DMN: Eli Manning: ‘Cowboys are good’ but Giants had opportunities

[WoodysGirl]

By SportsDayDFW sports (http://cowboysblog.dallasnews.com/author/dmnsports/)
websports@dallasnews.com
5:53 pm on September 7, 2012 (http://cowboysblog.dallasnews.com/2012/09/eli-manning-cowboys-are-good-but-giants-had-opportunitues.html/)| Permalink (http://cowboysblog.dallasnews.com/2012/09/eli-manning-cowboys-are-good-but-giants-had-opportunitues.html/)

In an interview with WFAN-AM in New York on Thursday as transcribed by SportsRadioInterviews.com (http://sportsradiointerviews.com/2012/09/07/eli-manning-giants-loss-dallas-cowboys-tony-romo/), Giants quarterback Eli Manning discussed the 24-17 loss to the Cowboys.

On his general thoughts on the game:
“We just didn’t play well enough. It’s that simple. We had opportunities and there’s some games that you lose where you get flat out beat and nothing is working and you get totally dominated. I don’t think…that was not the case. The Cowboys are good, and they made some plays and created some plays, but we had opportunities. We had chances with some good drives going in the second half. In the second half we only had three possessions and we scored on two of the three. The one time we didn’t on the 3rd-and-4 they just had the perfect defense called and we didn’t have much option. That happens sometimes and it is part of football. In the first half we had opportunities and we had guys open, but were just a little off. Here or there just enough guys not making a play when we needed to or one mistake here that lead to us not being successful. It’s something that’s easily correctable and something that we know we can improve on.”

On the Cowboys’ goal-line stand, allowing only a field goal after a 1st and goal:

Read the answer: http://cowboysblog.dallasnews.com/2012/09/eli-manning-cowboys-are-good-but-giants-had-opportunitues.html/

[Sitting Bull]

Sorry, Eli. One of your TD drives came largely against a 3-man rush designed to strip clock. The fact that you only had three drives in the second half is proof that it actually was one of those games where you "got flat out beat." Oh, and an excuse with a caveat is still an excuse, Mr. "tug on the jersey"....

[elcowboi]

I'm glad its Eli that has to answer the "why did you lose?" questions and not Romo. The media would still be talking about the game if the Boys lost.

[CowboysYanksLakers]

LMAO, it's OK Eli, you will get used to it this year.

[Frozen700]

Eli, i had respect for you, don't lose it man.

[a_minimalist]

I can't wait until we play them again. Eli is turning out to be a typical Giant.

The Giants run is over and this is a new era for the Dallas Cowboys. Next time my money is on us blowing them out and dominating the game.

[xpistofer]

I don't get it.

I don't have a problem with anything he said. And if we didn't score because of a non-call in the end zone we would still be talking about it. He didn't make an excuse, he mentioned a significant non-call.

I have never cared for Eli much, but he is worthy of some respect. Kudos to him and the Giants on a hard fought game. Very glad the outcome was what it was.

[Wimbo]

Part of the QB's job is to keep things positive, not call out your star WR who dropped a few critical passes, and throw out some blah blah blah that says yeah, we messed up but will not quit. If you expected something different, then you are disillusioned. He said "the Cowboys are good"... you shouldn't expect any more than that.

[Risen Star]

I agree with him. They did have their opportunities. Their mistakes did cost them a win.

But the same can be said for the Cowboys last year in their first meeting.

[Eddie]

After re-watching the game a few more times, I agree that the Giants coulda, shoulda. Heck, it was only a 7 point game.

But then again, how many coulda, shoulda games did we lose last year? I think about 4 or 5.

We have lots of cleaning up to do ... but this first W is a good one. The Gnats are not the same team they were last year. But they'll get healthier by the time they play us again in Texas. We'll see how NASCAR works ... or if it even works.

I'm ready for Seattle. Let's flex some muscles, and beat someone down.

[RCowboyFan]

Seriously, if coulda/shoulda should have counted, then Eli should have been intercepted three times and it wouldn't have been even that close. I for a min, don't believe Giants would have won the game. Cowboys simple were better on the day.

Same with Giants second meeting last year, in January this year. December game was close and cowboys should have won it, but January game, there was not chance for cowboys.

[Hostile]

Sorry, Eli. One of your TD drives came largely against a 3-man rush designed to strip clock. The fact that you only had three drives in the second half is proof that it actually was one of those games where you "got flat out beat." Oh, and an excuse with a caveat is still an excuse, Mr. "tug on the jersey"....What a great sig.

[Bluestang]

Sorry, Eli. One of your TD drives came largely against a 3-man rush designed to strip clock. The fact that you only had three drives in the second half is proof that it actually was one of those games where you "got flat out beat." Oh, and an excuse with a caveat is still an excuse, Mr. "tug on the jersey"....


This is correct. On the Bennett TD drive Ryan had his corners playing with outside leverage in order to prevent the quick outs and letting their wideouts get out of bounds. They allowed the middle of the field to be wide open so that our guys could make the tackle and make them use timeouts or run the clock. That drive took 3:21 for them to complete. It left us with a little over 2 and 1/2 minutes to close the game out, which we did.

I'll say this though Ryan almost got beat twice on that drive but Sean Lee made the play both times to save the day. Credit Kevin Gilbride for calling the right plays but Lee stepped up and helped the team when he tackled Bradshaw on the draw and blew up the slip screen on that same drive.

We were up two scores and Ryan was willing to concede that TD as long as it milked the time off the clock. Probably not as much time as he envisioned but the 3:21 was enough to get the win. That drive was anything but a clutch 4th qtr drive as Manning missed Hixon for the TD and he took what the defense allowed.

[BoyGenius]

I agree with him. They did have their opportunities. Their mistakes did cost them a win.

But the same can be said for the Cowboys last year in their first meeting.

I think they had their opportunities, but that can be said about every team in every game regardless of the outcome but I don't think they cost themselves a win, not even close. At the end of the day, Dallas dominated offensively (433 yards) & defensively (269 yards). I feel if Dallas offensive line played a more efficient game this could have EASILY been a blow out.

A good bulk of New Yorks offensive production came on 3 plays:

1. A very good route combination that led to a 26 yard pass to Victor Cruz

2. A horribly mistimed jump from Brandon Carr that led to a 39 yard completion to Hixon. This could have & probably should have been an interception, but who cares now?

3. A 33 yard rush on a draw against a prevent defense nursing a 14 point lead.

98 yards on 3 plays. The game was not as close as the final score indicates, although NY was not close to full strength so I understand the next game is going to be MUCH closer.

[Cowboys&LakersFan]

Have no issue with what he said. Giants had opportunities to make some big plays and couldn't capatilize. He gave us props by calling us good.

[Lonestar94]

Every team has opportunities, but they didn't execute. That is why we won. Get over it, Eli.

[theogt]

Sorry, Eli. One of your TD drives came largely against a 3-man rush designed to strip clock. The fact that you only had three drives in the second half is proof that it actually was one of those games where you "got flat out beat." Oh, and an excuse with a caveat is still an excuse, Mr. "tug on the jersey"....Precisely. Every time we had the ball we ate up 5-8 minutes off the clock. They needed to score quickly, and they couldn't. They had to take short passes that took lots and lots of time off the clock. Every time they made a short completion on that last drive, I was giddy about the amount of time it took off.

[tyke1doe]

Part of the QB's job is to keep things positive, not call out your star WR who dropped a few critical passes, and throw out some blah blah blah that says yeah, we messed up but will not quit. If you expected something different, then you are disillusioned. He said "the Cowboys are good"... you shouldn't expect any more than that.

Competitors never like to concede defeat.

What is he supposed to say, "The Cowboys simply whipped our butts. They're so good we'll never beat them."

Eli knows the drill. The Giants start out slow. He has to maintain an even-keel knowing that one loss doesn't make the Giants season.

I wouldn't expect anything different from Tony Romo.

[sonnyboy]

I think they had their opportunities, but that can be said about every team in every game regardless of the outcome but I don't think they cost themselves a win, not even close. At the end of the day, Dallas dominated offensively (433 yards) & defensively (269 yards). I feel if Dallas offensive line played a more efficient game this could have EASILY been a blow out.

A good bulk of New Yorks offensive production came on 3 plays:

1. A very good route combination that led to a 26 yard pass to Victor Cruz

2. A horribly mistimed jump from Brandon Carr that led to a 39 yard completion to Hixon. This could have & probably should have been an interception, but who cares now?

3. A 33 yard rush on a draw against a prevent defense nursing a 14 point lead.

98 yards on 3 plays. The game was not as close as the final score indicates, although NY was not close to full strength so I understand the next game is going to be MUCH closer.


That's the story right there. Sure a few plays could've gone their way leading to a different outcome.

But the reality of the situation is that we were better than them. We controlled the 2nd half and had a two score lead twice.

As I see it, we were probably closer to winning by two or more scores than they were to winning.

[sonnyboy]

Competitors never like to concede defeat.

What is he supposed to say, "The Cowboys simply whipped our butts. They're so good we'll never beat them."

Eli knows the drill. The Giants start out slow. He has to maintain an even-keel knowing that one loss doesn't make the Giants season.

I wouldn't expect anything different from Tony Romo.


I have no problem with anything he said either.

He also could've said the Cowboys we were better, deserved to win and that they need to get better. That would've been just as appropriate and a little more accurate.

[jazzcat22]

I didn't have any problems with what he said. Nothing earth shattering, normal stuff.

[nablives]

I think he's right. They did have opportunities. They blew one too many of them. The losing team can often make a case for that. No big deal. All that matters is who got the 'W' and who got the 'L'.

[Fletch]

By SportsDayDFW sports (http://cowboysblog.dallasnews.com/author/dmnsports/)
websports@dallasnews.com
5:53 pm on September 7, 2012 (http://cowboysblog.dallasnews.com/2012/09/eli-manning-cowboys-are-good-but-giants-had-opportunitues.html/)| Permalink (http://cowboysblog.dallasnews.com/2012/09/eli-manning-cowboys-are-good-but-giants-had-opportunitues.html/)

In an interview with WFAN-AM in New York on Thursday as transcribed by SportsRadioInterviews.com (http://sportsradiointerviews.com/2012/09/07/eli-manning-giants-loss-dallas-cowboys-tony-romo/), Giants quarterback Eli Manning discussed the 24-17 loss to the Cowboys.

On his general thoughts on the game:
“We just didn’t play well enough. It’s that simple. We had opportunities and there’s some games that you lose where you get flat out beat and nothing is working and you get totally dominated. I don’t think…that was not the case. The Cowboys are good, and they made some plays and created some plays, but we had opportunities. We had chances with some good drives going in the second half. In the second half we only had three possessions and we scored on two of the three. The one time we didn’t on the 3rd-and-4 they just had the perfect defense called and we didn’t have much option. That happens sometimes and it is part of football. In the first half we had opportunities and we had guys open, but were just a little off. Here or there just enough guys not making a play when we needed to or one mistake here that lead to us not being successful. It’s something that’s easily correctable and something that we know we can improve on.”

On the Cowboys’ goal-line stand, allowing only a field goal after a 1st and goal:

Read the answer: http://cowboysblog.dallasnews.com/2012/09/eli-manning-cowboys-are-good-but-giants-had-opportunitues.html/

I guess you used up all your lucky charms last year. Welcome to reality, Eli!

[Risen Star]

I think he's right. They did have opportunities. They blew one too many of them. The losing team can often make a case for that. No big deal. All that matters is who got the 'W' and who got the 'L'.

Exactly right.

[sbark]

I like the way he's thinking...........he thinks they are good enough as is, no need to work hard to improve at this point in their minds

status quo is sufficient for the Gints.....

On the other hand......the Cowboys, even though they won, down to the man see areas to get better at

[CoCo]

Competitors never like to concede defeat.

What is he supposed to say, "The Cowboys simply whipped our butts. They're so good we'll never beat them."

Eli knows the drill. The Giants start out slow. He has to maintain an even-keel knowing that one loss doesn't make the Giants season.

I wouldn't expect anything different from Tony Romo.

Don't get me wrong. I don't really care what he said. I'm not one of those who need respect from other teams. That stuff is all over blown and works itself out.

But could he have said "The Cowboys simply whipped our butts."

Yeah he could have. I think Romo has said essentially that in defeat before and gone on to talk about correct mistakes, yada, yada.

I'm also not one who thinks we're now king of the hill by virtue of that single victory. I enjoyed winning. I marveled at some of the plays we made and the grit of the team overall.

But it starts all over again in seven days. Plenty of mistakes made in victory. Plenty of opportunity to get better. We know we can hit a high level. Now we need to see how consistent we can be, among other things.

[gimmesix]

Have no issue with what he said. Giants had opportunities to make some big plays and couldn't capatilize. He gave us props by calling us good.

In a game decided by seven points or fewer, most teams can say the same thing.

For that matter, a few plays here and there by Dallas and the game wouldn't have been all that close.

But that's really what the game is all about. An inch here or there for one team can be the difference in winning and losing.

Now, I'm ready to see Dallas get a few blowouts, so it doesn't come down to an inch here or there.

[tyke1doe]

Don't get me wrong. I don't really care what he said. I'm not one of those who need respect from other teams. That stuff is all over blown and works itself out.

But could he have said "The Cowboys simply whipped our butts."

Yeah he could have. I think Romo has said essentially that in defeat before and gone on to talk about correct mistakes, yada, yada.

I'm also not one who thinks we're now king of the hill by virtue of that single victory. I enjoyed winning. I marveled at some of the plays we made and the grit of the team overall.

But it starts all over again in seven days. Plenty of mistakes made in victory. Plenty of opportunity to get better. We know we can hit a high level. Now we need to see how consistent we can be, among other things.

I see your point. But I don't know if that's something you say the first game of the season, especially when you have to play the Cowboys again and your team has a history of starting slow.

[tyke1doe]

I have no problem with anything he said either.

He also could've said the Cowboys we were better, deserved to win and that they need to get better. That would've been just as appropriate and a little more accurate.

Fair enough. :)

[SaltwaterServr]

As I see it, we were probably closer to winning by two or more scores than they were to winning.

Very good way to put it. 5 straight drives they couldn't stop us.

[Joshmvii]

Yeah, the Giants were a couple plays away from winning. And the Cowboys were inches away from Scandrick, Church, and Carr all having INTs too, and Church's would've gone back to the house guaranteed.

Excuses mean nothing. Every NFL game that isn't a blowout turns on who makes the least mistakes or who makes the most big plays. Miles Austin went up and caught a TD. The Giants receivers dropped some passes. Deal with it. The Cowboys also had a ton of stupid penalties and still overcame it.

[StarBoyz83]

It was a good game for the most part. We really only win by 3 with the no call. They messed up a lot more than we did. Plus they had backup dbs which did good against our wrs the first half minus last few minutes. game couldve easily went the other way just not dropping some of their dropped passes.