LiveBlog: Giants-Bucs, second quarter

Vinnie Iyer breaks down the ongoing action of the Giants-Buccaneers first-round NFC playoff game:
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Jeff remains off (1:14 left): Jeff Garcia has been very consistent and efficient for most of the season, but the Giants’ pass rush and surprisingly good coverage have kept him from getting into a rhythm. The key so far has been making him go away from Joey Galloway (only one catch). The Bucs’ fifth drive also ends in no points.
The best of Eli (4:06 left): I’ve never seen Eli Manning play so well in a playoff game, and it has plenty to do with the face he’s coming off his fine tete-a-tete with Tom Brady from last Saturday night. He’s comfortable now and simply picking apart the Bucs’ cover 2 with accurate short and intermediate throws. His spreading the ball around is also opening up things for Plaxico Burress and Brandon Jacobs again. Jacobs gets another score, this time on an easy 8-yard march that wouldn’t have happened in the first quarter. New York 14, Tampa Bay 17.
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Strahan gets a sack (8:29 left): Big Michael keeps up the Giants mo’ by dropping Jeff Garcia on second down and blowing up the Bucs’ fourth drive. Suddenly, Tampa Bay has gone away from Earnest Graham, and it has cost them. Giants get the ball back at their own 35.
Eli gets his groove back (10:02 left): Great adjustments by Eli Manning. It figures with the Bucs taking away both Brandon Jacobs and Plaxico Burress early that Amani Toomer would get some beatable coverage. So Manning simply hooks up with Toomer three times (for the 40 yards) to move the chains each time on New York’s first scoring drive, ending with a little dumpoff to Jacobs for the TD. We have our first momentum swing. New York 7, Tampa Bay 7.
Giant opportunity (14:06 left): The Giants needed help from their defense to get back in the game, and it pushes Jeff Garcia into his first three and out. The result of the punt presents a huge chance -- a possession starting at the New York 47. Expect Manning to come out firing as the Bucs are clearly focused on stopping the run.↵