We face NFL Week 13 with dread and excitement. Dread for what has overtaken and what's to come for our own very favorite team, the Big Blue Team of Destiny. Their destiny now seems to be a final five games of shame and discord, followed by pointed fingers, pointless speculation and the inevitable dismissal of the coach. Aggh.
But that's the New York Giants today and anyone who thinks this will end well, please speak up. Oh, I'll still be rooting for the GMen and, frankly, would not be all that surprised to see them beat the rolling Cowboys on December 3. But what's happened the last few weeks, what the stunningly inept coach Tom Coughlin has allowed to happen the last few weeks, is sure to be the memory anyone takes from this season.
The Giants' players have managed to embarrass themselves, onfield and off, never worse than in the 24-21 loss to Tennessee. Tiki Barber points fingers where and when he shouldn't and being right has nothing to do with it. Putting the blame on an incompetent coaching staff (you think differently?) was not going to help anyone. Not after the same spotlight had been pointed earlier in the season by loudmouthed teammate Jeremy Shockey. And then there's the wide receiver Plaxico Burress who hasn't been talking that much but then again he hasn't been doing much. It now seems that if the passes he awaits from QB Eli Manning are not laid perfectly in his expectant hands, he not only won't reach and bend and fight to get the ball, but he instantly pouts as the defenders' pick them off and head the other way. And we can also say the absence of the injured-footed DE Michael Strahan has hurt the defense for sure but it has also made this greatly flawed team more watchable. Why? There are none of those stupid ‘jump shots' after he, or one of his mates, does something good. Play the game!
There's more from the Tennessee disgrace: Frank Walker throwing an out-of-bounds elbow at the out of bounds Vince Young. Yeah, that's smart. And none of this even includes the rookie Mathias Kiwanuka letting VY out of his grasp for a key 19-yard first down run. Kiwanuka thought he'd be whistled for roughing the passer if he sent VY to the ground. At least Kiwanuka was thinking--wrong as it turns out but thinking nevertheless. That's more than can be said for virtually anyone else wearing a helmet or headset over the last few weeks. And Coughlin handled it so well on the field.
Naturally Coughlin took the microphone after the game and made sure he blamed as many players as possible. There's a standup guy for you. Excuse me Tom, those two passes Eli threw for INTs on second and short? He threw them, you called them, didn't you? Team effort all the way around.
Being a Giant fan today helps you understand what it must be like to root for the Lions or the Cardinals or the Raiders. Hope is replaced by hopelessness.
Do you have any idea how painful this is?
So why are we excited? Week 13 puts most Fantasy Leagues in their final week before playoffs, and the possibilities are endless. It reminds us why we love our pro football. Who could have predicted that 49ers Frank Gore would be leading the NFC in rushing? And now you Fantasy managers, do you start Gore this week or does that ankle he injured on Sunday against St. Louis slow him or stop him? And of course when Steve Smith sat out the first two weeks of the season with a contract dispute, er, ‘hamstring problems', did you keep him, did you trade him? Did you cut him? And who's sorry now? Smith may still lead the NFC in receptions and yards. And of course his Panthers are rolling to the Super Bowl. (What's that? Redskins beat them on Sunday. No way. Way.)
And surely the emergence of Tony Romo as the leading quarterback in the entire National Football League is a prediction we all made. Well, all of us except you and me, that is.
And let's be real here FanNation: if the playoffs somehow guaranteed that you would be able to see the Chargers play the Ravens and the Colts play the Patriots wouldn't you just be ecstatic? It's kind of troubling that we'll be treated to six NFC teams in the playoffs. Rules are rules but does anyone really truly want to see any of those teams come January? Even the Bears have got their fans fearing the inevitable Grossman destruction and a sad fate for their team. The only team in the NFC that we truly want to see in the playoffs now (please, the Giants in the playoffs would be just too painful) is the Saints.
The NFL's best is clearly in the AFC. Funny how things swing like that but there's no denying it. The Chargers, the Pats, the Ravens, the Colts. LT, Superboy Brady, Ridiculously Talented Adalius Thomas, and, yes, Peyton, all excite us more than just about anything in the NFC.
One last embarrassment for the Giants: their stadium in the Jersey swamp may be a playoff site in January but it would more likely come draped in green. The 6-5 Jets are rising, finding new confidence and taking advantage of an ‘easy' schedule. And they're being coached by a young guy who may be the real thing in Eric Mangini. The players actually like playing for him, they can kid him about his odd shape and anything they accomplish from here on out is gravy. And there's a future. The 6-5 Giants are spinning out of control. When 6-5 is both great and terrible, you're talking the NFL.
Jessica White
Bar Refaeli
Sled Hockey
Cheerleader of the Week
Comments (20) Add A Comment
Hey now, there is still some good things happening in the NFC...the Bears D is still a LOT of fun to watch, and Urlacher is one of hte top 5 defenders at any position. And yes, I'm only going to mention Bears stuff.
As for the Grossman meltdown..as long as the full on melt down doesn't come until the Super Bowl, I'll be happy. The Bears can beat anything the NFC has to offer, so I'd like to see a Super Bowl berth out of this...so at least I can say we were there. And besides, on any given sunday...
Josh
Total Comments (5870)
You can't eliminate the NFC, true. And the Bears D surely won the championship of the Jersey Swamp.
Arthur Pincus
Total Comments (783)
A top five defender doesn't let Brady make him drop his jock. That was the worst attempt at a tackle I've seen since Will Demps fained at tackling Vince Young 10 or so yards shy of a first down on fourth down.
Arthur, I feel your pain and yes, as a fan I have been there. Not so long ago, the Ravens blew a 17 point lead to the Bengals, giving up 24 fourth quarter points. It is the only time in some 43 games, that Baltimore blew a 14 point or better 4th quarter lead under Billick. That loss sent the Ravens into a tail spin that lasted almost two years.
Tcat
Total Comments (40)
Thanks TCat. Nothing this Giants team has done gives any indication--from coaches or players--that they can turn this thing around. I didn't see the Brady move on Uhrlacher but apparently it was a beaut.
Arthur Pincus
Total Comments (783)
Oh well Uhrlacher made it look good I guess. Personally Arthur i would love to see Steve Maricucci come into New York and Coach them. I think that he could turn that offense into something special.
ptoney8
Total Comments (48)
No, no, no, anything but that! Mariucci hasn't succeeded as a head coach in either place he has been. I see guys like Lovie Smith, Marvin Lewis and Mangenius with the Jets and I think why not the Gmen? None of those guys was a known failure as head coach like Mariucci, like Coughlin. Don't forget, no Tiki next season.
Arthur Pincus
Total Comments (783)
Yeah, Brady did make Urlacher look silly, but everyone has those kinds of moments...I'm sure Ray-Ray has never missed a tackle.
And yeah, I don't get the draw to Mooch...he's not good. Leave him at the NFL network, at least there he looks like a genuis.
Josh
Total Comments (5870)
Only compared to Deion. On Thursday night at halftime he talked about the teams having trouble getting the ball across midcourt.
Arthur Pincus
Total Comments (783)
No tiki but Brandon Jacobs is a heck of a back. I know hes mostly a short yardage back but i can see him becoming a Jerome Bettis (maybe not as good as Jerome but same body time and close to same running style) I do see how you believe Steve isnt a winner but he did have acouple play off years in San Fran, and he brings a dynamic offense to the table and is a talented QB coach that i believe Eli could value from. But Im curious to know which available coaches in 2007 you guys think should be running the ship in NY next season?
ptoney8
Total Comments (48)
As much as it pains me to say it, one possibility is Ron Rivera. He's been getting a lot hype as a Head Coach possibility, and this is probably the year we lose him...especially if the Bears go deep in the playoffs.
No rumors or anything, just think he'll be a head coach somewhere next year.
Josh
Total Comments (5870)
Coach or no coach, a house cleaning is needed in NY, the Ravens did it slowly, the Giants don't have that luxary considering they play in NY (ok NJ). I think if you can pry Kirk Ferentz from his golden goose at Iowa, it would be a good start. Smart man, can relate to the players and only puts up with team oriented players. Bu By Plexiglass.
Tcat
Total Comments (40)
Not sure about going the college route. That hasn't been a huge success in the NFL. Also, Giants GM Ernie Accorsi is retiring in January so it's a GM they will need and a coach we hope they need.
Arthur Pincus
Total Comments (783)
I'll tell you what, Coughlin shouldn't be coaching anywhere anyhow, why the Giants hired him still mystifys me almost as much as the Bills hiring Jauron. Brand Jacobs is good (S-I-U!! GO!!) But sadly the former Saluki will never be a premier tailback, I'm thinking the best he can hope for is what he has now. The push it in type of back. Not something to rely on next year.
But Arthur just watch what you say about the Bears. They are the best team in the NFC, and with the #1 D and a jekyll and Hyde offense, you never know what might happen in Miami. If Jekyll shows, I'm popping the Champagne.
Lilwound
Total Comments (6389)
LW: Coughlin was the Giants first choice once before. But he turned that one down. Who's to account for taste. Agreed that Jacobs is pretty good at what he does but I'd be shocked if he advanced much further as a RB. As for the Bears, getting to Miami may not be so easy as you seem to think. Good D; weak O. And boy did the Seahawks look good and healthy on Monday night.
Arthur Pincus
Total Comments (783)
Yep the Hawks looked good...but I don't think anyone would mistake the Packers porous D for the Bears D. And the Pack was able to score quit a few points on the Hawks.
Hey, what about hiring Isiah to Coach the Giants? he's done wonders for the Knicks.
Josh
Total Comments (5870)
Bite your tongue, pal.
You're right about the Pack's unstoppable defense but the Hawks may be the best the NFC has to go against the Bears.
Arthur Pincus
Total Comments (783)
What we do know is that any team is subject to defeat any week of the season. Just ask my fantasy teams.
krish
New Hartford, CT
Total Comments (406)
Yep, that's why 6-5 is both great and terrible.
Arthur Pincus
Total Comments (783)
The Giants implosion (what else can you call it), at first seems like a shock. But go back to last season, when Barber dogged the coaching in their play-off loss. Shockey is a loose cannon...he's got talent, but c'mon- shut up and play. I thought coach Coughlin was known as a disiplinarian? He's completely lost control of this team! The players and coaches better tape up their index fingers...there's way too much finger pointing and someone is liable to sprain something. The players blame the coaches... and I'm sure they are frustrated with some very suspect play calling. But players have to execute on the field. Plaxico should be benched...you don't quit on your teammates like that!! Eli just looks dazed and confused. The players and coaches need to grow up and accept responsibility for their part in the debacle vs. the Titans. How do you let a medeocre team, led by a rookie QB score 23 points in less than 11 minutes? The coaches can say what they want, but need to take a long look in the mirror. By the way, I feel your pain... I'm a Texans fan. Hey, Arthur- I'm willing to share my prozac with you!!! :o)
prozacgirl72
Total Comments (152)
Thanks for the offer, PG, but I'm finding this blog a great release. And if nothing else it's better than the years of Joe Pisarcik and John McVay.
By the way, you are exactly right--no surprise. This may be the worst disciplined team I've seen in years. They seem to be pretty disciplined off the field (except with a reporter in front of them) but on the field....awful The only mature guy on the team is Kiwanuka. He stood up and took responsibility (too much responsibility) for his mistake and for the loss. I know this is pro football and the players should be tough, but the way Coughlin went after the kid on Sunday was a disgrace.
Arthur Pincus
Total Comments (783)
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