Giants defense holds Niners without a touchdown

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- Though Jeremy Shockey and Michael Strahan had miserable memories of Candlestick Park, Eli Manning was still in college when the New York Giants' last trip to the playoffs ended here in a historic collapse. --football gambling--

The young quarterback thought the old building was an excellent place to get his first true road victory. Manning passed for 251 yards and a touchdown, Brandon Jacobs rushed for two short fourth-quarter scores and the Giants' defense yielded just 138 total yards in a 24-6 victory over the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday. --football gambling--

Plaxico Burress had five catches for 79 yards in the third straight victory for the Giants (6-2), who maintained their lead in the NFC East by suffocating the 49ers' offense, which hasn't scored a touchdown in its last 13 quarters at home. --football gambling--

The Giants' offense also floundered for long stretches against San Francisco's solid defense, but a handful of big throws by Manning led to scores. --football gambling--

"We just had to get the ball in our receivers' hands and let them be the athletes," said Manning, who had been 0-5 in games outside Giants Stadium; New York beat New Orleans at the Meadowlands in Week 2, technically a Saints home game after Hurricane Katrina damaged the Superdome. "We had to figure out a way not to hurt ourselves, and mostly we avoided that. We had too many mistakes, but they didn't end up hurting us."--football gambling--

That wasn't always the case in San Francisco. Just 11 Giants are left from one of the club's most infamous postseason defeats: On Jan. 5, 2003, New York allowed San Francisco to rally from a 24-point deficit in the second half of a 39-38 wild-card victory.--football gambling--

It was the second-biggest collapse in NFL playoff history, and New York hasn't been back to the postseason or Candlestick since. But while the 49ers are 10-31 since that win, the Giants have rebuilt themselves into a postseason contender behind Manning, who was 18-of-33 and threw a TD pass in his ninth straight game.--football gambling--

Shockey, who dropped a pass in the end zone during the second half of that playoff loss in San Francisco, stretched full-length to catch a 32-yard scoring pass 13 seconds before halftime."It was wide open, and there was no one there," Shockey said of his TD catch -- not the ball he dropped two seasons ago. "I have never seen that look in my whole career, and I probably will never see it again. It was a completely busted coverage."--football gambling--

Burress made a stunning one-handed, 50-yard catch on the final play of the third quarter, and Jacobs rushed for a 1-yard score moments later. Amani Toomer then made a 23-yard catch near the goal line, setting up another 1-yard TD run. --football gambling--

Cody Pickett, the 49ers' fourth starting quarterback in five games, made few mistakes in his first start. But he couldn't spark anything behind San Francisco's comically inept offensive line, which committed several penalties and rarely allowed Pickett a moment's peace.--football gambling--

"Cody did a great job with the plays, but it's tough getting the timing down when you don't have the same quarterback in practice every week," receiver Brandon Lloyd said of Pickett, who went 12-of-21 for 102 yards. --football gambling--

"(Pickett) didn't cause any problems for us," Strahan said. "It seemed like every time he dropped back, we were successful in putting some pressure on him and hitting him."Joe Nedney kicked two field goals for the Niners (2-6), who lost for the sixth time in seven games.--football gambling--

The 49ers' offense briefly got going late in the first half, with Pickett scrambling for two first downs before Lloyd took the crowd's breath away with a one-handed, behind-the-head catch inside the New York 5.--football gambling--

But struggling left tackle Anthony Clement was called for holding on the play -- and after consecutive false starts by the line, Pickett's long pass was intercepted by Brent Alexander.Manning quickly hit Shockey twice for the Giants' first TD. --football gambling--

"It is a lack of focus and concentration," 49ers coach Mike Nolan said of the penalties. "Emotion is a huge part of the game, and you can't let emotions get the better of you. There's not a tremendous amount of noise at home. Today, (false starts are) inexcusable." --football gambling--

San Francisco scored on Nedney's 48-yard field goal early in the second half, ending nearly 108 scoreless minutes for the Giants' defense, which shut out Washington last week. Nedney hit a 52-yarder several minutes later. --football gambling--

Game notes
San Francisco got four of its nine first downs on penalties. ... Back judge Don Dorkowski injured his calf during the second half, and the game was finished with six officials. ... The Niners had just 10 men on the field for the game's first play -- a 28-yard catch by Shockey.--football gambling--

Eagles need better starts

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - Andy Reid's script has been a flop. -NFL Football-

The Philadelphia Eagles haven't had much success in the first quarter this season, raising questions about Reid's play calling. -NFL Football-

Reid is one of several NFL coaches who predetermine a number of offensive plays to start a game. With input from offensive coordinator Brad Childress and assistant coach Marty Mornhinweg, Reid scripts the first 15 plays. Considering the way the Eagles' offense has fared early on, they might want to come up with a whole new game plan. -NFL Football-

Philadelphia (4-3) has scored just 14 points in the opening quarter, getting both touchdowns in a lopsided victory over woeful San Francisco in Week 2. -NFL Football-

Overall, the Eagles have gone three-and-out on 12 of 22 possessions in the first quarter. In a 49-21 loss at Denver on Sunday, the offense went three-and-out on the first four possessions and had just 4 yards in the first quarter. -NFL Football-

Reid deviated from his scripted plays against the Broncos because the defense kept blitzing. Eleven of the first 12 plays were passes and each fell incomplete. -NFL Football-

"You don't practice the 15-play script,'' Reid said. "That is something you put together on Saturday for the players. You practice the whole game plan. So, it's important you are strong on the whole game plan, not just those 15 plays. Somewhere, those 15 plays are going to go by the wayside fast. You are going to run them and then you have to get on with the rest of the game plan.'' -NFL Football-

The problem is the defense also is struggling, so the offense isn't helping out by giving up the ball so quickly. Philadelphia has had just one drive in the first quarter last more than 4 minutes. Against Denver, the offense held the ball a total of just 2:38 in the first quarter and the Eagles fell behind 28-0 halfway through the second. -NFL Football-

One reason the Eagles aren't using up much clock time is they're not running the ball. Just 101 of the 438 offensive plays have been carries by the running backs. That's only 23.1 percent of the plays. -NFL Football-

Reid planned to run more against the Broncos, but the score and Denver's defensive scheme forced the Eagles to rely heavily on the pass. However, when the Eagles ran, it opened up the passing game. Both of Philadelphia's big plays - a 91-yard TD catch by Terrell Owens and Owens' 46-yard catch - were preceded by runs. -NFL Football-

"I have a lot of trust in the players,'' Reid said. "Obviously, we cannot do it like we have been doing it. We have to get better as players and coaches and I have a lot of trust in both the players and the coaches. We will work very hard and make sure we get it together and do a better job.'' -NFL Football-

Pierce rough on pals

BY BOB HERZOG
STAFF WRITER

October 31, 2005

Is this any way to treat and greet old friends? Well, in the salary-cap NFL world, in which players routinely change teams, the answer is a resounding, helmet-rattling yes. -NFL Football-

"To hit them, it felt good. I am friends with a lot of their guys," linebacker Antonio Pierce said after he led the Giants' defense in a 36-0 victory over the Redskins, his team for the previous four seasons. "Clinton [Portis] and I are real close friends, but it didn't really matter. They were not Giants and they did not have blue on." -NFL Football-

Maybe a little black and blue, however, as Pierce made 11 tackles (seven solo), many of the jarring variety. He began wreaking havoc on Washington's first drive, combining with linebacker Reggie Torbor to nail Portis after a 5-yard gain on the Redskins' second play from scrimmage. -NFL Football-

On Washington's second drive, Pierce and safety Brent Alexander combined to smack Portis after a 1-yard gain. Pierce also limited receiver David Patten to 6 yards on a second-and-19 with a solid tackle. -NFL Football-

Pierce was even better in the second quarter, drilling Portis on a screen pass for a 4-yard loss and then dropping into zone coverage in the middle of the field to intercept Mark Brunell and set up a field goal that gave the Giants a 19-0 halftime lead. -NFL Football-

"That's what happens when you know what they are going to do," Pierce said with an undisguised smirk. -NFL Football-

Pierce said he and his teammates knew what they had to do in the second half: complete the shutout. -NFL Football-

"It meant a lot," he said. "That was a second-ranked offense coming into the game, and going into the fourth quarter, they had less than 100 yards and we were really shooting for that [shutout]. It just topped everything off." -NFL Football-

Pierce said the victory over their NFC East rivals and the emotions involved with the death of team patriarch Wellington Mara, made him realize what it meant to be a Giant. -NFL Football-

"Big time. When I signed here, they [teammates] said you were coming into a family," Pierce said. "You felt that throughout the whole week and you saw that today. Guys were rocking and rolling." -NFL Football-

Copyright 2005 Newsday Inc.

Week Seven game previews
--- nfl ---
By PFW staff Oct. 20, 2005
--- nfl ---
New York Jets at Atlanta
--- nfl ---
The Jets couldn’t stop the run in a 27-17 loss at Buffalo, an ominous sign with the Falcons’ league-leading rushing attack up next. The Falcons scored an important divisional win over the pesky Saints to remain one game behind the NFC South-leading Buccaneers. --- nfl ---
--- nfl ---
Jets QB Vinny Testaverde showed his age vs. a Bills defense that blitzed him from all angles, getting sacked five times and throwing two interceptions. He also lost a fumbled snap from backup C Jonathan Goodwin, who replaced starting C Kevin Mawae after Mawae suffered a season-ending triceps injury. RB Curtis Martin is coming off his best game of the season and will be a key vs. a Falcons run defense that gave up 211 rushing yards to the Saints. --- nfl ---
--- nfl ---
If Testaverde gets time to throw, he can exploit a weak Falcons secondary by throwing to WRs Laveranues Coles and Justin McCareins, who is coming off his best game of the season. The Falcons likely took note of the way the Bills ran for 177 yards vs. the Jets last week and will feed New York a steady diet of RBs Warrick Dunn and T.J. Duckett (if his injured ankle doesn’t keep him on the sideline). Jets MLB Jonathan Vilma has the speed to partly neutralize QB Michael Vick.--- nfl ---
--- nfl ---

Panthers rally to top Cardinals 24-20

TEMPE, Ariz. (Oct. 9, 2005) -- The Carolina Panthers finally stopped Josh McCown's passing show and with a 94-yard touchdown drive pulled above .500 for the first time this season.

Jake Delhomme threw two touchdown passes to Steve Smith, one for 65 yards in the first half and the decisive 4-yarder with 6:54 to go to give the Panthers (3-2) a 24-20 comeback victory over the Arizona Cardinals. - NFL Football -

Delhomme completed 18 of 29 passes for 243 yards and two scores. He was intercepted once.

"To come across the country on a short week to win and fight back the way we did," Delhomme said, "it was pretty nice."

Arizona (1-4), leading 20-10 after three quarters, had the ball twice after Carolina's go-ahead score. - NFL Football -

The Cardinals drove to the Panthers' 33, but Marlon McCree intercepted McCown's pass in the end zone for the second time in the game. The Cardinals' last shot ended when McCown scrambled on fourth-and-10, but came up inches short at the Panthers' 49.

"We moved the ball OK, but you've got to be able to score points and you've got to be able to slam the door," Arizona coach Dennis Green said.

McCown completed 29 of 46 passes for 394 yards, a career high for the second week in a row. He threw for two touchdowns, but was intercepted three times. McCown threw for 385 yards a week earlier in the victory over San Francisco in Mexico City, a game he started in place of injured Kurt Warner. - NFL Football -

Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald became the first Cardinals tandem to top 100 yards receiving each in consecutive games. It was the first time it's happened in the NFL since 2001, when Derrick Mason and Kevin Dyson did it for Tennessee. - NFL Football -

Boldin caught 10 for 158 yards and a touchdown, Fitzgerald nine for 136 yards and a score.

After beating Green Bay on Monday night, the Panthers were in trouble most of the afternoon in the desert.

With Arizona leading 20-10 late in the third, McCown threw to Boldin, who dodged a tackler -- but Thomas Davis stripped the ball, and Ken Lucas picked it up and ran to the Arizona 5.

"The ball got away from my body. He hit it as he was coming. It was just a bad play on my part," Boldin said. - NFL Football -

Two plays later, Stephen Davis scored from the one on the first play of the fourth quarter to make it 20-17.

The Panthers went 94 yards in 10 plays for the winning touchdown. On second-and-12 from his 25, Delhomme's screen pass to DeShaun Foster gained 30 yards. A personal foul against Darnell Dockett for a blow to Delhomme's head added 15 to the play to put the ball on the Arizona 30.

With two cornerbacks already sidelined, Arizona lost another, Robert Tate, on the drive. Safety Quentin Harris moved to cornerback and on the 6-yard winning touchdown, Smith fought the ball away from him. - NFL Football -

Boldin broke four tackles on a 20-yard scoring play that put Arizona up 17-10 in the second period. Fitzgerald's leaping grab of McCown's 26-yard pass for a touchdown on the first play of the second quarter gave the Cardinals a 7-3 lead.

The Cardinals blew a chance for a late first-half score. McCown connected with Charles Lee on a 49-yard pass to the Carolina 2, but on second down from the 4, Lucas deflected McCown's pass to Fitzgerald and McCree intercepted. - NFL Football -

"All turnovers are big because they usually put points on the board or take points off the board," Panthers coach John Fox said. "That play was huge."

Lucas took the place of cornerback Chris Gamble, hobbled by a sore ankle, late in the first half. Fitzgerald caught three passes for 30 yards in the second half. - NFL Football -

The Cardinals are off in Week 6. If Warner's groin injury is healed by then, Green will have to decide whether to stay with McCown. He hinted that it would be hard to go away from the youngster after his two performances while Warner was down.

"That's a lot of yardage," Green said. "Josh has been able to find the wide receivers, that's a big plus." - NFL Football -

McCown said he wasn't going to concern himself with job security.

"I'm just going to fight and play as hard as I can and whatever happens happens," he said. "I just hate that we didn't get a win today. As a quarterback, with the opportunity to make plays, you hate that you walked off this field a loser. That's what hurts the worst."

© 2005, NFL Enterprises LLC.

New Madden NFL game's not just a passing fantasy

BY JON GALLO

Washington Post Service

Madden NFL 06

Football video games used to be so easy. You controlled the quarterback and avoided the blitz while waiting for a receiver to get open before pressing a button. It didn't matter if your quarterback threw the ball off his back foot or to a receiver he wasn't looking at -- the result was usually a tight spiral.

But those days are over in Electronic Arts' Madden NFL 06 because the game's ''QB Vision Control'' makes it challenging to move the ball through the air. Every quarterback has a vision cone, a ray of yellow light that begins from the quarterback's eyes and illuminates his field of vision. For the Colts' Peyton Manning and the Vikings' Daunte Culpepper, the cone has the girth of nearly half the field, but for lesser-talented quarterbacks such as the Ravens' Kyle Boller, it's maybe half that size.

Now, if your quarterback throws a pass to a receiver who isn't in his line of sight, don't expect it -- or the outcome -- to be pretty.

You also have to decide what type of pass to throw, which is done by using the joystick. If your receiver has a step on his defender, be sure to lead him. If the defender is playing the receiver close, throw the ball short, allowing the receiver to come back for the ball -- a style that makes Oakland's Randy Moss and Philadelphia's Terrell Owens two of the game's most dominating players.

The game's best mode is ''Superstar.'' That's when you choose the parents whose attributes will give the player you create the best DNA for being an athlete. Your player grows up, takes an IQ test, hires an agent and gets drafted into theNFL . The next step is to become an icon by playing your way to a lucrative contract and working on your virtual interview skills to land endorsements and movie roles.

The staple of the Madden franchise, which has spawned 16 editions, has been its ability to put a new spin on the same sport. What sets this game apart is the passing game, which casual gamers can disable if they want to remain in the past. But serious gamers will welcome the next phase of video games.

NFL Football
Rice Retires

DENVER (AP) - Unwilling to be a bit player with the Broncos,
Jerry Rice retired Monday, closing a 20-year career for the most
productive receiver in NFL history.
Rice, 42, made his decision over the weekend at home in San
Francisco, then returned to Broncos headquarters and met with coach
Mike Shanahan. He played 20 NFL seasons.
"This is a happy day," he said. "I think the tears that you
see basically is that I have really enjoyed this ride.
"I'm done. I'm looking forward to the next phase of my life."
Shanahan confirmed what Rice already knew - that he would be a
fourth or fifth receiver, at best this season - and Rice confirmed
what many figured - that he would rather call it quits than be a
bit player with the Broncos.
Rice signed with Denver over the summer, reuniting with
Shanahan, who was his offensive coordinator in the 1990s in San
Francisco. For Rice, the idea was to play for a coach who was
familiar with him and for a team that could help him go out a
winner.
Shanahan made it clear he would not promise Rice anything, not
even a roster spot. Behind the scenes, though, Shanahan said he
knew it would never come down to him having to cut the league's
best all-time receiver: He figured if Rice knew it was time to go,
he would step aside himself.
"I've pushed this body for 20 years," Rice said. "I was never
a coach potato, I was always working out. I had to prove myself
every year. - NFL Football -
"A lot of guys here were 3 when I started playing. I think
those guys are pretty much amazed that I can still run the way I
can run."
Early in training camp, Rice moved into Denver's third receiver
spot and things looked promising. In retrospect, the promotion was
more a reflection on Darius Watts, who struggled catching the ball,
but improved as the preseason went on.
By the time preseason ended, Rice had only four catches for 24
yards and had been pushed back down the depth chart. As expected,
he wasn't released when the Broncos announced their final round of
cuts Saturday, but he was already in the Bay Area deciding his
future. - NFL Football -
"To me it was never about what I accomplished on the football
field. It was about the way I played the game," he said. "I play
the game with a lot of determination, a lot of poise, a lot of
pride. I think what you saw on the field was an individual who
really loved the game and I was just like a little kid. I enjoyed
the preparation and the hard work and the dedication that I had to
make to try to be one of the best receivers to have ever played the
game."
His agent, Jim Steiner, has said if Rice retired this time, he
would not try to come back with another team. If that's so, Rice
will close his career with 38 NFL records, including those for
career receptions (1,549), yards receiving (22,895) and touchdowns
receiving (197). - NFL Football -

Copyright 2005 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.