Giants
- Jets
1999 Game 12 - 1PM ET
It's
All Attitude
The
4-7 Jets play the 5-6 Giants.
At
the end of this meeting both teams could easily be sitting
with equal 5-7 records with four games left to play. All the
upcoming competition will be tougher then what they will each
face this Sunday in each other, so there is a lot of incentive
to win this game.
Both teams have plenty of 'attitude' but have failed to make
it work for them on the playing field.
The defensive unit of the Giants is the best of the four units.
They allowed just 69 rushing yards last week, and were hurt
in the air, mostly because Phillippi Sparks was playing hurt.
They are nearing the end of a possible losing season and it
has started to take it's toll. These proud players have become
all too eager to pick fights and this has hurt their normally
superior gameplay.
This could play right into the hands of the Jets offensive
unit which is starting to come together under their new quarterback
as they have shown that they can play smart and hurt an overeager
defense.
In fact, Parcells broke in his rookie QB Ray Lucas in the
preseason game between these two teams. The result was that
Ray completed 4 of 4 passes for 26 yards in the 77 yard opening
drive of the game, cutting through the Giants defense like
butter for a touchdown.
The Jets defensive squad is also on an upswing. In the last
8 games the Jets have allowed 14.1 points per game, and that's
bad news for the Giants offensive unit which has never even
established a running game this year. Last week, their ground
game was 52 yards on 20 carries. They are also trying to get
some consistency going with a new starting quarterback running
things.
They are the weakest link of all with the exception of maybe
being able to make some big plays here and there to counteract
the turnovers and penalties.
For example, last week QB Kerry Collins threw for 298 yards,
but had three INTs to go with the one TD.
The
Fassel Strahan thing
Michael
Strahan made some strong statements a few days after losing
to the Cards. Jim Fassel was out of town at the time due to
his mother's death and Strahan's remarks, directed at the
head coach and the offense, got some big press. He later apologized
claiming that the press focused on one or two comments which
distorted the tone of his remarks.
Another defensive leader, Jessie Armstead criticized the offense
the previous week and Fassel asked him to hold his tongue.
After the next loss, Strahan did his own thing criticizing
the offense and Fassel for quieting Armstead.
Attitudes
The defensive unit of the Giants is very frustrated. They
have played well enough to win many of the games if the offense
had only put some decent points on the board. Defensive players
come back to the huddle embarrassed to face their teammates
if they screw up or mishandle a play.
The Giants offensive unit doesn't have anything like that
going for it.
Everyone on the offense is either a rookie, just getting back
from injuries, is too new to the team, or struggling too much
to set any kind of example for others, let alone take anyone
to task for messing up.
Concentration and focus are a big part of this game, and
unfortunately, it seems it doesn't come easy to everyone.
Being held accountable by your teammates is a big motivation
for those who can't do it on their own.
Leaders
and Attitudes
Maybe Kent Graham should have got that going, but then again,
it's not easy to do it when you know they want to bench you
the first chance they get.
Collins also has the same problem right now as he is trying
to be accepted while replacing a popular player. Maybe that's
why the defense was speaking up.
It's a necessary factor and someone has to do it.
It probably kills guys like Armstead to see the offense playing
without the fire they should have, that he and his defensive
team members have.
This is not a knock on Fassel, but imagine if Parcells was
the head coach. Would there be the same amount of dropped
balls, penalties and poor blocks? Does Bill Parcells have
a stronger no-nonsense attitude than Jim Fassel?
The reason this is not a knock on Fassel, is that Parcells
is head and shoulders over at least 25 other football coaches.
It's also the reason we have to worry about the game this
week against the Jets.
King
of the hill and all that stuff
A few of the players on both these teams come from
this area, Bernie Parmalee, Eric Ogbogu, Quinn Early, Wayne
Chrebet, Frank Ferrara, Sam Garnes, and even Bill Parcells
rooted for either the Giants or Jets as they grew up.
Ray Lucas and Jumbo Elliott liked the Dallas Cowboys. It is
only fitting then, that as a Jet Elliott is 0-1 against the
Giants, and while with the Giants, he was 0-2 against the
Jets.
While they may deny it to the press, this is a big bragging
rights event for all the players who love the game, and live
and work in the same Meadowlands playground. It is important
that the players remember that good game attitude should preside
over emotion if they want to win on Sunday.
The
fans are another matter
Jason
Sehorn said, "I understand there are some die-hard people
around here, something I'm not accustomed to in California.
People don't follow teams there like they do here. They follow
you when you win. Out here they just follow you. Regardless
of whether the two teams are struggling, there's still going
to be a lot said about who wins this game. That's why I enjoy
playing for New York."
Last
Notes
Fassel
is 2-9-1 in November and 7-0 in December.
Bill
Parcells 35-19 in December regular season games.
Jets
play Miami twice in the last four games.
Jets and Giants both play Dallas once in the last four games.
Jets
and Giants won't meet again in the regular season until 2002.
Defense
Jets - 20th overall, 16th against the rush, 24th against the
pass
Giants - 9th overall, 11th against the rush, 13th against
the pass.
Offense.
Jets - 24th overall, first in rushing, 29th in passing.
Giants - 19th overall, tied for 26th in rushing, 15th in passing.
Next
week
The Giants play at Buffalo on Sunday Dec 12, at 1 PM.
The Jets host Miami on Sunday Dec 12, at 4 PM.
Click
on the Team Giants logo to be informed of all Giants game
previews and reviews. |
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Previous
Stories
1999
NFC EAST - Week 12
|
Team |
W |
L |
T |
PCT |
PF |
PA |
Home |
Away |
AFC |
NFC |
DIV |
Streak |
Washington |
7 |
4 |
0 |
.636 |
330 |
287 |
4-2 |
3-2 |
1-1 |
6-3 |
4-3 |
W2 |
Dallas |
6 |
5 |
0 |
.545 |
255 |
182 |
5-0 |
1-5 |
1-1 |
5-4 |
3-3 |
W1 |
Arizona |
5 |
6 |
0 |
.455 |
162 |
220 |
3-3 |
2-3 |
0-3 |
5-3 |
4-2 |
W3 |
NY Giants |
5 |
6 |
0 |
.455 |
194 |
222 |
3-3 |
2-3 |
0-2 |
5-4 |
3-4 |
L3 |
Philadelphia |
3 |
9 |
0 |
.250 |
183 |
276 |
2-4 |
1-5 |
0-3 |
3-6 |
2-4 |
L2 |
|