is that I actually see us losing both games to them. Since Shanahan arrived he seems to be finding ways to outcoach TC. Anyone have the record against them since Shanahan came on board.
Green Bay (HOME) - W
Dallas (HOME) - W
@ Washington - W/L toss-up
@ San Diego - W/L toss-up
Seattle (HOME) - L
@ Detroit - L
Washington - W
They'd finish between 6-10 and 8-8 in this realistic quasi-prediction...9-7 is the VERY top of their win total that could happen. Going 9-7 means getting hot and upsetting Detroit on the road, or Seattle at Giants Stadium. Could it happen? Sure it could. Will it? That's tough to see happening at this point unless a back-up QB is playing for one of those two teams at that point. This all assumes of course that the Giants stay healthy themselves, and stop making dumb plays to beat themselves, which is asking a lot.
There's not a chance in hell this team beats Seattle.
I don't care about how far the Seahawks have to travel, I don't even care if Wilson decides to take the week off.
Their defense, with what their strengths are vs what their weaknesses are, is going to eat what the Giants pretend to be an offense alive. It may very well somehow end up worse than the Carolina game.
Gotta root for the rest of the division to continue stinking it up...
The teams that might have the best shot at upsetting the apple cart here a little bit is the eagles. If they beat the Redskins this week, they're going to have a decent chance to win the division believe it or not, which is nauseating to say, especially with their Defense. NFC Least indeed.
They were turnover prone, but they could actually move the ball and score without having to be handed the ball on the five. Both seem like such novel concepts now.
or one win just enough....we'll be short this year, but as long as they play some meaningful games at the end of the season, considering our 0-6 start, I'll be satisfied....7-9 is my prediction as well.
what if the OL is in fact slowly getting better each game as they gel (as a unit) and as individuals with little or no NFL experience starting (Pugh and Cordle) gain that starting experience?
I can't judge the OL myself beyond the obvious that Eli's been under pressure and the running game has largely sucked; I'm often watching the games on crappy streams, since only a few have been broadcast here.
But I'm willing to accept Joey's review info that Cordle has improved each game (backed up by Eric's observations.) Pugh too seems to be improving. Brown is back (at least for now) and is both more experienced in the Giants' system, bigger, stronger, and a better blocker than Wilson. The other backs likely to get PT (Jacobs, if he's ever better, and Hillis) are also better blockers than Wilson. Myers has been an awful fit for this system, vis a vis his lack of blocking, but reports are that he too has (at least slightly) improved. Then add in a largely invisible Hakeem Nicks to this point of the season, and that's just not who or what Hakeem Nicks is; he's more than proven himself at this level. And Randle, still a 2nd year player only in this complicated O, but getting more and more experience in the system, not to mention him learning what Eli expects and Eli learning RR's body language...
It's a stretch, but it's not out of the question for this team (particularly this offense) to be in a process of evolving into something better. Heck they can't get worse!
And the defense - how can you not like the fact that the defense is currently carrying the offense? Having TT back has been an emotional and intellectual lift, and allowed Rolle to be more Rolle as a true safety. Beason has elevated the linebacking unit; not just by his own play but seemingly as an inspiration to a career stiff like Keith Rivers - or maybe it's just more schematic, and Beason's presence allow Rivers to do what he's best at (whatever that is)?
Getting back to whatever I can notice of the OL play on my lousy stream vs Oakland. I saw pressure coming because Oakland's blitzers went free altogether - not so much guys getting beat by being outplayed. Eli, the OL, communication and cohesiveness in play are all bound to, or at least likely to, or at minimum might possibly, get better.
In which case I don't see the Lions or San Diego running roughshod over the Giants, and think there's an outside chance of getting to 9-7 and taking the division.
Going 9-7 means getting hot and upsetting Detroit on the road, or Seattle at Giants Stadium. Could it happen? Sure it could. Will it? That's tough to see happening at this point unless a back-up QB is playing for one of those two teams at that point. This all assumes of course that the Giants stay healthy themselves, and stop making dumb plays to beat themselves, which is asking a lot.
Re the "back up" QB thing you mentioned; our D playing at its best can defeat teams let by Phillip Rivers and Matt Stafford my friend. It's more the dumb mistakes and horrid STs performances that will do us in in either of those games than the brilliance of Stafford or Rivers, IMO.
I wouldn't bet on us in that game but it's absolutely not impossible. Mike James ran wild on them IN Seattle and the Bucs had a legitimate shot at beating them... they just couldn't seal the deal. If we had to go to Seattle I'd say there was as close to no chance as you can get but with them coming here who the hell knows. And we don't know what the state of the Giants will be at that point. They could be right in the middle of everything or completely out of it. Too much can change between now and then.
That is my prayer along with Eli getting "hot" with Nicks and our group of TE's who are improving.
The key to a late run (thinking 2007) is for the youth to step up and surprise and to get healthy. Who is to say what will be in Seattle? One play can change an entire team.
I remember the Jets in 1986 - it looked like a possible NY super bowl but injuries killed the Jets. Maybe Seattle and others get hit and we don't? We shall see.
Doesn't look good for 9-7 making it as a Wild Card this year with 8 teams in the NFC having winning records as of now.
NFC Playoff Picture: Giants' odds improving - ( New Window )
A running qb that can throw deep? A defense that will blow through our OL?
5-11, 6-10.....
Dallas (HOME) - W
@ Washington - W/L toss-up
@ San Diego - W/L toss-up
Seattle (HOME) - L
@ Detroit - L
Washington - W
They'd finish between 6-10 and 8-8 in this realistic quasi-prediction...9-7 is the VERY top of their win total that could happen. Going 9-7 means getting hot and upsetting Detroit on the road, or Seattle at Giants Stadium. Could it happen? Sure it could. Will it? That's tough to see happening at this point unless a back-up QB is playing for one of those two teams at that point. This all assumes of course that the Giants stay healthy themselves, and stop making dumb plays to beat themselves, which is asking a lot.
Their defense, with what their strengths are vs what their weaknesses are, is going to eat what the Giants pretend to be an offense alive. It may very well somehow end up worse than the Carolina game.
They were turnover prone, but they could actually move the ball and score without having to be handed the ball on the five. Both seem like such novel concepts now.
You have a point Kyle.
I can't judge the OL myself beyond the obvious that Eli's been under pressure and the running game has largely sucked; I'm often watching the games on crappy streams, since only a few have been broadcast here.
But I'm willing to accept Joey's review info that Cordle has improved each game (backed up by Eric's observations.) Pugh too seems to be improving. Brown is back (at least for now) and is both more experienced in the Giants' system, bigger, stronger, and a better blocker than Wilson. The other backs likely to get PT (Jacobs, if he's ever better, and Hillis) are also better blockers than Wilson. Myers has been an awful fit for this system, vis a vis his lack of blocking, but reports are that he too has (at least slightly) improved. Then add in a largely invisible Hakeem Nicks to this point of the season, and that's just not who or what Hakeem Nicks is; he's more than proven himself at this level. And Randle, still a 2nd year player only in this complicated O, but getting more and more experience in the system, not to mention him learning what Eli expects and Eli learning RR's body language...
It's a stretch, but it's not out of the question for this team (particularly this offense) to be in a process of evolving into something better. Heck they can't get worse!
And the defense - how can you not like the fact that the defense is currently carrying the offense? Having TT back has been an emotional and intellectual lift, and allowed Rolle to be more Rolle as a true safety. Beason has elevated the linebacking unit; not just by his own play but seemingly as an inspiration to a career stiff like Keith Rivers - or maybe it's just more schematic, and Beason's presence allow Rivers to do what he's best at (whatever that is)?
Getting back to whatever I can notice of the OL play on my lousy stream vs Oakland. I saw pressure coming because Oakland's blitzers went free altogether - not so much guys getting beat by being outplayed. Eli, the OL, communication and cohesiveness in play are all bound to, or at least likely to, or at minimum might possibly, get better.
In which case I don't see the Lions or San Diego running roughshod over the Giants, and think there's an outside chance of getting to 9-7 and taking the division.
Unlikely, but possible.
Re the "back up" QB thing you mentioned; our D playing at its best can defeat teams let by Phillip Rivers and Matt Stafford my friend. It's more the dumb mistakes and horrid STs performances that will do us in in either of those games than the brilliance of Stafford or Rivers, IMO.
The key to a late run (thinking 2007) is for the youth to step up and surprise and to get healthy. Who is to say what will be in Seattle? One play can change an entire team.
I remember the Jets in 1986 - it looked like a possible NY super bowl but injuries killed the Jets. Maybe Seattle and others get hit and we don't? We shall see.