Monday, October 13, 2014

Thoughts from the weekend

The Giants' 27-0 loss at the Eagles only reinforces the concept that no small sample size in the NFL should be treated as too much of the overall picture.  For instance, three consecutive wins over lesser competition did not change the fact that the Giants' roster is not good.  For all the criticism Jerry Jones takes in his running of the Cowboys - both fair and unfair - one thing Jones understands that Giants' GM Jerry Reese seems not to, is that you build a team with focus on the offensive line.  The Cowboys' 30-23 win in Seattle, sends the Cowboys to 5-1.  And it reinforces what our friend Dallas said on Sports Limelight two weeks ago:  Investing in the offensive line with early draft picks, pays dividends.  Yes, Reese spent a first round pick on Justin Pugh in 2013, and he's been solid - not terrible, not great, just solid - but it hasn't been nearly enough, and it showed last night as Eli Manning didn't have much of a chance to lead a scoring drive while laying on his back.  Simply put, the Giants' offensive line last night made the Eagles' defense look as good as they were portrayed in that stupid twitter video put out by the Eagles. 

Other thoughts...

*The new Budweiser commercial featuring the yellow Labrador is both touching and depressing.  Touching because labs are adorable (and I will admit I am always a sucker for labs), but depressing because it's as if they are saying, "All right, we know you dude-bros aren't going to stop drinking and driving on account of the innocent people you kill with your cars, or on account of your families or friends...so will you at least do it for your dogs?"

*The Bills-Patriots game Sunday was the first ever all-AFC matchup to air on FOX.  Nothing profound to say about that, just found it interesting.

*The air raid siren that the Jets play seemingly after every defensive snap (successful play for the Jets defense or not), sounds awfully loud on TV.  I have an uncle who is a long time season ticket holder for the Jets, and I hope this siren isn't causing him hearing loss. 

*I love that Peyton Manning is three touchdown passes away from Brett Favre's career record.  For me, when it comes to the recordbooks, ideally Favre will be left with nothing but "Most career interceptions thrown."  Never forget, he broke the INTs record first; then he played long enough to set the TDs one. 

*Mainly from Sunday's action though, I'm just left with sadness in my heart for Victor Cruz, as a person.  The Giants' season is over, but I already knew that, and this team is going nowhere with or without Cruz in 2014.  But to see him lose his season the way he did, just doesn't seem fair.  I realize there are 31 other teams who have players with knee injuries, but following these guys so closely really leads to...what's the term you humans use...empathy?  (I'm not familiar with this concept, but am trying to get better at it.)  And from both a "Giants on the field" perspective, and a "Murphy's Law" perspective, if someone had asked me, what is the worst possible injury that could happen to the Giants, and at what part of the body?", other than Eli Manning's right shoulder, I'd have said Victor Cruz's knee.