Giants Impress, But Lose Terrell Thomas for the Season: The Giants dominated the Chicago Bears 41-13 on Monday night at the New Meadowlands Stadium, but much of the luster from the performance was erased by a season-ending knee injury to CB Terrell Thomas. Thomas suffered an ACL tear. To make matters worse, CB Brian Witherspoon suffered an MCL knee injury that also might be serious. The Giants have already lost CB Prince Amukamara (foot) until October and CB Bruce Johnson (Achilles) for the season. The Giants also got a scare when LT Will Beaty left with a foot injury, but x-rays were negative. Last year, Beatty missed much of the season with a broken foot.
As for the game, both teams struggled to move the football on each of their first two possessions. The Giants then put together an 11-play, 58-yard drive that stalled at the Chicago 7-yard line, and New York was forced to settled for a 25-yard field goal. The big play on the drive was an impressive 25-yard catch by WR Victor Cruz on 4th-and-4. However, the Bears immediately tied the game at 3-3 when the Bears gained 79 yards on two passing plays. The Giants’ defense stiffened at the 5-yard line and Chicago also settled for a short field goal.
The Giants immediately regained the lead when WR Devin Thomas broke off a 73-yard return on the ensuring kickoff, putting the ball at the Bears’ 31-yard line. After QB Eli Manning found HB Ahmad Bradshaw for 13 yards on 3rd-and-10, HB Brandon Jacobs finished off the drive with an 18-yard touchdown jaunt. Giants 10 – Bears 3.
The Bears went three-and-out on their fourth possession. The Giants then drove to the Bears 19-yard line in nine plays and kicked a 37-yard field goal for a 13-3 advantage. The key play on this drive was a 20-yard strike from Manning to WR Mario Manningham on 3rd-and-15.
The Bears returned the ensuing kickoff to the Giants’ 40-yard line, the only real negative special teams play for the Giants on the night. Eight plays later, the Bears kicked a 42-yard field goal to cut the Giants’ lead to 13-6.
After a three-and-out by the Giants, the Bears were forced to punt after gaining one first down. LB Greg Jones blocked the punt, recovered the ball and advanced it to the 6-yard line where he fumbled. LB Jacquian Williams recovered. Two plays later, QB David Carr hit WR Domenik Hixon for a touchdown. Giants 20 – Bears 6.
Then came the worst part of the game for the Giants. With less than 30 seconds before halftime, CB Terrell Thomas collided with DE Jason Pierre-Paul near QB Jay Cutler. Thomas tore the ACL on his knee on this play.
In the second half, the Bears punted after gaining one first down. The Giants then drove 50 yards in 8 plays to take a 27-6 advantage on HB D.J. Ware’s 1-yard touchdown run. The Bears responded with a 16-play, 62-yard marathon of drive that resulted in no points when the Giants’ reserves held on 4th-and-goal from the 1-yard line. The Giants and Bears then exchanged three-and-outs. Witherspoon hurt his knee when returning a punt after the Bears’ three-and-out.
On the Giants’ third possession of the second half, New York moved the ball 61 yards in eight plays to take a 34-6 lead. The score came on a 17-yard pass play from Carr to TE Daniel Coats.
The Bears responded with another long possession, moving the ball from their own 21-yard line to the Giants 4-yard line. But on 4th-and-2, LB Mark Herzlich intercepted a pass. After an illegal formation penalty, HB Da’Rel Scott broke off a 97-yard touchdown run. Giants 41 – Bears 6. The Bears added a late touchdown with less than a minute to play.
Head Coach Tom Coughlin’s Post-Game Press Conference: The transcript of Head Coach Tom Coughlin’s post-game press conference is available in The Corner Forum.
Post-Game Notes: The following Giants did not play against the Bears:QB Sage Rosenfels (illness/back), WR Darius Reynaud (hamstring), DE Osi Umenyiora (knee), CB Prince Amukamara (foot), S/CB Brian Jackson (hip), and PK Lawrence Tynes (quad).