Postmortem: Giants 26 Bengals 23 OT

First off, I wasn't expecting much. A virtually nonexistent offense versus a ferocious Giants D, a porous O-line versus perhaps the league's best pass rush, and a suspect defense versus a lineman-sized back and an efficient- if not spectacular, passing game with Manning the Lesser at the helm, the answer was clear even to the magic eight ball.

Still, because I am a glutton for punishment- goes with the territory, I sat down to watch what surely would be carnage. Right?

What I saw was this previously lifeless team rise from the ashes and go toe to toe with one of the best teams in the league for four quarters. And I honestly don't think it was a case of the Giants playing poorly. They played like the Giants play. Their pass rush was relentless but, despite six sacks of The Franchise, at the most crucial moments of the game, our line and backs gave Carson just enough time to engineer two masterful* second half drives mainly through the air.

David Jones got beat several times but with little consequence and he came up with a few really good hits- including one to force a punt. Simeon Castille, despite a couple rookie penalties, also showed up well. Brandon Johnson and Marvin White insured that Eli will need some soak time in the hot tub this week. Manning getting that last pass to Toomer- the one that set up the winning FG, was as much luck on Eli's part as it was a defensive shortcoming. I didn't hear Rivers mentioned much, Dhani got his hat in on a couple good hits, Geathers would be more fearsome if he could wrap up when he finds the ball carrier behind the line. Though Ward gashed us a couple times, Brandon Jacobs was, for the most part, contained. Leon Hall played a heck of a game. Once again, the defense kept us in the game.

Freed up to go outside, Chris Perry reminded us why we drafted him so high, why we stuck by him through the injuries. Carson(27/39/286/1TD) reminded us that, given just a little breathing room, he can thread that needle like nobody else. Antonio Chatman, for the first time maybe ever, provided a really welcome spark at the three position. Reggie Kelly made a couple big catches. Levi Jones needs to live in fear of Collins replacing his sorry, penalty gettin', sack givin' up ass- Ghiaciuc is safe because there isn't anyone waiting in the wings, unfortunately.

We didn't turn the ball over. Neither did they.

Two main reasons why this was a loss and not a win. Last drive of the game, we give up probably 15-20 seconds either trying to get lined up or getting the play in before Carson hit TJ at the 6- resulting in no shots at the end zone when we probably should have had at least two. Second, after a great job by the defense forcing the Giants punt at the beginning of OT, we come out and try two straight off tackle Perry runs, even as we had the hot quarterback and a line that had figured out how to protect him over the last quarter. Inex-fucking-cusable. Carson was finding seams in that Giants zone. We hadn't been able to run between the tackles all game. What fucking genius made those calls- and why is he still employed?

Overall, I'm about as happy as one can be after a loss because at least we competed this week.