Giants - Eagles And A Tale of Two Men

Is this just a team of average talent whose mediocrity was exposed by injuries to a few players? Or is this a talented bunch of underachievers? Either way, it would appear the Giants stand no chance tomorrow against the Eagles. After all the Eagles are currently the hottest team in the NFC while the Giants appear totally lifeless and dead in the water. It would appear that the outcome has already been determined with only the details to be filled in.

Well, I'm not so sure. First, this is not just another game. It is the Giants versus the Eagles. When these two teams meet it is more about war than it is about football. It is more about raw emotion than talent. Either team could be starting scrubs grabbed off the streets on the morning of game day and the outcome would still be in doubt. That's just the way it is between these two clubs. The way it has always been and always will be.

There could also be another factor at play tomorrow. A tale of two men if you will - each presented with a unique opportunity to define his future destiny.

Tiki Barber has already established his credentials - has already set the Giants record books aflame. But is he a truly great running back? Does he belong in the Hall of Fame? One thing is for sure - he doesn't have many opportunities left to finish making his case.

Tomorrow Tiki Barber has a very unique opportunity - an opportunity unlike any other ever presented to him over the course of his career. Tomorrow, with a non-existent defense and a struggling young quarterback, the game stands squarely on his shoulders - and his alone - against a team that clearly knows whom they must stop. Tomorrow, Tiki Barber has the opportunity in one fell swoop to achieve truly legendary status.

It seems most people would agree that the Giants' offensive line is greatly improved in comparison to the Fassel years. Most people also appear to agree that Jeremy Shockey, Visanthe Shiancoe, and Jim Finn are all excellent blockers. Brandon Jacobs is a bear of a man truly capable of literally punishing defenders. And Tiki Barber - the greatest running back in Giants history. Shouldn't this group be able to dare any team to put 8, even 9, men in the box and still pound them into submission?

The Eagles know they have to stop Tiki Barber. They will key on him and will, indeed, put 8 and 9 men in the box. It shouldn't make any difference. Not with the greatest running back in the Giants 81 year history, still in his prime, running behind a very competent group of blockers. The Giants need to suck it up, accept the Eagles challenge with a shrug of their collective shoulders - like an elephant bothered by a flea - and ram the ball down the Eagles throats.

Of course, the question is not will they - the Giants really have little choice - but can they? Is Tiki Barber good enough to run the ball against a team that has designed its game plan around stopping him? Teams tried to find all kinds of ways to stop Lawrence Taylor. It never worked - LT was simply unstoppable. As were the truly great running backs. You don't think teams were dedicated to stopping Gayle Sayers? Jimmy Brown? Walter Payton? They were great because they were unstoppable. Tomorrow Tiki Barber has a very special opportunity - an opportunity to run the Eagles out of their own stadium - and to run himself into the Hall of Fame.

The second man in this tale of fate is at the opposite end of his career but is facing an opportunity no less momentous to his future - to how he will be judged and remembered - than Tiki Barber. Everyone knows all about the struggles of Eli Manning. He has been questioned by the fans, the media, the analysts - heck, even by my dog groomer's grandmother. Are his struggles mental? A deficiency in talent? Coaching? In the end, it's all irrelevant. Greatness is acquired, not given. Greatness happens because certain people have something deep inside their character that propels them to step up and grab the brass ring when opportunity knocks.

Sure, Eli is struggling. He misses Toomer. The loss of his starting left tackle perhaps has him feeling a bit exposed. But it all doesn't matter. What matters is that this is a special moment in time for Eli Manning - a rare opportunity that only comes along every so often. He is in a unique position exactly because he has been playing so poorly - precisely because there are such low expectations. He has the chance to surprise everyone.

He doesn't need to throw for 350 yards or 5 touchdowns. He just needs to have a workmanlike day. Complete 60 percent of his passes, focus on receivers other than Burress, convert on 3rd and 8 more often than not, and avoid turnovers. And most of all, he needs to play with some confidence and take control of his game. Greatness is all about stepping up during certain moments in time. Often, greatness is seemingly forged out of ashes - by stepping up right at the moment when it is least expected. Does Eli Manning have that something special deep inside that propels him to step up at this moment in time? Will he grab the brass ring tomorrow?

I am not predicting Tiki Barber will run himself into the Hall of Fame tomorrow. Nor has my crystal ball secretly showed me Eli Manning tossing all the doubters from his shoulders with a timely big game. What I do believe, however, is that this is a special moment in time for both Tiki Barber and Eli Manning - both presented with unique opportunities to define their futures. Such moments in time often create forces all their own.

Stunning Fall From Grace

In the 4th quarter last week, from shotgun formation, Shaun O'Hara snapped the ball early. Not only was Manning not looking, the snap was horrible and the ball barely reached Manning's feet. The play appeared to unfold in slow motion and the ball seemingly sat at Manning's feet for an eternity before New Orleans finally jumped on it. That moment - frozen in time - was for me the exclamation mark to the most monumental collapse of any season in Giants history.

Less than three years ago Tom Coughlin inherited a team in total shambles. He turned things around so quickly that he brought a Division Championship back to NY in only his second season. This is a coach who, with one game left to play in his third season, has the team positioned to make back to back playoff appearances for the first time in more than 15 years. The same man who, after a mere two years at the helm, had everyone convinced the Giants were legitimate Super Bowl contenders. A coach who, half way into his third season, had his team sitting at 6-2 and about to face off against the Chicago Bears in a battle to define which team was the very best in the entire NFC.

A mere 7 games have been played since that time. For Tom Coughlin, the fall from grace from then to now is both stunning and breathtaking. Incredible as it may seem, the man who 7 games ago had his team positioned at the very pinnacle of the NFL after only 2.5 years as head coach is apparently now about to be fired.

The talk in the media and amongst the fans has reached a state of frenzied hysteria. In a matter of days the talk has gone from whispers that Coughlin's job might be in jeopardy to absolute certainty he is history. It seems everyone has accepted his removal as a fait accompli and now the sole question of the day has become the identity of his successor.

I, for one, must respectfully demur. I have not been a big Tom Coughlin fan. I think his concept of discipline is petty. I do not like his demeanor on the field nor his refusal to accept blame when the team has struggled. While I do not know him personally, I don't particularly like who he appears to be as a man. I like tough coaches. But there is a difference between a petty disciplinarian and being tough. It has been my perception that Coughlin has avoided being tough with his players and with his assistant coaches. I also happen to like defense first, offense second and would prefer a defensive minded coach. There are plenty of reasons why Tom Coughlin is not my kind of guy. And I wouldn't shed any tears if he is gone after this season.

I also believe, however, that Tom Coughlin does not deserve what he is apparently about to receive. There are many reasons why things have reached this sorry state of affairs at this moment in time. The most obvious being the loss of 6 of the last 7 games. A tremendous collapse - probably the worst in Giants history. But what is the cause? I am sure there are many. First, the Giants as a team were simply not as strong as many believed. The Super Bowl speculation before the season even started only set Coughlin up for the eventual big fall. Injuries certainly played a factor. The mere fact that the loss of the team's #2 WR and OT was sufficient to cripple the offense is testimony to the fragility and lack of depth on the team. The same is true on defense - the two all-pro bookend defensive ends were the only real strength of the defense. Eliminate those two players and there really is no defense.

Add in a struggling quarterback and a running back who had 12 plays of 30+ yards in 2005 but only one in 2006 and you quickly have a mediocre team. The same mediocre team that Tom Coughlin had at the very pinnacle of the NFL elite a mere 7 games ago. I don't like Tom Coughlin. I don't like his methods. I don't like his coaching style. But I have to be fair. The Tom Coughlin that had this team at the top of the NFL 7 games ago is the same man today. He hasn't changed. What has changed are a few injuries that exposed the team as one with insufficient talent and depth to overcome injuries to 2 key players each on offense and defense. That should be no surprise. It is, after all, only year three of rebuilding a team that had reached the very bottom of despair under Fassel. There simply has not been enough time to acquire sufficient talent and depth to overcome such losses.

The current collapse and resulting media and fan hysteria presents a great opportunity for next year's head coach to make sweeping changes. Changes that are clearly needed. Changes that will be made regardless of the identity of the head coach. Eli Manning is clearly struggling and needs new coaches before he can ever be considered a bust. While there is no way to know for certain, I believe a small number of veteran players have been intentionally undermining Tom Coughlin's authority in the locker room - fueling the flames of an underlying current of discontent - since the first day he arrived. A small group of players who are as petty as Tom Coughlin's rules - players who refuse to make a total commitment to this team because of their own personal power struggle with the head coach. Such players certainly have the legal right to file union grievances over extra practice sessions or whatever other petty rule they want to pick on. But fans have the equal right to demand that the Giants find a way to move such players off into the sunset and fill the team with players dedicated to winning regardless of their personal feelings for or against the head coach. This team finally needs player-leaders who, rather than being the ones filing union grievances, instead quietly let such players know in no uncertain terms that their kind isn't welcome on this team.

I'd love to see Bill Belichick or Bill Parcells return to NY as heroes. But the Giants made a commitment to a different man less than three years ago. A man that turned the franchise around - arguably so quickly that the high expectations from his rapid success could be his own undoing. Tom Coughlin deserves the chance to finish painting the canvas that he has started. Tom Coughlin deserves to be the one to make the sweeping changes that will come after this season is over. To hire new offensive coaches to help Eli. To cleanse the locker room of the cancer that exists. I am not a Tom Coughlin fan and am not thrilled about Tom Coughlin as the coach of the team I love, but I would lose a measure of respect for the Giants as an organization if they failed to keep the commitment they made less than three years ago. Tom Couglin deserves to be treated fairly and it would be unfair not to allow Tom Coughlin to finish what he was brought here to do.

New Orleans Coming to Town

Remember 2005? The Giants team that surprised most analysts by going 11-5 and winning the Division? Even with the disappointing playoff loss to Carolina, at the end of 2005 everything was looking up for the Giants for 2006. They had an offense that was virtually unstoppable - a running back that was at the top of his game and close to being the very best in the league. A diverse passing game that featured more options than any one team could cover between Burress, Shockey, Barber, Toomer and Carter. Their defense featured two all-pro bookend ends that led the league in combined sacks. They had arguably the best Special Teams in all of football. And amazingly, this was a team that was only going to get better in 2006.

New Orleans comes to town tomorrow to give the Giants a reminder of just how things have oh so changed since 2005. There aren't many people who, if given the choice between the Giants or the Saints at the end of 2005, would have selected the Saints. In 2005 the Giants were the team that had arrived and was on its way to great things, while the Saints were going nowhere fast. So, here come the Saints tomorrow to remind us all that the two teams are, indeed, headed in different directions.

It is truly difficult to explain what has happened to this Giants team. The pre-season expectations were, after all, based upon the reality of the Giants' strong 2005 performance. It would be easy to explain it all away because of injuries. But that would be a dangerous mindset to adopt. That would lead right into a trap where necessary changes are avoided. And this team needs some change. The loss of your #2 WR cannot be used as the excuse for why your powerhouse offense was crippled. Yes, the Giants had more injuries on defense including the loss of both of their all-pro defensive ends. But, even though the sacks and pressure being generated looked like it was finally starting to warm up, the truth is that the Giants didn't seem to be an improvement over the 2005 version. And how does the best Special Teams squad in 2005 suddenly become one of the league's worst in 2006?

I continue to believe that what 2006 has demonstrated is that the Giants do not have nearly enough impact players - players capable of making game changing plays. Indeed this 2006 squad is shockingly devoid of impact players. While he has had good yardage totals, Tiki Barber has not had many game changing plays during 2006 as he did during 2005. Shockey? Despite the "numbers", the truth is he was more of an impact player his rookie year than any season since. Buress? He catches some long balls but none really stand out as game changing type plays. Manning certainly doesn't qualify, at least not this year. And don't even think about defense or special teams - neither has a single player that can be considered an impact player based upon what we have seen in 2006.

The bottom line is that this team needs 2-3 players that are unquestionably the very best at their position in all of football - the kind of player other teams drool over in their sleep. The Giants need 2 or 3 and their current count? Zero. There is not one single player on their squad that comes close to that qualification. Not one.

That is what is wrong with this team and that is what must change if this team is to go anyplace in the years to come. So, whether the Giants win or lose their next two games - whether the Giants qualify for a wild card or don't - really doesn't matter. Heck, even if they find a way to beat the other lousy teams in the NFC and wind up going to the Super Bowl - none of that will change the fact that this is not a great team. Greatness is not a word that comes to mind to describe any player on their squad, any coach, or anything about the team or its play this season. New Orleans is likely to remind the Giants and all of their fans of that fact tomorrow.

Giants Face Eagles in Huge December Game

A huge December game against a Divisional foe. What more could a fan ask for?

It is rather amazing to consider that the Eagles control their own destiny - win the last three games and the Eagles win the Division. The Giants, likewise, can guarantee themselves a playoff berth if they win the last three games. Moreover, should the Atlanta Falcons defeat Dallas later this evening, the Giants would suddenly find themselves in a position to control ownership of the Divisional crown by winning out. Of course talking about two 7-6 teams battling for the Divisional crown says more about parity and mediocrity than anything else. That does not, however, change the fact that, from a fans perspective, there simply are not many things better than December games against Divisional opponents with playoff implications to both teams. Giants Stadium should be rocking tomorrow.

One very good thing about last week's win over Carolina was the Special Teams play. Jeff Feagles had probably his best game as a Giant and one of the better games of his long career, placing 6 punts inside the 20 and 3 inside the 10. Carolina's Smith had a total of 11 return yards and commented after the game that he was amazed by Feagles' performance. But it was the play of the coverage units that I found significant. They played a fantastic game, especially the kickoff coverage unit that pinned Carolina inside the 20 three times. This was very good news for a unit that has been visibly absent all season long.

The Giants have disappointed me too much this season for me to get my hopes back up about their post-season prospects. Win tomorrow and they will go a long way towards restoring some hope. Win tomorrow and then beat New Orleans and they will have made me a believer once again. But for now, this fan is simply going to enjoy this week for what it is - a late season game against the Philadelphia Eagles with playoff implications for both teams. There simply isn't anything better in sports.

Dallas Take Division Crown From Giants

The Giants elevated their game last Sunday but it still wasn't enough. At the end of the day the Giants defense wasn't good enough to slow down Tony Romo and company and Dallas walked away with the Giants divisional crown. After four straight losses they are a very average 6-6. All talk of a Super Bowl season is gone and we are left instead with rumblings of what needs to be done for next season, whether that be changes in coaching or personnel. Yes, there is some mention of the fact there are still four games left to play and that the Giants could hang on and seal a wild card berth. But listen carefully and you will notice the total lack of conviction - the absence of any fervor or excitement - in such talk. Whether they want to admit it or not, deep down everyone understands that the Giants, even if they clinch a wild card berth, are not going to win the Super Bowl this year. They are simply not in the same league (literally or figuratively) as Denver or San Diego or Baltimore.

Why have the Giants fallen to such mediocrity? Is it the injuries? Before you say "of course" stop to consider whether it is really that simple. Even with everyone healthy this team was never clicking on all cylinders. Special teams stunk in the pre-season. Special teams stink today. And special teams have stunk every day in-between. Even more distressing than the lack of production in kick and punt returns has been the absence of tough as nails hits from the coverage units that pin the returner inside the 20. Those types of plays are important for much more than field position. They are emotional plays that lift the entire team much the way a physical Jeremy Shockey can.

The offense hasn't been much better, even with Toomer and Petitgout. I think (or at least thought) that this was a power house offense. And it is. At least theoretically it is. On paper. Of course, that's the problem. The talent on paper just hasn't translated into domination on the field. Sure, there were moments, flashes, when it seemed that the offense was finally going to get its act together and start tearing up the league. But it just didn't happen. Not this year.

The defense? Everyone knows about the problems in the secondary. But nobody seems to recall what was being said back in June. Tim Lewis was drooling and even publicly expressed his concern that he not allow himself to get too out of control devising schemes to use all his new pass rushing weapons. There wasn't any question the Giants would surpass last year's sack totals. The only question was how many QBs would survive the onslaught the Giants were going to unleash on the passers in the league. Pass rush? What pass rush? Without Michael Strahan - without that one player - there is no pass rush. But how could this monster the Giants were going to unleash this year be totally eliminated by the absence of just one player?

Indeed, that is the point. To accept injuries to Strahan, Toomer, and Petitgout as the explanation for why the Giants are mediocre is to simply say that they are a mediocre team. It isn't as though they lost their QB. We are talking one WR out of 5. One offensive lineman out of 5. And one of four defensive linemen in a position where the team, supposedly, had the greatest depth. I am not saying those injuries aren't key. Quite the contrary in fact. They are key and without those three players the Giants are just average. But that's the point. A truly great team - a powerful team - would be much more than average losing one WR, one offensive lineman, and one defensive lineman in a position of great depth.

Football is a game of ebb and flow - a game of momentum. Watch enough football and you can feel when the momentum changes. A defense could be struggling to generate any kind of pressure at all and then suddenly, after an emotional play (on offense, defense, or ST), the floodgates just open and you know - can just feel - that the sacks will now be coming. And they do. We've all seen it. We've all felt it. We've all watched games where, momentum having changed, you just knew, before the ball is even snapped, that the QB was going to end up on his ass.

What creates momentum? Where does it come from? I certainly don't know. I've never read anything about it. I'm not even certain it has ever been written about. But I believe the primary factor comes from an emotional type play. Not necessarily a play that impacts the score - or even field position. But rather a play that somehow touches an emotional nerve of the team. I hate to get too analytical, but there is probably a physical reason behind this - the type of play I am speaking of is one that likely generates a rush of adrenalin by simply witnessing the play.

Back in their first Super Bowl year, the Giants were playing San Fransisco on Monday night and were losing 17-0 at half time. They went into the locker room looking down and defeated. Early in the second half Simms hit Bavaro on a seam pass and Bavaro then lumbered another 30 yards or so after the catch literally carrying 7-8 defenders all over him, draped on his back, around his waist, and his legs. That single play totally changed the game, if not the season and the giants went on to win 21-17. The 1986 Giants had many, many such plays that year. They had those plays every game. Special teams would pin the returner on a kick off inside the 15 with a bone jarring tackle. Or LT would suddenly take over a game. Or Jim Burt would knock Montana on his ass. Or Carl Banks, or Phil Simms, or Mark Bavaro, or Mark Haynes, or Joe Morris... Each and every one of them stepped forward, at one point or another, to make plays that brought you out of your seat as the play itself was happening - that created awe and a burst of emotion. Plays that were, simply put, momentum changing in nature.

The Giants are not making those type of plays this year. Not enough of them anyway. Tiki Barber provded lots of those plays last year. And he has had some this year. But, even though his numbers are still very good, in my opinion it is the lack of game changing plays of the type I am speaking of, that reflects the biggest difference in his performance this year. The two players that truly epitomize what I am talking about are Jeremy Shockey and Brandon Jacobs. They both have a physical energy that is capable of duplicating Bavaro's play that night in San Fransisco. However, neither has touched the ball often enough to make a difference this year. On defense it is pressure that usually results in momentum changing type plays. It is why I love a pressure defense so much more than a containment defense. An attack style defense has a greater chance of changing momentum. But that has been lacking this year.

In the end, there simply are not enough players on this squad with the capability of making the type of play that changes momentum in a game. That is why the Giants are average. That is why the loss of Toomer and Strahan makes such an impact. There simply aren't enough others stepping up and making momentum changing type plays. And only one conclusion can be reached - it isn't happening because the team doesn't have enough players capable of making them.

What is the point of all this? Well, I've been very conflicted these past few weeks. I love the Giants. I want them to win. To make the playoffs. To provide me with hope, however far fetched, that maybe some how they still win the whole thing. But I know that isn't going to happen. And if it isn't, then what I want is for the Giants to get stronger. In the draft. If they don't win the Super Bowl, will I be wishing next April that they lost their last 4 games to go 6-10? And, if they go 6-10, does that shake this organization to the foundations so that necessary changes are made? I feel ambivalent about Tom Coughlin. I'm not saying I want him fired. But I wouldn't be upset if he was. I therefore think it might actually be good for the long term health of this team if the Giants ended at 6-10, leaving the organization to deal with the changes that would come from an eight game losing streak to finish this oh so special season.

Giants Sing Songs To Get Ready For Dallas

Let's talk reality. With five games left to be played, the Giants can no longer be seriously considered legitimate Super Bowl contenders. Sure, they could beat the Cowboys tomorrow - after all, it was only last Sunday that Tennessee proved that the old adage "on any given Sunday" remains as true today as ever. But a victory over Dallas tomorrow will not fix all that ails the Giants just like the win last week didn't suddenly turn Tennessee into a super power.

This is a team that, heading into the season, seemed to have all the pieces in place for a legitimate Super Bowl run. They had a good mix of veterans and young players and strength across the board - at least on paper. But they never did get their act together. Special teams have been anything but special the entire season. The defense, slow out of the gate yet again, finally got its act together and was the primary reason for the five game winning streak until injuries finally set them back. But it was the offense that was supposedly the strength of this team. And it was the offense that was unable to live up to expectations - an offense that, even when healthy, was never able to get it going on all cylinders - that was somehow unable to hit its stride. An offense that now, with the loss of Toomer and Petitgout, has been reduced to a one dimensional running attack (as an aside, that is the reason Tiki Barber may very well have seen his last 100 yard game).

The Giants are only one game away from first place in the East, so why all the pessimism? Surprisingly, it isn't the loss to the Titans. Nor is it the way they lost - the biggest fourth quarter collapse in Giants history and the fourth largest in NFL history. The Giants didn't play well - their 21-0 lead wasn't really the result of great defense and certainly not a powerful offense. That 21-0 score was more about the Titans than it was about the Giants. Eli Manning actually had a pretty good game from a mechanics standpoint, and that is, and should be, encouraging. And the game itself simply wasn't that important in the standings. After all, the Giants are in total control of their own destiny - if they win every game from this point forward, by definition they win the Super Bowl.

The problem is that this team has lost its identity, self confidence, and swagger (or at least any that it really ever had). Football is the epitome of a "team sport". Team sports are special. You can have a great team on paper but it is team chemistry - team psyche - that creates championships. Group dynamics are in play and group confidence - that swagger - is an incredibly critical component to success on the football field.

We all know about the Tiki Barber comments that caused Tom Coughlin to meet with him privately - again. And we all heard about the Strahan/Burress spat and how they kissed and made up. Although clearly distractions, that stuff didn't bother me too much. No, it was the holding of a players only meeting that told me the Giants heart had stopped beating. This team is about to play what should be the biggest game in almost 20 years against the hated Dallas Cowboys and they have to hold a players only meeting and sing songs about togetherness in order to get ready? Excuse me in advance ladies, but that stuff is for girls and for losers. This is the NFL where only warriors make it to the big dance. And true warriors are too focused on their enemy to waste time holding hands and singing songs like little girls.

Trainwreck In Jacksonville

Your mother always told you to wear clean underwear just in case you're in an accident. On Monday night the world watched a trainwreck unfold on live television in front of their very eyes while bearing witness to the fact that Eli Manning never learned that particular lesson from his mother. He didn't just have a bad game, he had a complete melt down. It wasn't only his continued, inexplicable, inability to throw a football. It was the defeat - defeat that was written all over his face and evident in his sagging posture. His feeble attempt to toss the ball away while being sacked was more than a simple act of desperation - it was a total nervous breakdown on national TV.

The issue has become larger than the destruction of a promising season - it has evolved into the possible destruction of a promising young quarterback. This young man, who supposedly is unaffected by the storm winds that swirl around him, may have lost more than the confidence of his coach and fellow teammates - he may have lost faith in himself. This is no longer about having a bad game - or a bad series of games. It is about his inability to throw an NFL football. Everyone has waited patiently for the superstar quarterback to finally emerge from behind the curtain where he has remained hidden. But over the three year watch, expectant hope has slowly evolved into a dawning realization that perhaps it may never be. At least not in NYC.

So, the trainwreck witnessed by millions on Monday night was not just the high hopes for a Super Bowl season being driven into a ditch. It was so much more. It was the hopes of this franchise - and the future of the head coach. Tom Coughlin has some tough decisions to make. This is no longer only about attempts to salvage the season. He now must be concerned about taking steps to avoid permanent damage to the psyche of the franchise quarterback.

The next two games will not only define the final act of this season. They will define the future of Eli Manning. Next up is Tennessee - the bottom of the barrel of the worst the NFL has to offer. It is a perfect opportunity for Eli Manning and the Giants to catch their breath and gather some much needed confidence. If they somehow manage to do just that and then, maybe - just maybe - go on to defeat the visiting Cowboys the following week, everyone will take a collective breath and all will potentially have been saved - the season and Eli Manning.

That, however, is the rosy scenario. A much darker cloud looms large on the horizon. Should Eli Manning continue his downward spiral and the Giants lose to TN followed by complete domination by the Cowboys in Giants stadium with Eli's meltdown on full display in front of the unforgiving faithful - the consequences will be much more than the complete collapse of a once promising season. It would place Eli Manning at the edge of a precipice with his very career hanging in the balance. And Tom Coughlin would then be facing some very difficult decisions for the Carolina game - decisions with lasting consequences for his quarterback, his coaching tenure, and the franchise itself.

Giants On The Ropes After Loss To Chicago

The Giants have been slammed to the mat with a right uppercut. The question is can they get up for the ten count? Most of the injuries are on the defensive side of the ball, but there seems to be enough depth on defense this year that, thus far, those injuries appear to be less of a concern - at least over the short term.

I believe the critical injury thus far is the loss of Toomer. Toomer was a perfect compliment to Burress and Carter. Carter provided enough of a downfield threat to stretch the field and keep defenses honest. Plaxico was the tall big play threat. But Toomer's role was the most critical - clutch third down, move the chains, possession receiver.

Unfortunately there is no ready replacement for this role. Carter is not the ideal choice. First of all he isn't capable of filling the role of possession receiver. He simply doesn't have the hands or the talent to make the kind of catches Toomer made. Time after time this season Toomer made clutch catches while on his tippy toes on the side and endlines. I do not recall a single occasion when Toomer dropped the ball or failed to keep his toes inbounds. He was the clutch receiver because he was so dependable - you could count on him to make the big play when the chips were down. Does anyone recall seeing Carter ever making those kind of catches?

Moreover, using Carter as the possession receiver eliminates his role as the only real downfield threat the team has, further weakening the Giants passing scheme. The impact of the loss of Toomer upon the passing attack simply cannot be overstated. What made the Giants offense to powerful - so difficult to defend - was its balance. They could beat you through the air or on the ground. You defend one, they beat you with the other. Your choice - but either way you lose.

However, the Giants are now left without any viable third down possession receiver - the first and most basic function of any passing game. Defending against the Giants receiving corp has now become much easier - stop Burress and you eliminate 90 percent of the passing attack. The passing game is no longer very difficult to defend - the Giants are no longer the balanced attack they were when the season started - and their offense is realistically now a much more easily defended one dimensional running attack.

But there was hope. Shockey had not been very involved in the offensive attack and it seemed logical that some of the passes that had been going to Toomer would now go in Shockey's direction. That is until Luke Petitgout went down in the Chicago game. As with Toomer, there is no adequate replacement available for the loss of Petitgout. Worse, the loss of Luke is a double whammy. First, it obviously impacts the passing game. There will be more sacks and overall pressure on Manning. There will much less time for long routes, further reducing an already diminished downfield and shortening the amount of field the defenders have to cover. Furthermore, it will increase Shockey's blocking responsibilities just at the point when he is needed in the passing game. Losing Petitgout just makes the Giants even more one dimensional.

But the second part of the double whammy may be the most damaging. Petitgout was a critical component behind the Giant's great success in running the ball. If the loss of Toomer (and Petitgout) makes the passing game easier to defend, the loss of Luke will make running the ball much more difficult. With a much less theatening passing attack, teams will almost certainly adopt a "stop the run and force Eli Manning to beat you with his arm" approach to Giants games the remainder of this year.

If so, then the balance of this season has suddenly be placed squarely upon the shoulders of Eli Manning, who has been struggling since demolishing Washington. Sure, the Giants went on a 5 game winning streak, but it wasn't Manning and the offense that won those games. That winning streak was the direct result of a resurgent defense. A defense that was suddenly pressuring quarterbacks and getting turnovers.

To my untrained eye, Manning still struggles hitting open receivers in the 8-15 yard range when he isn't under any great pressure. Like many quarterbacks, his completions come in streaks. However, what concerns me is that even during those times in a game when he is "hot" and putting a string of completions together, he is still not hitting his receivers on the run. More often than not the completions come as a result of the receivers making circus catches, reaching behind, up high, or diving to the ground, to grab the ball. Rarely do we see Manning throw the ball right on target without his receiver breaking stride.

It is something that has concerned me well before the season started. The good news is that Manning will learn from this experience. It is a big test for him. Here is a team that headed into the season with all the talent in the world and high expectations for a super bowl run. They find themselves in first place in the Division and with a great Divisional record. Now, it is a team on the ropes and their season could go either way. They are in position to still do something with this season, but they will need their quarterback to step up and shoulder a big part of the burden. In the end, regardless of how it turns out, Eli Manning will benefit merely by going through the ordeal.

A note about the Chicago game. I was very encouraged by what I saw, especially on the defensive side of the ball. During the first half I thought the Bears and Giants had switched uniforms. The Giants defense was dominant - totally kicking butt and playing incredibly physical aggressive football. By the end of the game the Bears put up some big numbers, but that was due in large measure to the total lack of offensive production all game long, along with the lack of depth and substitutions for the defense - they had to get worn down. They showed there is still enough talent on the defensive side of the ball for the Giants to do something this year.

I do not believe there is much reason to do any type of analysis about the match ups for Monday night's game. I am more interested in seeing how the Giants play. Moreover I don't think the match ups will have much to do with the outcome of the game. The outcome will depend more upon answering the questions the Giants will have to answer the rest of this season. Can the defense remain strong? And can Eli step up and create a credible passing attack sufficient to free up the running game?

Giants - Bears Preview

Busy week with no chance to post to my weblog. Or maybe I was just avoiding the task of recording my thoughts, hoping perhaps I'd see things differently with the passing of yet another day.

I was not at all happy with last week's win over the Texans. Yes, a win is a win. That is true and it gives the Giants a five game winning streak and an important two game lead in the Division. But... and there are plenty of "buts". The Giants didn't play well. They escaped. That is all they did.

Before last week's game, I was sharply focused on tonight's big match up with the Bears. Little did I realize that by the time tonight rolled around that winning tonight's game would be the least of my worries. I am extremely concerned about the entire second half of the season - for two reasons.

First, obviously, has to be the injuries. The defense has been decimated. I have not read anything indicating how serious the injuries to Osi and Tuck are - nor when we can anticipate their return. Add the injuries to Strahan, Arrington and Short and the ability of the defense to hold things together has to be seriously questioned. Generating a pass rush will be difficult, which will pressure an already suspect Giants secondary. And an inability to defend the pass will itself create cracks in the Giants strength against the run. Sure, things could be worse. They at least have a first round pick in Kiwi and rookie Wilkinson looks like the real deal. But...

Secondly, I have been concerned about the offense these past few games. The defense had been carrying the offense on this winning streak. The running game has not been dominant. Eli has not had to carry this team on his shoulders - which is a good thing because he hasn't look capable of doing so these past few weeks. But with the injuries on defense, now is the time for the offense to take over. But... (yea another but) the loss of Toomer is a major blow. There simply is no player on the roster capable of taking his place. They need that control receiver. The money receiver that will not drop the pass. That can do the toe dance on the sidelines. The "go to" receiver when they really need to move the chains.

Injuries on defense. The offense not ready for prime time. It just doesn't make me feel warm and cuddly all over. Last week's concerns regarding "confidence" when the Giants meet the Bears in Chicago next January are history. If the Giants lose tonight and are fortunate enough to find themselves in Chicago this January, the Giants will be a totally different team by then. What happened tonight won't really matter. Besides, with all the injuries, they will have plenty of excuses to explain away tonight's score.

No, my concern is more basic. Will the Giants go on a four week losing streak while waiting for the injured to return to the field? I sure hope not, but I am holding my breath.

Tonight's game has all the makings of a disaster for the Giants. The Bears were embarrassed last week. At home. The Giants are left to deal with the hornet's nest Miami stepped on last week. The Giants need a pass rush but I don't know where it will come from. They need their explosive offense tonight but the weatherman doesn't seem to want to help. They need to run the ball, but Chicago is dominating against the run. So they will try to pass but Eli has not exactly looked like his brother these past few weeks and now without Toomer...

The Bears are going to bring the pressure. Plaxico is right - the secondary is not the strength of the Bears defense. The front seven is where the tiger lives. And the tiger is hungry and growling and I feel that Eli will be their primary target. If I am the Bears, the secret to tonight's game is to put Manning on his back after every single pass.

If I am the Giants, I use the no huddle up tempo offense right out of the gate. A lot of two step drops with short crisp patterns to Shockey and Burress. Lots of Tiki and even more of Jacobs. It can be done. Look at Rutgers. But I am worried. Not about the Bears game but about the Giants ability to keep this thing together. It is time for the offense to step up and carry this team for the next 3-4 games. Let's hope they are up for the challenge.

Giants Face Texans

As a fan, it is difficult to focus on this game. Obviously, the Giants cannot afford to overlook any opponent. This is the NFL - professionals who, even on the worst team, are still the best players in the world. However, I don't buy that "on any given Sunday" crap. The bottom line is that Super Bowls are won by dominant teams - and the very definition of a dominant team is one that soundly defeats greatly inferior teams - and does so consistently.

Houston has some players. At least on offense. They have a solid quarterback that has, however, been going through some ups and downs. They have a very good running back who has put up some big numbers in recent games. They have a very strong receiving corps led by Andre Johnson who is leading the entire NFL in receptions (56) and receiving yards (669). And remember - he needed a quarterback on the other side of that connection to get those league leading statistics. So this team has some offensive weapons.

On top of that, the Giants have a rash of injuries on defense - Arrington, Short, Osi, Madison, and Tuck. Yet, even with a depleted defense, the Giants should still make life miserable for Houston QB David Carr. If Houston has any chance on offense, it will be the match up problems they present at wide receiver. The Giants will have to once again stuff the run and bring the pressure. The good news is that they should have little trouble doing so. Strahan will probably get his record breaking sack this game, although I think it would be much more fitting for it to happen the following week against Chicago.

The reason this game should be an old fashioned beating is the advantage the Giants have on the offensive side of the ball. Unlike the 1986 team, it is the offense of the 2006 Giants that has the talent to dominate. As a defensive coordinator you can choose your poison. They can beat you running or through the air. Your choice. They can control the ball on the ground with Tiki and pound you to death with Brandon Jacobs. Or they can throw the ball - high to Burress - in clutch situations to Toomer - or to stretch the field with Carter. They also just happen to have a TE capable of dominating an opponent. And after all that - they have perhaps one of the game's greatest all time receivers out of the backfield in Barber.

Burress is hurting and may not play but, if so, it shouldn't really detract from this offense this week. I will be disappointed if Feagles has to take the field at any time on Sunday. In fact, I think the Giants should consider not dressing him and use the spot for a backup LB or WR (just kidding). The truth is that I am taking Houston lightly. That is my god given right as a fan who is having fun enjoying what is hopefully a great season. The Giants, however, do not have that luxury - not if they truly are SB bound. This is a team they must defeat - and must do so convincingly. If they do, the Giants schedule is such - with the exception of Chicago next week - that they legitimately could run the board the rest of the way.

Giants Down Bucs - Chicago Looms

As anticipated, the swirling winds in Giants stadium rendered the Giants powerful offense one dimensional, allowing Tampa Bay to put 8 men in the box with one goal in mind - stop Tiki Barber and force the game into the hands of Eli. Also, as anticipated, it wasn't enough to allow Tampa Bay to win the game.

The Giants defense played a fantastic game. They limited Tampa Bay to 9 yards of offense in the first half right before Tampa's final drive of the half. That is 9 total yards. And the performance was turned in by a Giants D that had 3 starters that didn't dress (Arrington, Osi, and Madison) - along with Tuck - and Brandon Short was out for most of the game after getting his thigh dinged. It was quite a statement about the Giants strength and depth.

Brandon Jacobs had a huge game - with big runs when the Giants needed it - especially because Tampa was keeping Tiki bottled up. He played with attitude and my only complaint is that the Giants didn't go to him sooner when it was apparent that Tampa was keying on Tiki so heavily.

Almost as soon as the game was over, I found myself thinking about Chicago. I know, there is still Houston and it is bad form to look beyond the next game. But I'm a fan and what fun is that? If the Giants don't beat Houston then they don't deserve the Super Bowl talk. But that is a moot point because they are going to destroy Houston.

Before this weekend I had been thinking that the game against the Bears was a probable loss and that it wasn't an essential game for the Giants - just a bump in the road on the way to a Division Championship. However after this weekend I no longer feel that way. The Bears game is truly a critical game for the Giants if the Super Bowl is truly the goal in 2006.

Chicago completely obliterated the 49ers yesterday. They remind me of the 1985 Bears - which is not a good thing for a Giants fan. The 1985 Giants were an awesome team with only one problem - the path to the Super Bowl went through Chicago that year. The 1985 Bears had a defense for the ages (not an easy admission for a Giants fan since I believe the Giants 1986 defense was one of the greatest ever). But in 1985 Chicago had an absolutely dominating defense that was simply too much for the Giants to overcome in a windy day in Chicago. I am beginning to see parallels in 2006 to 1985, rather that 1986. In two weeks time we will see.

If the Giants can't beat the Bears at home at a time when the Giants are on a roll, how will they have any confidence when they take on the Bears in Chicago in January? When it comes to team sports, one cannot overemphasize the importance of team confidence - a swagger that develops - a sense of destiny that takes hold of a team's psyche. It is crucial and any player that has played on a championship team can tell you all about it. It is for that reason that the Giants must win in two weeks when they play the Bears at home - to provide them with the confidence they will need when they meet again in the NFC Championship game in Chicago.

Giants - Tampa Preview

The Giants are on a roll and face an important test over the next two games. Historically, it seems that the Giants always seem to play "down" to the level of their opponent, losing games they are supposed to win. However the more I've thought about that statement, the more I think it's probably more myth than reality. It didn't happen to the Giants of 1986 (14-2) or the 1990 team (13-3). The reality is much more likely to be that Super Bowl bound teams win the games they are supposed to win - and teams that lose against weaker opponents do so for the simple reason that they just aren't very good.

The Giants will win both of the next two games - and do so despite a rash of injuries from the Dallas game. Injuries are unavoidable and strike every team each year - the only question being who and when. For the Giants, the "when" part of that equation certainly comes at a fortunate time (of course, let's not forget we are not even half way through the season). But, if there is a "good" time to have to play without a few starters, it is certainly preferable that it be against perhaps the weakest two opponents on the Giants schedule .

This is clearly a game the Giants should win. Tampa Bay is playing a rookie 6th round draft pick at QB and he was presumably a 6th round pick for a reason (although Montana proves the fallacy of putting too much emphasis upon draft position - but hopefully Gradkowski is no Joe Montana). The Bucs rank 27th defensively - 30th against the run and 15th against the pass. They aren't much better offensively, ranking 29th in total yards per game. In contrast, the Giants have the number 2 ranked offense in the NFL and the 21st ranked defense (I have experimented with rankings that adjust for strength of opponents played - and the Giants fare much better when adjusted, ranking 3rd offensively and 9th defensively). Either way, the Giants should win - and win handily - at home tomorrow.

If there is a wild card, it is the weather. High winds are predicted that could force both teams to become one dimensional. That could be a huge advantage for Tampa because their defense otherwise stands little chance of slowing the Giants well balanced powerhouse offense. If it is so windy that the passing game becomes totally moot, it could dramatically alter the outcome of the game.

One statistic of minor interest to Strahan might be sacks allowed. The Bucs have allowed only 11 sacks in 6 games, ranking 10th in the NFL overall. The prediction here, however, is that Strahan breaks LT's "official" record this weekend. The windy day that is predicted could make that less likely if neither team is able to even attempt to throw the ball. However, on the flip side, the odds are that the Giants will take a fairly commanding lead, thus forcing the Bucs to throw the ball in the 2nd half regardless how windy it gets. If so, that should provide Strahan with some prime sack opportunities.

Another statistic to watch is the turnover ratio. Tom Coughlin likes to emphasize the importance of that statistic, and right now the Giants are in the middle of the pack in the NFL with 11 takeaways and 11 giveaways. I am sure TC is not very happy that they are not substantially on the positive side of that particular ledger. It is a statistic that bears watching over the 2nd half of the season - starting tomorrow.

The Giants win the next two games because... (drum roll)... like the Giants of 1986 and 1990, Super Bowl bound teams win the games they are supposed to win.

Giants Stand Tall In Dallas

Dallas never seemed totally dead. There was always that small spark - the hint of doubt whether the Cowboys might come back. The Giants secondary gave up some big plays. The offense didn't have its best game. Yet, all of those "negatives" is what perhaps makes this win so convincing. The Giants didn't play their best game. Yet here they were on a Monday night in Dallas facing a game that was more important to the home team. And they still won.

This was the type of win that super bowl bound teams achieve. As the season progresses, I am reminded of that special feeling I had during 1986. The next test is whether this team can do what so many other Giant teams have been unable to - win against teams they are supposed to beat. A team that is super bowl bound simply doesn't lose to teams like Tampa Bay or Houston. These games should be nothing but confidence boosters that enable the Giants to go on a true roll ending up with 5 straight wins when the confront Chicago. And they should do exactly that.

As I said before pre-season ever started, this is a special season - a one time special mix of players. With Tiki announcing his retirement, that is more true than I had realized. The loss of Arrington may actually also be a positive. Before the Dallas game, it had occurred to me that Coughlin might be forced to consider leaving Short on the field and replacing Arrington with Emmons when Emmons was ready to return. Had that happened, it could have caused some emotional turmoil. I love Arrington's attitude and I get the sense the players feel the same way. Had Arrington been benched, it would certainly have not been a positive thing in the locker room. There is a touch of irony in the fact that his strong performance Monday night may have made the entire issue moot. However, the Giants now get the substitution without any turmoil and, in the end, that may be a good thing.

But for the selection of Kiwi this past spring, the loss of Osi would have been far more devastating to the team than Arrington. Of course, that is not why the Giants made the selection and it is not a validation of the draft (and I loved the pick from day one). However, it certainly is going to be a great opportunity for Kiwi to gain some valuable experience and comes at a perfect time in the schedule. Every team loses starters to injuries every season. Super Bowl teams are able to overcome those injuries and it is my expectation that the Giants will not miss a beat with the loss of Arrington and Osi. We'll know better after the next two games.

Giants @ Dallas - Preview

Finally, a game that isn't "must win". Sure, a win Monday night would mean so much to these Giants. It would put them on a 3 game winning streak heading into a 3 game home stretch. More importantly, they would be 3-0 in the Division with victories against Philly, Washington and Dallas - clearly putting them in the driver's seat.

But, for me - in this game - on Monday night - in Dallas - how they play is more important than what the scoreboard reads at the end of the night. It is crucial that they demonstrate to themselves that the team that showed up against the Eagles and Seattle has been permanently put to rest.

Although Dallas is clearly a good team, the Giants can win this game. So far this season Dallas has wins against Washington (2-3), TN (1-5), and Houston (1-4), but lost both games against teams with winning records - Jacksonville (3-2) and Philly (4-2).

Dallas has three great receivers in TO, Glenn, and Witten, but can Bledsoe get them the ball without giving up too many sacks and interceptions? As usual, the answer will be determined by the interior line play and whether the Giants keep Bledsoe under constant pressure. Based upon their performance the past two weeks, I like the Giants to win that matchup.

On the other side of the ball, it should be no surprise that Parcells is building a great 3-4 defense. They have a very strong front seven and Demarcus Ware, whom I believe is the closest thing to LT of any young player I've seen in many years, is really coming into his own in his 2nd year. The Giants will need a good mix between play and pass on 1st and 2nd downs to keep Dallas guessing. If the offensive line protects Eli, I look for the Giants' receivers to have a big game Monday night. I think Plaxico is personally motivated to show up TO and I think Shockey, if he plays with the same aggressiveness we saw last week, could be a huge factor. I like the Giants to win this matchup too. The Giants can beat you on the ground - as Tiki demonstrated last week - or in the air. They simply have too many offensive weapons for Dallas to control.

This should be a close hard fought game. It is a Divisional home game for Dallas, and they have much more at stake. It is also Monday night and, for whatever reason, the Giants historically have found ways to disappoint in prime time. That was not true, however, on a Monday night in November, 1986 in San Fransisco when the Giants, down 17-0 at the half, came out and crushed the 49ers after an unbelievably great play by a TE by the name of Bavaro stirred the entire team. Shockey is cut from the same mold (at least on the field) and is equally capable of generating the type of play that arouses the emotions and solidifies a team into a winner - just like Bavaro did for the Giants 20 years ago.

Giants In The Hunt For Good After Atlanta

The Giants dominated Atlanta yesterday. They clearly corrected whatever had been wrong before the bye week. One gets the sense they will now remain competitive the rest of the way this season. If so, this can become that magical season so many Giants fans anticipated.

Tiki had an awesome game... but it was the defense that played with attitude right from the beginning. After forcing Atlanta to punt, Eli was intercepted on the Giants very first play from scrimmage and Atlanta suddenly had the ball back on the Giants 20. At that point things could have gone very wrong very fast for the Giants. But the defense stood tall, sacking Vick on the first play followed by an interception by Madison on 3rd down.

The defense never looked back from there. The stat sheet shows Atlanta with 223 rushing yards but half of that total came from the only two plays Atlanta made all day - a 90 yard run by Dunn and a 22 yard run by Vick. The Giants D contolled Atlanta the entire day. Vick, sacked a career high 7 times, never found any running room and was kept neatly boxed in the pocket. Dunn's 90 yard touchdown run early in the 3rd made it 14-3. Despite the score, the Giants defense was so dominating that it was clear it was only be a matter of time before the hammer fell.

That hammer was Tiki Barber. Following Dunn's run, the Giants ended up with the ball at their own 11 yard line. With their backs to the wall, Tiki ripped off a 29 yard run throwing a shiver of a forearm as he made contact. His next carry was for 16 more yards. It was Tiki time and the Giants held the ball for 21 of the first 26 minutes of the 2nd half. Against a team that prides itself on its run defense, Barber rushed for 185 yards on 26 carries, the fifth-highest rushing total of his career.

If Tiki was the hammer, the defense was the anvil. Following Dunn's run, the defense limited Atlanta to 29 yards rushing the remainder of the day. While the offense was busy putting up 24 unanswered points, the defense forced the Falcons to go three-and-out three straight times over the third and fourth quarters. The defense played inspired football the entire game - beginning to end.

Sam Madison, Osi, Cofield - all had big games. But the news on defense was the play of Brandon Short, replacing the injured Emmons. If Short continues to play as well as he has the past two games, he will not be moved back to the bench by Emmons when Emmons is ready to return. Rather, it is more likely that Emmons, once healthy, moves over to his old spot, forcing Arrington to the bench. I love Lavar's attitude and positive influence off the field... but if he still hasn't begun to make an impact on the field by the time Emmons is ready to return? We shall see.

Perhaps most significant for the future fortunes of this team was the play of Jeremy Shockey. Shockey had 6 catches for two touchdowns (surprisingly the first 2 TD performance of his career). More importantly he played angry mean aggressive punch-your-lights-out football. As Tiki put it after the game, "Jeremy had his coming out party". Jeremy Shockey adds another dimension to this team when he plays with attitude and the Giants have to be hoping there is much more to come.

This was a turning point for the Giants. Back to back wins for the first time this season. Winning away from home against a tough NFL team. Excited by the knowledge that while the win was impressive - it wasn't close to what this team is truly capable of achieving. They know they are back to playing solid football. And they know that from this point forward - they are in the hunt for good.

Giants - Falcons Preview

This is an important opportunity for the Giants to string together back to back wins for the first time this season. It won’t be easy. For all the talk about stopping Vick, Atlanta is a low scoring team that relies, first and foremost, upon its defense. A defense that, once again, is very solid and has allowed exactly one - that's right - one - touchdown so far this season (a trick play by New Orleans no less).

They have been especially stout against the run, holding Carolina to 65 yards rushing, Tampa to 40 yards, and limiting Arizona to a paltry 31. Only New Orleans, with 146 yards, has had any success running the ball against Atlanta.

They’ve given up a bit more yardage through the air but that is because teams are forced to throw against them. Tampa threw for 311 yards but that was on 53 attempts, completing only 28 for a 5.8 yard avg per attempt. Carolina was held to 150 yards (21-39, 3.5 yards per attempt) and Arizona had 156 yards (16-28, 4.9 yards per attempt). Once again it was New Orleans that had the most success, completing 20-28 for 180 yards (6.2 yards per attempt).

Although obviously very strong defensively, the Giants appear to have all the offensive weapons to present Atlanta's biggest challenge so far this year. The key for the Giants will be a repeat of last week’s zero turnover performance. They again need to establish the running game but Atlanta's defense is geared to stop the run and will be looking to shut it down early. Therefore, early on, I look for the Giants to use a short passing game to set up both the run and the long ball – and keep Atlanta’s quick defense off balance. Look for a lot of 4-6 yard gains on short dump (and screen) passes to Tiki and Jacobs, as well as the quick tosses we saw last week to Plaxico. If healthy, I’d also look for Shockey to get involved early. That should open up the run and also allow the Giants to take some shots downfield.

If the Giants play it safe – and have zero turnovers - they should win the battle against Atlanta’s defense. They just have too many weapons for Atlanta to handle.

On defense, things for the Giants are more straight forward. Atlanta’s offense is no secret. They depend almost exclusively upon the run. And although Michael Vick is exciting to watch when he runs for 12-15 yards at a clip, the bulk of the yardage comes from the running backs. Atlanta leads the league in rushing - by a wide margin - and although Vick already has two 100 yard games, the legs that make this team go belong to Warrick Dunn and rookie Jerious Norwood. Atlanta depends upon large chunks of yards from their running backs and they have to be the Giants primary focus on 1st and 2nd down this week.

At the same time the Giants have to contain Vick. It is foolhardy to try to do that solely with your four down linemen. As crazy as it sounds, the Giants need to use a lot of run blitzes on obvious passing downs in order to clog the running lanes and keep Vick in the pocket. On 3rd down look for Tuck and Kiwi to come on the field – either in the tackle spots or – I hope - as linebackers. I suspect this is one game Tim Lewis has game planned since early July because it is a perfect opportunity to use all his toys. I especially like Kiwi’s speed and would love to see Kiwi in a spy role against Vick in some obvious passing situations. If so, I think Kiwi will have a huge game.

The Giants have played well in domes over the years and they are due for back to back wins. The Giants have too much talent on offense for Atlanta to handle and I don’t see Atlanta running wild against the Giants. My prediction: Giants 24 Atlanta 17.

Giants Return To Their Roots Against Redskins

With their backs against the wall, the Giants needed to get back to playing physical "Giants football" even more than they needed a "W". And that is exactly what they did while defeating Washington yesterday 19-3. On offense they came out with a "shove it down your throat" run first game plan. On defense they dominated the point of attack, aggressively pursuing both Portis and Brunell.

The win over the Redskins yesterday was more impressive than last year's 36-0 rout. The Giants had been playing poorly, especially on defense, while Washington was on a roll offensively. It was a recipe for disaster. Yet the Giants D went out and limited a Washington team that had averaged 500 yards a game during the prior two weeks, to 86 net yards passing, 78 yards rushing, and a total of 3 points (scored only after a horrendous roughing the passer call on Osi kept the drive alive). The G-Men shut down Clinton Portis. The Giants secondary played a great game, holding Santana Moss to 3 catches for 39 yards. And Brunell was under pressure for most of the day, sacked three times. According to the NFL official stats, Washington had zero red zone opportunities the entire game.

On the other side of the ball, the Giants returned to "lunch bucket" football, running the ball 36 times and establishing physical dominance. The O-line played a great game, creating holes for Tike and Jacobs and didn't allow a single sack. Eli and Toomer had monster games and Buress had some incredible downfield blocks. The offense put together a killer 15 play touchdown drive in the 3rd quarter that ate up 8:05 on the clock and sealed the game.

This was exactly the type of game plan the Giants needed. For that reason my "game ball" goes to Tom Coughlin for remembering his Giants roots and adopting a game plan that allowed the players to play physical aggressive Giants football.

Side note: Where is Shockey's head? With the Giants backed up on their own 2 yard line, instead of getting down to business, Shockey turns around and engages Siragusa in the endzone about the offensive pass interference call against him during a prior series - all while the rest of the offense is huddled up. This kid needs to learn to focus.

Shockey Postscript: BBI forum posters correctly pointed out to me that Jeremy's chat with Siragusa was during a television time out and therefore not really that big of a deal.

Restoring Giants Pride - Redskins Pregame

We've all seen the film of Tom Coughlin's locker room prouncement following the comeback against the Eagles that the players had demonstrated some "Restoration of Giants Pride". Many - myself included - thought the emotion from that comeback might serve as a springboard to ignite this Giant's team. Sadly, what transpired that following week in Seattle surely wasn't Giant's Pride.

I remain convinced that this is the most talented Giants team since 1986. Of course, that is the reason why the disappointment has been so sharp, the worries so pronounced - the frustration so evident. The Giants knew last spring they needed to be in mid-season form by the start of the season because they faced the toughest part of a very brutal schedule right up front, at the very beginning. Instead, they have played passive disorganized football - and have not demonstrated any rhythm or flow on either side of the ball.

Sunday they face a rejuvenated Redskins team that is on a roll. Brunell set an NFL record 2 games ago, completing 22 straight passes. Moss already has 17 receptions in 2006 and is averaging 19.2 yards per catch. Last week he scored three touchdowns and was named NFC Player of the Week. Over the past two games Portis has run for 197 yards and three touchdowns, during which time their offensive line did not allow a single sack.

The approach the Giants need to take for this game is simple and straight forward. It has nothing to do with x's and o's, game plans or schemes. The players must be allowed to play themselves out of the doldrums they've exhibited thus far this season. They must be allowed to attack - on both sides of the ball. Give them an outlet to unleash all that pent up anger and frustration.

On offense, give the O-line an opportunity to establish physical dominance. Run blocking is aggressive, pass blocking passive. The Giants need to run, run and then - when the Redskins least expect it - run some more. A little bit of smash mouth football, baby.

On defense, stop forcing them to sit back and take punch after punch. Forget about "bend don't break". Let them be aggressive - let them attack. Attack the running game. Attack the quarterback. If the Giants do not get any sacks they will lose this game. They need to do whatever it takes to bring pressure - even if that means further exposing an already weak secondary. The pass rush needs a spark - a springboard to get itself going. They must bring the pressure on Sunday - even if it means bringing 6-7-8 men and getting burned for some long plays. Once they get the pressure going, things will open up for Stahan and Osi and soon enough the blitzes will become less necessary. A little bit of smash mouth football, baby.

The Giants have the talent to play dominating football - on both sides of the ball. This isn't a finesse team. This is a team that must be allowed to exact its pound of flesh. All they need is a game plan that allows them to play some smash mouth football. This is a make or break game and their season is on the line. This is the time - this is the game - for "Restoring Giants Pride".

Bye Week - Looking Ahead

This past week Tim Lewis said there was no reason to panic - if the Giants are still playing poorly by week 10, then he'll get worried. Well, here's a news flash for you Tim. These Giants better get their act together in a hurry because they can't afford to wait until week 10 to start worrying.

Take a peek at the NFC East schedule over the next four weeks. The Eagles play GB, NO, and Tampa and by the end of week 7 are a lock to be 5-2 (and probably 6-1 since they figure to permanently chase TO out of Philly). Dallas gets to tune up against the likes of TN and Houston. The Giants? They host Washington then travel to visit Michael Vick before heading into Dallas.

Even if the Giants come out blazing after the bye week and crush the Redskins, taking on Michael Vick in Atlanta won't be easy, nor will defeating Parcells in Dallas. But what if the Giants come out of the bye week still looking like stumble bums and lose to Washington? Can you say 1-5?

We've all heard it before - it's way too early to talk about must win games. And I admit I've already worn out the phrase by talking about it before the Eagles game (and I'll say it again - that was a must win game). Yet here we are only approaching game 4 with the Giants in another must win situation. Even if they win, they could still lose in Atlanta and Dallas and end up 2-4. But if they play poorly and stumble at home against Washington, they almost certainly go 1-5 and find their season in shambles.

Washington certainly won't be a gimme game. They are already 1-2, facing Jacksonville tomorrow, NY in week 5 and visit Peyton Manning in week 7. Their season is probably already over, but lose to the Giants next Sunday and it is virtually assured. So this is a huge game for Washington. And remember, Brunell is hot, having thown for a NFL record 22 straight completions last week. It won't be easy and the Giants will have to be firing on all cylinders. Tim Lewis, are you listening? Week 10? How does game 4 sound?

Giants Shockied In Seattle

I am trying to take a "half full" view rather than a"half empty" approach to the state of the Giants. More than the loss, how they lost yesterday in Seattle was probably a good thing. This team is in trouble and yesterday's total disaster should be a catalyst for some necessary change. We will find out in two weeks whether Coughlin is a real coach or just a power hungry totalitarian who demands the respect he otherwise can't earn. I am not encouraged by two aspects of Coughlin I saw yesterday:

1. Coughlin's benching of Burress. While I believe Burress has the most talent of any Giants' receiver in recent memory, I have not been exactly thrilled by all of his immature antics and displays. It's therefore a bit odd to find myself concerned about Coughlin's benching of Burress yesterday. After all, my pre-game post actually called for the coaching staff to make lineup changes - to adopt a rule that you make plays or you sit and give someone else the opportunity. But, I am not a proponent of punishing players for making mistakes when they are trying to make plays. I have no problem if Coughlin made a decision that his back injury made Burress a liability. But that does not appear to have been the reason. Instead, I fear Coughlin chose to make an example out of Burress and it makes me a bit uneasy wondering why he selected Burress as his target. Furthermore, punishing players for making mistakes when they are trying to make plays is generally counter-productive. It simply sends the message that it is better to make no plays at all than to make a mistake trying to make a play.

2. Coughlin's comments after the game. While he said he took responsibility for the loss, in the same breath he said the schemes were fine and that the problem was simply a matter of poor execution by the players. Translation? The coaching staff and I are doing a great job - the problem is that our players simply suck.

I realize I am playing psycho analyst here, and I am certainly not saying the players are playing great. But, I do believe the disaster in Seattle presents opportunities - to make adjustments in both personnel and in the coaching schemes - an opportunity to bring this team together. It equally has the ability to tear the team apart. It also presents the opportunity for the public to learn whether Tom Coughlin is truly a great coach or just a pretender.

I think back to yesterday's game and see two primary problems:

1. Tom Coughlin knew the Giants were heading into a stadium full of noise against a very strong well balanced team. Seattle's defense led the league in sacks last year and has been playing even stronger so far this year. Under that scenario, I believe there was only one game plan, offensively, to adopt. Use the entire 1st and most of the 2nd quarters trying to physically dominate the line of scrimmage. Pound the ball with Tiki and a strong dose of Brandon Jacobs. Refuse to deviate if not immediately successful. Be willing to punt. A conservative and safe approach but one that provides a greater chance of success in the atmosphere the Giants were facing yesterday. And there is nothing that demoralizes an opponent more than getting beaten physically on the line of scrimmage.

2. The Giants had to create a pass rush. I am certainly not saying the secondary is playing great. However, it is truly impossible to get a good reading on just how poorly the secondary is playing when the opposing quarterback is under absolutely no pressure whatsoever.

These were two of the three keys I posted before yesterday's game and I believe yesterday would have been a totally different game had the Giants adopted both of these keys as their game plan out of the box.

I am certainly no professional coach - and I feel uncomfortable pretending that I know how to game plan better than Coughlin. But there it is. Like Shockey, I've said it. Unlike Shockey, I'm not a member of the team and my comments can't disrupt team unity. He needs to become a man and say what he needs to say straight to Coughlin's face and learn to control his emotions in public.

Amazingly, I am still not down about this team. Perhaps I am deluded. Maybe they really do stink and have no talent on either side of the ball. But I continue to think they are loaded with talent. It will be interesting to see in two weeks time whether Coughlin has made the necessary adjustments to have them playing that way.