I understand the frustration, and I yell during a game as much as anyone. But a few hours after a loss I am usually looking forward to the next game.
Last year at 0-6, I still had hopes of a run that would get them into play off contention. As it turns out the games leading up to the second Cowboy game were meaningful games as a win in that game would have propelled the Giants into a tie for the division lead. (My point, I probably enjoyed the 4 game winning streak leading up to that game more than those who had thrown in the towel, or stopped watching all together.
This year at 3-4, 2 games out of a play off position, 3 of the next 4 at home, and 3 division games at home, I don't think it is even a stretch to think the season still has a ways to go.
Some say it is delirious to believe this team can win 3 of the next 4 or even 2 of them, which would set them up to make a run. I will just remind you that was what was being said about the 07 and 11 Giants.
Maybe I'm more optimistic because I don't think the Giants played as badly against the Cowboys as many of you do. The offensive line improved their pass protection, and the Giants had some nice drives.
Yes the defense couldn't get off the field, but no defense is getting off the field at the moment against the Cowboys.
The running game was awful, I think getting Jennings and Schwartz back might help.
I could be wrong, but I know this. I look forward the Giants football and the NFL in general. I know from reading many posts that a lot of posters on this site have diminished enthusiasm. Nothing wrong with that, but it does reek of front running a bit.
But here is my deal until the Giants get eliminated in any given season I hope for the best, and in the end I think I enjoy the seasons more than some who give up so easily.
I know my optimism is not shared by many on this site, again that is fine. But the doom and gloom so often expressed here makes the site less fun to visit for anyone still rooting for a good season.
Analysis of the games are great, but the defeatism is real not something that is fun to be connected with.
The major problem is, the schedule. We've got four games where we will probably be underdogs in every one, and three of those are at home.
I really feel the best we could do is 2-2, leaving us at 5-6....which would set us up for a stretch run against weaker opponents.......
I just don't see us going 2-2.
We have one DL man that is a threat on a pass rush, and if you double him, you have effectively eliminated the pass rush....heck, when you triple team him by rushing only 3, what do you expect?
This defense doesn't have an effective Beason this year...DRC is in and out of the lineup......Demps is your starting safety.....this team week after week has miscommunication problems in the defensive backfield at inopportune times, the first Escobar td, the 3rd and long pass to Dez with Dallas deep in their territory, etc....
when you need a stop from this defense, it can't deliver...it lives and breathes on a turnover.....
The offense, continuously shoots itself in the foot...a dropped pass, OL penalty, fumble, missed block, etc.
We are losing key players, and have no replacements.....I am surprise the Dallas D did not bring pressure up the middle with stunts like the Eagles....other teams will, I'm sure.....this team is just too prone to mistakes, in all phases of the game.....
Football seasons often turn on one game, sometimes on one play, or even one off field incident. I think think most fans understand that even if some have temporarily forgotten it.
if you think Dallas' schedule is brutal, what about Philly's?
We have one DL man that is a threat on a pass rush, and if you double him, you have effectively eliminated the pass rush....heck, when you triple team him by rushing only 3, what do you expect?
This defense doesn't have an effective Beason this year...DRC is in and out of the lineup......Demps is your starting safety.....this team week after week has miscommunication problems in the defensive backfield at inopportune times, the first Escobar td, the 3rd and long pass to Dez with Dallas deep in their territory, etc....
when you need a stop from this defense, it can't deliver...it lives and breathes on a turnover.....
The offense, continuously shoots itself in the foot...a dropped pass, OL penalty, fumble, missed block, etc.
We are losing key players, and have no replacements.....I am surprise the Dallas D did not bring pressure up the middle with stunts like the Eagles....other teams will, I'm sure.....this team is just too prone to mistakes, in all phases of the game.....
Some of the answers are on the roster D.Moore needs "more" playing time he is a true pass rusher ..get him out there. Honestly Steveie Brown has learned his lesson put him back there as the starter and get Nate Berhe some playing time as well.
Didn't the Texans have their starting QB? Didn't we beat the Redskins with the same Kirk Cousins that everyone both nationally and on this site thought that we would get blown out by. Didn't we beat the Lions with Matthew Stafford last season and the Skins with RGIII...come on Brother try to keep up
But those are just facts. What counts are feeeeeeeeelings.
IMO only 2 of the 4 losses have been really ugly. Truth is if Jennings doesn't have a unforced fumble against the Cards we probably win that game. And the Dallas game I still think we played pretty well but we were without too many key players.
We're a pretender, and the fact that even Coughlin is "Talking" tells me they're desperate.
The defense is soft, special teams are consistently poorly coached (whether we have a good PK/Punter regardless).
Our offense is only now starting to turn around, and guess what? It's because someone finally started paying attention to our OL the past two years and we have a fresh OC. The offensive line will be fine a year from now.
The rest of the team is not playoff caliber quite frankly. It's just not.
at the same time, dallas and philly are one torn ACL away from having their fortunes changed dramatically.
i will keep watching and cheering and see where things play out.
Sorry missed your point about above .500 ..you are indeed correct
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IMO only 2 of the 4 losses have been really ugly. Truth is if Jennings doesn't have a unforced fumble against the Cards we probably win that game. And the Dallas game I still think we played pretty well but we were without too many key players.
And if only Donnell didn't fumble.
In summation, if only the Giants played better than their opposition, made fewer mistakes, scored more points, they'd have a better record right now.
at the same time, dallas and philly are one torn ACL away from having their fortunes changed dramatically.
i will keep watching and cheering and see where things play out.
Our defense, when healthy, has MORE than enough talent to go far. The defense's biggest problem is Fewell. Second biggest problem is pathetic linebacker play.
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In comment 11933506 Beer Man said:
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IMO only 2 of the 4 losses have been really ugly. Truth is if Jennings doesn't have a unforced fumble against the Cards we probably win that game. And the Dallas game I still think we played pretty well but we were without too many key players.
And if only Donnell didn't fumble.
In summation, if only the Giants played better than their opposition, made fewer mistakes, scored more points, they'd have a better record right now.
My point is that sometimes a loss is just that ...the other team played better and just was better that day. Then you have games like the Philly last Sunday night or Detroit to open the season where your just fucked when you show up at the stadium.
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In comment 11933536 NYBEN said:
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In comment 11933506 Beer Man said:
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My point is that sometimes a loss is just that ...the other team played better and just was better that day. Then you have games like the Philly last Sunday night or Detroit to open the season where your just fucked when you show up at the stadium.
I understand. And my point is that we seem to spend a lot of time parsing the relative quality of Giants losses on here. Sometimes losing teams just find different ways to lose.
Not when you still have to play them.
I'm hoping that changes, but we've been a pretty mediocre team for the past 24 months.
There were not many who felt we were more then a 6-8 win team, but we all hoped for at least a team that was in games and being competitive. For the most part that has been the case.
Hopefully they'll play better or more consistent the remainder of the year. Just try and improve as a team is all that matters now.If they play good whether winning or losing in this stretch vs good teams who have more talent, and be competitive, then I'll be happy for this year. Just my realistic expectation now of them.
I don't want to be pessimistic about it but it is hard not to be at this point.
I really hope we make a run but I just don't see it. We don't have the personnel.
And pointing to two of the freakiest SB runs in history as examples of what could happen doesn't bolster that.
The predominant feature of the Giants recent history is a lot of extreme ups and downs. The ups often coming against lesser competition and the downs against better competition.
So, yeah. No one knows what's going to happen. But based on what we're seeing now...not 8 years ago nor 4 years ago...it's not unreasonable to have low expectations. Don't get how some can't see that.
Both of those teams were 5-2 at this point not 3-4.
We haven't beaten a good team in nearly two years. The team is much different than one. We're seven games in and have an idea of what the team is - one able to beat up on bad teams, but struggle against superior ones. We'll need to get to ten wins to make the playoffs (and even that might not be enough) and face five teams who will likely finish above .500 this year in the last nine. We could play good football over the next four and still wind up losing every game merely due to the superiority of the teams we're playing.
The optimistic take would be that we're getting Schwartz back and he can stabilize the line. But I think going 2-2 over the next four is really optimistic.
The Giants have to rebuild a winning culture and with Eli and TC they have a very good chance of doing that.
With the exception of the Eagle game, and not to make excuses but if Cruz's knee does not explode on a TD catch it may have been a different game, the Giants have been in every game.
The positives are the play of Eli (which should be expected), the emergence of some young guys that look like they can ball (Donnell, Beckem, Richburg, Hankins) and the fact that the O line is at least somewhat functional when compared to the farce that was last year.
Negatives start with the overall play of the defense. I thought that the lone bright spot of last year's shit show was the possible emergence of a real defense. I was wrong, this D is following the same trend of the past few seasons of consistent mental errors and outright failure in a big spot. The Defense is mediocre at best.
Special teams play. This group is special all right and not in a good way. Fuckups here cost the Giants the Cardnial game and the Giants may have the worst return game in the NFL. Cox brought one out to the 33 or something this past week on a kick and I almost fell off the couch.
Injuries, all the secondary depth is gone. Jennings picked the worst possible time to get hurt and now Jenkins is down as well. All teams have injuries, but it seems the Giants get hit hard at one particular position group each season.
All that said the Colts game is huge and if the Giants come out and win I think it would go a long way to building up that winning culture and I see no reason why the could not make a run to keep it interesting. I also think it is unlikely that the 'boys and the Eagles stay this hot. One team is bound to come back to Earth. My money is on the Eagles since Foles sucks.
That aside, there are way too many holes on this team to think that 7-2 is realistic in the last 9 games. They cant even win with a non interception throwing Eli, imagine if he goes back to chucking it up to the other team?
2) The Giants have lost to the two contenders in the NFC East. They'll need to win all 3 of their remaining division games. No easy task.
3) The Giants have lost to other legitimate NFC Wild Card contenders. Unless they beat the Seahawks (highly unlikely) they'll lose direct tiebreakers to Seattle, Detroit and Arizona.
It's not simply the 3-4 record that has them in big trouble, it's how they've attained it. You'd trade the win over Houston for one over an NFC opponent. Not that I'm writing off the season, but realistically the Giants have to go 7-2, and even if they manage to do that they're in real danger of missing out on a tiebreaker because their conference record is going to stink.
RB - without Jennings, below average. With Jennings, better but thin
WR - without Cruz, very thin
OL - awful
TE - slightly above average receiving, below average blocking
DE - Decent against the rush, little pass rush
DT - One star and a bunch of JAGs
LB - do I even have to bother?
CB - decimated by injury. Prince is the only good CB who's healthy.
S - Rolle and a collection of stiffs
I hope the giants prove me wrong.
Giants lack talent at point of attack - ( New Window )