I cannot emphasize enough how important this game was, the win was within grasp the NY Giants found a way to lose a game which was for all intensive purposes won! Very disappointing loss to say the least.

They start the game with a good drive but like in previous weeks mistakes and mental lapses lead New York to a field goal attempt which they fail to convert. It's almost comical but for fans it hurts so much to watch this team just self destruct week after week.

The defense played much better than in past weeks, you could see the front four truly pushing and fighting in the trenches to try and apply pressure on Phillip Rivers.

The game goes into the 4th quarter with the Giants down 14-7. The defense stepped up in a huge way in this quarter, Justin Tuck was a beast and after a field goal and a touchdown Big Blue is up 17-14. It even gets better when Terrell Thomas intercepts a pass from Rivers and runs it back to the 4 yard line. The game at this point seems out of reach if New York scores a touchdown but the question loomed, could the G-Men put this game away or would they lack the killer instinct which has plagued them in the past?

The next set of play calls by Kevin Gilbride were horrendous to say the least. They run Brandon Jacobs who is still running like a ballerina, he rushes to the right and runs into his own offensive linemen who in turn holds the defender in order to open a hole for the big back. The penalty costs New York 10 yards of field position and my head starts spinning knowing that the G-Men may actually find a way to mess this up. The second down play gets us no where. Now it is 3rd down and we are in the red zone. You would think that Gilbride would take a shot at the end zone to put this game out of reach but instead he calls Brandon Jacobs number and the one time bruising back runs and gets stopped short of scoring. This call is absolutely ridiculous even if Phil Simms claims to understand the play call during the CBS broadcast. Why would you not take a shot at the end zone? Why wouldn't you try to do everything possible to win the game? The Giants settle for another field goal in the red zone and now lead 20-14 with 2 minutes to go.

The defense who had played so hard and applied so much pressure ran out of gas and Rivers exploited the secondary with short, crisp passes to his wide receivers. Corey Webster was outmatched all game long by Vincent Jackson and on the last Charger offensive play Rivers throws a ball to the corner of the end zone to a wide open Jackson for the winning touchdown. The San Diego Chargers drove the ball on the Giants defense with one timeout left and only 2 minutes on the clock to break our hearts! This was a MUST WIN game, the players played like it especially in the 4th quarter but the coaching staff did not.

Tom Coughlin and/or Kevin Gilbride displayed zero confidence in Eli Manning on that last 3rd down play where we could have sealed the game. New York is a team that is coming off 3 straight losses and has a chance to win a game by being aggressive instead they call a safe play which results in a field goal which leaves the Giants in a position to lose the game by 1 point. This has to be the most frustrating game I have watched all year.

Every week the NY Giants find a new way to lose a game, this week the players came ready to play and gave it all they had but the coaching staff let us down. The season seems like a lost cause at this point in time, even Tom Coughlin said we had to win this game and play as if it were a playoff game. Great way to show confidence in the players and Eli Manning by calling that "safe" 3rd down play in the red zone. Where is the killer instinct needed to be a Champion?

Carlos Caicedo
GiantsKickoff.com - Copyright 2009

The NY Giants lose 40-17 and play another terrible football game on both sides of the field. The defense looked confused and Eli made several mistakes. We were beat on every phase of the game including special teams. We face another tough team with a good aerial attack in week 9 when we play the San Diego Chargers.

The New York Giants football team now has back to back losses and face a tough and offensive minded Eagles squad this upcoming week.

They are done with the easy part of their schedule and face contenders for several weeks to come. Adjustments on defense and offense need to be made.