The New York Giants cruise south to Florida to take on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for a chance to go to the NFC divisional championship and then the Super Bowl.
Televised on Fox, this second NFC wildcard game concluded its first quarter with a touchdown by Buccaneers running back Ernest Graham. Just past the top of the second quarter, Giants running back Brandon Jacobs tied the game with a touchdown (and then he pounded the ball against the wall behind the end zone). He made another TD towards the bottom of the second quarter. Giants 14 and Buccaneers 7. Such was the score going into halftime.
The third quarter allowed the Giants to increase their lead with a field goal. The fourth quarter gave the Giants a touchdown thanks to wide receiver Amani Toomer (as well as rarefied passing and catching precision between New York quarterback Eli Manning and running back Ahmad Bradshaw). Giants 24 and Buccaneers 7. Shortly thereafter, Tampa Bay tight end Alex Smith made a touchdown (during the slow-motion instant replay from behind the end zone, the camera zoomed in for a close-up of Smith’s face as he stared and near-scowled down the Giants who tried to tackle him). Alas, Tampa Bay won’t be going to the NFC divisional game. Final score: Giants 24. Buccaneers 14.
Observations & Miscellania:
1. One of the sideline reporters remarked before the game that a few of the Buccaneers mentioned that since this game is the first time this season they will have played in front of nation-wide TV viewers, they’ll want to play well. And that none of them are going to the Pro-Bowl.
2. I caught a glimpse of the Buccaneers mascot walking along behind the end zone around five minutes left in the first quarter. His face looked like a Chinese man tou–like someone took cloves of garlic and punched it into the Pillsbury Doughboy.
3. All the white and red colors of the Buccaneers fans at the stadium reminded me of the Korean futbol fans during the recent World Cup games.
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