The Good, The Bad and The Ugly: Giants vs. Bengals

Coming in at 0-2, the Bengals weren’t the patsies that the Rams and Redskins were. The Giants had their hands full in this game, as Cincinnati came out determined and driven. It was a roller coster ride, with the teams trading scores all day, but the Jints finally prevailed in overtime by a score of 26-23. Their 3-0 record is the best start they’ve had since 2000.

The Good

Oldster John Carney booted four field goals, including the game winner, and is nine for nine for the season. He kicked 46, 26, 24 and 22 yarders. Not bad for someone picked up off the scrapheap. He’s the Giants’ version of Fernando Tatis (without the season-ending injury).

Kevin Boss not only made his first catch of the season, but snagged a touchdown pass as well. He had three receptions for 51 yards. At least we don’t have to hear about a tight end not having any catches for the season anymore. Eli Manning spread the ball around to eight different receivers. Plaxico Burress only had three catches (45 yards), but Steve Smith had a nice game with seven receptions (60 yards) and made a key third-down catch on the Giants last drive in regulation that led to Boss’ TD. Amani Toomer ended up hauling in five passes for 64 yards and made the catch of the day on the game-winning drive in OT when he grabbed a 31-yard pass and stayed in bounds by the length of his toenails.

Manning completed 26 passes on 43 attempts for 289 yards and threw one touchdown pass. He led 80 and 68 yard drives for TD’s, and was as cool as it gets on the 62-yard game-winning drive in overtime. He may never lead the league in passing or set any QB records, but if you want a two-minute game-winning drive, you can’t do much better than Eli. The Giants’ pass to rushing ratio was 43 to 25. And the offensive line protected Manning to the tune of no sacks allowed. Derek Ward led all running backs with 80 yards on nine carries. And the offense didn’t turn the ball over once all game (and neither did the Bengals).

The defense had another six sack game. Steve Spagnuolo’s swarming pass rush hasn’t missed Osi Umenyiora or Michael Strahan (at least yet). After committing two encroachment penalties on the same drive in the first quarter, Fred Robbins ended up being the star of the D. He sacked Carson Palmer twice, deflected passes and almost blocked a field goal. Mathias Kiwanuka, Corey Webster, Barry Cofield and Dave Tollefson also registered sacks. They let up more points in this game than their previous two combined (and 347 total yards), but the Bengals have a much better offense than the sad-sack Rams and Redskins. Antonio Pierce led the defense with nine tackles.

The Bad

Brandon Jacobs couldn’t get untracked in this one. He only rushed for 35 yards on 14 carries. Though you have to give the Bengals some credit as they stacked the box, making a determined effort to stop the Giants rushing attack. The Giants only gained 117 yards on the ground for the day, much lower than their usual production. Ahmad Bradshaw only had two yards rushing. There was no Earth, Wind and Fire today. Only Wind.

The Ugly

Chad Ocho Cinco only had three receptions and didn’t come close to the end zone, so he didn’t have a chance to make a fool of himself. As if changing your name to Ocho Cinco isn’t embarrassing enough. Where I come from, ‘Ocho Cinco’ translates to ‘Complete Moron.’