Game 16 Summary

As I said in a previous post, if you were smart you were doing something else besides watching the Giants' second straight catastrophe, a 44-7 trouncing by the playoff-bound Vikings that was really 44-0 until nearly halfway through the fourth quarter.

At least we can say they didn't quit at 3-0, as they did last week against Carolina. This time, they waited all the way to 17-0 before saying "the heck with it, let's go fishing." Brett Favre threw four touchdown passes and did just about what he pleased against a defense that had no interest in stopping anybody.

Call these last two games the end of Giants pride or whatever, but one has to wonder how deep the offseason surgery will go now. We do know one thing, however. Justin Tuck, who played all season with a torn labrum courtesy of a trip by Flozell Adams in Week 2, will have that left shoulder operated on in the next couple of weeks. He'll be in a sling for about a month, and then he'll do two to three months of rehab and should be near full speed for the start of training camp.

And now, another sad recap. For those brave enough, here's the complete boxscore.

BIG PLAYS:

Percy Harvin's 22-yard run to the Giants' 9 set up tight end Visanthe Shiancoe's nine-yard, walk-in touchdown catch that ended an opening possession on which the Vikings moved 60 yards almost effortlessly.

With the score 24-0 in the second quarter, Eli Manning's throw to Kevin Boss was tipped in the air by Boss and intercepted by linebacker Chad Greenway at the Giants' 40. Fullback Naufahu Tahi converted a fourth-and-1 for a first down at the 29, and that led to Sidney Rice's acrobatic catch over the back of Terrell Thomas for a 12-yard touchdown toss and a 31-0 halftime lead.

THE VETS:

Eli Manning's 141 yards passing put him just over the 4,000 mark for the first time in his career.

Steve Smith became the first Giant to record 100 catches in a season on his third grab, a six-yarder, in the first quarter.

Aaron Rouse was utterly lost at safety on Visanthe Shiancoe's second-quarter touchdown pass, and was beaten again along with D.J. Johnson on Sidney Rice's four-yard touchdown catch that made it 24-0.

Terrell Thomas was in great position to intercept Brett Favre's 12-yard end zone pass to Rice, but he failed to make a play as Rice went over the corner's back for the touchdown that made it 31-0 at half.

THE KIDS:

Nothing to speak of here except for Will Beatty, who didn't look horrible and actually threw a great block after coming across the field as Manning found Travis Beckum for a first-down pass in the second quarter.

THE UGLY STUFF:

They may not have quit quite as early as last week, but they still quit. Have to wonder what Tom Coughlin is thinking now after failing to keep his player's minds two weeks in a row. Also have to wonder what ownership and general manager Jerry Reese think of it.

The defense allowed 40 points for the second straight week and fifth time this season, and finished with the second-worst points total -- 427 -- in franchise history. It's the first time they've given up 40 points in consecutive games since 1971, and the first time they've had five games of 40 points since 1966.

THE BUMPS:

Tuck (labrum), RB Ahmad Bradshaw (ankles and foot), FB Madison Hedgecock (labrum), and RB Brandon Jacobs (meniscus) will all have surgery within the next week.

Hakeem Nicks left the locker room with a wrap around his right wrist and will be undergoing a cleanup procedure soon.

Kevin Dockery suffered a burner in the first half, and Bruce Johnson was tested for a concussion in the first half.

EP