RANDOM OBSERVATIONS : GIANTS @ DOLPHINS IN LONDON, SECOND HALF

by Davey, Blown Coverage

Not much happening in that first half and the horrible field has a lot to do with that. Miami only had 4 possessions in the half and they managed a missed field goal, a punt and 2 fumbles. When you add those variables together, you get a flacid game with very little action.

The Giants haven't looked much better either but they managed 10 points in the last couple of minutes of the half and that 13-0 lead is probably safe by the looks of it. The second half looks to be sloppy and the field will only get worse so look for more turnovers and more useless Siragusa comments. Awesome...

• You know, for those of you that wonder why Cam Cameron likes Jesse Chatman so much, I think your question has been answered today. Chatman is no Ronnie Brown but he's doing a good impression so far. He's been the only bright spot in this first half and I'd be running angry also if my mother called me Jesse.
  

• Miami's first possession in the second half : Holding, Illegal formation, False Start and Ineligible man down field. Crisp execution as usual and the punting unit gets a call here.

• Holy crap. Not only is Jason Allen finally starting a game, but he gets his first interception of the season and this might be the break that Miami was looking for. Oh wait, they call holding on Jason Taylor and the interception gets turned over. Nevermind what I just said...

• Miami isn't clinching that first overall pick yet. Cleveland has taken a 24-17 lead on St. Louis as the Rams are reverting back to the form they have been showing the previous 7 weeks.
  

• Michael Strahan is lying on the sideline and the Giants trainer seems to be massaging his ass. Strahan is pretending to be in pain but I'm guessing that it's just an excuse to have the trainer guy squeeze his ass in front of a national audience.

• Finally that break for Miami. Matt Roth, who I predicted would be a break out player this year, crushes Eli and Jason Taylor covers up the fumble. I'm actually really surprised that Miami didn't commit some sort of penalty there. That might be their best sequence so far.

• Jesse Chatman puts the crowd on their feet here. He seemed to be stuffed for a big loss but broke out of the tackle, turned the other way and got a huge gain on the play. After spending a few years watching LaDanian Tomlinson in San Diego and now Ronnie Brown in Miami, Chatman seems to have picked up a few nifty moves. Yes, I just used the word "nifty".
  

• Miami looked to be driving for a touchdown as they had 2nd and goal from the 2 yard line but Cleo Lemon bobbled the snap, got sacked for a loss and the drive stalls right there. Jay Feely kicks the field goal and it's 13-3 New York. Miami really needed the touchdown there...

• FOX shows Eli Manning's fiancee and it makes me wonder how that proposal went down. Did he color it in his coloring book, did his mother do it for him, did his father have to get rid of his previous girlfriend and help him force his way into a relationship with this one? Someone needs to answer this.

• The Giants are still leading 13-3 but they just haven't been able to put this one away for good yet. They drive all the way into Miami territory but Lawrence Tynes misses a 29-yard field goal and Miami still has a faint heartbeat here.

• Sam Madison is putting on a clinic on how not to tackle someone. Madison is just gently putting his shoulder on the ball carriers and if his goal is to not bring down anyone, then he's succeeding very nicely so far.

• Brandon Jacobs has passed 120 yards rushing and he has reached a career high today. No surprise there since Miami's rush defense would probably give up 150 to my mother. My mother could probably run for 200 on them but she has a bad back now so it will be a bit less.

• The Giants have commited a penalty on 4 straight plays here and just like that they're looking at 2nd and 34. I'm not kidding, that was holding, holding, illegal formation and 12 men in the huddle. Tom Coughlin is going to kidnap someone's kid and hold him hostage. Either way, Giants punt and Miami has a little under 4 minutes to try and win this one.

• HOLY CRAP. A touchdown for Ted Ginn Jr!! Ginn had his kick-off return touchdown against Cleveland called back, but he gets his first NFL score here. Lemon finds Ginn on a 21-yard Td pass and Miami is down 3 with just under 2 minutes to go.

• Eh, the onside kick goes like my face. Feely's kick skids pathetically out of bounds and the Giants will take over and take a few knees to end the game. Miami goes to 0-8 while New York goes to 6-2. It wasn't pretty but the Giants get it done and Miami is left looking for small positives again. Bye week, here we come.

* Image courtesy of www.smh.com