Giants vs the Jets at the New Meadowlands Stadium
It was a night of firsts as The New Meadowlands stadium hosted its first football game and the New York Giants and the New York Jets played their first pre-season games. The $1.6 billion stadium, the most expensive stadium on continental America, is co-owned by the two teams and the NFL. The Giants won the game in a dominating manner at a venue that fans from both teams called home.
First Blood was drawn early into the game when Eli Manning was knocked down by a combined Giants and Jets effort. Manning was forced out of the game and needed 12 stitches to cover a 3 inch deep cut he received on the field. Nothing serious, but Manning was the star of the Giants’ offense and watching him walk off bloodied left the Giants fans a bit concerned. The impact of Manning’s departure was immediately felt as the Giants trailed by the end of the first half.
There was nothing to worry about for Giants fans though because Jim Sorgi took charge of the offense and left the Jets defence wondering if they were actually pro footballers. The Jets offensive players weren't doing wonders either. One of the first things the Jets Quarterback Mark Sanchez did was to get intercepted.
“I don't think you could script a worse start on your first play of your second season,” Sanchez said. “But you know what? Sometimes those things happen.” Sanchez was surprisingly upbeat about the whole thing. He said that if he had thrown an interception last year in the very beginning of the first of the preseason games he would have been far more distraught than he was now. Sanchez bounced back by the end of the game. He completed 13 of 16 passes for 119 yards even if he was intercepted once, which led to a touchdown making play.
While Sanchez and the rest of the Jets made a respectable effort, the Giants were firmly in control. Sorgi who replaced Manning had 27 more yards than Sanchez with 5 fewer passes. The Jets and the Giants overall accumulated almost the same number of yards passing but the Giants were far more efficient. The Jets attempted 43 passes, completing 29 for 287 yards while the Giants managed 290 yards with just 18 completed passes in 30 attempts. The Giants knew what they had to do and went about doing just that. They were focused in their game and it showed in their offense and defence.
Rookie Giant Victor Cruz came out shining after the game. He led both teams in yards and by an unmistakable margin. Monday night unquestionably belonged to him. Cruz received 145 yards and delivered 3 touchdowns for the Giants. He had almost a hundred more yards than anyone else on any of the two New York Teams. Two of his three touchdowns of the night were slow-motion-high-definition-replay worthy 34 and 64 yard receptions from Jim Sorgi.
The touchdown came from the Giants 36 yard line after a failed field goal attempt gave them possession. Quarterback Jim threw one long and left towards Cruz who was being rundown by cornerback Dwight Lowery. Cruz kept Lowery at bay while at the same time stretched to get a hand on Jim’s pass. “I made a move to go outside and he threw it up and I'm running for it,” Cruz said. “I didn't think I was going to get it because the DB was right on me, but the ball came down and I kind of stuck my hand out late and it stuck and I just tucked it in and ran.” Another touchdown from Cruz and for the Giants.
Sorgi said after the game that Cruz was making him look good. “Catching those balls you're not supposed to catch and taking them for touchdowns-I'll tell you what, he's a quarterback's best friend is what he is.” Indeed he is considering with Cruz receiving the passes, Sorgi had 146 yards in just 8 completed passes.
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