September 16th happened in a different year, in a different season. And it feels like the game itself occurred long before then. Looking back on the highlights of that game is a revelation of the lifespan of a season and a tip of the cap to Darwinism in football. The remaining teams of the National Football Conference are a study in evolution by natural selection.
The three characteristics of Darwinian processes are self-replication, variation, and selection. Both the Giants and the Packers have demonstrated (i) an ability to reproduce the performances over a period of months that have won victory on the field, (ii) a sufficient range of traits over the course of the season as evidenced by the variety of ways in which each has been successful; and, most importantly (iii) that such consistency and such traits have allowed both teams to perpetuate their existence. They have done what 14 others have not. They have survived.
The Giants, who were up-and-down during the regular season, bring a crew of seasoned and battle-hardened (and battle-worn) veterans on defense, the reincarnation of Thunder and Lightning (or more appropriately, Ron Dayne and Tiki Barber as they should have been) in the offensive backfield, and Elisha Nelson Manning to Lambeau Field. The most important question in their admittedly shocking appearance in the Conference Championship Game this Sunday, can they achieve a third road playoff victory in three weeks?
In beating the Cowboys and Buccaneers, the Giants have run a conservative, but error-free, offense that relies on the run game and short-to-intermediate passes. The heart of these road upsets, however, has been a defense that has been riddled by injury over the course of the season. Their ability last weekend to pressure Romo, stop the run in 4th quarter, and to prevent T.O. from becoming a factor in the outcome were all impressive.
Please, however, spare me the Eli-coming-of-age story. The Giants' success has been predicated on Eli not losing games rather than Eli winning games. If not losing games is a sign of an individual fulfilling lofty expectations, somebody please squeeze my nipples and wake me up from this nightmare. The number one pick in the 2004 draft on whom the Giants hedged the future of their franchise is "maturing" and becoming a "leader" because he is no longer single-handedly giving away ballgames to the opponent.
In this, there seems to be an eerie resemblance to Peter Gibbons, the quintessential underachiever. In every game and in every press conference, the look in Eli's eyes seems to say, "that's my only real motivation is not to be hassled; that, and the fear of losing my job. But you know, Bob, that will only make someone work just hard enough not to get fired."
This, needless to say, is not sustainable. It means that the running backs and defense must be dominant in each game if they expect to win. Or they must rely on the mistakes of their opponent. We witnessed both of these occurrences in their two road playoff upsets, but it is unreasonable to believe that this will continue with a strong Packer run defense, a battered and bruised Giants' secondary, and a Super Bowl berth on the line. Eli must play the game of his life on the truly Frozen Tundra (the forecast calls for a crisp, clear 4 degrees around kickoff). 12-18 for 163 yards (almost a third of those yards, it is worth noting, coming on 50 YAC by Amani Toomer) will not do it this time and if past performance is any indicator of future success, Eli be fucked. Fucked in the sense that he will not lead his team to a victory and fucked because he will end this season having not proven much of anything. Fucked because the questions still remain.
The Packers on the other hand, benefitted from the bye week and Divisional Round win in which they controlled the ball and imposed their will on their opponent. Offensively and defensively, they simply must continue to perform as they have for the bulk of the season. They are solid against the run, solid against the pass, solid on the line, solid in execution, and solid (for the most part) in protecting and possessing the ball. It is their game to lose and a season is at stake.
For my part, I'm tired of all this. I started this entry on Tuesday. It is Thursday now, and there's not much I can tell you that you don't already know about the x-factors and the match-ups, about each team's journey to this point, and about predictions for the game. The difference in coverage since the last time the Packers played in the NFC Championship Game (in January of 1998) is astounding and disconcerting. It does weird things to your perspective.
My anxiety in waiting has slowly transformed into a dull weariness knowing that, for all the chatter, nothing will be settled until Sunday and that the emotions brought forth to the surface will be turbulent and extreme. Furniture may be broken in victory or defeat. As a football spirals downfield through the air, a stroke becomes that much more likely. Following the game, one's life may seem perfect and tranquil or miserable and troubled. A man far wiser than I once said, "Winning isn't everything, it's the only thing." The stark reality of those words is all-consuming. If victory is the only thing, then losing is the abyss, the vacuum, and nothingness.
The only thing is to live to fight on one more Sunday, one more battle…for survival.
The three characteristics of Darwinian processes are self-replication, variation, and selection. Both the Giants and the Packers have demonstrated (i) an ability to reproduce the performances over a period of months that have won victory on the field, (ii) a sufficient range of traits over the course of the season as evidenced by the variety of ways in which each has been successful; and, most importantly (iii) that such consistency and such traits have allowed both teams to perpetuate their existence. They have done what 14 others have not. They have survived.
The Giants, who were up-and-down during the regular season, bring a crew of seasoned and battle-hardened (and battle-worn) veterans on defense, the reincarnation of Thunder and Lightning (or more appropriately, Ron Dayne and Tiki Barber as they should have been) in the offensive backfield, and Elisha Nelson Manning to Lambeau Field. The most important question in their admittedly shocking appearance in the Conference Championship Game this Sunday, can they achieve a third road playoff victory in three weeks?
In beating the Cowboys and Buccaneers, the Giants have run a conservative, but error-free, offense that relies on the run game and short-to-intermediate passes. The heart of these road upsets, however, has been a defense that has been riddled by injury over the course of the season. Their ability last weekend to pressure Romo, stop the run in 4th quarter, and to prevent T.O. from becoming a factor in the outcome were all impressive.
Please, however, spare me the Eli-coming-of-age story. The Giants' success has been predicated on Eli not losing games rather than Eli winning games. If not losing games is a sign of an individual fulfilling lofty expectations, somebody please squeeze my nipples and wake me up from this nightmare. The number one pick in the 2004 draft on whom the Giants hedged the future of their franchise is "maturing" and becoming a "leader" because he is no longer single-handedly giving away ballgames to the opponent.
In this, there seems to be an eerie resemblance to Peter Gibbons, the quintessential underachiever. In every game and in every press conference, the look in Eli's eyes seems to say, "that's my only real motivation is not to be hassled; that, and the fear of losing my job. But you know, Bob, that will only make someone work just hard enough not to get fired."
This, needless to say, is not sustainable. It means that the running backs and defense must be dominant in each game if they expect to win. Or they must rely on the mistakes of their opponent. We witnessed both of these occurrences in their two road playoff upsets, but it is unreasonable to believe that this will continue with a strong Packer run defense, a battered and bruised Giants' secondary, and a Super Bowl berth on the line. Eli must play the game of his life on the truly Frozen Tundra (the forecast calls for a crisp, clear 4 degrees around kickoff). 12-18 for 163 yards (almost a third of those yards, it is worth noting, coming on 50 YAC by Amani Toomer) will not do it this time and if past performance is any indicator of future success, Eli be fucked. Fucked in the sense that he will not lead his team to a victory and fucked because he will end this season having not proven much of anything. Fucked because the questions still remain.
The Packers on the other hand, benefitted from the bye week and Divisional Round win in which they controlled the ball and imposed their will on their opponent. Offensively and defensively, they simply must continue to perform as they have for the bulk of the season. They are solid against the run, solid against the pass, solid on the line, solid in execution, and solid (for the most part) in protecting and possessing the ball. It is their game to lose and a season is at stake.
For my part, I'm tired of all this. I started this entry on Tuesday. It is Thursday now, and there's not much I can tell you that you don't already know about the x-factors and the match-ups, about each team's journey to this point, and about predictions for the game. The difference in coverage since the last time the Packers played in the NFC Championship Game (in January of 1998) is astounding and disconcerting. It does weird things to your perspective.
My anxiety in waiting has slowly transformed into a dull weariness knowing that, for all the chatter, nothing will be settled until Sunday and that the emotions brought forth to the surface will be turbulent and extreme. Furniture may be broken in victory or defeat. As a football spirals downfield through the air, a stroke becomes that much more likely. Following the game, one's life may seem perfect and tranquil or miserable and troubled. A man far wiser than I once said, "Winning isn't everything, it's the only thing." The stark reality of those words is all-consuming. If victory is the only thing, then losing is the abyss, the vacuum, and nothingness.
The only thing is to live to fight on one more Sunday, one more battle…for survival.
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4 comments:
great stuff. the most impressive aspect of the Pack's win, was how such a "young" team performed under early pressure and in such conditions. my hope (for you) is that this pushes their confidence into a stratosphere that cannot be touched by any opponent. especially considering the G-men still had every opportunity to crap last week's game right down their pantleg, but managed to keep the prairie dog in its burrow. in very simplistic terms, the Pack look poised, the Giants look tense and strained. for your sake - and for the sake of your furniture - let's hope the Pack can begin travel plans come Monday for the desert.
You seem to be exactly where Bears fans were a year ago. Balancing the mind, the spirit. Everything takes forever. Saturday will result in you anxiously pacing around the living room, planning, waiting, smoking compulsively, sitting very still in a dark room at noon. These days must seem like eons, like Red said, "In here, time draws out like a blade." There are very few things I can say to you at this monumental juncture in time, just be rest assured that all of your friends will be pulling for the same outcome as you... it's important to know that. We are renewed with your words... with your devotion. Green Bay and New England is the only logical choice. Godspeed.
Where are you watching the game? If you're on the island by any chance maybe we can meet up. Stay strong.
preacher, i'll be driving down to my folks' house sunday morning. gimme a call and let me know where you at.
thank you everyone for your support. i truly appreciate your kind thoughts. we'll get through this.
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