Where the rubber meets the road. Final 7 games

There are 5 games left after that. The NYG can lose out (I'm not saying they will). Winning in Pittsburgh is highly unlikely. The Lion game might prove to be a defensive struggle, much in the mold of the Cincy game. The Dallas game is enormous, no question. This is precisely the sort of game NYG teams of the recent past would lose: pivotal home divisional game. We cannot perform at the same level we did back in week 1. Then we finish up in Philly, which has been a house of horrors, on a Thursday night before Christmas and at Washington, which could prove to be a "win and in" game for the NYG. Whether or not that game means anything for the Redskins is anyone's guess. Spoiler or playoff contender, they will be motivated either way to beat us.

Get to 8-3. I'll easilly take 2-3 after that and let the chips fall where they may.

with the Bears & Browns. If they can't accomplish that, then they are not deserving of any post season.

The 2-0 start would put them at 8-3, and in pretty good position to control their own destiny with the division foes once each. The Washington game is a must win since they've already lost to them.

I'm optimistic. Even though the Giants are flawed, and very well could blow the game against Chicago this Sunday, I have a good feeling about them this year.

and play to their level, they should beat the Bears and Browns. After that, they have a fairly tough schedule with the Steelers, Cowboys, Lions, Eagles, and Redskins.

...were NOTORIOUS for losing games they should win and vice versa at the end of seasons.

If this team is really different, then yes - we do win these next 2.

I'm a believer. This is definitely NOT last years defense.

Just... stay... healthy...

Is interesting, but not significant.

Rosters, coaches, schedule, number of injuries, etc. vary from year to year. There is no way their record from one year should have an impact on another year.

part of the reason for the second half records over those years was the Giants were decimated by injuries - this year we have only lost a rookie safety, a 3rd down back (who may return) and a couple special teamers to season ending injuries. Add in that the usual miss a game or two here and there injuries have even been less common and there is every reason to believe that the Giants can do as well as - or dare I say better - they did in the first half of the season.

"Over the last decade" have to do with what we might do or not do this year. It's an argument without basis in any fact relevant to this year.

highly unlikely?

Pitt is banged up even more now defensively for a defense that wasn't that good.......they are by no means the Steelers of season's past.

In comment 13222931 BillKo said:

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highly unlikely? Pitt is banged up even more now defensively for a defense that wasn't that good.......they are by no means the Steelers of season's past.

Meh...He had a crush on anything from PA...ummm wait a minute

In comment 13222930 BillT said:

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"Over the last decade" have to do with what we might do or not do this year. It's an argument without basis in any fact relevant to this year.

I am a strong believer in TRENDS. Trends can reflect something beyond what is seen in statistics - for instance - any sport, any team - there is ALWAYS that ONE team that ALWAYS has your number. For the Giants, it's the Eagles.

The Coughlin season WERE marred by injury, and that was definitely a factor in those poor finishes - but as I'm sure you recall, there were many HORRID November and December losses in that stretch by some very good Giant teams. To me, it went beyond the injuries, beyond the scheduling - those teams just didn't have late season mental fortitude. When Playoffs arrived, clearly in 2 seasons a switch was thrown.

Just thought it was worth pointing out, because 8 straight years of 3-4/4-3 records is a trend. A trend I'm strongly rooting for McAdoo to buck.

The defence is like Topsy and "daily growing". With the emergence of Collins there's about six "pro bowl types" (Cromartie, Janoris, Collins, Vernon, JPP, Snacks), there's solid pros complimenting them (Hankins, Robinson, Kennard and surprise surprise Cassilas and Adamns.
Vernon is healthy now ...15 tackles in his last game and two sacs in his last two games.

I don't think anyone -from Seattle to Denver- is any better personnel wise. There's been growing pains with the new faces and they've been working with negative TOP, but my sense is they're gonna be elite the rest of the way.
The offense has looked shabby right through the preseason. But realistically any offense with the Brilliance of Beckham and the competency Eli provides at th most imporant position can't be far away.
We match up well with the Cowboys. I think their very weak front four means Eli will have time. Mo Cauthorn (sp?) has been superb at corner but I think he's out for an extended time. We are designed to stop the run...and we've been succesful at it. Collins plays like another Linebacker and if we can only slow that run game down we're going to be in it. They are unbalanced, an extremely weak front four contrasting against that superb Offensivce link; when "unbalanced" wins it's usually strong on the defensive side. There's more film now on Dak and nobody is good enough to run off 8 in a row and to keep on going.. Things even out and they could lose to Balt. (who, like us, matches up well) and we WILL beat Chi. Come Monday everything could look very different, we'd be on behind with a win against them.
Defenses historically become more important as the games rachet "down to a precious few."
Veereen might be the missing link, that one ingredient that makes the dough rise.
When you look at it - that admittedly optimistic way- who can't we beat? I'd go a step further, who shouldn't we beat?
I'm not predicting it but I think 6-1 5-2 should be in the discussion.
Just a little boost on the offense could get us there.

The Giants are capable of winning every remaining game. Yes, Dallas at home plus Philly and Washington on the road is a tough draw...but if our defense and Eli keep it up, finishing 11-5/10-6 is not beyond the realm

Catching the Cowboys for the division may be a reach, even if we beat them again

It certainly feels like this team has the potential to get better. Every team is one or two injuries away from disaster and the Giants are no exception. If they stay healthy and focused....I can easily see 10-11 wins.
It starts with winning the games they should win...and then taking a few games that are more in the toss up category.

They should be sitting at 8-4 or 9-3 by the time they get Dallas at home. If we are lucky...Dallas cools off a bit and drops a few games. Would it not be a bitch to catch Dallas...only to lose games in Philly or Washington.

You have to respect all the teams in this division and in this crazy year when anything can happen....

Condider this: Philly looks like they're not a strong contender right now. But the very important predictor of Point differential is in their camp. Only a fake punt kept their game agaisnt Dallas close at a point where they were on their way to total domination - and they still took it to overtime. They spotted us two touchdowns, had four interceptions and still were one play at the end away from winning it.
Wash. might be the weakest team on paper and Dallas the strongest and I swear I don't see a nuetrino difference between the two.
Dallas will not continue unbeaten. And one loss might start the Romo controversy and blow things apart. Not likely , but not impossible either....anything can happen.
I'm gonna just observe and enjoy. But I can't help but like our chances.

In comment 13222931 BillKo said:

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highly unlikely? Pitt is banged up even more now defensively for a defense that wasn't that good.......they are by no means the Steelers of season's past.

My thoughts exactly.

And how is Detroit a likely "defensive struggle?" Detroit D has been trash this year.

.

bullshit. The Steelers haven't shown much of anything this year except a few offensive outbursts.

In comment 13222892 The_Boss said:

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There are 5 games left after that. The NYG can lose out (I'm not saying they will). Winning in Pittsburgh is highly unlikely. The Lion game might prove to be a defensive struggle, much in the mold of the Cincy game. The Dallas game is enormous, no question. This is precisely the sort of game NYG teams of the recent past would lose: pivotal home divisional game. We cannot perform at the same level we did back in week 1. Then we finish up in Philly, which has been a house of horrors, on a Thursday night before Christmas and at Washington, which could prove to be a "win and in" game for the NYG. Whether or not that game means anything for the Redskins is anyone's guess. Spoiler or playoff contender, they will be motivated either way to beat us. Get to 8-3. I'll easilly take 2-3 after that and let the chips fall where they may.

I see what you're saying here but this post is quite uninspiring. "Let's take 2-3 and let the chips fall where they may"....fuck that. How about we try and win every one of these games? Maybe not realistic but...c'mon now. "We cannot perform the way we did in week 1 against Dallas"...well...we won that game, right? We played well offensively in that game, with the drives that we were given, and our defense is much much improved from week 1.

the Giants will have their chance to clinch a playoff spot in Week 16 at Philadelphia, will lose and then it will come down to everything in Week 17 at DC.

The late-season fades weren't a coincidence. If this squad can avoid further injury damage, and eventually get Pugh and Vereen back into the mix, they might have the makings of a nice stretch run.

Does anyone think Mathias Kiwanuka releasing Vince Young to avoid a roughing call ten years ago has any relevance to what might happen against Chicago on Sunday? If there's one parallel that does concern me, it's the way a thin defensive line wore down in several of those years, especially 2006 and 2008. But that's just a fan's feeling of deja vu.

In comment 13223160 Big Blue Blogger said:

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The late-season fades weren't a coincidence. If this squad can avoid further injury damage, and eventually get Pugh and Vereen back into the mix, they might have the makings of a nice stretch run. Does anyone think Mathias Kiwanuka releasing Vince Young to avoid a roughing call ten years ago has any relevance to what might happen against Chicago on Sunday? If there's one parallel that does concern me, it's the way a thin defensive line wore down in several of those years, especially 2006 and 2008. But that's just a fan's feeling of deja vu.

And to your point, the one outlier season where we actually got healthier down the stretch (2011) we went on our most recent and glorious Super Bowl run.

Isn't that irrelevance the same as pointing out our 1-9 record against the Eagles, given new players and a new HC? That, the Eagles were in our heads (which I did not believe vis a vis this year)?

Aren't you contradicting yourself here? Am I misreading?

what happened under TC with Kiwi and against the Eagles are/were both irrelevant..New team, New HC, some new position coaches..If the Eagles were in our heads, we would have found yet another way to choke when it really got tight against them..