What went wrong for the Giants:
1. Are you serious, bro? Peyton Manning improved to 2-0 in the Manning Bowl, outshining Eli from the get-go last night in Indianapolis. The four-time NFL MVP went 20 of 26 for 255 yards and three touchdowns, helping the Colts jump out to a 24-0 halftime lead. They marched 80 yards in 12 plays on their first drive and never looked back. The Giants didn’t have an answer for Peyton or the Colts’ running game, as Indy rushed for 160 yards on 43 carries — the most attempts since the older Manning was been under center. The playaction pass, though, hurt the Giants even more than Peyton’s poise, as safety Michael Johnson bit on a fake handoff in the second quarter, leaving Dallas Clark wide open for a 50-yard touchdown.
2. Little bro, big loss — Eli never had a chance. The Colts played about as perfectly on defense as any game in the last couple of years, coach Jim Caldwell said afterward. They pressured Eli all day, most notably Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis, combining for four sacks and two quarterback fumbles leading to 14 points. “The whole first half, when you can’t get first downs, it’s hard as an offense to get into all your plays and your calls, and a lot of three-and-outs,” Eli said.
3. Losing your head — Brandon Jacobs lost more than just carries. The disgruntled Giants’ running back flung his helmet into the stands early in the second quarter after he was flagged for a late hit when the Colts intercepted a pass. Jacobs ran for just eight yards on four carries prior to the incident and stayed on the bench the rest of the game. “I was a little mad, but to be honest with you, it was a mistake,” said Jacobs, who was openly ticked about his decreasing role in the offense during the preseason. “I did not mean to do that and everybody who knows me knows I did not mean to do something like that. The whole world could fall down on me and I wouldn’t have done anything like that.”
