There was a lot of Twitter trash-talking and downright disrespectful predictions being delivered by players around the NFL leading into Sundays games, but no one had to eat their words and provided more inspiration to the opposition than Chicago Bears linebacker Pernell McPhee, whose 2-8 Bears lost to the 7-3 New York Giants on Sunday by a score of 22-16.
McPhee’s reckless game week jabber provided the Giants with some inspirational bulletin board material.
The Daily News reported that earlier in the week McPhee told reporters in Chicago, We gonna tear their ass up, I dont care what everybody else did. We gonna sack him. He can throw the ball as many times as he wants — we gonna sack him. Im gonna make sure of that.
Giant’s QB Eli Manning was diplomatic in his response. No need to give too much shine to a linebacker on one of the NFLs worst squads. On top of that, the crafty veteran and two-time Super Bowl champ didnt want to give the Bears any extra incentive as they are already in desperation mode and were a respectable eighth in the NFL with 24 sacks entering the contest.
Well hes a good young player and it seems like hes playing a little bit more recently and getting sacks, Manning told reporters in Chicago via conference call on SaturdayWeve got to be prepared to block him up and do a good job upfront.
(Photo Credit: Getty Images)
Thats exactly what Manning and the Giants did en route to the teams fifth straight win. Thats a first since 2010 and while Dallas has been the talk of the NFC town for getting off to the best start in history, the Giants are picking up steam as the second half havoc enters prime time territory.
On a cold and windy day, Big Blue charged back from a 7-point halftime deficit to beat the Bears. Manning completed 21 of 36 passes for 227 yards and did not throw an interception while passing for two scores, the first of which ended with a robotic version of the Milly Rock by tight end Will Tynes. Overall, Manning dealt with the North Jersey November conditions and McPhees self-anointed unstoppable Bears pass rush.
While Jason Pierre-Paul turned back the clock and recorded 2.5 of the Giants’ four sacks on the day, McPhee had one measley tackle and was held sackless like the rest of his Bears team.
The Giants, who spent a bundle on defensive free agent help this offseason, are off to their best 10-game start in eight years. They won home games in three consecutive weeks for the first time since Oct 21-Nov 4, 1962.
And they showed the Bears how they intend to deal with trash talking teams in the 2016 season.
