Tom Coughlin made two calls—one before and one during— a game against the Dallas Cowboys yesterday that saved the New York Giants season and probably saved his job—again.
Before Sunday's game in Dallas, the Giants head coach benched arguably his best running back Ahmad Bradshaw for the first half before the season's biggest game and then later called a time-out to ice rookie Cowboys kicker Dan Bailey's 47-yard field goal seconds from sending the game into overtime.
Taking a cue from Cowboy's head coach Jason Garrett—who iced his own kicker last week in a loss against the Arizona Cardinals— Coughlin's call made Bailey attempt a do-over which was blocked by Giants DE Jason Pierre-Paul.
The blocked kick gave the Giants (7-6) an unbelievable 37-34 victory and put them in first place of the NFC East ahead of the Cowboys (7-6) via tie breaker. The two teams will clash again on New Year's Day at MetLife Stadium.
Benching Bradshaw was a game day decision after the running back reportedly violated team curfew although neither the player or coach would confirm that. Either way, Bradshaw suited up and played ineffectively during the second half.
Brandon Jacobs, who was called a "bully" by Cowboys DB Mike Jenkins earlier in the week, got the start and lived up to the new nickname. The Giants bruiser rumbled through the Cowboys defense for 101 yards on 19 carries and two TD's.
As many things that went right for the Giants went wrong.
Eli Manning overcame numerous tipped and dropped passes to keep the G-Men close for three quarters but when it looked like the Cowboys had the game in control, Manning came alive and led the team to 15 points in the last 5:41.
It was Manning's fifth fourth quarter comeback victory this season and after losing four straight, the Giants find themselves in the thick of the playoff hunt.
But it all comes down to Coughlin.
Call him a taskmaster, old school or just plain out of touch with today's player—but he does it his way.
Every year there are calls for the rosy-cheeked Coughlin's head— especially when the team begins their annual December swoon. Maybe this year things will be different.
"We needed to have a locker room celebration," said Coughlin in the Giants locker room after the win. "We've been starving for for that."
Yesterday's victory changes everything about the Giants. If the Giants lost, they would trail the Cowboys by two games for even the final wild-card spot and end the regular season facing division rival The Washington Redskins, New York City rival the New York Jets and, of course, their arch enemy the Cowboys.
That road is more of a slosh through the Meadowlands swamps than a romp through Central Park.
Maybe this Giants team isn't reminiscent of Coughlin's former teams. The running game has been anemic, the defense lets opponent's offense have their way all game long and it has given up 114 points in the last three games, but if there is a constant, it is Coughlin.
The more things change, the more they don't.
Showing posts with label Dan Bailey. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Dan Bailey. Show all posts
Monday, December 12, 2011
Monday, December 5, 2011
Dallas Cowboys Head Coach Ices Own Kicker and Loses Game
The Dallas Cowboys made enough mistakes during their 19-13 loss to the Arizona yesterday, but none was bigger than Jason Garrett's time-out call an instant before kicker Dan Bailey kicked what would have been a game-winning 49-yard field goal with :03 seconds left on the clock.
With the score tied at 13, the Cowboys head coach iced his own kicker right before the kick went through the uprights but was nullified.
Bailey's attempt at the re-do fell short of the goal posts and the Cardinals went on to win the game in overtime.
"I was glad they iced their kicker at the end so I didn't have to do it," joked Arizona head coach Ken Whisenhunt.
The Cards won the coin toss before OT and Kevin Kolb's short screen to tiny LaRod Stephens-Howling ended up being a serpentine 48-yard game-winning score.
Garrett said he called the time-out before the kick because "the play clock was running down."
"We just wanted to make sure that he [Bailey] had a real clean opportunity at it," explained Garrett. "It was at about six [seconds] and we were still getting settled in."
Dallas (7-5) could have gotten a stranglehold on the NFC East title by winning yesterday. Now, they remain only one game ahead of the second place New York Giants (6-6) —who lost a heart-breaker to Green Bay. The Cowboys and Giants still face each other in home-and home games down the stretch.
"It is disappointing but we still have everything we want in front of us," said Dallas tight end Jason Witten.
"We called the time-out, but it is my job to regroup and make the next one," said Bailey. "I didn't do that. No excuses."
With the score tied at 13, the Cowboys head coach iced his own kicker right before the kick went through the uprights but was nullified.
Bailey's attempt at the re-do fell short of the goal posts and the Cardinals went on to win the game in overtime.
"I was glad they iced their kicker at the end so I didn't have to do it," joked Arizona head coach Ken Whisenhunt.
The Cards won the coin toss before OT and Kevin Kolb's short screen to tiny LaRod Stephens-Howling ended up being a serpentine 48-yard game-winning score.
Garrett said he called the time-out before the kick because "the play clock was running down."
"We just wanted to make sure that he [Bailey] had a real clean opportunity at it," explained Garrett. "It was at about six [seconds] and we were still getting settled in."
Dallas (7-5) could have gotten a stranglehold on the NFC East title by winning yesterday. Now, they remain only one game ahead of the second place New York Giants (6-6) —who lost a heart-breaker to Green Bay. The Cowboys and Giants still face each other in home-and home games down the stretch.
"It is disappointing but we still have everything we want in front of us," said Dallas tight end Jason Witten.
"We called the time-out, but it is my job to regroup and make the next one," said Bailey. "I didn't do that. No excuses."
Monday, September 19, 2011
Cowboys' Show-Boating Holley Cost Dallas Bettors $72 Million
San Francisco 49ers safety Donte Whitner's shoe-string tackle of Dallas Cowboys receiver Jesse Holley cost Dallas more than a touchdown, it cost Cowboys bettors an estimated $72 million.
An estimated $100 million was bet worldwide on the Cowboys-49ers game, with an estimated 86% of that action on Dallas.
In overtime, Holley was caught from behind and tackled on the two-yard line by Whitner, leading to the Cowboys winning field goal. As he approached the goal line, Holley slowed down and raised the ball over his head then Whitner grabbed his ankles and brought the receiver down.
If a TD had been scored the Cowboys, as 3-point favorites, would have cashed for bettors. The Cowboys opted for the immediate three-pointer and won, 27-24.
A touchdown would have covered the spread. Instead, all bets were returned on a tie [called a 'push'].
So that means a so-called meaningless shoe-string tackle resulted in bettors winning $0 instead of an estimated return of $72 million.
Playing with a fractured rib, Dallas QB Tony Romo hit Holley on the 77-yard completion on the first play of overtime that set up Dan Bailey's winning 19-yard field goal, and Dallas rallied for the victory yesterday in San Francisco.
Bailey kicked a tying 48-yard field goal as time expired in regulation.
Whitner bit on the decoy play, that left the rarely used Holley wide open, before the 49ers safety raced down field after the hot-dogging receiver to bring him down at the two yard line.
Holley told ESPN he wasn't showboating, but that he had just finished playing special teams and "the Ferrari ran out of gas."
Cowboys fans are happy for the win but it could have 72 million times sweeter if Holley dove over the goal line.
An estimated $100 million was bet worldwide on the Cowboys-49ers game, with an estimated 86% of that action on Dallas.
In overtime, Holley was caught from behind and tackled on the two-yard line by Whitner, leading to the Cowboys winning field goal. As he approached the goal line, Holley slowed down and raised the ball over his head then Whitner grabbed his ankles and brought the receiver down.
If a TD had been scored the Cowboys, as 3-point favorites, would have cashed for bettors. The Cowboys opted for the immediate three-pointer and won, 27-24.
A touchdown would have covered the spread. Instead, all bets were returned on a tie [called a 'push'].
So that means a so-called meaningless shoe-string tackle resulted in bettors winning $0 instead of an estimated return of $72 million.
Playing with a fractured rib, Dallas QB Tony Romo hit Holley on the 77-yard completion on the first play of overtime that set up Dan Bailey's winning 19-yard field goal, and Dallas rallied for the victory yesterday in San Francisco.
Bailey kicked a tying 48-yard field goal as time expired in regulation.
Whitner bit on the decoy play, that left the rarely used Holley wide open, before the 49ers safety raced down field after the hot-dogging receiver to bring him down at the two yard line.
Holley told ESPN he wasn't showboating, but that he had just finished playing special teams and "the Ferrari ran out of gas."
Cowboys fans are happy for the win but it could have 72 million times sweeter if Holley dove over the goal line.
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