsane in the Membrane???

This is America, where we root for the underdog.  Believe me, I get it.  I've seen enough of those Chrysler commercials for it to be drilled into my head that we love to root for the little guy.  Everyone enjoys a feel-good story where a virtual no one becomes somebody.  We enjoy it because it gives us hope that we too can accomplish anything we put our mind to.  For those of you who are about to read this article, let me get this out of the way first before I am accused of being a hater and un-american.  I am rooting for Jeremy Lin to do well.  I love the enthusiasm and excitement that Jeremy Lin has brought to the city.  I love the resurgence he has brought back to the doldrums that had become Madison Square Garden, but before we anoint this guy the next Jerry West, can we please take a step back?  There is a reason why Jeremy Lin was cut by both the Golden State Warriors and Houston Rockets before the Knicks claimed him off waivers.  Lin has managed to do some incredible things in a short amount of time, however, I must warn you that while small sample sizes look great, everything begins to even out over time.

My problem with Jeremy Lin is not with Jeremy Lin himself, my problem is with the hype and talk I've been hearing about this guy.  As a regular listener of sports radio, I have heard such outlandish comments as, "he's a poor man's Steve Nash" or "the Knicks need to trade Amar'e or Melo."  I've even heard somebody advocate cutting Carmelo Anthony outright.  Let's cool it right there folks.  Jeremy Lin has put the Knicks on his back and provided a spark for the lifeless Knicks.  He has been the centerpiece of the offense while Stat & Melo have been out but don't expect Lin to score 38 points once Stat & Melo return to action.  His role when those two return is to run the Knicks offense and get the ball to the true scorers on the team.  Any idiot who truly knows a thing about basketball knows that a point guard should not be the main scoring option, he should distribute the ball and make everyone around him better.  The idiots who are making these comments are the same idiots who were serenading Carmelo Anthony during his first game at MSG with the Knicks.  It just goes to show you how short our attention span is and how fickle sports fans can be.  Folks, calm down with Jeremy Lin.  Need I remind you that it has only been 5 games?  I think about other examples of guys who've come to New York, rose from obscurity, made a splash, only to crash and burn.  Does anyone remember Shane Spencer's September in 1998 when he hit .373 with 10 HR in 27 games?  Have we already forgotten Aaron Small who went 10-0 in 2005 for a depleted Yankee rotation?  What about Kevin Mass, who was supposedly the heir apparent to Don Mattingly when he burst on the scene in 1990?  Shall I continue through the annals of flashes in the pan?

Again, I am not a hater of Lin, I am a fan who has tempered his expectations.  Through the first five games, Lin has scored 191 points, the most by any player since the NBA/ABA merger in 1976.  That's impressive.  Here's what's not impressive to me.  He's the first player ever to average 20 points and 7 assists through his first four games.  I'm sorry but that does not impress me.  It's an arbitrary stat taken from an arbitrary sample size.  We've become so obsessed with stats, that we create these stats that skew numbers to prop a guy up.  This happens all the time in sports.  Who decided that four games is the baseline of which to measure players?  Is Michael Jordan not the greatest player ever to play the game because he did not average 20 points and 7 assists through his first four games?  Absolutely not.

Let's also realize that during the rise of Linsanity, the Knicks have played the New Jersey Nets, Utah Jazz, Washington Wizards, Los Angeles Lakers and Minnesota Timberwolves, who are a combined 57-84.  Only two of those teams, the Lakers  (16-12) and Jazz (14-13) have winning records.  These teams are not exactly world beaters that Hurricane Lin has blown through.  Friday's Laker game was a great game.  Lin scored 38 points and became an instant sensation for a national viewing audience, however, the Laker team the Knicks beat is not a Laker team of earlier lore. Yes, these Lakers still have Kobe Bryant, but these Lakers are not the same Phil Jackson Lakers that were winning championships just a few years ago.  These Lakers are the Mike Brown Lakers in a very weak Pacific Division of the Western Conference.  Lin has begun to show some signs of fatigue with the increased workload.  After scoring 38 on Friday, Lin scored 20 points on 8-24 shooting in Minnesota on Saturday.  Lin looked gassed at the end of the game when he only made one of two free throws that put the Knicks up by one with 4.9 seconds left.

With the Knicks playing so well now, it's easy to point fingers and castigate Carmelo Anthony.  I get it, the Knicks have not been very good since the trade for him.  You have to accept Carmelo for what he is.  Carmelo is a score first ballplayer who wants his points every night so he can contend for a scoring title.  The Knicks are playing inspired basketball and are getting legitimate contributions from the Steve Novak's and Iman Shumpert's of the world.  Naturally everyone will point a finger to Carmelo and use him as a scapegoat.  It's human nature.  The Knicks problem isn't Carmelo Anthony.  You can debate me all you want on this but you're not going to sway my opinion.  You can call him a black cloud, you can call him selfish, you can call him any name you want, it's uncalled for.  At the end of the game, I want the ball in his hand to make a clutch shot, not Steve Novak (sorry Steve, I don't mean to call you out).

The biggest problem handicapping the Knicks right now is Mike "No-D"Antoni.  D'Antoni should be Lin's biggest cheerleader because Lin has singlehandedly saved D'Anotni's job.  Oh, and Mike, if you're reading this blog, buy the man a Rolex with the money you're stealing from the Knicks, he deserves it. D'Antoni couldn't find defense in a phonebook and for as long as he's the coach, the Knicks will never win a title.  I think the only person who supports D'Antoni unequivocally besides D'Antoni himself is Bill Walton, and I'm not sure whether or not he smoked pot before commenting on his good friend.

“I’ve known Mike D’Antoni for 40 years. He is a brilliant basketball mind. He is a genius in terms of creativity and imagination. The NBA owes a huge debt of gratitude to Mike D’Antoni, who saved the sport 10 years ago...I stand by that statement...I stand tall on that statement. I stand tall as others have stood tall for me. Mike D’Antoni is a genius, he is a monument to the history of basketball...who has saved the sport of basketball from going down this disastrous path of nothing but standing around and grinding it out. It’s not about numbers,” said Walton. “It’s about a style, it’s about creativity, it’s about coming together, it’s about the fluidity of controlling and defining the terms of a conflict. That Knicks team has not come together yet.” (Listen to the entire audio: HERE) 

Until Lin, the Knicks have also lacked a true point guard.  Having no point guard to distribute the ball is like having a football team sans quarterback.  Would the Giants have won the Super Bowel without Eli Manning?  Up until Lin emerged from the depths of the bench, the Knicks were pinning there hopes to the arcane Mike Bibby and the balky back of Baron Davis.  Davis to date is still not healthy and who knows if he ever will be.  Amar'e Stoudemire needs to snap out of his funk and learn how to coexist with Carmelo.  Stoudemire was a legitimate MVP candidate last year before Carmelo arrived in NY.  He needs to become aggressive again and attack the basket, which is something he stopped doing with Melo as his teammate.  Maybe he suffers from a bruised ego that he is no longer the main attraction in NY, but his resurgence to pre Melo form is vital, as is Landry Fields, who has once again blossomed with Stat and Melo not in the lineup.  If this article seems extremely Pro-Carmelo Anthony it is not.  He does not get a free pass or be absolved from all wrong doing.  He is culpable for the Knicks sluggish start.  Carmelo needs to become a team player and learn to distribute the ball.  The Knicks will not be successful if Melo continually gets fed the ball, stands around for 20 seconds and then takes a 20 ft shot time and time again.


The Knicks play at Toronto on Tuesday and Stat will be back in the lineup.  We will see how Lin reacts to Stat and if Stat can run the pick n' roll to perfection with Lin the way he did with Raymond Felton.  From there Carmelo Anthony should return within the next week or so and the Knicks will be back at full strength.  Only time will tell how this story ends but before you auction off your first born just to get your official NBA Jeremy Lin jersey when it comes available, remember this, we've seen acts like this here in NY before.

All In...

History will be made on Sunday for one of these quarterbacks.

We are almost there. In a little more than 24 hours, a Super Bowl champion will be crowned. One team will be hoist the Lombardi trophy at the end of Super Bowl XLVI; a rematch of Super Bowl XLII between the New York Giants and the New England Patriots. There are many storylines overshadowing the game and pundits voicing their opinions on how this game will play out. Rather than going off on tangents, let us focus our attention on the two teams, exploring all facets of the game, breakdowning the facts and separating fact from opinion.

The New York Giants enter this game battling back from the throes of obscurity by winning five straight, dating back to their week 16 victory over the New Yor Jets. They will face the New England Patriots who themselves are riding a wave of momentum, having won 10 straight games to run away with the AFC East. The Giants have the opportunity to once again silence the Patriots, denying Bill Belichick and Tom Brady that elusive fourth Super Bowl ring. Still, as much as we want to draw the parallels between 2007 and 2011, these two teams are not the same teams that met in Super Bowl XLII. The line may have the Giants as the underdog, but talk to most people and they will tell you that the Giants are the superior team. Listening to expert opinions, most favor the Giants at about 70/30 split. This worries me a bit. I think the Giants are relishing the role as the favorite and are a bit overconfident. You cannot overlook this Patriots team, especially Tom Brady. So is it the Patriots that are being disrespected? Not exactly. The Patriots did go 13-3 this year though they have not beaten a team with a winning record. Even so, let's not paint them as the redheaded stepchild. This is a Bill Belichick coached team featuring Tom Brady under center.

The other thing that tweeks me a bit is this whole double revenge factor the media has been playing up. All we're hearing about is how Tom Brady and Bill Belichick are so desperate to avenge their 2007 Super Bowl loss and their week 9 loss, they're literally foaming at the mouth.

Look, there is no denying the fact that Brady and Belichick want to win this game, however, wanting something more than anything doesn't mean you're guaranteed to get it. There are so many things in this world that I want, but it doesn't mean I'm going to get them just because I want them badly. The game still has to be played before we can crown a champion. This will be the fifth Super Bowl appearance by Brady and Belichick, the most by any coach/quarterback combo in the history of the NFL. Furthermore, if Brady and Belichick win on Sunday, they will join rarefied air as the second pair of coach/quarterback to win four Super Bowls together. The only other tandem to do so are Chuck Noll and Terry Bradshaw with the Pittsburgh Steelers. If Brady does in fact win his fourth ring, he will join Joe Montana as the only other quarterback to win four Super Bowls. Ok, I get it, the Patriots have a lot to play for. Enough withthe Brady lovefest though, it's starting to make me nauseous. The team standing on the other sideline can accomplish a bit of history themselves if they win this Super Bowl.

The Giants are appearing in their fifth Super Bowl in the last twenty five years, having won three to date. In the Giants three Super Bowl wins, they have played the team they faced in the regular season. In the Giants lone Super Bowl loss to the Ravens in 2000, they did not play the Ravens in the regular season. The Giants won their week 9 matchup against the Patriots 24-20.

This will be the second Super Bowl for Tom Coughlin and Eli Manning in the last four years. If the Giants win, Eli will become the only quarterback in Giants history to start two Super Bowls and win. Coughlin will become the second coach in Giants history to win two Super Bowls with the New York Giants, joining Bill Parcells as the only other coach to accomplish this feat. The win would no doubt cement the credentials of Coughlin and Manning into the Giants ring of honor, but it also increases the liklihood of Tom Coughlin's chances to be enshrined in Canton. Pretty hard to fathom considering that six weeks ago, everybody was ready to crucify Coughlin and run him out of town. Eli Manning's two rings will give him one more ring than big brother Peyton, who lost to the New Orleans Saints in his second Super Bowl appearance. Coincidentally the win will come in Lucas Oil Field, the house that Eli's brother Peyton Manning built. Lastly, the win would also mark the first time in the history of the Super Bowl that a team with a record of 9-7 has won it all.

Moving past the pre-game chatter and on to the game, let's delve into what it is going to take for the Giants to win. On the defensive side of the ball, the Giants must get pressure up front from the talented defensive line. I'm in no way, shape or form calling Tom Brady soft, however, Brady does not handle pressure well. The Giants did a great job getting to Brady in 2007, sacking him 5 times, and was one of the main reason why they won the Super Bowl. The defensive line has also been significantly bolstered during this playoff run. The line features a healthy Umenyiora and Tuck, which they did not have the luxury of having in week 9 against the Patriots. JPP has been talking a big game, which I'd prefer he didn't, but I do like the confidence he has that he'll be able to get to Brady. If the Giants are unable to get to Brady, and the offensive line gives him a pocket, it will effectively seal the Giants fate. Brady has the accuracy of a Navy Seal Sniper, capable of picking apart defenses and tormenting the Giants shaky secondary. Brady is not a mobile quarterback like Aaron Rodgers so if the Giants are successful at knocking Brady around, they can disrupt his timing and force him to overthrow his receivers.

Perhaps the biggest story surrounding the Patriots passing game is the health of all-pro tight end Rob Gronkowski. Gronkowski is listed as questionable for Sunday's game and will most likely play, despite reports from his agent, Drew Rosenhaus, who was quoted as saying that Gronkowski would not play if this were a regular season game. Gronkowski's own father even stated that his son would most likely require surgery in the offseason to repair the damage to his ankle. Ben Rothlisberger suffered a high-ankle sprain against the Cleveland Browns in week 14 of the regular season. The injury limited Rothlisberger's mobility and affected his play during the Steelers loss to the Broncos in the wild card round of this year's playoffs. While we will never know the full extent of Gronkowski's injury, it is clear that if he plays, he will be playing at less than 100%.

Gronkowski's injury does not mean that the Giants are free and clear in the passing game. They'll still have to stop the other talented tight end, Aaron Hernandez, as well as the dangerous Wes Welker. Hernandez is especially dangerous since he can lineup as a wideout, running back or tight end, creating matchup problems for the Giants defense. Wes Welker is one of the most consistent receivers in the NFL, finishing 2011 with 122 receptions and 1,589 yards and 9 touchdowns. Welker caught 9 passes for 136 yards against the Giants in week 9 in the Patriots 24-20 loss to the Giants. This is by far one of the most talented receiving cores that the Giants have faced this postseason with the exception of Green Bay. The Giants did a fantastic job shutting down Green Bay's receivers by getting to Rodgers and limiting the receivers yards after the catch. We will have to see how the Giants secondary reacts to this challenge. The secondary must slow down the Patriots passing attack and prevent them from gaining huge chunks of yards after the catch, just as they did against Green Bay. The one weakness in the Patriots passing attack is their lack of a true deep threat that can stretch the field and make plays the way Randy Moss did for them in 2007. Chad "Ocho-stinko" is the one guy who has the ability to run deep routes but he's done zilch this year and it's more likely than not that he will be inactive on Sunday.

The Patriots running game is a bit of a mystery to me. BenJarvis Green-Ellis is a very servicable back but in my opinion, he is more of a complimentary player than he is a game-changer. He lacks the breakaway speed of an elite NFL back and is not much of a factor in the passing game, having only caught 9 passes for 153 yards this season. Don't be surprised if you see veteran Kevin Faulk get very involved in the Patriots running game. Belichick trusts him and may insert him as a change of pace running back. The Giants run defense has been porous against the run at times this season. If the Patriots can get their backs to sneak through holes and find seams, they may be able to have a good day running the ball.

On offense, the Giants are explosive. They can put up points in a hurry with their three deep threats in Nicks, Cruz and Manningham. If the Patriots want to contain the Giants receivers, they better find a better cornerback than Julian Edelman to guard these WR's. Manning should have a field day teeing off on the likes of Julian Edelman, Patrick Chung, Sterling Moore, and Kyle Arrington. I will say this though, the Giants better score touchdowns in the red zone. They cannot settle for field goals and expect to beat the Patriots.

I have my concerns about the Giants offensive line. David Baas has been battling nagging injuries this season and has been shaky at best when he does play. The Patriots do not have a ton of pass rushers who can get to the quarterback with the exception of Vince Wilfork. Wilfork must not be allowed to penetrate the line and get to Manning. If the line fails to contain him, he can create havoc for Manning and force turnovers, something the Giants have not done this postseason. Look for the Giants to implement fullbacks Henry Hynoski and Bear Pascoe, as well as tight ends Travis Beckum and Jake Ballard in coverage to pickup the blitz. I also believe Kevin Gilbride will use his fullbacks and tight ends in the passing game, especially in short yardage situations, rather than asking Jacobs to pickup a first down, which leads me to my next point.

The Giants running game has been inconsistent all year. Ahmad Bradshaw has been nursing recurring foot injuries all season, limiting his time on the field. Brandon Jacobs has been a bit of an enigma. He'll go through flashes of being a big bruising back at times and at other times Jacobs cannot get a critical first down on short yardage situations. Ahmad Bradshaw did not play against the Patriots in week 9. Instead, Brandon Jacobs carried the load and had a nice day, rushing for 72 yards and a touchdown on 18 carries. The running game is the "X" factor for me in the Super Bowl. Eli Manning is at his best when he uses the run to set up the pass. If the Giants can rush for a combined total of over 100 yards, I believe they will be in good shape. In order for this to happen, the offensive line must block for Bradshaw and open up lanes for him to hit. Jacobs needs to assert himself and punish linebackers who try and tackle him high. If he can soften up the defense, Bradshaw is shifty enough to extend plays and gain decent yardage per carry. I like Ahmad Bradshaw to score a touchdown in this game and rush for about 75 yards.

The last area where the Giants must dominate is in the special teams department. Special teams had been somewhat of a horror show the past few seasons (anyone remember Matt Dodge's kick to DeSean Jackson last year?) Steve Weatherford has been an excellent replacement for Jeff Feagles and has done a marvelous job of pinning opponents deep within their own territory. The coverage team on punts and kickoffs have also done a nice job of forcing turnovers and was instrumental in the win over the 49ers in the NFC Championship Game. The Giants have won the last two NFC Championship games they've played in on the leg of Lawrence Tynes. Tynes has kicked two game winning field goals in overtime to put the Giants in the Super Bowl. When the game is on the line, I do trust Tynes to have ice water in his veins and make a crucial field goal.

When I look at this game objectively, I do feel that the Giants have the better team and should be able to come out on top, yet I remain cautiously optimistic. Every pundit has been picking the Giants and that worries me. The Giants have come across this past week as supremely confident, if not over cocky. Belief in oneself is never a bad thing, overlooking an opponent is another thing. At the end of the day, if Tom Brady were never to pick up a football for the rest of his life, he would still be considered one of the greatest quarterbacks ever to play this game. No one can deny his greatness or his will to win. He is one of the few players in this game who can put a team on his back and win a championship. The Patriots are hear for a reason and that reason is 12, Tom Brady. The once left for dead Giants have peaked at the right time and have ridden that momentum all the way to the Super Bowl. In their journey to Super Bowl XLVI, they have defeated a very good Falcons team, went to Green Bay and defeated a 15-1 Packers team that featured Aaron Rodgers at the helm and outplayed a 13-3 49ers team that sported one of defenses in the NFL. There is no question whether or not the Giants are battle tested. Eli Manning has elevated his game to levels we never thought possible, leaving some to wonder if he has surpassed his brother Peyton as the better Manning quarterback. He has routinely stepped up in the 4th quarter, making big play after big play, all while exhibiting a physical toughness and business like confidence that he expects to win every game, no matter who the opponent is. The defense has gotten healthy and are playing like the dominant defense of the 2007 Super Bowl team. So where do I sit on the fence when it comes to my prediction? Like the Giants players did this season, pushing all their chips to the middle of the table and declaring themselves all in, I too am all in on Big Blue. I like the Giants to win 35-31 in a very tightly contested game. I will go one step further and predict that fellow UMass Alum, Victor Cruz will have 10 catches for 125 yards and 2 TD scores, earning him MVP honors in what will only be a fairy tale ending to an already incredible story.

Stop Me If You've Seen This Before

Eli Manning and the Giants are headed back to the Super Bowl

It could only end this way. After a tumultuous season filled with ups and downs, the New York Giants are going back to the Super Bowl, where they will once again face the New England Patriots. It could only end this way. And how fitting is it that the Giants once again stamped their ticket to the Super Bowl on leg of Lawrence Tynes, sealing an overtime win? It could only have ended that way. What I would have given to be a fly on the wall in the Brady/Belichick households as they watched Tynes' FG split the uprights. Surely, they were hoping not to face the Giants. There are so many parallels between the 2007 Giants and the 2011 Giants, but before the book on the magical run of these Giants can be closed, there's still one more game to play. If the Giants do complete this improbable run and beat the Patriots, how fitting would it be that Eli Manning will win his second championship on the home field of his big brother, Peyton Manning? It could only end that way.



The Giants beat the 49ers 20-17 in overtime on Sunday night in windy, rainy conditions that made the playing field at Candlestick Park less than ideal. The Giants looked sluggish on offense for most of the game even though they controlled the time of possession game. The Giants held the ball for 39:06 as opposed to the 49ers, who held the ball 28:18. Eli Manning was excellent again last night, completing 32 of 58 passes for 316 yards and 2 touchdowns and zero interceptions. Manning obliterated the Giants records for completions (29) and attempts (44) and was the first Giants quarterback to throw for back-to-back 300 yard games in the playoffs. What really surprised me was just how tough Eli Manning is. The San Francisco defense punished Manning last night, sacking him six times. Manning shrugged the hits off and continued to be the beacon of calm for the Giants.

The Giants running game failed to impress me as they only rushed for 85 yards combined and no touchdowns. Brandon Jacobs stunk, rushing for only 13 yards on 5 carries. They're going to have to do a better job running against the Patriots in the Super Bowl. I cannot say enough about my fellow UMass alumni, Victor Cruz who was spectacular again last night. Cruz caught 10 balls for 142 yards with 125 yards coming in the first half. It seemed like Cruz was there whenever the Giants needed him to step up and make a big catch. Who would have thought that an undrafted player out of UMass would become a star and make the departure of an accomplished wide receiver like Steve Smith seem like an afterthought? Speaking of unknowns rising from obscurity, how about Bear Pascoe catching his first NFL touchdown in the first quarter last night? What a hell of a time to catch your first pro touchdown in the NFC Championship game.

The Giants defense shined last night, recording 2 1/2 sacks and holding the 49ers offense to a measly 1/13 on 3rd down conversions. The lone conversion happened to come on the last play of regulation. I thought the defense did a great job containing Frank Gore, keeping him to 74 yards on 16 carries with no touchdowns. The star of last week's divisional round matchup against the Saints, Alex Smith was unspectacular, completing just 12/26 passes for 196 yards and 2 touchdowns, both to TE Vernon Davis. Davis finished with 3 receptions for 112 yards and 2 scores. Davis also had a terrible 15-yard, unsportsman like conduct penalty after he scored the 49ers first touchdown on a 73-yard completion from Alex Smith. I saw an interview with Davis where he claimed to have grown up and been a more complete player. No one can deny his talent but he has to mature mentally. You cannot have stupid penalties like that, especially when you're battling for the NFC Championship.


What won the game for the Giants was their play on special teams. Steve Weatherford was phenomenal last night. Weatherford punted 12 times, which also broke a Giants record. The Giants took advantage of two critical miscues by punt returner Kyle Williams, who was subbing in for an injured Ted Ginn, Jr. The first turnover occurred on a Weatherford punt that hit the knee of Kyle Williams and was recovered by Devin Thomas. The initial call on the field was that Williams had not touched the ball, which was challenged by Tom Coughlin. Coughlin won the challenge and the Giants received the ball on their own 29 with 11:06 left in the fourth quarter. With the Giants trailing 14-10 Manning found Mario Manningham in the end zone to recapture the lead 17-14 with 8:34 left in the fourth quarter. The 49ers would complete a 6 play, 48 yard drive and tie the score with a little over five minutes left in the fourth quarter. The second miscue from Williams came in overtime when Jaquan Williams stripped the ball from Kyle Williams right hand and was subsequently recovered by Devin Thomas, his second recovery of the game. The turnover proved to be the final dagger to the hearts of the 49ers as Tynes hit the game winning field goal.

So here we are on the day after the Giants won the NFC Championship. It's hard to imagine a better ending to the script than beating the Patriots on February 5th. The early line has the Pats at a 3 1/2 favorite but I think the Giants have a better team. Brady may be the better quarterback but I think Manning is playing on a higher level. As they say, we'll settle this dispute on the field.

3rd Down & 49ners

Will the Giants Hoist the Lombardi Trophy Again This Year?

The New York Giants are 60 minutes away from the Super Bowl. Believe me, it's a week later, and it's still hard to wrap my brain around this thought. After last week's dominating win over the 15-1 Packers, the Giants are looking for their fifth straight win and their third straight in the playoffs, thus completing their improbable run to Super Bowl XLVI. For those who know me, you know that I am an ardent supporter of all my teams. I live and die with my teams, feeling crushed when they lose and exuberant after a win. Yet, I'll be first to admit that I had left them for dead following a dreadful 23-10, week 15 loss to the lowly Washington Redskins. The loss dropped the Giants to a mediocre 7-7 and to second place behind the hard charging Dallas Cowboys. In order for the Giants to earn a playoff berth, they had to win out or go home. It seemed inevitable that this team would fold like a cheap suit and complete their third straight second half collapse. The first test would be the Jets, who themselves were in a tailspin and were watching their playoff hopes slip through their grasp, although you couldn't tell by the way that fat, blowhard, idiot, Rex Ryan had been running his mouth all season when he should have been running on a treadmill.

In the week leading up to the Giants/Jets, week 16, Christmas Eve matchup, fans swarmed the airwaves of WFAN, voicing their ire for Tom Coughlin, demanding that he be fired. As a team, the Giants lacked cohesiveness on both sides of the ball, playing an uninspired brand of football, while desperately searching for an identity before it was too late. The team's gritty 24-20 victory over the New England Patriots seemed like a distant memory. Those Giants were 6-2. Those Giants looked every bit like the class of the NFC East. These Giants had lost five of their last six, including a 27-20 loss to the San Francisco 49ers that started this losing streak. It was a game the Giants should have won. Manning continued his 4th quarter dominance, yet the Giants failed to protect a lead late. If there was one shimmer of light at the end of the tunnel that Giants fans could pin their hopes to, it was the play of Eli Manning. Manning had become Captain Comeback, engineering game winning fourth quarter drives with relative impunity. Eli's shoulders had carried the extra weight all season, but he needed some help from his supporting cast. And then it happened. With the Giants trailing the Jets 7-3 in the second quarter, facing a third down and one from their own one yard line, Manning hit Victor Cruz who eluded a tackle and was off to the races. 99 yards later, Cruz gave the Giants a 10-7 lead that they would not relinquish and a shot in the arm that propelled them all the way to today's NFC Championship game.

Today's game will be a good one. I have listened to fans all week dismiss the 49ers as if it were preordained that the Giants will win today. This is not the case. The 49ers have one of the best defenses in the NFL and will not be intimidated. The Giants have not seen a defense like they will see today in quite some time. This defense plays fast and is stout in giving up points. Patrick Willis, Aldon Smith and NaVarro Bowman comprise one of the best cores of linebackers in the NFL.

On offense, the 49ers rely heavily on the legs of Frank Gore. Gore had another productive season in 2011, running for 1,211 yards and 8 touchdowns. Alex Smith has finally realized his potential and has proven why he was drafted as the number one overall player taken in 2005. The Giants defense must stop the run and must contain Smith, forcing him into third and long situations. The front four must keep the pressure on Alex Smith, making him uncomfortable in the pocket and interrupting his timing.

On offense, the Giants have to get the running game going. This may prove to be a daunting task as the weather is supposed to be rainy, which could make the field a sloppy mess. The Giants only ran for 95 yards combined against the Packers last week. That is not going to cut it against this Niners defense. Eli Manning will be the best offensive player on the field today and he must assert himself as the best player. The 49ers are going to bring the blitz and are hoping to make Eli force the ball into receivers hands, causing interceptions for the Niners defense. The Giants have a huge advantage in the passing game with both Nicks and Cruz, who both possess tremendous speed and big play ability. Mario Manningham woke up from his slumber last week, catching three passes for thirty nine yards and a touchdown. Manningham also had his best game of the season in week 10 against the 49ers, catching six passes for seventy seven yards and a score. Manningham also dropped a sure touchdown that would have won the game for the Giants and completed their 4th quarter comeback. The Giants receivers drop a lot of passes and the poor field conditions do concern me as it may exacerbate the penchant for dropping passes.

If you're someone who likes stats and numbers, here's a few that will make Giants fans feel good. The Giants are 4-0 all-time in NFC Championship Games, including two wins against the 49ers in 1986 & 1990. Both times the Giants went on to win the Super Bowl, beating the Denver Broncos and Buffalo Bills. If the Giants win this game and do advance to the Super Bowl, either of their opponents will present a rematch of past Super Bowls for the Giants. The Giants got beat down 34-7 by the Ravens in the 2000 Super Bowl, which was the Giants only Super Bowl loss. The Giants met the Patriots in the 2007 Super Bowl, upsetting the heavily favored, 18-0 New England Patriots 17-14.

PREDICTION: Giants 23 - 49ers 17

"I'll Take The Rapists for 200."

For those of you who didn't catch this the other day, here a clip from a real Jeopardy show, where a  contestant makes complete fool of himself, a la SNL Jeopardy.  What an idiot!

Amazing Beatles Cover

Hey, guys. Check out this cover of the Beatles, "In My Life," by Andrew Stein. I first heard the song on a Sleepy's commercial and had to find out who sang it.  Anyway, enjoy the rendition of this song, it's pretty amazing.

Golden Schnoooz

Did anyone else find the Golden Globes Awards (GGA) last night to be one big zzzzzzzzzz?  After last-year's face ripping roast put down by the uber-tiny but uber-hysterical Ricky Gervais, this year's GGA's felt about as harsh as a Betty White smile.  Ricky, I know the truth is funnier than fiction but the jokes about the Kardashians being trashy are getting a bit long in the tooth.  In addition, I found the Ashton-Demi divorce jokes to be stale and even the reference to Jodie Foster's beav lacked ooomph.  I mean...can we please keep our beav references to actresses under 40?

Well, with the exception of Elle McPherson..wait, which brings me to my next point...did anyone see Elle being interviewed on the red carpet by Giuliana Rancic?  Now I know why young girls in our culture are so messed up about their self-image.  I have never seen more adoration bestowed on a human being for simply being attractive than I saw last night.  Giuliana Ran-o-Rexcic (please eat a meal one of these years) started out the interview very subtly: "I just wanted to tell you that you are the most beautiful woman on the face of the earth."  Every follow up comment centered on Elle's beauty, the fact that she's more attractive than every other human being, how does she stay so hot, etc...you get the point.  We get it...she's hot.  Did anyone see Jhonny Depp?  Was it more or did he look like he had a few marbles jarred loose and more wobbly than with a peg-leg on a pirate's ship.  Someone needed to remind Jhonny he was at the GGA's and not a remake of Edward Scissorhands.  On a final note, mila kunis is really dope, yea I really just said it.