The following blog was being updated from the Press Box at Giants Stadium during the Giants/Chargers game on Sunday, November 8.
I was able to get interviews with Vincent Jackson, Philip Rivers, Shawne Merriman, LaDainian Tomlinson, Kevin Boss, Norv Turner and Luis Castillo. Check back Monday for a game story and interviews on ScottStanchak.com.
› 7:14 pm: Rivers’ connected with Vincent Jackson on an 18 yard touchdown pass with 21 seconds left to give them the lead and 21-20 win. The Giants have now lost four straight heading into their bye. Earlier in the quarter, Terrell Thomas intercepted Rivers’ pass with about 3:30 left to give the Giants the ball back. The offense, however, couldn’t find the end zone and had to settle for a field goal from Tynes, who had another earlier. New York held the lead since 8:58 left in the game after an eight-yard touchdown pass from Manning to Boss.
› 6:21 pm: San Diego is certainly outplaying the Giants so far. The score doesn’t show that, but the Giants simply don’t look like the team that started off the season as one of the league’s best. A pass interference call in the end zone on Giants corner Corey Webster led to the Chargers second touchdown of the evening — Rivers to TE Kris Wilson. The score gave them the 14-7 lead…TE Antonio Gates is one of the best in the league, but today he’s looking just ordinary. Gates has two drops, both of which would have resulted in San Diego first downs…The Giants have the ball on the Chargers 16-yard line as we head into the fourth quarter.
› 5:29 pm: Rivers’ first touchdown pass in the Meadowlands came on a 10 yard pass to Vincent Jackson…TE Kevin Boss left the game for a short time after behind sandwiched by two San Diego defenders after a catch. Just like the monster hit he took a few weeks ago, he hung on to the ball. You have to respect that. New York would score later in the quarter when Manning hit receiver Steve Smith on a six yard pass into the end zone. Right now, it’s all tied up at seven apiece.
› 4:43 pm: Maybe Joe Girardi can bring some good luck to the Giants. The Yankees manager is in attendance today. That luck, however, was nowhere to be seen in the first quarter. The Giants had a scoring opportunity on their first possession, but something happened on the field goal attempt that led kicker Lawrence Tynes to not kick the ball and holder Jeff Feagles to look very confused. This play resulted in a fumble which was recovered by Chargers OLB Shawne Merriman. The Chargers have the ball on the Giants 10 when the second quarter starts.
› 4:05 pm: Jeff Hostetler, Carl Banks, Stephen Baker, Howard Cross, Ottis Anderson and others from the Giants 1990 Super Bowl championship team just took the field. A personal note: I met Baker when he came to my high school in 2000 to take part in a student vs. celebrities basketball game. I played in the game, but have no recollection of how I did. I have to believe I had at least two points. I do remember making a perfect behind-the-back-elbow pass that got a few cheers.
› 3:27 pm: The injury report was just released. FS Aaron Rouse, SS Michael Johnson and WLB Michael Boley will all start for the Giants. Brandon Siler will start in place of Kevin Burnett at ILB for the Chargers.
› 2:45 pm: Here at Giants Stadium about two and a half hours before kickoff. A couple of Giants and Charger players are out on the field warming up. It is beautiful out there and a perfect day for November football in the Garden State.
Preview: The Giants (5-3) need a win heading into their bye week or they’re going to be in some serious trouble. They’ve lost three straight and find themselves a half game behind the Cowboys and Eagles in the NFC East. Those two teams play one another tonight and will obviously build on that lead.
Manning has three touchdowns and six interceptions throughout this losing streak, Brandon Jacobs hasn’t rushed for more than 86 yards and the defense allowed more than 40 points in two of the contests. On your screen it looks just as bad as it was.
The San Diego Chargers (4-3) come to town and the storyline has to be that this is the first time Manning and Philip Rivers are facing off. Flashback to 2004: Manning is chosen by the Chargers with the first pick in the NFL draft. He walks to the podium and barely smiles as he puts on the purple and gold hat. Minutes later, he’s traded to the Giants, a move he requested because he didn’t want to play in Southern California. That didn’t go over so well. Years later, Manning has a Super Bowl title and Rivers not so much. It worked out well for New York, but Rivers has also been impressive, including tossing 34 touchdowns last season.
His supporting cast features LaDainian Tomlinson, who was once the top player in the NFL before injuries. He still hasn’t had a breakout game this season. The Chargers also feature Vincent Jackson, one of the emerging wide receiver threats in the game.
This won’t be an easy one for the Giants. After three straight, they never are.
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