Mid-June Blahs

It's the longest time of the year for me and most Giants fans. I spend most days searching for newspaper articles, tv shows, bulletin boards, for any tiny scrap of information I can find Giants related. In the midst of these doldrums, I started thinking (worrying?) about the problems posed by the scheduling gods this upcoming season. Most die-hard Big Blue fans know by now that the G-Men have, statistically anyway, the toughest schedule in football this year. Throw in the fact they are in the toughest division, and it becomes apparent why the schedule is such a worry.

Is it possible there is a silver lining behind facing such a formidable schedule? Perhaps. Assuming for the moment a successful season full of wins, I'd much rather have the Giants heading into the playoffs as battled tested warriors than untested winners against weaker opponents. Getting there, however, is the secret.

But maybe the schedulers have thrown the Giants a bone. Arguably the first 6-7 games are the toughest part of the Giants schedule and I believe it is better that the Giants face the toughest part of their schedule right out of the starting gate when the team is (hopefully) healthy and fresh - at that the point in time when reality comes closest to matching the fantastic talent they have on paper.

My feeling is they only need to do two things in those first 7 games:
(1) finish 4-3 and
(2) be playing great football even in the games they lose. If they do that, I believe they have the chance to develop into a power house the rest of the season as they head into the playoffs.

The way I see it, only teams facing a tough schedule have the opportunity to develop into battle hardened warriors, and this Giant's team is certainly facing a tough schedule. And having the toughest part of the schedule up front while everyone is fresh provides the Giants their best chance of having a great season.