GIANTS GIVEAWAY GAME TO BEARS 16-13

The New York Giants desperately needed a win today to still have an outside chance of winning the division. That chance is now gone thanks to a Giants offense that all but handed the game to the Bears. New York now drops to 4-6 on the season while the Bears improve to 8-2 and can clinch a playoff spot with a Tampa Bay loss this week.

Aggravation would be a nice way to put things for the Giants today. They outplayed the Bears in every way except where it counted on the scoreboard. The game started out pretty much as expected with both defenses controlling the line of scrimmage. Chicago QB Jim Miller (13-19-78) thought he could catch the Giants defense off guard right off the bat as he dropped back on a play action medium pass only to see Jessie Armstead step in front of Marty Brooker and give the Giants the ball at the Bears 47 yard line. New York was unable to do much with it and later was forced to punt.

The entire first quarter was full of punts but one miscue by the Giants would cost them dearly. Sitting at midfield and facing a 1st and 10 Kerry Collins (21-39-184) would try to find Tiki Barber (8-10 / 6-26 Rec) on a flare pass. The pass though was tipped at the line as the Bears brought the house. Mike Brown was in the right place at the right time and had nothing but a clear lane to the end zone for a Bears 7-0 lead.

Brad Daluiso's 53 yard field goal early in the second quarter cut that lead to 7-3. Chicago and the Giants would exchange field goals throughout the rest of the quarter and enter the locker rooms and try to find some offense.

Trailing 7-3 the Giants elected to go with the wind at their backs after opting to kickoff in the first half. The Bears had the option for the second half and in return the Giants opted to have the wind at their backs. The wind was as wicked as they come blowing 20 MPH and most of all on most passes going into the wind it was a -9 deduction. The Giants would force the Bears to punt after 6 plays and despite a solid 43 yard punt by Brad Maynard the Giants sat up shop at it's own 49. Collins then started hitting a rhythm as he found Amani Toomer for 27 yards to the Bears 24 and 4 plays later hit Joe Jurevicous from 4 yards out giving the Giants a 10-7 lead. Chicago would come right back and get some help from the Giants as the defense was called for roughing the passer moving the ball from the Giants 45 to the 28. It would bog down 4 plays later and Paul Edinger connected on a 29 yard field goal to tie the game up.

Collins again would hit the big play on the ensuing drive when he hooked up with none other than Toomer again this time for 30 yards to the Bears 30. Daluiso then came on and added a nice 40 yard field goal in the closing minutes of quarter 3 for a 13-10 Giants lead. With the way the Bears offense had been going there was little optimism on the sidelines and they knew that if they were to win it would be due to the defense creating some turnovers. In order for this to happen though the Bears needed the Giants offense to try to get make a big play out of something they shouldn't.

They would get that big break midway through the final quarter when Maynard's punt would be taken by Barber and as he went upfield trying to juke a defender he lost the ball and Walt Harris was right there to fall on it for the Bears. Already in field goal position at the Giants 19 the Bears were content to play for the field goal and not risk a interception. With 7:59 left Edinger nailed a 44 yarder to once again tie the game up. It would take the Giants only 5 plays later to make another critical mistake and one that would cost them the game. Barber took a simple screen pass from Collins and went know where but at the same time he did not protect the ball. Ted Washington jumped on it for the Bears and now again they were in Edinger's range at the Giants 33. Anthony Thomas' (30-76) 8 yard run on second down got them even closer and Edinger two plays later hit the game winning 43 yard field goal.

This game was not yet over at that time and in fact I am not sure either Marc or I thought it was. The Giants though would be their own worse enemy and after being whistled for 3 penalties that totaled 20 yards they faced a 4th and 23 from their own 30. The nail was hammered in when Rosevelt Colvin intercepted the last ditch effort by Collins.

The Giants can still find themselves in the playoffs via the Wild Card route so all is not totally lost. Chicago on the other hand would need a colossal breakdown to not win the division or a Wild Card spot. Stranger things though has happened in the game of football.
--submitted by Bill Vogt--