What went wrong …
1 Down early — Eli Manning threw two interceptions in the first quarter to spot the Titans 10 points. His first pick was yet another tipped ball that landed in Titans defensive tackle Sen’Derrick Marks’s hands, as Hakeem Nicks couldn’t reign in the high pass. Manning’s second pick came in the end zone, as he was flushed from the pocket and tried to flip a pass left-handed to a double-covered Kevin Boss, resulting in a pick by rookie Jason McCourty.
2 Pedestrian protection — Without center Shaun O’Hara (ankle injury), the offensive line broke down for the second straight week. The Giants could only muster 107 rushing yards — including only 26 in the first half — and if not for the individual excellence of Ahmad Bradshaw (88 hard-earned yards) the rushing total could’ve been a lot worse. Pass protection had its lapses at the most inopportune times, as Manning was sacked twice and often harassed into poor decisions, including his ill-advised red-zone interception.
3 Stupid mistakes — Anytime the Giants found a rhythm, they committed head-scratching penalties. They were flagged for five personal foul penalties, including two by cornerstone offensive tackle Kareem McKenzie, who was pulled from the game after a missed field goal in the third. The G-Men also had three turnovers, including a red-zone fumble by Bradshaw.
What went right …
1 Hands team — Credit those 386 passing yards more to the receivers than Eli Manning. All too often, the Giants’ quarterback left his men vulnerable to big hits; but as a testament to their abilities, they managed to reel in the passes.
2 Sparkplug has his moments — Ahmad Bradshaw’s manic running style and gritty performance masked what was once again an anemic rushing attack. Bradshaw had a team-high 118 total yards, including a 10-yard touchdown run.
3 Don’t blame the defense — Save for a long 42-yard dash late in the fourth and a resulting eight-yard touchdown, Big Blue held last season’s rushing champ Chris Johnson in check when the game was still in doubt. Johnson finished with 125 yards and two scores, while Vince Young ran for just six yards.
