NFL Preview: New York Giants

Eli Manning is a tough cookie – never thought I’d say that, but his reaction to being seriously bloodied in a preseason game a fortnight ago was truly heroic. Sure, it was only a cut, but he was willing to play through the pain – even suggesting a modified helmet that could fit over his stitches.

That’s what I like to see.

He wants to lead by example. The shock winners of Superbowl XLII, the Giants have since done diddlysquat. That needs to change soon if they want to hold on to their better players, and they look to have done well with the signing of undrafted free agent, Victor Cruz, who caught 3 TD passes in their first preseason game.


But here’s the rub: they occupy one of the four least envied slots in the league, having to play powerhouses Dallas, Philadelphia and Washington twice a piece.

Okay, Philli aren’t the perennial NFC Champs losers they were, but with Kolb and a host of young go-getters they are rising in everyone’s estimation. Washington now have Donavon McNabb, and seem to be getting through to Albert Haynesworth, who, to me, is starting to look more and more like a piggy bank by the day. And as for Dallas…well, if they don’t win a Superbowl soon they might rival the Bills of the Early nineties as the best team to never get over the line.

So where do the Giants wind up in this group? Due to the toughness of the NFC East schedule, by virtue of the intra-divisional games, I actually think only one team – the division winners – will make it out of this group and into the playoffs, even though you could argue that any one of these teams is playoff calibre.

I think the giants might finish second with a 10-6 record, tied with Philli and a game up on Washington, and I don’t think it’ll be enough. I think the Wild Cards will come from the North (Packers/Vikings) and South (New Orleans/Atlanta).

Second in the East and an early bath…sorry boys…


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