NFL Playoffs 2012: 5 Things We Learned in New York Giants Wild Card Win

For the first time this century, the New York Giants have won a home playoff game. The Giants’ 24-2 demolition of the Atlanta Falcons in Sunday’s NFC Wild Card Round game is the Giants' first win at home in the postseason since a 41-0 thrashing of the Minnesota Vikings in the 2000 NFC Championship.

With the win, the Giants earn a trip to Lambeau Field in the late game on Fox next Sunday to take on the top-seeded Green Bay Packers.

New York is rolling, having won three straight games including the regular season. Here are five things we learned about the G-men on Sunday.

The Statistics Now Lie

After finishing dead last in the league in rushing during the regular season, the Giants have found their stride when the games matter most.

The Giants ran over the Falcons for 172 yards on 31 carries, an average of 5.5 yards per carry, after managing just 89.2 yards a game and 3.5 yards per attempt during the regular year.

Brandon Jacobs had 92 yards on 14 carries and Ahmad Bradshaw added another 63 on 14 attempts. This continues a recent trend for Big Blue. After managing just 29 rushing yards against the Philadelphia Eagles in a Week 11 loss, the Giants averaged 99 yards a game in their final six regular-season contests.

Sunday’s total against the Falcons—who came into the game ranked sixth in the league allowing 97 yards a game—was far and away a season high for New York. Their regular-season high in rushing was 119 yards against the St. Louis Rams in Week 2.

The Defense Is Peaking

The Giants’ defense pitched a shutout on Sunday; Atlanta’s only points came on a safety when Eli Manning was flagged for intentionally grounding in the end zone.

While the defensive line only sacked Matt Ryan twice, it was the pressure the front four applied that harassed Ryan into a sub-par effort in his third straight playoff loss. Rocky Bernard and Osi Umenyiora had the only sacks of Ryan, but he was hit seven times on the afternoon.

Ryan finished 24-for-41 for just 199 yards and seemed out-of-sync with his big-play wide receivers all day. Rookie Julio Jones had seven catches for just 64 yards and Roddy White had five grabs for 52 yards. Atlanta’s longest play from scrimmage was just 21 yards.

Jason Pierre-Paul, the Giants’ All-Pro defensive end, was held without a sack, but had eight tackles, including six solos and two for losses. 

Multiple Receiving Threats Give a Defense Fits

In the week leading up to the game, a lot of the talk about the Giants was about Victor Cruz, the second-year wideout who had a breakout year in 2011 with 82 catches for 1,536 yards and nine touchdowns.

The Falcons’ defense heard the talk (or at least watched the film) and it was committed to not allow Cruz to beat them.

Cruz had just two catches for 28 yards on Sunday, but the attention paid to Cruz opened up lanes for other receivers. Hakeem Nicks, the Giants’ No. 1 receiver, had a huge day with six grabs for 115 yards and a pair of touchdowns.

More importantly, Mario Manningham re-emerged as a legitimate No. 3 receiving threat. Manningham struggled with a knee injury over the last five weeks of the season. Since a six-catch day on the road against the San Francisco 49ers in Week 9, Manningham had only six receptions the rest of the regular season.

But on Sunday, Manningham had four catches for 68 yards and a touchdown.

It’s Official: You Can’t Spell “Elite” Without Eli

Eli Manning came into Sunday with four playoff wins, but none of them at home. He came into Sunday with a Super Bowl ring, but without a truly elite performance in the postseason.

Not anymore.

Manning was 23-for-32 for 277 yards and three touchdowns against the Falcons. The completions, yardage and touchdown total was a career playoff high. Also, Manning didn’t throw an interception.

His quarterback rating of 129.3 was his second best in the playoffs, but was far and away his best playoff performance. A 132.4 rating on the road against the Dallas Cowboys during the 2007 playoff run was accomplished on just 18 passing attempts.

Manning’s adjustments at the line of scrimmage were spot-on. He put the ball where it needed to be to enable his receivers to make plays, and he was in control all day long. 

There Are Health Questions in the Secondary

Lost in the glow of the win were the injuries to cornerback Aaron Ross and safety Deon Grant, which could be a concern against Aaron Rodgers and the high-octane Packers next weekend.

Ross left the win over the Falcons with a concussion, which means he will be subject to league-mandated health protocols during the week before he can be cleared to practice or play.

Grant left with a groin injury, and the last thing a team wants to deal with against the Packers receiving corps is a safety who is not at 100 percent.