Brett Favre Picks Apart Giants AFL-Like Secondary as Packers Roll

The field presence of Eli Manning made no difference today, as the Giants secondary was picked apart for the second week in a row. Despite having as many offensive injuries as New York, Brett Favre was able maneuver a near back-up squad to a 35-13 victory.

The Giants now fall to 0-2 on the season, and have to be left wondering if defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo was the answer. While Tim Lewis didn't fare much better last year, New York's secondary is almost laughable. Through two games, they are by far the worst in the league and showed no indications that they are improving. They were scorched for 286 yards today, and once again, their achilles heel was the tight end -- something the Packers rarely use. On the plus side, their defensive tackles, Barry Cofield and Fred Robbins, played quite well this afternoon.

Offensively, the Giants were all over the place. They looked good early on, and then completely fell apart toward the end. All Giants fans can do is take solace in the fact that Manning played decent outside of his pathetic interception, Derrick Ward looked good, Anthony Mix performed well in garbage time and the offensive line appears to be much more capable than people expected coming out of preseason.

Meanwhile, for the Packers, things are headed in the right direction. While they were unimpressive last week against Philadelphia, they now find themselves 2-0 heading into a game with the San Diego Chargers. And given the way their defense has played, there is no reason to think they can't compete next week.

The one major problem they have, which reared its ugly head again today, is their lack of a running game. Outside of a beautiful run by DeShawn Wynn late in the fourth quarter, they were unable to get anything going. Could that change when Vernand Morency returns? That remains to be seen, but for they sake, it had better.

Then again, even if it doesn't, they have Brett Favre. And I realize Packers fans are getting tired of hearing about that, but the reality is that he's still a top quality NFL quarterback. As long as he's at the helm, they will have a chance to win.

Injuries: It was a Giants game, of course there were injuries! Steve Smith left the game and did not return with a scapula injury, while Jared Lorenzen, Plaxico Burress, Jeremy Shockey and Aaron Ross also suffered injuries of their own.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

9-16-2007 @ 5:04PM

bdmdaniel said...

Hard to believe a 2-0 start. I am so pumped!!! I am not a dreamer and I know that it's a long season but GOOD JOB and a BIG THUMBS UP to my Packers and Brett Favre. He makes the Green Bay Packers and life will never be the same when he is not there. I now live in Missouri so I don't get many games but I still have all my Packer stuff displayed with pride. I now have a reason to be proud of all Wisconsin sports. Go Packers, Brewers and Badgers!!

9-16-2007 @ 5:31PM

bill said...

FOR A OLD GUY, HE ISN'T DOING TO BAD IS HE, BUT HE DOES NEED HELP, HE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO DO IT ALONE, NEEDS A GOOD RUNNING GAME, AND DEFENCE HAS TO STEP UP EVERY GAME...GLAD TO BE A CHEESE HEAD, GO PACK...

9-16-2007 @ 5:37PM

KP said...

Being from Michigan I try to stick with my home teams but ya know I find I am always watching Bret Farve, year after year, and I hope this year he takes the Packers to the Super Bowl and wins it all. The guy is awesome!!!

9-16-2007 @ 6:08PM

fanfor55years said...

Quoting Troy Aikman (the best NFL analyst bar none) "Will Spagnuola's system work? Yes, but maybe not with these players. You can be sure the Giants will go out and get the right players". Hate to sound like a broken record, but the Giants back seven is rancid and they will have to build through the draft. The offense will be fine. In fact, so far Diehl is a nice upgrade from Petigout, Eli clearly has the goods, and Ward may be a pretty darn good #2 back (although the Giants will still need to find a #1 back because Jacobs is unlikely to prove good enough). The defensive front (especially Robbins, Tuck, Osi and Cofield) are fine. But as I've been saying, and as Aikman must have said four times today, the linebackers are awful and the secondary is swiss cheese. To play a Jimmy Johnson-like defense you must have safeties who can cover, who can punish any receiver going near the middle, and who can reach the QB on a blitz; you must have linebackers who are capable of covering space, and a MLB who is extremely strong at the point of attack. The Giants have NONE of these. Don't blame the coach. He has lousy talent with which to work. This is a season that should be used to see what they've got among the young guys because the team is going nowhere. I thought they were a 7-9 win team, but now that their defense has been exposed as hopeless they may be lucky to win 6. Reese needs to build toward 2009 with great drafts and good free agency decisions. And, by the way, they definitely should have traded Strahan for a draft choice. He isn't done, but he has done nothing for two games and by the time he's in condition (in another two weeks) he won't have all that much to contribute anyway. Let Tuck play a lot more minutes and use Strahan to relieve him (and Osi) occasionally. And any of you folks who watched this game and still think Pierce and Mitchell are good linebackers...I've got a bridge to sell you. I want to see Wilkinson, DeOssie, Blackburn and Kiwi rotating through. Let them make their mistakes and learn the position this season. Pierce and Mitchell are nothing but dead weight. If the younger guys get a lot of playing time at least the organization will know how many LBs they need to get.

9-16-2007 @ 6:30PM

Audie said...

We were born and raised in Wisconsin and now live in Florida....but will always be a true Packer Fan!!!! Once a Packer fan always a Packer Fan!!!! Thank Goodness for Direct T.V. because now we will be able to see every game this year....which hopefully will be a terrific year! GO Pack Go!!!!!!Go Badgers Go!!!!!!

9-16-2007 @ 6:31PM

Jonathan said...

RW is the WORST CB on the Giants. Webster follows him. We need to start Ross with Madison.

Madison actually played DECENT! he didnt allow any big plays and that flag was BS!!

RW was terrible again. He loves giving up TDs.

Ross played well AGAIN from the nickel but J.Buck said he left the game with “cramps”

9-16-2007 @ 7:04PM

chris said...

After watching
favre over the past two weeks, I have to say I'm impressed with his role as a field general for the young players. Last week in the victory over the Eagles he directed linemen and running backs to pick up blitzes before almost every snap, running the play clock down to the last second every time. Few mistakes last week, fewer today. I think he's finally growing up. I predict 9-7 for the Pack this year

9-17-2007 @ 11:24AM

Paul said...

Brett Farve is my favorite. Original bornm and raised in WI. Born in Oshkosh and raised in Peshtigo which is a skip and a jump from Green Bay I am a Packer fan and alway will be. I feel the pack will go a long way this year. Brett will have to keep the kids in line and teach them how to make a great team. Go Pack. Also how about those Brewers? Like to see them take over number 1 spot again. I think they can do it. Been a long time coming. Since the Milwaukee Braves 1957. Remember that year well. Go Pack, Go Brewers

9-17-2007 @ 1:25PM

Joelj said...

I grew up being a Packer Fan During the 60's. I idolized Bart Starr (I finally got to meet him two years ago and he sent me a personalized autographed picture), what a gentleman and what a work ethic. I have also met and spoken with Brett several times and have an autographed picture (by both) of he and Bart standing side by side wearing numbers 15 and 4 respectivlely with there arms around each other. What an honor and a priviledge to have met two of the finest quarterbacks and, more importantly, two or the finest men to ever play the game! Both these were men who you had no problem with your kids looking up to as role models. Oh, for the good old days. I wish Brett well and I hope he has a very successful season. I am sure that he will absolutely obliterate every record set by Marino and Elway. Yesterdays performance was not to bad for an old guy!

9-18-2007 @ 8:12AM

Boomer said...

I am a cheese head have been will be but I am worried for the pack next week. we as fans need to be out there yelling and clapping and making noise.
G force fans making home field even more of anvantage will help and the boys are going to need some help to defeat the chargers even at home.

Go pack Go!!!!

9-19-2007 @ 8:12PM

ROLEXUS24 said...

I'm in agreement with Fanfor55years. This has to be the WORST Giants defense I have seen in a while. I thought it was bad last year, mainly because they couldn't get teams off the field on 3rd down, but this year is much worse. I thought the G-men would win 5 or 6 games, but I'm starting to wonder if they may end up with a top 3 pick in the draft. I think the secondary problems lie in the Free safety position and Corey Webster. I think we have a decent young crop of linebackers to work with, but all of the starters need to go. Put Kiwi back at DE and trade Osi or Strahan for a decent veteran safety. Strahan is about washed up and Osi is always hurt. Feel free to reply if you think I'm wrong!!