Forget about the fact that your reading a newspaper in Gilroy
and try to answer this question without bias: If you had to choose
a quarterback to win you one game, would you take Jeff Garcia or
Eli Manning?
Forget about the fact that your reading a newspaper in Gilroy and try to answer this question without bias: If you had to choose a quarterback to win you one game, would you take Jeff Garcia or Eli Manning?
When it comes to picking a winner, I tend to make my decision based on one crucial factor – which team has the better quarterback? (By the way, pay no attention to the “Pigskin Picks!” standings on page C3. The numbers are no indication of my football savvy.)
During Sunday’s NFC wild card playoff game between the host Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the New York Giants, quarterback play will very likely decide which players prepare for another game, and which players will prepare to clean out their lockers.
Neither team enters with a very strong rushing attack due to injuries to key offensive lineman as well as running backs on both sides.
The teams also balance out when it comes to talent at the receiver positions now that Giants tight end Jeremy Shockey is out with a broken leg. Plaxico Burress can be a phenomenal player for New York, but aside from him, Manning doesn’t have any other premiere targets. Burress also had a very mediocre second half of the season due to injuries.
The Bucs have a capable veteran receiver of their own in Joey Galloway, whose yards per catch (17.8) led the NFC this season. But while Galloway still has breakaway speed, he also has a tendency to drop catchable balls. And the rest of the group (Ike Hilliard, Michael Clayton, Alex Smith and Jerramy Stevens) isn’t scaring anyone.
Defense will decide the game, which goes hand in hand with the play of a quarterback. Specifically, how a quarterback plays under pressure.
The Bucs bring in the third-best defense in the league in points allowed, while the Giants have the NFL’s best pass-rush with defensive ends Michael Strahan and Osi Umenyiora combining for 22 sacks this season. (Justin Tuck is another player to watch out for. He had an under-the-radar 10 sacks this year.)
Who, then, will do a better job of withstanding the pressure?
Manning has been known to crumble in tough times (let’s call it baby-bro syndrome), and has yet to add a victory to his playoff resume. While Manning does seem to be given a little too much flak from the New York media, he just doesn’t seem like the kind of man other men want to follow. I’m not saying he has to be “Cool Hand Luke” to play quarterback, but very few would describe him as a confident leader. His posture can sometimes remind you of Charlie Brown on a cloudy day.
While Garcia’s skills have constantly been questioned during his career, no one has ever doubted his confidence and passion for the game. This will be the sixth time he has led a team into the playoffs, and while Garcia has a career record of 2-3 in the postseason, those wins have special significance.
Both of them came against the Giants.
The first victory was one of the all-time great games in San Francisco 49ers history. Garcia led a furious 24 point comeback – the second largest in playoff history – to beat the Giants 39-38. When Garcia sees the Giants this Sunday, it will be the five-year anniversary of that game.
The other game that got away from the Giants involving Garcia was a year ago, when he led the Philadelphia Eagles on a late drive for a game-winning field goal to win as time expired, 23-20.
So, honestly, who would you take?
The game is in Tampa, the Bucs’ quarterback has far more experience in the playoffs and he also has a history of winning over the Giants.
Watch out, but I think I may have just ruined Garcia’s underdog status.
