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Jobu reviews the Giants’ big win against the Cleveland Browns.

The Giants hosted Cleveland in week five and ended up with quite the win, pounding the Browns 41-27. It didn’t look like we were on our way to a Giants win when the game first got underway though. For a while, the Giants looked like they were on their way to one of those classic trap game losses… until Eli took over.

The Giants got the ball to start the game, but Chris Snee’s helmet/shoulder caused a fumble by Ahmad Bradshaw deep in Giants territory and Trent Richardson, Cleveland’s rookie running back, ran it in untouched from 15 yards out to give the Browns a 7-0 lead. The Giants gave the ball right back on the ensuing possession, and Brandon Weeden, the Browns’ 29-year old rookie QB, threw a 62 yard bomb to Josh Gordon to put the Browns up 14-0 just 4:57 into the game.

It was at this point that I decided to take a little break from this game. I was in the midsts of cleaning the entire downstairs (my lady had asked me to do so while she was away for the weekend), so I decided to watch a movie on my iPad while the Giants got their shit together.

Weeden and Richardson got the Browns off to a hot start. (Rick Osentoski/US PRESSWIRE)

On a side note, if you have the Netflix streaming service, and you like sports comedies, definitely check out Goon. It stars Sean William Scott as a nobody bouncer who parlays an arena fight into a small-scale successful minor-league hockey career as a goon enforcer… but I digress.

When I put the game back on, the Giants had just taken a 24-17 lead. Here’s how it went down. Manning threw a TD pass to Victor Cruz, and the team then traded field goals to bring the score to 17-10 Browns. The Giants then marched down the field and Ahmad Bradshaw ran one in from 4 yards out to tie the game. Bradshaw, by the way, had one of the best games of his career, topping 200 yards on the day. Another Manning TD pass to Victor Cruz gave the Giants the lead they would not relinquish.

The rout was pretty much on from that point, as the Giants added another field goal by Lawrence Tynes (it’s actually refreshing that he’s still with the team considering the fickle nature of kicking careers… big game type of guy). A third TD pass from Manning to Cruz and a 40-yard run by David Wilson made up the last of the Giants points. The Browns scored a late TD on another Weeden to Gordon connection, but it was too little too late.

Cruz filled out his whole dance card with three big TDs in the game. (Getty Images)

Despite a lackluster opponent, this was a very big win for the Giants. They head to San Francisco in week six for a rematch of the NFC Championship game against the 49ers (I’d really like this rivalry to pick up again, good to see them both competitive), and it’s much better to go there 3-2 and not 2-3.

There was a lot of ugly in this game though. The Defense shouldn’t be allowing 27 points to the Cleveland Browns. I mean seriously. Especially so early in the game. A more seasoned team, one that actually knows how to win, might not be so willing to give up such an early lead. I really doubt the 49ers defense, for example, would ever let that happen. Perry and the Giants need to find a way to get to the QB too. There’s too much talent on that line for the Giants to end up with no sacks. Let’s get serious.

Either way, it was a big win for the G-Men, and possibly a good momentum builder heading into a really tough game by the bay. The Giants are 3-2, but they could be 4-1 with a couple of more inches on that kick in Philly, so we have to be pretty happy about the way things have gone so far.

Most Valuable Giants

Ahmad Bradshaw: 30 carries, 200 yards, 1 TD
Eli Manning: 25-37, 259 yards, 3 TDs, 1 INT, 103.3 QBR
Victor Cruz: 5 catches, 50 yards 3 TDs
Rueben Randle: 6 catches, 82 yards

Featured image courtesy of: Al Bello/Getty Images

Martin Stezano

About Martin Stezano

Uruguayan born and American raised with a unique perspective on the domestic and international sports scenes. It will both tickle your funny bone and enlighten your mind. Love it or hate it...just read it.