Eli Manning wasn’t the only one walking around with a red face after the Giants’ 41-17 disaster against the Vikings yesterday.
Manning’s four interceptions were embarrassing, of course, but the Giants’ defense allowing one of the NFL’s lowest-rated passers to look like Tom Brady against them was almost as shameful.
Cornerback Sam Madison described himself as “shocked” – not by the three Manning interceptions returned for touchdowns, but by the sight of no-name Vikings quarterback Tavaris Jackson thwarting the Giants at almost every turn.
“We felt as a defense that we could rattle that quarterback,” Madison said. “We didn’t get the opportunity because we fell behind early, and when that happens, they pound you with that running game.”
Jackson did the rattling instead. The second-year pro from Alabama State stunned the Giants with a 60-yard touchdown pass to rookie Sidney Rice on the game’s second play, then hurt them with his scrambling ability the rest of the way.
Jackson finished 10-for-12 passing for 129 yards and ran five times for 38 yards, mostly while escaping what appeared to be certain sacks.
The Vikings didn’t appear to have high expectations for Jackson, either, based on what Giants safety Gibril Wilson saw from their gameplan.
“They kept it simple for him,” Wilson said. “He knew exactly where to go with the ball.”
The Giants sacked Jackson four times, but it was the numerous times he got away that haunted them afterward.
“We’d [appear to] get a sack, and somehow they would recover for a first down,” defensive end Michael Strahan, who had one memorable whiff on Jackson.
Poor tackling, in fact, was a hallmark of the Giants yesterday, and not just with Jackson. DE Justin Tuck said the three missed tackles on Chester Taylor’s eight-yard touchdown run in the second quarter were a demoralizing turning point for the Giants.
“There were some plays there where they caught us a little out of position and took advantage of it,” Tuck said.