There were a couple of games in 2011 that the Giants seemed to go toe-to-toe with the leagues best that made you think "This team might have the ability to do something if it comes together" (i.e. at New England, at SF, vs Packers). In the the 4 years previous to this season, the Giants have failed MISERABLY in all of the proverbial "Measuring Stick" games.
I know there are going to be a lot of people who poo-poo the phrase and who think it is stupid because the league changes from week to week. I truly believe that a team thrives off of big wins and that, in turn, builds momentum. There are couple of games each season that each team has that tests their mettle. Monday night is one of those games for this team. In years past, the team would get smoked in these type of games. I also believe that is one of the reasons ownership has moved on from TC. This team has not won a BIG time game in a very long time.
I am optimistically nervous about this game, as I feel this team has the most talent it has had in 5+ years, but its a tough spot in Minny, Monday night, with a banged up team. If this current Giants team can hang tough and at worst have a close loss, I will feel good about its prospects of the rest of the season. If we see another blowout road loss, I fear that we are not looking at a special team that could do damage just yet (might be a year away). I know its very early to say that and a ton of things can change, but that is how I gauge Giant teams year to year. Here's hoping to a good, turnover free, light penaltied, game Monday night.
Go Big Blue.
If the Giants play well Monday, that might bode well for the next few weeks, but I don't think it'll give much of a hint about how they'll do down the stretch.
a. compare the giants this year to the giants last year. having played this defense late last year, it should be interesting to see how far this Offense has come. Granted the WR are completey different etc, RB will prob be different. Is the Oline improved.
b. as a defense. I think the defense is going to have to carry the load this week. They should be able to control Minny Offense. Can they dominate? Interesting to see if they can be that kind of unit
c. Interested to see what this coaching staff is all about. There was some adversity this week, but this is a winnable game. Last week the giants showed they had trouble handling prosperity. Minny is considered the class of the conference. This is a big game that could push the giants into the conversation about true contenders in the NFC.
I think they can win this game. It wouldn't shock me. They could also lay an egg. I think this is going to tell us alot about this team and what direction they are heading
Have to disagree here. They were a playoff team last year that, for all intensive purposes, should have beaten a very good Seattle team to advance in the playoffs. They have what many think is the Top 3 defensive team. They are no joke.
Well that is your opinion and you are entitled to it of course. BUT you are in the minority. Some have picked the Vikings to win it all this year and most believe they are a playoff team. I want this game to be competitive and look like a team that competes against the best teams in the NFC. The Vikes just beat the defending NFC champs in their house. How could you argue they aren't a good team??
a. compare the giants this year to the giants last year. having played this defense late last year, it should be interesting to see how far this Offense has come. Granted the WR are completey different etc, RB will prob be different. Is the Oline improved.
b. as a defense. I think the defense is going to have to carry the load this week. They should be able to control Minny Offense. Can they dominate? Interesting to see if they can be that kind of unit
c. Interested to see what this coaching staff is all about. There was some adversity this week, but this is a winnable game. Last week the giants showed they had trouble handling prosperity. Minny is considered the class of the conference. This is a big game that could push the giants into the conversation about true contenders in the NFC.
I think they can win this game. It wouldn't shock me. They could also lay an egg. I think this is going to tell us alot about this team and what direction they are heading
+1 on all your points. Totally agree.
Hahaha sorry for that damn auto-correct. *all intents and purposes!
People who say it is too early to call this a 'measuring stick' game, then call it the first measuring stick game of this season.
MIN is a top defense and has been good enough on offense. They are 3-0 and we are in their barn after a lousy loss last week.
Eli, OBJ, Cruz, Shephard - stand up and assert yourself. Show that you can play with and beat a top defense.
Rest of team - show up, play smart, disciplined football and win the damn game in front of a national audience.
otherwise this team will show itself to be no different through 4 games than the team that has been floundering around for the past 4 seasons.
When was the last time the Giants beat a playoff quality team on the road?
At some point you figure the Giants are going to have to beat one unless we all think they can just go through the season fattening up on a bunch of bad teams and then think in January (if they even get there) that it's going to happen.
If a team that has won 70% of its games since the beginning of last season is mediocre...
Giants secondary is back to the norm, back ups to back ups playing. If Giants front 4 doesn t step up in a big way, a disaster for this defense is in the cards.
I see a distinct possibility of another blow out in the type of game the OP called a measuring stick game.
I will be very impressed if the Giants win this game.
This team has to show that it can play with the big boys....something it hasn't done the last 3 seasons....and until they do, they will not be a playoff contender....and I don't mean eaking out a win...I mean dominating a team.....
I'm not sanguine
I'm not as worried that our offense can score against the Vikings' D. Cam looked really bad. If Eli had a game like that, people on this site would be calling for his head.
I'm more concerned with Bradford having a career day against our defense. We are banged up and I could see Kyle Rudolph having a Jason Witten-like game. Hopefully our D rises to the occasion and makes life difficult for them.
Get back to what works on offense. Get Beckham the ball against this soft secondary. Hopefully we "play up" to this team.
Doomster, it is far worse than that.
Since the start of the 2012 season, the Giants are 7-23 against teams that finished the season with a winning.
Yes, 7 up and 23 down. Of those 7 wins, 5 of them were at home.
Of the two road wins over the last 4 years, one of them was against an Eagles team that had Mike Vick and then Matt Barkley each play a half due to injury. Barkley to my knowledge has not played a regular season NFL snap since that day.
Milton : 9/30/2016 3:56 pm : link : reply
But the Vikings are not a measuring stick. They are just a mediocre team off to a good start record-wise.
There offense lost there 2 best players ...so you can say
that there not going to be as effective but Bradford
picked up the playbook good enough to beat the Packers.
There Defense is anything but Mediocre ...
If our O-line does not play there best game of the year
then we will certainly look very mediocre ...
Our defense might keep this a close game and we still have
Eli so sure we can go in there and beat them .
Maybe we catch them napping early on but I have my
doubts Zimmer has this team ready at home in Prime Time .