FanNation

In Version 1.0 I analyzed the Giants 2008 Preseason and Regular Season schedule up until their Week #4 Bye. 

I understand that everyone is a critic, but this blog is for Giants fans and I would really appreciate if people whom have never blogged before would not read the below.  Seriously.  Just move on.  Don't tell me how to prepare prime rib if you've never done so yourself.  Save your time and comments as they will just be deleted.

Like you, I too am biased.  I believe my team can win, each and every week.  Otherwise, I wouldn't watch.  There are times when my head prevails over my heart and you will see that.

Also, keep in mind that everyone and his/her brother/sister said the Giants would lose every and any game they played last year.  Keep hatin'.  The following logic, reasoning and factors went into my forecast: This year's team features virtually no key losses from last year, the return of defensive genius Steve Spagnulo (thanks for spurning the 'Skins), still one of the youngest teams in the NFL, confidence coming off of a SuperBowl win, solidarity within the players and coaching staff, three great running backs and a deeper WR pool.

Here's how the rest of the schedule looks for the defending SuperBowl Champs along with my predictions:

10/5     Seattle    Big break for the Giants getting the 'Hawks at home away from the 12th Man.  The memories of Jay Feely missing kick after kick come flooding back.  The Giants will be rusty coming off of their Bye, but will prevail in the 4th Quarter of a tightly contested game.

Prediction:  Giants by 3-7 points

10/13   @ Cleveland    Monday Night Football at the Dawg Pound will be a tough game to win.  The Browns are coming off a season that saw great improvement and a near-miss at a play-off berth.  In my opinion, the Browns have had one heck of an off-season...the best of any team.  I feel that the bright lights of Monday Night at the Dawg Pound and facing an up-and-coming team will prove to be too much for the G-Men handing them their first loss of the season.

Prediction:  Browns by 10-14 points

10/19    San Francisco   Nice rebound game for the Giants against a team they destroyed also at home last year.  There will be no Trent Dilfer for the Giants D to terrorize this team around, but whomever's at the helm will be blasted.  With a real lack of play-makers on offense and a young defense, I love the Giants chances to blow the '9ers out.  The 49ers ranked 27th last year in rushing and dead last in passing.

Prediction:  Giants by 14-21 points

10/26   @ Pittsburgh  The media will be sure to hype up the Eli vs. Ben match-up but the real story will be how the Giants defensive line will play on a terrible track.  This game could turn out to be an encore of the Giants vs. Dolphins in London where running the ball was the difference.  I liked the Steelers draft where they got some quality players at the skills positions, but I just don't see how the Steelers porous offensive line will be able to stop the Giants pass rush.  However, the Steelers are very good at stopping the run and were ranked #1 in overall defense.  Factor in the Steelers tough schedule and the Giants are in the driver's seat.

Prediction:  Giants by 3-7 points

11/2    Dallas   There will be blood as the Mouths of the South return minus Jimmy Hart.  The question is:  Will there be tears?  The Cowboys will have no trouble getting up for this one and I'm hoping the Giants will skip the red uniforms at home.  Look for the Cowboys in all their thuggery to expose the Giants secondary and for Romo to find Witten and Tearrel.  They're teammates you know. 

Prediction:  Cowboys by 10-14 points 

11/9   @ Philadelphia  Back-to-back NFC East games spells the first crisis of the Giants season as the Giants face Brian Westbrook and some other guys.  Westbrook is a Giant-killer and in my opinion the most under-rated player in the NFL.  However, the Eagles are not getting any younger on the OL and I can't see how Assante Samuel is this savior that everyone has pegged him to be.  Close game either way and I can't see Akers hitting the bar this time around. 

Prediction:  Eagles by 3-7 points

11/16  Baltimore   The re-building Ravens do little to generate excitement about the SuperBowl re-match that saw Kerry Collins play scared.  Ray Rice will be a bright spot for a team that is older on the defensive side of the ball with few play-makers on offense.  I'm hoping the Giants continue to buck the trend and beat the teams they should.  Last year was really the first year in a long time that they were able to do that.  The Ravens can still stop the run and figure to have a great defense once again.  Still their lack of offense will not be off-set by their great defense like it was in 2000.  This defense is good, not great.

Prediction:  Giants by 10-17 points

11/23  @ Arizona  The Giants will enjoy their return trip to the stadium where they won last year's SuperBowl.  The results will be good again this time around against an up-start team that faltered last year down the stretch.  The Cardinals have impressive receivers but ranked 29th in the league against the run last year.  That's not going to get it done.  Their pass protection fared no better landing at the 28th ranking.  They play great at home but the Giants are road warriors.

Prediction:  Giants by 3-7 points

11/30  @ Washington  All of the NFC East teams have a pretty good track record of splitting their games and Washington really seems to come on the second half of the season.  This is a tough place to play where the crowd noise really affects game.  On the other hand, this is the place of the Giants re-birth last year thanks to some terrible play-calling by Joe Gibbs.  I have too much respect for Washington to think the Giants can beat them twice.  Needless to say, I hope Jason Campbell is the starter.

Prediction:  Redskins by 10-14 points

12/7  Philadelphia  The Giants will need to bounce back against a very good Eagle team and this game could prove to be one of the biggest, toughest games on the schedule.  A real make-or-break if you will.  The Giants swept the Eagles last year and although the Eagles could return the favor, it's highly unlikely.

Prediction:  Giants by 7-10 points

12/14  @ Dallas  Sunday night game as the Giants look to split with Dallas.  And once again, they do it when everyone says they won't.  Eli always plays big in Dallas and Spagnulo will have something special in mind for a team that has crumbled in the past during the stretch run.  Last year's failure has to be in the back of Tony Romo's mind.  I've got my fingers crossed that some distractions will help aid the Giants cause.

Prediction:  Giants by 3-7 points

12/21  Carolina  Chances are that Jake Delhome won't be around for this one.  I don't know if that's a good thing as the Giants have had trouble in the past against journeymen quarterbacks.  The Panthers have long peaked and lack play-makers outside of on both sides of the ball.  Steve Smith and a PRODUCTIVE Julius Peppers can't do it alll alone.  I have great respect for John Fox, but right now it looks like the Giants got a gift just before Christmas.

Prediction:  Giants by 10-17 points

12/28  @ Minnesota  The Vikings are locked and loaded.  I had them having the second-best off-season after the Browns.  I have a feeling that Booty will play great for them once he is injected as the starter.  The Vikings have play-makers at almost every position and play great at home.  It would not surprise me to see the Vikings make a SuperBowl run.  The Giants are going to have to put themselves in a nice play-off position BEFORE this game.  Perhaps the Giants can replicate last year's run and play a great game against top-notch competition to ready themselves for the play-off run.

Prediction:  Vikings by 14-21 points

I have the defending SuperBowl Champions going 11-5 while playing in one of the toughest divisions in football.  The Giants will be back in the play-offs.