Sometimes, football is just about avoiding the big mistake. The Rams have specialized on big mistakes in the first half of Monday night’s game.
The Giants lead 21-6 despite a woeful performance by their offense for most of the first half. All three New York touchdowns came off big Rams mistakes.
New York scored their first touchdown after a muffed punt, and a long third down penalty by St. Louis. Giants linebacker Michael Boley picked up a Sam Bradford lateral to Cadillac Williams for a long return touchdown for the second score. Eli Manning finally put together a good drive to close the first half, but it only happened after a Rams penalty helped the Giants escape the shadow of their own goal line.
Bradford and the Rams offense had Big Blue on the ropes early with a no huddle offense, but had to settle for short field goals. New York’s pass rush came alive in the second quarter once it settled in. Look for St. Louis to bring back the hurry up to start the second half.
If the Giants can just avoid their own big mistake in the second half, they should be in good shape.
UPDATE: The Giants lead 28-9, but lost wide receivers Domenik Hixon (knee) and Mario Manningham (concussion) for the rest of the game.