Dottino: Game Balls And Gassers From Giants' Win Over Eagles
By Paul Dottino
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Incremental improvement.
The Giants have pointed the arrow in the right direction over the past two weeks, although there's still much work to be done following Sunday's 15-7 road victory over the Philadelphia Eagles. Once again, they did enough good things to knock off an inferior opponent -- one which they gave away a game to in Week 5. So you can consider this progress.
But coach Tom Coughlin knows that his team -- two games behind first-place Dallas in the NFC East -- will have to continue to improve if it is going to make a challenge in the division.
GAME BALLS
Offense: RB Peyton Hillis -- The veteran running back pounded out 70 yards on 20 carries. He took 59 of the offensive snaps (80 percent), caught three of his five targets for 15 yards and did an excellent job of helping to pick up the blitz.
Defense: S Antrel Rolle -- For the second consecutive week, Rolle was involved in impact plays. This time, he had five tackles, a sack/forced fumble, an interception and a pass defensed. The interception put an end to Philadelphia's opening possession. He also sacked and stripped MIchael Vick on the Eagle's second possession, although Philadelphia recovered the fumble.
Special Teams: PK Josh Brown -- He hit all five of his field goals, improving his season mark to 12-of-14. Although this may not appear significant, with the way the Giants have been going any piece of momentum -- or loss of momentum with a missed field goal -- can be critical.
GASSERS
Offense: WR Reuben Randle -- Randle came into this one with a pair of two-touchdown games against the Eagles, but it appeared that he had difficulty getting open. In fact, QB Eli Manning only targeted him once during the game. and Randle was unable to hold on to a first-down pass inside the red zone in the second quarter.
Defense: S Antrel Rolle -- He was flagged for an illegal celebration following his first-quarter interception. The only thing a defense player can do worse after causing a turnover -- other than being penalized -- is to fumble the ball back to the offense. Rolle apologized after the play, realizing that he made a mistake. But it cost his team 15 yards and the Giants had to start their second drive of a scoreless game from their own 21.
Special teams: LS Zak DeOssie -- His mega-high snap went over P Steve Weatherford's head and bounced into the end zone, where Najee Goode recovered the ball to bring the Eagles within eight points. DeOssie's been very good and you can mark this one down as an aberration. Fortunately, he bounced back on his next snap with 36 seconds left from the Eagles' 32.
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