Giants Face Dallas In Playoffs

The Giants have played two games since my last post. And those two games dramatically change my thinking about this team. The Giants played two of the best back to back games I can recall in a very long time. Although they lost to NE in the season finale, the Giants went toe-to-toe for a full 60 minutes and gave NE everything they could handle. If the Giants somehow faced NE in the Super Bowl this year, which means the Giants beat Dallas today and Green Bay next week, the Giants would beat NE.

Following the NE game, the Giants went and won their first playoff game in the Coughlin/Manning era. After the first quarter, the Giants controlled the game. Eli Manning has played two straight games in which he is playing with a tremendous amount of self confidence. The Giants, as a team, seemed relaxed heading into the game, and it showed on the field.

Today's game is going to be very difficult and the Giants may not win. But I am not one of those who are claiming the Giants will not - and cannot - win today, because they can. This is a different Giants team that Dallas has yet to face. Not only is Manning playing with new found confidence, but so are so many others. Cory Webster had the game of his career last week. Ahmad Bradshaw is playing fantastic football. Kevin Boss has made an almost seamless transition to the starting TE position. Steve Smith is starting to make some impact plays. And Gerris Wilkinson has made a huge difference at LB. His speed adds a new dimension the Giants didn't have in week one covering Witten.

This will not be an easy game. The Giants may not win. But this is definitely a winnable game for the Giants. Manning, Webster, and Wilkinson will all have to play big today. The Giants have to avoid turnovers on offense and on defense the front four have to be in Romo's face without blitz help. Having already met all expectations for the season, the Giants should be loose heading into today's game. And if they some how find a way to win against Dallas today, the momentum from a loose team with no pressure, playing great football, will make them favorites in my mind to go all the way. But of course, winning today is no guarantee. But it sure is fun.