Yes! The Giants won their first match of the season. After leaving me with mixed feeling during their pre-season, the Giants showed their strength, power and cunning as they battered the Redskins, defeating them 23-17. Yet, as you can tell by the score, it wasn’t an easy victory. The Skins put up a fight. Nevertheless, there was never doubt that the Giants would own the day.

It was a great way to jump into the ‘09 season. The Giants swaggered into the match with their customary, if dubious, bravado. This time it paid off. Though the Skins were hanging tough, as much had been expected. They’re known for their fierce, physical defense. Giants’ defense was equally tough tonight, however, and quick to respond at every opportunity. They forced the Skins QB, Jason Campbell, to turn the ball over twice and kept the offense scrambling. What’s more they limited the Skins 272 yards and got three sacks. The most amazing play by the Giants’ defense was made by DE Osi Umenyiora though, redeeming himself for his antics last week when he walked out of training camp.

It was the second quarter. Campbell held the ball a moment too long; just long enough for Umenyiora to zip up behind, beating out OT Chris Samuels. He slapped the ball from Campbell and scooped it up, to run it in for a touchdown. When asked about the impressive play, Umenyiora responded with humility: “To be honest, I don’t know what happened.”

“They always get on me about knocking the ball out and not picking it up. When I saw it, I just picked it up,” he added.

Bill Kostroun / Associated Press

As good as the Giants’s defense was, their offense was the jewel of the game. With the broken-record question going ’round and ’round (What will Manning do without Burress and Toomer?), the offense has demonstrated that the question is moot. Unfortunately, this will do nothing to stop the question from revolving throughout the season. Eli Manning is finding his stride, easily enough, with the likes of Manningham, Smith, Hixon and Nicks. As reported by The Associated Press:

Eli Manning threw a 30-yard touchdown pass to Mario Manningham and Lawrence Tynes added three field goals, including a 45-yarder in the fourth quarter that was set up by an offside penalty by [Albert] Haynesworth, who stuffed the middle of the line but did little else in his Washington debut.

Hakeem Nicks, the player I’ve been most eagerly anticipating, didn’t get much of an opportunity to show his quality in this game, sadly. He sprained his ankle in the second half, when he got rolled by the Skins. Manning had an outstanding game though, going 20 for 29 with 256 yards – connecting with Steve Smith alone six times for 80 yards.

The game had some grievous disappoints however. And these were on the part of the refs; for example that disgraceful decision not to penalize the Skins in the second quarter. Manning was sacked at the Skins’ 37, by DE Andre Carter for a loss of 8 yards. The play was hotly disputed by Coughlin, because it appeared that Carter had dragged Manning down by the face mask. No penalty was called. This was the more obvious moment where the refs failed. Yet it happened time and again at crucial moments for the Giants, repeatedly robbing Big Blue of their momentum. For a play-by-play recap, click here!

Overall, the game may still have left us with a few questions, no doubt. With Coach Coughlin at Big Blue’s helm, I have a feeling that these will be quickly answered by the next couple games.

“Invincibility lies in the defense; the possibility of victory in the attack.” ~Sun Tzu, Chinese general and author