2010 NFL Week 2 Review: Colts Crush Giants, Saints Clip 49ers

The over hyped, second ever “Bro Bowl” featuring the Indianapolis Colts hosting the New York Giants went to the older Manning quarterback as the Colts crushed the visiting Giants.

After getting blown out in Week One the San Francisco 49ers looked like easy prey for the Super Champion New Orleans but the 49ers gave them everything they could and then some.

Peyton Manning And Colts Crush Eli Manning And The Giants – Final: 38-14

The much ballyhooed “Bro Bowl” between Colts QB Peyton Manning and his younger brother Giants QB Eli Manning failed to live up to its pre-game hype as Indianapolis rolled over New York 38-14. Peyton was the decidedly better Manning in this one as he rolled up 255 passing yards with three touchdowns and no turnovers while completing 20 of his 26 passes. It was just another day at the office for the future Hall of Fame quarterback.

The Colts also drove the ball straight down the throats of the Giants defense as running backs Joseph Addai and Donald Brown combined for 161 rushing yards, added another 40 receiving yards and Brown scored on a touchdown run. The usual suspects were at it for Colts when it came to pass receiving. WR Reggie Wayne had seven catches for 96 yards while TE Dallas Clark caught five balls for 83 yards as they both had a receiving touchdown.

It was a miserable day for Giants QB Eli Manning who looked awful in completing 13 of 24 passes for 161 yards, one interception as well as two fumbles lost. The younger Manning did throw two TD passes but the first came with the Giants down 24-0 early in the third quarter while the other came in the closing minutes of the game with the Giants trailing 38-7 and half the Colts already on their team bus.

Many were shocked by the Giants offensive game plan which was in fact very offensive. Why the Giants only attempted 25 rushing plays is beyond reason after the Houston Texans ran over the Colts to the tune of 253 yards on 42 attempts in Week One. We are of the opinion that the game has started to pass by Giants head coach Tom Coughlin and offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride.

Champs Barely Avoid Being Chumps – 49ers Generous Hosts – Final: 22-20

The Monday Night match-up looked like a total mis-match on paper but in the immortal words of the Swami, “that’s why they play the game”. The Super Bowl Champion New Orleans Saints, coming off 11 days of rest, travelled to the Bay area to face the San Francisco 49ers who got humiliated by the Seattle Seahawks 31-6 in Week One. The Saints came out firing as they forced a safety on the 49ers first possession and then drove the ball 46 yards in seven plays to score a touchdown on the ensuing possession.

What looked like the beginning of the end was anything but as the 49ers defense played a bend don’t break style and allowed the high powered Saints just one additional touchdown and three field goals the rest of the way. The Saints had an especially difficult time trying to move the ball on the ground as they managed just 50 yards on 25 attempts.

QB Drew Brees was solid though not spectacular as he completed 28 of his 38 throws for 254 yards and two touchdowns. In all, eight different receivers caught at least one pass for the Saints including Brees who caught one his own tipped passes for a seven yard gain.

For their part, the 49ers were just too generous on this night. They looked like Santa Claus as they gave up two interceptions and coughed up two fumbles. One of the fumbles was a muffed punt return that gave the Saints the ball on the San Francisco 13 yard line. The Saints only managed a field goal and the 49ers would tie the game on their ensuing drive but the turnovers were deadly.

The San Francisco miscues overshadowed an outstanding effort by 49ers running back Frank Gore. The dynamic back had 112 rushing yards to along with 56 receiving yards as well as a rushing and a receiving touchdown. For the most part the glaring hole (other than turnovers) for the 49ers was the play of QB Alex Smith who tossed two costly interceptions. He did look super human in leading an eight play, 82 yard scoring drive in just 43 seconds to tie the game late; but he was largely ineffective in the previous 57 minutes of the contest.