“The Cheap Seats: Notebook” NFL GameDay Blog: November 16, 2008 – East Rutherford, NJ
› 5:45 pm: Just got home and from those three words you can tell that my car was still there. I interviewed Shaun O’Hara, Corey Webster, David Diehl, Madison Hedgecock, Darcy Johnson and got quotes from Brandon Jacobs after the game. I’ll write something up for tomorrow.
› 4:00 pm: That does it from here at Giants Stadium. New York improves to 9-1 on the season with the 30-10 win, their fifth in a row. Up next, they head to Arizona to take on a high-powered Cardinals offense. I’ll have something written up tomorrow about this game. Now time to do some interviews… and then check on my car. All I have is hope right now… and not much of it.
› 3:50 pm: The Giants secondary has done a tremendous job today. But, also give credit to the Ravens offensive line, which has really helped protect Flacco. DE Mathais Kiwanuka just sacked him for their only one of the game.
› 3:47 pm: Ross is now out for the rest of the game with a calf strain. Maybe he injured it on his touchdown celebration?
› 3:40 pm: Giants OLB Chase Blackburn went down with a hand or forearm injury. He walked off on his own, shaking his arm, but looks to be fine.
› 3:38 pm: Ravens T Adam Terry was shaken up, but appears to be okay.
› 3:34 pm: New York failed to get it into the end zone — yes, from two yards out — and had to settle for a 19 yard field goal by Tynes, his first on the season. Giants 30, Ravens 10.
› 3:32 pm: Manning has two of those corner-of-the-end-zone passes to Burress this afternoon. The first one he got a pass interference call and this one Burress was well covered on.
› 3:30 pm: What hasn’t a Giants’ running back done today? Ahmad Bradshaw just took the ball 77 yards to the three yard line. He was so close to scoring, but Rolle caught up with him at the last second, dragging him to the ground. Bradshaw pounded his fist to the ground after being tackled, knowing it was an oh-so-close moment.
› 3:23 pm: That does it for the third quarter. Giants lead still 27-10.
› 3:22 pm: Flacco’s the only chance on the ground the Ravens have today. He just carried for 30 yards.
› 3:18 pm: I’m not taking that back, but Ross just intercepted Flacco and returned the ball into the end zone for the touchdown. It’s his second pick of the game. This one wasn’t Flacco’s fault though, as the ball bounced off WR Derrick Mason’s shoulder and right into Ross’ hands. Giants 27, Ravens 10.
› 3:17 pm: Flacco is making the passes when they need to be made. I’m liking what I see so far.
› 3:11 pm: After review, the officials ruled the ball hit the ground and was not an interception. The Giants will punt. Interestingly, the Giants are 4-for-4 on replay reviews the last two weeks.
› 3:08 pm: Manning’s pass was intercepted by CB Samari Rolle, but the Giants are challenging the ruling. It doesn’t look like a pick. What you didn’t see during the commercial break was McClain jawing at coach Tom Coughlin after he threw the red flag.
› 3:00 pm: The Giants brought everyone after Flacco, but he escaped the coverage and tossed the ball to a wide open Le’Ron McClain. The extra point was good and Baltimore pulls within 10. Giants 20, Ravens 10.
› 2:57 pm: Giants DT Jay Alford was shaken up and walked off the field on his own.
› 2:56 pm: Flacco has been impressive on their first drive of the second half. He’s been running to pick up yards and making strong throws. This is a critical drive to get them back into this game.
› 2:28 pm: At halftime, the Giants lead the Ravens, 20-3. Time for a snack.
› 2:27 pm: Manning had the Giants driving — a few offsides by the Ravens helped too — but he ended up getting picked off by Ray Lewis. Lewis quietly jogged off the field with the ball and will add it to his collection.
› 2:20 pm: Ravens’ QB Joe Flacco tried to pick up a first down, instead he got picked off. CB Aaron Ross was in coverage and grabbed the ball about 15 yards from the line of scrimmage.
› 2:05 pm: The Ravens got on the scoreboard with a 38-yard field goal by Stover. Giants 20, Ravens 3.
› 1:54 pm: For the third time in the game, the ball was placed on the one yard line for the Giants. Jacobs, however, missed out on this opportunity to pick up his third TD. After two failed rushes by Derrick Ward, who looked great on the drive, Manning hit TE Darcy Johnson with a pass into the end zone. The pass was high, but Johnson was able to securely pull it down. Giants 20, Ravens 0.
› 1:54 pm: If you saw Jacobs go into the locker room, no worries. He’s just getting re-taped and will be back out in a few minutes.
› 1:46 pm: Giants RT Kareem McKenzie has gone into the locker room for X-rays on his right wrist.
› 1:37 pm: Jacobs continues to be a beast and rushed for his second one-yard touchdown on the day, and the first quarter. The extra-point attempt failed, however, after the snap was fumbled. Coughlin did not have a smile on his face. Giants 13, Ravens 0.
› 1:34 pm: The Giants just escaped a Manning interception thanks to a defensive offsides penalty on the Ravens.
› 1:27 pm: It looked like the Ravens would get their first points on the afternoon, but the Giants’ Fred Robbins blocked K Matt Stover’s 32-yard field goal attempt. The ball went all the way down field and was recovered by Ravens TE Edgar Jones on the Ravens 33.
› 1:13 pm: Heck of a first drive for the Giants. After Jacobs’ nice run, Manning, who was hit while throwing, got the ball in the air to Plaxico Burress for a nice gain. A few plays later, Jacobs took the ball in from the one for the first touchdown on the afternoon. Giants 7, Ravens 0.
› 1:07 pm: Huge 37-yard run by Brandon Jacobs. He went practically untouched the entire trounce down the field and got the ball to the Ravens’ 32.
› 12:59 pm: I mentioned five minutes ago that there will be a lot of passing in this game. The flags on the goal posts aren’t moving too much, but the flags on the field during the national anthem were blowing like crazy. Forecasters are calling for 30 MPH gusts.
› 12:54 pm: Game starts in about five minutes. This will be a match-up between the Ravens defense and the Giants offensive line. Expect a lot of passing and little running.
› 12:45 pm: The Baltimore Ravens have just one key changes to their lineup. T Adam Terry will start in place of Willie Anderson. Their other inactives include, WR Terrance Cooper, CB Evan Oglesby, OLB Antwan Barnes, WR Marcus Smith, TE Daniel Wilcox and DT Lamar Divens.
› 12:43 pm: Tynes is starting today in place of K John Carney, who was placed on the inactive list. Other Giants on the list include RB Danny Ware, CB Kevin Dockery, LB Jonathan Goff, LB Gerris Wilkinson, T Adam Koets, WR Mario Manningham and DE Jerome McDougle.
› 12:31 pm: Kicker Lawrence Tynes is warming up on the field right now. He just booted a 54-yarder on a very strong kick. The winds here aren’t too bad, but they’re expected to pick up at game time.
› 11:54 am: Internet problems here in the PB are making it difficult to update. Maybe the ghost of Ron Dayne is interfering with the wireless connection.
› 11:02 am: I just arrived at my press box seat here at Giants Stadium. While I am not allowed to root in here during the game, I am rooting for my car to be in the Sheraton Parking when I get back to it. I’m giving it an 80 percent chance.
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