N.Y. Giants: Smash-Mouth Makes an Appearance in Denver

From the desk of:  DO IT FOR THE DUKE

FINAL-LY!

GIANTS      23

BRONCOS  10

New York Giants: Big Blue Finds Daylight in Denver; Rumble to First Victory of Season.

I rest my case!

Limited throwing from Eli Manning;
a heavy dose of the ground game;
key tight end receptions;
and shut down defense.

That's Giants football where I come from.

Unfortunately, Sunday's game was the closest thing I've seen to traditional Big Blue smash-mouth football since Ben McAdoo arrived in town.

Considering the Giants defeated the Denver Broncos quite soundly, I'm forced to revisit a question I've been asking for years:

If the New York York Giants won two Super Bowls in 1986 and 1990 playing smash-mouth football, then won another pair of Lombardi trophies in 2007 and 2011 still playing smash-mouth football, and all four Super Bowl victories came against west coast styled offenses, then why on earth are the Giants so hell bent on transforming into a west coast offense?

My answer is obviously Ben McAdoo.

The Giants second year head coach gets credit points for self-reflection.  He surrendered play calling to his offensive coordinator, Mike Sullivan, and the results were in stark contrast to what McAdoo has been reconditioning us for. 

How is it that with Mike Sullivan calling plays Eli Manning's yards per completion average also rose by almost two full yards (versus previous three seasons with McAdoo calling plays)?

I'll wait ...

That being said, isn't it amazing the things you can accomplish without Odell Beckham Jr.?  Odell is the best wide receiver the Giants have ever had.  Right?  He's better than Phil McConkey, Bobby Johnson, Stephen "touchdown" Baker, Plaxico Burress, Amani Toomer, you name it.

Problem is, Sunday's victory over the Denver Broncos was the Giants first of the season, and their first since last year's infamous trip to South Beach with Bieber. 

Is this proof it took Beckham's disappearance to finally open some eyes?  Does this prove, as I contend, Ben McAdoo's application of the west coast was flawed to begin with?

I don't know ...

But I do know Eli Manning only threw the ball 19 times, and connected 11 times for 128 yards.  And I know he threw a touchdown to his rookie tight end, Even Engram, who caught five huge passes for 82 yards.

With D.J. Fluker starting at center in place of Weston Richburg (concussion), the offensive line created loads of daylight for Orleans Darkwa, who rushed 21 times for 117 yards.  On three separate occasions, he rumbled for 47 yards, 17 yards, and 14 yards.

As John Madden would say ... BOOM!

But one game does not a running game make ... the line is still not without its problems. 

They allowed another three sacks.

Pfft ..!  Before the game, I was fearful Eli was going to get hurt.

The defense was shut-down.  The Giants limited the Broncos to just 46 yards rushing, sacked Trevor Siemian four times, with JPP recording three of them.  They intercepted Siemian twice, caused one fumble, and scored six points.

It was a nice day in Denver.

So, where do the Giants go from here?  After all, Sunday's victory only makes them 1-5 on the season.  There's still a lot of room to play with.

Is smash-mouth back to stay?  Will Mike Sullivan continue implementing this run-first philosophy, even though it flies in the face of Ben McAdoo? 

Or, will the head coach intercede, insisting upon some semblance of west coast?