Coming into their week 3 match up against the Falcons the `Big Blue` knew they would be without both their starting QB and starting RB. Most of the worry, though, resided at the QB position, as coaches felt Larry Csonka was basically already a starter, splitting carries with the injured Doug Kotar. Starting QB Joe Pisarcik is no legend behind center, but Jerry Golsteyn sure makes him look like one.

However, at the start of the game, Golsteyn looked like he was going to quiet the critics, as he connected on a 34-yard TD to Johnny Perkins, after the Giants defense forced a Falcon fumble. Frank Reed was consistently returning Joe Danelo`s kicks past or near midfield, giving the Falcons good field position for most of the game. Reed`s ensuring kick return proved no different. Eventually Haskel Stanbeck, on his best run of the day, punched it in for a 9-yard score to tie the game.

Then the Jerry Golsteyn honeymoon abruptly ended. Midway through the second quarter, Golsteyn went back to pass. He looked short to Jim Robinson, who appeared to be open. However, the CPU controlled Ray Brown made a magnificent break on the ball, catching it in stride, collecting his first of two picks on the day. Brown was corralled at the 1-yard line (Chaos dubbed this a pick 5.99), and a single play later FB Mike Esposito barged the rock into the end zone. Atlanta was settling into the game nicely, leading now 14-7, while the Jerry jitters were becoming more and more apparent in Giant-land. As the New York offense slowly lost its early sizzle, the defense was actually playing rather well. With about 20 seconds left in the half, the Giants forced the Falcons into a 3rd and 38 from their own 26-yard line. Coach Cheap Catch called a timeout, hoping to get one last play off before the half ended. Atlanta opted to go for it, and the Giants did what they were doing all game long, rushing QB Steve Bartkowski with LBs Brad Van Pelt and Brian Kelley. Van Pelt was the impetus that forced the Falcons into the long yardage situation. On the fourth down play, Van Pelt cut too quickly toward Bartkowski, getting chipped and held up by the tackle. Meanwhile Bartkowski retreated backwards, gaining plenty of time to unleash a last second heave-ho. Indeed sir. As the clock expired, so did the Giant confidence, as Alfred Jenkins hauled in the 74-yard bomb for a TD in front of two trailing defenders. The shell shocked Giants, once lively and fierce, strolled dejectedly into the locker room now down 21-7.

At least the Giants were receiving the second half kick off. Last week against the 49ers Clyde Powers was a monster at kick returner. Could he be so bold to repeat his performance? Powers took the kickoff two yards deep, swerving around the first wave of Falcon defenders. As Powers began heading up field he entered a second-wave swarm. Powers attempted to bully his way through, but instead…..bloop, bloop, bloop. No sooner did the rock hit the ground did the Falcons scoop it up and cross the goal line. 28-7. A game once so close was quickly getting out of hand.

On the next possession the Giants actually put together a decent drive behind the bruiser Zonk and the arm of Golsteyn….oh wait, not the arm of Golsteyn, just Zonk. The Giants managed to get within two scores at 28-14, still in the third quarter. Frank Reed had yet another decent kick return but the Giants held. The Falcons attempted a 60-yard FG, but it fell far short, setting up New York with good field position.

Back to the legs o` Zonk. Zonk at this point was fired up, catching the ire of Coach Bad Moon, as he beasted through the tough Falcon defense on run after run. After spinning and bull rushing, Zonk toted the ball into the end zone from 8 yards out. Improbably the Giants had turned the once one-sided affair into a game.

Frank Reed was looking to impart more of his magic when instead he did his best Clyde Powers impression, fumbling the ball on the ensuing kickoff. The Giants quickly recovered the ball, and by all means it looked as though New York was going to tie the game. Instead the Giant runner jumped at the 3-yard line right into the waiting arms of a diving Falcon defender. Following a series of bumbling and unproductive plays, which included Jerry Golstyn losing about 10 yards on a sack, an incompletion, and a run where Larry was himself zonked, the Giants opted for a short field goal. 28-24.

The Falcons regained the ball, but the up and coming Giant defense stopped Atlanta on downs, forcing a punt. New York ended up with decent field position. After Golstyn hit one of his few nice passes of the day, getting the Giants down to the Falcon 32-yard line, New York no sooner surrendered it, as two plays later Golstyn was harried by a Falcon CPU defensive lineman on a play action pass. Golstyn nimbly spun out of the waiting arms of the defender, stepping up in the pocket, lauching a….duck of a pass that traveled five yards downfield before it fell into the waiting hands of Ray Brown.

The Giants were able to stop the Falcons again, but a wasted timeout earlier in the quarter, allowed the clock to reach zero, after the Giants stopped Mike Esposito short of the first down on 4th and 1. So, there is it. The Falcons survive a wacky game, filled with frills, thrills, crappy QB play from the Giants, and a poor running display by the Falcons. Despite that, this game was entertaining to the hilt, with both teams getting their fair share of spoils from the Tecmo gods.