Justin Tuck is the reason Giants are not in the playoffs

The reality that the Giants are close to last in all major defensive categories has to fall on Justin Tuck. He is the hightest paid defensive player and he is not delivering. These Giants have always worked off the pass rush and stopping the run. Not this year and Tuck must shoulder the blame. Strahan performed at a very high level to the end. When he knew he did not want to do it anymore he retired. Look at the stats. If he plans to continue as badly as he did this year he should retire. My opinion is that Tuck worries about long term damage to his body after playing such a violent game. That is ok. But he should not play then. He is the leader of the defense and it feeds off of him. He should do better because offenses double up on Pierre-Paul. But to no advantage. Pierre-Paul had become less effective through no fault of his own and Tuck has not capitalized.

Giants were smarter today

The first good thing was not to throw to Nicks who has been a shell of himself the past two weeks.`The Giants slowed themselves more than the opposing defense. Second, they used Wilson more and this made Bradshaw more effective. The kid makes plays that Bradshaw would not have made and vice versa. Mixing them up gives the defense pause. Getting Randall more plays was another good move. It opened things for Cruz. So we have to say the coaches messed up more than the players. And what is the story with Barden? It is a game of inches. The defense did play better. But the offense made it easier for them.

Receivers and little use of Wilson are the problems.

Receivers have to step up and catch the ball when it is thrown. The Giant receivers have become too finesse and forgot how to live in the trenches. Cruz made a great catch and took his lumps. Reed made a dirty hit and will be fined for it. If you watch the New Orleans receivers and also Seattle, you see receivers finding a way to catch the ball even if there are two or three defenders. The other problem was lack of use of Wilson. How do you only give him three touches??? Yes the run defense is bad and the Giants miss Philips and Snee. But this team has gotten too dainty.

Nicks was the Turning Point

If you cannot catch it you should not let the defender catch it. That was the basic point Nix made. He was frozen rather than being active to knock down the football before it came or to knock it out of the defender's hands. Good and smart receivers know this. They have to step it up a notch. Couglin also made the same mistake the Falcons did last year when they went for it on fourth and one. The Falcons did play well. But Coughlin could have prevented his team from falling apart. Shop Amazon - FREE One-Day Shipping on Select Products

The Same Eli (with pass protection) and shame on Phil Simms

The Giants protected Eli and he showed what he can do. The quarterback Simms places above Eli did not do well without pass protection. So shame on you Phil. Eli is elite. http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nfl-shutdown-corner/phil-simms-eli-manning-isn-t-elite-doesn-001700493--nfl.html On the whole the Giants looked terrific. Webster got me worried with his allowing a long touchdown again but he quickly retained his stature with some great plays. Nicks still gives a great effort despite being hurt. Cruz is still great tho he has to make sure he has the ball before he runs. Randall is an emerging star and Wilson will show what he can do next week. Offensive line was back in form and the d was fabulous. I think the storm has a lot to do with the Giants being distracted, besides Cincy being better than most realize. Pierre was great as usual with Osi making that great play. The Giants are back. Watch out. Say you're sorry Phil!!!

Protect Manning and Start Wilson

Already the pundits are saying what's wrong with Manning. No touchdown passes in so many games. Well duh. How many quarterbacks can pass without protection. Look at Michael Vick after he lost his all pro lineman? Neither did the great Y.A. Tittle do well when the Eagles sent the whole team on blitzes. Likewise with Payton when the Steelers and Chargers blitzed him a few years ago. Sure some of the receivers are missing routes or not adjusting. But without protection or a good running game, passing will be tough. At any rate time to start Wilson.

Steeler secondary seemed to figure out Giants passing game.

Steeler secondary seemed to figure out Giants playbook. Interesting that the coaches did not figure it out. The Steelers were aggressive and, contrary to some press accounts, got away with a lot of fouls. One can blame this on Sandy, but the last three weeks have shown the passing game to be weak. Part of that has to do with the lack of a running game. Bradshaw may be an adequate back. But he seems to have lost a step. Wilson deserves more staps, along with Brown. Gotta get the running game going. Special teams was a disaster for the Giants. Credit the defense for bailing them out. The defense got tired at the end with the offense giving them no rest with the numerous three and outs. They need to put in a good work week and learn from this.