NFL on FOX: Notes from Giants-Cowboys
Here are some notes from amNewYork intern Erick Blasco about the FOX telecast of the Giants’ 21-17 win in Dallas on Sunday. (Joe Buck did play-by-play, and ex-Cowboys quarterback Troy Aikman handled the color.)
• As early as the third quarter, Buck was pointing out that Dallas center Andre Gurode’s snaps were often late or inaccurate. That angle was key, as the Cowboys’ offense was out of rhythm with Gurode’s shotgun snaps. One of the most important plays of the game was Marc Colombo’s last minute false-start on first down, which stemmed from a late Gurode snap.
• Buck didn’t let himself become the center of attention, and, as he often does, he cut down on shtick for the playoffs.
• There was no analysis, thankfully, of how the Giants were winning because coach Tom Coughlin morphed into Mr. Softee.
• Aikman criticizes quarterbacks well. Not only did he criticize Dallas quarterback Tony Romo for taking sacks instead of throwing it away, but he also noted how flustered Romo looked in the second half as the Giants took away his options.
• Aikman made a good point when he said the Giants were “doing Dallas a favor by being conservative.” The Giants won despite giving the Cowboys a chance at a game-winning drive.
• Before the game, all four Fox studio analysts predicted that Dallas would win, with Jimmy Johnson saying that the Cowboys would be more “energized” because of their time off. Maybe that energy explained all the Cowboy penalties.
— Max
