Giants Report Card

QUARTERBACKS: C+

Still too many bad throws for Eli Manning (19 of 37, 202 yards, 1 INT) but enough good ones to consider this progress. Six consecutive scoring drives great, only one TD not-so-great.

RUNNING BACKS: A

All sorts of personal milestones for Tiki Barber (22-109, 1 TD rushing, 2-14 receiving), who was a consistent factor. This is the way Ron Dayne (6-33) is supposed to be used: as a complement.

WIDE RECEIVERS: C+

Active game for Ike Hilliard (4-46), not so for Amani Toomer (3-35), who did not get his first catch until the last play of the third quarter.

TIGHT ENDS: B

A couple of drops for Jeremy Shockey (6-64) but also more signs of life.

OFFENSIVE LINE: B-

Solid in nearly all areas (5.1-yard rushing average is great) but there was a terribly costly false-start penalty by LT Luke Petitgout, who played after shaking off back spasms. Luke also had another false start and a holding penalty. Not good.

DEFENSIVE LINE: B+

Hey, hey, hey, a William Joseph sighting! Made some plays, which is noteworthy. Line was dominant vs. the run (63 rushing yards allowed) despite depleted ranks.

LINEBACKERS: B+

Rookie Reggie Tobor was a force with 1 ½ sacks and Nick Greisen (one sack) was also on his game, as Rudy Johnson (19-31) was completely nullified.

SECONDARY: C-

Inexcusable and confounding lapse when CB Frank Walker and S Brent Alexander had double coverage yet watched as T.J. Houshmandzadeh (5-64) hauled in 19-yard pass on crushing fourth-and-10 completion.

SPECIAL TEAMS: F

Return to the crummy days of yesteryear. Winning TD was set up by 42-yard punt return. Mindless penalty for interfering with fair catch by Curtis Deloatch, facemask on Marcellus Rivers and holding on kickoff by Frank Walker.

KICKING GAME: A

Steve Christie a perfect 5-for-5 on field goals, kicking what he said was a frozen football that felt like a rock. Jeff Feagles deserved better for his punting efforts.

COACHING: C

Failure to make key plays in big spots also comes back to Tom Coughlin, as something’s missing when a debilitating trend like this cannot be solved.