New York Giants Philadelphia Eagles Rivalry

Same old Eagles, just can't win the big one...

I still can't believe my Giants lost to these clowns last week! The Eagles, once again, choke in the clutch. They are now 1-4 under Andy Reid in NFC title games. They actually lost to the Arizona Cardinals! Amazing.

Two months ago, the classy (tongue firmly in cheek) Eagle fans were bashing Reid and McNabb. Philly fans wanted these two run out of town immediately. Then the Eagles went on a run and aided by divine intervention (what else do you call it when the Raiders win a road game against a desperate team?) the Eagles made the playoffs. They made a run at it too in beating the Vikings and knocking off my three time defending World Champion NY Giants---as I have said previously, congrats for that. All of Philly loved the Donovan and Andy show.

Then yesterday, once again, McNabb, Reid and company proved that they are not ready for prime time. This team is incapable of winning the big one. They have now lost four conference title games and one Super Bowl (remember Donovan puking on his shoes in clutch time, Eagle fans?) under this regime. I am willing to bet on Philly talk shows this morning the talk is all about once again, getting rid of Reid and McNabb----how quickly things change.

The biggest difference between my Giants and the Eagles is the fact that the Giants tend to capitalize and win these games---before you tell me to go to hell, check the facts; Eagles, 0-2 in the Super Bowl and 2-4 in NFC title games. The Giants, 3-1 in the Super Bowl and 4-0 in conference Championship games. One is a loser (Eagles) the other is a winner.

I would not take so much joy in this if not for the over the top arrogance and lack of class coming from Eagles fans all week----you guys deserve this. Speaking of lack of class, I may have missed it; did Donaovan pick up the Cardinals phone on the sidelines again??? Probably not since last I saw him he was, as usual in big games, walking off the field with his head down---once again as a loser in the big game.

Misery loves company. Now the Eagles fans can join us in watching the Super Bowl and wondering what could have been. In two weeks, for the 43rd time, a team will hoist the Vince Lombardi Trophy. For the 43rd time, it won't be the Eagles---same old eagles!

Congratulations, Eagles...

This will be a brief and not easy to write post----but, the Eagles deserve to be congratulated. They came into the Meadowlands and beat the Giants.

Clearly, I am not happy about that. But, they did it. 

I obviously thought the Giants would prevail, but, not the case. So, I will simply extend congratulations to the Eagles and save my venom for the Giants horrendous play calling by offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride for another day.

In the meantime, congratualtions Eagles---- I am just not sure yet if I can cheer for you against the Cardinals next week. 

Eagles 23 Giants 11: The Eagles are the better team!!

The Eagles beat the defending Super Bowl champs.

The Eagles beat the NFC East division champs.

The Eagles run defense was better than the number one running attack.

The Eagles run defense played bigger than the Giants big backs with two stops on 4th down and one yard to go in the 4th quarter.

The Eagles shut down the Giants in the red zone not allowing any touchdowns.

The Eagles converted on short yardage for two touchdowns.

Thank God, they still play the game to see who the better team is.

The Eagles are going to play the Cardinals in Arizona.  The Eagles playoff hopes are alive and doing well.

The big day is here!!!!

It is FINALLY Sunday! It seems like the wait took forever and a day with all the anticipation of this classic NFC East rivalry game between the New York Giants and Philadelphia Eagles. As you are well aware unless you have been sleeping off a very nasty hangover for the past week, the teams are playing for the right to play in the NFC Title game. In that game, the opponent will be the Arizona Cardinals----not a mistake, as I am typing this the Cardinals are stomping on the Panthers 33-7 with just a few minutes left in the game. 

Obviously, if the Giants win, the Cardinals, who have been very impressive in the playoffs, come to the Meadowlands next Sunday at 3:00. If the unthinkable happens, the Eagles travel to the desert.

But enough of that----first things first. The weather at kickoff is supposed to be around 30 degrees, no snow and moderate winds. Although, the winds at the Meadowlands in January don't always cooperate with the forecasters. The cold will not be much of a factor as both the Giants and Eagles are rugged northeast football teams not bothered by chilly weather. Besides, if the Giants think back to last seasons title game in Green Bay which was 20 below, this will seem like balmy weather. However, the wind could be  a factor.

If it is very windy clearly the passing game suffers which should favor the run- first Giants, but Eli Manning, so far, has struggled in very windy conditions.

Lets take a quick, big picture look at the NY Giants season; they are reigning Super Bowl Champions coming off last seasons magical run. In each of the Giants past three Super Bowl seasons, they followed up by not even making the playoffs. This year has been different as the Giants went 12-4 and clinched the top seed in the conference.

Of the currently six teams still in the chase for the Vince Lombardi trophy, only the Giants are looking to repeat. It has only happened nine times----obviously a difficult task. The Giants are only the fifth team in history to have more regular season wins the season following a Super Bowl victory. Three of the other four (Steelers, 49ers and Broncos) went on to repeat as Champions. The Giants are looking to move themselves into some very elite company if they can pull out just three more victories!

First step is the Eagles. It will be a very hard game obviously. The Eagles are a talented team that is playing well, and after all they are NFC East rivals.

I am not going to go through an extensive position by position matchup/breakdown, because at this point I think we have all had enough of that---just my humble thoughts on the game.

Not surprisingly, I think the Giants will win. In my opinion, they are the better team based on their 12-4 record. It is all about getting the wins. I have seen numerous comparisions showing the Giants and Eagles various stats from the season---they are amazingly close. Except for the one that matters, wins.

Eagle fans gleefully point to the December 7th game at Giants stadium when the Eagles came in and won in convincing fashion. Congrats to them. However, a few points to consider. For one, the Giants did a lot of things that are not like them that day. Dropped passes, stupid penalties, missed tackles, blown coverages, etc. The Eagles caught the Giants at the right time. In a sixteen game season, you lay a few eggs (remember Eagles fans---the tie with the Bengals, the ass whipping against the Ravens, the loss just a couple of weeks ago to the Redskins). These do not necessarily make you a bad team, just a good team that had a bad day. Things change quickly in the NFL and those games have no bearing on how the Eagles will perform today anymore then the 12/7 game has any bearing on how the Giants will perform.

It is also interesting to consider that in that game, in which Brandon Jacobs and Kareem McKenzie left due to injury, and the Eagles were at their best while the Giants were at their worst, it was still just a 10-7 game late in the third quarter! Also, if Domenik Hixon catches that easy, perfectly thrown TD pass from Eli Manning, the Giants may well have won anyway!   

Point is, I don't think the Eagles can count on getting the "evil" Giants again. I believe they will get the Giants "A" game. I think that coupled with home field advantage, the bye week which has the Giants feeling as healthy as they have in a long time (it is rare for EVERY player to be available to practice in January as the Giants were this week!), will be too much for the Eagles.

Again, I think it will still be a tough, hard fought divisional battle. The Eagles are a tough team that will absolutely not lay down. 

I honestly feel the game will be tight at halftime, but the Giants, well rested, will take over in the second half. I don't think it is any secret that Tom Coughlin plans to use his human battering ram known as Brandon "the beast" Jacobs to wear down the Eagle defense. It is a formula that made the Giants the best rushing team in the NFL this year and propelled them to their impressive 12-4 record. Defenders in the second half, after dealing with 12-15 or so punishing runs from Jacobs, seem to have had trouble all year dealing with the faster, more elusive Derrick Ward and Ahmed Bradshaw late in the game.

Defensively, the Giants have been more then solid all year. They showed a tendency to give up big chunks of yards however late in the season during their mini-slide. I seriously doubt that will continue. The rest as well as the hard work they did during the bye week should solve those problems, which every Giants player and coach I heard speak felt were very correctable. People taking the wrong gaps, etc. I expect to see a return of the big blue wrecking crew. The Giants will get pressure on McNabb and be able to somwehat limit the very dangerous Brian Westbrook.

That being said, so long as Eli and company take good care of the ball, I expect a very happy outcome for Giants fans today as we get ready for the Arizona Cardinals in the title game! 

Go Giants!!!!!!!!  

 

It is FINALLY Sunday! It seems like the wait took forever and a day with all the anticipation of this classic NFC East rivalry game between the New York Giants and Philadelphia Eagles. As you are well aware unless you have been sleeping off a very nasty hangover for the past week, the teams are playing for the right to play in the NFC Title game. In that game, the opponent will be the Arizona Cardinals----not a mistake, as I am typing this the Cardinals are stomping on the Panthers 33-7 with just a few minutes left in the game. 

Obviously, if the Giants win, the Cardinals, who have been very impressive in the playoffs, come to the Meadowlands next Sunday at 3:00. If the unthinkable happens, the Eagles travel to the desert.

But enough of that----first things first. The weather at kickoff is supposed to be around 30 degrees, no snow and moderate winds. Although, the winds at the Meadowlands in January don't always cooperate with the forecasters. The cold will not be much of a factor as both the Giants and Eagles are rugged northeast football teams not bothered by chilly weather. Besides, if the Giants think back to last seasons title game in Green Bay which was 20 below, this will seem like balmy weather. However, the wind could be  a factor.

If it is very windy clearly the passing game suffers which should favor the run- first Giants, but Eli Manning, so far, has struggled in very windy conditions.

Lets take a quick, big picture look at the NY Giants season; they are reigning Super Bowl Champions coming off last seasons magical run. In each of the Giants past three Super Bowl seasons, they followed up by not even making the playoffs. This year has been different as the Giants went 12-4 and clinched the top seed in the conference.

Of the currently six teams still in the chase for the Vince Lombardi trophy, only the Giants are looking to repeat. It has only happened nine times----obviously a difficult task. The Giants are only the fifth team in history to have more regular season wins the season following a Super Bowl victory. Three of the other four (Steelers, 49ers and Broncos) went on to repeat as Champions. The Giants are looking to move themselves into some very elite company if they can pull out just three more victories!

First step is the Eagles. It will be a very hard game obviously. The Eagles are a talented team that is playing well, and after all they are NFC East rivals.

I am not going to go through an extensive position by position matchup/breakdown, because at this point I think we have all had enough of that---just my humble thoughts on the game.

Not surprisingly, I think the Giants will win. In my opinion, they are the better team based on their 12-4 record. It is all about getting the wins. I have seen numerous comparisions showing the Giants and Eagles various stats from the season---they are amazingly close. Except for the one that matters, wins.

Eagle fans gleefully point to the December 7th game at Giants stadium when the Eagles came in and won in convincing fashion. Congrats to them. However, a few points to consider. For one, the Giants did a lot of things that are not like them that day. Dropped passes, stupid penalties, missed tackles, blown coverages, etc. The Eagles caught the Giants at the right time. In a sixteen game season, you lay a few eggs (remember Eagles fans---the tie with the Bengals, the ass whipping against the Ravens, the loss just a couple of weeks ago to the Redskins). These do not necessarily make you a bad team, just a good team that had a bad day. Things change quickly in the NFL and those games have no bearing on how the Eagles will perform today anymore then the 12/7 game has any bearing on how the Giants will perform.

It is also interesting to consider that in that game, in which Brandon Jacobs and Kareem McKenzie left due to injury, and the Eagles were at their best while the Giants were at their worst, it was still just a 10-7 game late in the third quarter! Also, if Domenik Hixon catches that easy, perfectly thrown TD pass from Eli Manning, the Giants may well have won anyway!   

Point is, I don't think the Eagles can count on getting the "evil" Giants again. I believe they will get the Giants "A" game. I think that coupled with home field advantage, the bye week which has the Giants feeling as healthy as they have in a long time (it is rare for EVERY player to be available to practice in January as the Giants were this week!), will be too much for the Eagles.

Again, I think it will still be a tough, hard fought divisional battle. The Eagles are a tough team that will absolutely not lay down. 

I honestly feel the game will be tight at halftime, but the Giants, well rested, will take over in the second half. I don't think it is any secret that Tom Coughlin plans to use his human battering ram known as Brandon "the beast" Jacobs to wear down the Eagle defense. It is a formula that made the Giants the best rushing team in the NFL this year and propelled them to their impressive 12-4 record. Defenders in the second half, after dealing with 12-15 or so punishing runs from Jacobs, seem to have had trouble all year dealing with the faster, more elusive Derrick Ward and Ahmed Bradshaw late in the game.

Defensively, the Giants have been more then solid all year. They showed a tendency to give up big chunks of yards however late in the season during their mini-slide. I seriously doubt that will continue. The rest as well as the hard work they did during the bye week should solve those problems, which every Giants player and coach I heard speak felt were very correctable. People taking the wrong gaps, etc. I expect to see a return of the big blue wrecking crew. The Giants will get pressure on McNabb and be able to somwehat limit the very dangerous Brian Westbrook.

That being said, so long as Eli and company take good care of the ball, I expect a very happy outcome for Giants fans today as we get ready for the Arizona Cardinals in the title game! 

Go Giants!!!!!!!!  

Tom Coughlin interview...

Is it just me, or is time friggin slowly moving? We are almost there, Sunday at 1:00pm and Giants and Eagles fans alike can finally end the anticipation and get into watching what I think will be the best game of the weekend.

A day before the big game, head coach Tom Coughlin sits down with the radio voice of the Giants, Bob Papa on giants.com. Coughlin discusses some X's and O's as the team prepares to face the Eagles tomorrow.

When you listen to Coughlin, you just get the sense that the Giants will be exceptionally well prepared.

Enjoy Coach Coughlin's interview.

Go Giants!!!

Is it just me, or is time friggin slowly moving? We are almost there, Sunday at 1:00pm and Giants and Eagles fans alike can finally end the anticipation and get into watching what I think will be the best game of the weekend.

A day before the big game, head coach Tom Coughlin sits down with the radio voice of the Giants, Bob Papa on giants.com. Coughlin discusses some X's and O's as the team prepares to face the Eagles tomorrow.

When you listen to Coughlin, you just get the sense that the Giants will be exceptionally well prepared.

Enjoy Coach Coughlin's interview.

Go Giants!!!

History doesn't mean a thing, it's the players on the field

In the recent past history, the Giants had Plaxico Burress.  In the first game, the Eagles double teamed Burress 70 percent of the time.  They shut down Burress and the Giant running game went wild.  The Giants won.

In the second game, the Eagles double team Hixon 7 percent of the time and the Eagles shut down the Giants running game.   Not having to worry about Burress, the Eagles defense concentrated on stopping the running game.  The Eagles won. 

The Giants like Hixon and so do the Eagles.  I still have visions of Hixon dropping a long pass that could have been the difference in the second game.  No need to double Hixson.  He isn't the same threat as Burress. Hixon isn't tall and the Eagles secondary can match up with him.  That means more Eagle players focused on stopping the run. History and players are on the Eagles side.

History favors the Giants...

As we wait for Sunday to arrive so the defending Champion NY Giants can renew their pursuit of history, I did a little research and found something interesting.I touched on this earlier this week, but I want to elaborate---home field and a bye is a HUGE advantage! There seems to be a trendy thought in the media that the bye week and home field no longer matter. Of course, those who make this claim base it on the fact that a wild card team has won the Super Bowl each of the last three years. The Giants, Colts and Steelers have captured the last three Vince Lombardi trophies from the 5 or 6 spot.

However, despite that, home field and the bye are tremendous edges. In the 2007 divisional playoffs, the Giants beat the Dallas Cowboys (still sounds good..). The Green Bay Packers topped the Seattle Seahawks 42-20, the Patriots beat the Jaguars 31-20 and the Chargers beat the Colt 28-24, although the Chargers were the road team without the bye. 2-2 is a rare record for this round.

In 2006, the Colts were the only wildcard team to win without a bye in the divisional round. As you look back through most seasons, the team with the bye, playing obviously at home, has a distinct edge.

Since 2002, the team at home coming off the bye is 19-5! That is a 79% winning percentage--which is about right historically.

There are different theories as to why this dominance; the rest, home field advantage, or maybe the teams that earn the top spots are just superior generally speaking. 

The Giants have another bit of history on their side; since the current playoff format was introduced in 1990, a six seed has NEVER beaten a one seed----0-18!

Look for the Giants to keep the trend going tomorrow as they march on to a repeat performance and the fourth Super Bowl in franchise history!

As we wait for Sunday to arrive so the defending Champion NY Giants can renew their pursuit of history, I did a little research and found something interesting.I touched on this earlier this week, but I want to elaborate---home field and a bye is a HUGE advantage! There seems to be a trendy thought in the media that the bye week and home field no longer matter. Of course, those who make this claim base it on the fact that a wild card team has won the Super Bowl each of the last three years. The Giants, Colts and Steelers have captured the last three Vince Lombardi trophies from the 5 or 6 spot.

However, despite that, home field and the bye are tremendous edges. In the 2007 divisional playoffs, the Giants beat the Dallas Cowboys (still sounds good..). The Green Bay Packers topped the Seattle Seahawks 42-20, the Patriots beat the Jaguars 31-20 and the Chargers beat the Colt 28-24, although the Chargers were the road team without the bye. 2-2 is a rare record for this round.

In 2006, the Colts were the only wildcard team to win without a bye in the divisional round. As you look back through most seasons, the team with the bye, playing obviously at home, has a distinct edge.

Since 2002, the team at home coming off the bye is 19-5! That is a 79% winning percentage--which is about right historically.

There are different theories as to why this dominance; the rest, home field advantage, or maybe the teams that earn the top spots are just superior generally speaking. 

The Giants have another bit of history on their side; since the current playoff format was introduced in 1990, a six seed has NEVER beaten a one seed----0-18!

Look for the Giants to keep the trend going tomorrow as they march on to a repeat performance and the fourth Super Bowl in franchise history!

Look out for the "anti-Plax"...

As the divisional round playoff week drags slowly on, and we all hear/see/read countless versions of what may or may not happen when our Super Bowl Champion NY Giants take the field Sunday against the hated Philadelphia Eagles, I figured I would add one more. I have a feeling---and I swear it is just a feeling, that Giants receiver Domenik Hixon may be a big player on Sunday.

 All Giants fans know the storyline; Plaxico Burress done for the year (actually, most likely the career) due to his remarkable stupidity. This changes everything. Teams, like the Eagles, no longer have to respect the deep route. They can bring up the safeties and crowd the line of scrimmage to stop the beast (that would be Brandon Jacobs), because the Giants now lack a receiver who can make them pay.

Hixon, with his blazing speed, has been designated as the Giants answer to Burress. Thus far, it hasn't happened. Remember the last game between the Giants and Eagles when Eli Manning threw a picture perfect pass to Hixon---hit him dead in stride and right in the hands? It was an easy touchdown. What happened? Hixon dropped the pass. Had he held on, the game very possibly could have been different as the Eagles would have been forced to deal with the new deep threat.

Hixon, the son of a career military man and deeply religious, has been reminded of "the drop" too many times to count. Hixon is no Burress his detractors say. They are right. He is not a problem child. He has handled the situation with nothing but class. He has also, by all accounts, worked incredibly hard to improve.

In fact, Hixon started to show signs of life against the Vikings two weeks ago including reeling in a TD pass from David Carr.

How many times in the NFL playoffs have you seen an unexpected hero emerge? Remember David Tyree?

Anyhow, it is just a feeling, but how perfect would it be to see Hixon come up huge against the same team in which he had "the drop"?

Call me crazy, I think it will happen.

Go Giants!

As the divisional round playoff week drags slowly on, and we all hear/see/read countless versions of what may or may not happen when our Super Bowl Champion NY Giants take the field Sunday against the hated Philadelphia Eagles, I figured I would add one more. I have a feeling---and I swear it is just a feeling, that Giants receiver Domenik Hixon may be a big player on Sunday.

 All Giants fans know the storyline; Plaxico Burress done for the year (actually, most likely the career) due to his remarkable stupidity. This changes everything. Teams, like the Eagles, no longer have to respect the deep route. They can bring up the safeties and crowd the line of scrimmage to stop the beast (that would be Brandon Jacobs), because the Giants now lack a receiver who can make them pay.

Hixon, with his blazing speed, has been designated as the Giants answer to Burress. Thus far, it hasn't happened. Remember the last game between the Giants and Eagles when Eli Manning threw a picture perfect pass to Hixon---hit him dead in stride and right in the hands? It was an easy touchdown. What happened? Hixon dropped the pass. Had he held on, the game very possibly could have been different as the Eagles would have been forced to deal with the new deep threat.

Hixon, the son of a career military man and deeply religious, has been reminded of "the drop" too many times to count. Hixon is no Burress his detractors say. They are right. He is not a problem child. He has handled the situation with nothing but class. He has also, by all accounts, worked incredibly hard to improve.

In fact, Hixon started to show signs of life against the Vikings two weeks ago including reeling in a TD pass from David Carr.

How many times in the NFL playoffs have you seen an unexpected hero emerge? Remember David Tyree?

Anyhow, it is just a feeling, but how perfect would it be to see Hixon come up huge against the same team in which he had "the drop"?

Call me crazy, I think it will happen.

Go Giants!

Bad news for Eagles fans!!!

When the defending Super Bowl Champion New York Giants face off on Sunday at 1:00 against the  Eagles, there are obviously several keys to the game. Number one, hands down, is the World Champs abilty to run the ball. That means Brandon Jacobs---aka, the beast.

When the iggles beat the Giants at the Meadowlands a month ago, one of the factors was Jacob's limited playing time due to injury.

Sorry, Philly fans, no such luck this time. Below, a few quotes from Jacobs and other Giants from giants.com----enjoy!

“The difference today is that I can go out and run full speed and I can make harder cuts,” Jacobs said. “I’m ready to go. I feel real good. I feel real good about our situation and where we are right now. I am just going to wait for the game to begin.”

“You can hear him,” Snee said. “He’s very vocal and he’s enthusiastic. He came in Monday in here and he was rip-roaring and yelling. I said to Brandon, ‘We don’t play until Sunday at one,’ and he looked at me like I was crazy. He’s fired up and I love it.”

“He’s excited, man,” Ward said. “He hasn’t practiced in two, three weeks leaving me and Ahmad (Bradshaw) out there by ourselves, but it’s good to have him back energized and ready to go. In the meetings he can’t even sit still, he’s ready to go, so we had a nice practice today and we’ll continue to work on that for the rest of the week and be ready for the Eagles.”

“Brandon does a great job of getting everybody fired up and just kind of bringing that intensity that we will run the ball,” quarterback Eli Manning said. “We will pound it at first and just set that physical standard that we have as an offense. So he does a good job of doing that and then we mix it up and throw the ball with Derrick Ward and Ahmad and throwing different looks. But he does a great job of getting the crowd up, getting them fired up and getting our offense into that physical mode.”

“He is pretty darn excited today,” Coach Tom Coughlin said. “I had to remind him the game is Sunday.”

Fear the beast, Eagles fans!

When the defending Super Bowl Champion New York Giants face off on Sunday at 1:00 against the  Eagles, there are obviously several keys to the game. Number one, hands down, is the World Champs abilty to run the ball. That means Brandon Jacobs---aka, the beast.

When the iggles beat the Giants at the Meadowlands a month ago, one of the factors was Jacob's limited playing time due to injury.

Sorry, Philly fans, no such luck this time. Below, a few quotes from Jacobs and other Giants from giants.com----enjoy!

“The difference today is that I can go out and run full speed and I can make harder cuts,” Jacobs said. “I’m ready to go. I feel real good. I feel real good about our situation and where we are right now. I am just going to wait for the game to begin.”

“You can hear him,” Snee said. “He’s very vocal and he’s enthusiastic. He came in Monday in here and he was rip-roaring and yelling. I said to Brandon, ‘We don’t play until Sunday at one,’ and he looked at me like I was crazy. He’s fired up and I love it.”

“He’s excited, man,” Ward said. “He hasn’t practiced in two, three weeks leaving me and Ahmad (Bradshaw) out there by ourselves, but it’s good to have him back energized and ready to go. In the meetings he can’t even sit still, he’s ready to go, so we had a nice practice today and we’ll continue to work on that for the rest of the week and be ready for the Eagles.”

“Brandon does a great job of getting everybody fired up and just kind of bringing that intensity that we will run the ball,” quarterback Eli Manning said. “We will pound it at first and just set that physical standard that we have as an offense. So he does a good job of doing that and then we mix it up and throw the ball with Derrick Ward and Ahmad and throwing different looks. But he does a great job of getting the crowd up, getting them fired up and getting our offense into that physical mode.”

“He is pretty darn excited today,” Coach Tom Coughlin said. “I had to remind him the game is Sunday.”

Fear the beast, Eagles fans!

Reality check for the Giants

The Super Bowl won last year does not have any carry over to this post-season.

Lost the last three out the four games to the Vikings, Cowboys and Eagles.

Lost Plaxico Burress for the season.  Burress was an Eagle killer.  Was.  The Giants do not have any one who can replace him.  Now, the Eagles secondary is taller and faster than the Giants wide receivers.  With the Eagles secondary shutting down the Giants receivers, the Eagles defensive line will get after Giants QB Eli Manning. 

Manning will wish he had a number 1 receiver that he could find.

Be afraid Giants fans, your reality check is coming this Sunday.

Time for a reality check, Eagles fans....

Game day between the Giants and Eagles is coming fast. As expected, there has been a lot of hype, and rightfully so, since the Philadelphia Eagles topped the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday afternoon. The Eagles had a mini-miracle occur on the final Sunday of the regular season just to make the playoffs. They took advantage by spanking the gutless Dallas Cowboys then beating the Vikings in the wild card round to advance. They deserve credit for that.

However, all this nonsense about the Eagles being the 2008 version of the 2007  Giants is getting a bit much. Only twice in the history of the NFL has a wild card team won three straight on the road and then won the big prize. Obviously last year with the Giants, and in 2005 with the Pittsburg Steelers.

Twice in 42 years does not a trend make. I realize both happened very recently, but still, the odds are stacked a mile high against you.

Don't get me wrong, the 2008 Eagles, or Ravens for that matter, certainly can go all the way. You just never know. The part that makes me laugh is the fact that so many geniuses in the media seem to think it is an advantage to play in the wildcard game----on the road, as opposed to resting! Give me a break.

Eagles coach Andy Reid seems to be buying in as well (I know he doesn't really believe it), but he stated this week, and I am paraphrasing here, that playing as opposed to resting is an advantage. Really? So, Andy, if the Eagles had a game in week seventeen that would determine either a bye week and home field or playing on the road in the wildcard round, you would tell your players to tank it and lose? Huh?

Of course he wouldn't. Sundays game at the Meadowlands will be a classic NFC East matchup between two very talented and tough teams. It could go either way as we all know. However, if you get past all the hype of the idiots in the media, you will understand why the edge HAS to go to the Giants, here is why;

1) The Giants are rested. While the Eagles traveled to Minnesota and played a very physical game against the Vikings last week, then traveled back across country, the Giants rested. While the Eagles were butting heads and taking shots and getting banged up, the Giants were relaxing. When the Eagles beat the Giants at the Meadowlands back in early December, the Giants were an exhausted team. Call it an excuse if you will (the players have not said that, but I will). They had an early bye week and then had a vicious schedule against ten teams with winning records, many of which are still alive----it takes a toll. By the way, the Giants ended that stretch with a 7-3 record. Also, many key Giants players, Brandon Jacobs, Fred Robbins, etc, who were severly banged up that day will be fine on Sunday.

2) The Giants are battle tested. Not only are they defending Champs, but, as just mentioned, they have played and beaten the very best the NFL has to offer this season; Eagles, Cowboys (oh wait, never mind), Steelers, Ravens, etc.

3) Home field advantage. I know this season home field hasn't mattered much as the Giants and Eagles each won in the others building, but the playoffs are a different deal. Homefield in the playoffs is a huge advantage. The Giants stadium crowd will be in a frenzy. Last season, the Giants defied the odds---it doesn't happen often. Besides, I find it difficult to believe the Eagles will beat the Giants twice at home in six weeks.

4) The Eagles won the last game. Sounds stupid, I know, but when two evenly matched teams play each other multiple times it is amazing how often the team who lost the last game bounces back. The Giants, who have an outstanding coaching staff, will adjust to what the Eagles did last time.

5) The Giants are playing up the underdog role. I know, technically they are favored, but the Eagles have become the trendy pick of the mindless media. Giants players have commented this week on their familiar "lack of respect" theme. Is it legitimate? Who cares! So long as they feed off it. Seemed to work wonders last year.

6) You are what your record says you are----or so says former Giants legend Bill Parcells. Seriously, there is a reason the Giants are defending Champs, top seed in the conference, with a 12-4 record. The Eagles meanwhile finished the regular season at 9-6-1. This Eagles team that everyone in the media and Philly are getting so gaga about, is the same team that lost a few weeks back to an awful Redskins team, tied the dreadful Bengals, and got pimp slapped by the Ravens. Even the most ardent Eagles fan has to admit consistency has not been a hall mark of this team.

7) Eli Manning vs Donovan McNabb. I don't want to hear Eagles fans bitch about this----you kill this guy. Donovan is the best QB in Eagles modern history, yet Eagles fans hate him. However, he is not exactly the picture of "clutch." Case in point; when the Super Bowl was on the line, the team needed the QB to come through, what happened? Eli Manning responded in legendary fashion (if you think I am exagerrating, consider, only Eli and Joe Montana had two 4th quarter TD's, and only they led their team to last minute, game winning TD drives). What did Donovan McNabb do? Puked on his shoes! Point being, if the game is on the line late (it probably will be) history tells us Eli is the manning you want!

It should be a tremendous game--- and one the NY Giants will win!

Game day between the Giants and Eagles is coming fast. As expected, there has been a lot of hype, and rightfully so, since the Philadelphia Eagles topped the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday afternoon. The Eagles had a mini-miracle occur on the final Sunday of the regular season just to make the playoffs. They took advantage by spanking the gutless Dallas Cowboys then beating the Vikings in the wild card round to advance. They deserve credit for that.

However, all this nonsense about the Eagles being the 2008 version of the 2007  Giants is getting a bit much. Only twice in the history of the NFL has a wild card team won three straight on the road and then won the big prize. Obviously last year with the Giants, and in 2005 with the Pittsburg Steelers.

Twice in 42 years does not a trend make. I realize both happened very recently, but still, the odds are stacked a mile high against you.

Don't get me wrong, the 2008 Eagles, or Ravens for that matter, certainly can go all the way. You just never know. The part that makes me laugh is the fact that so many geniuses in the media seem to think it is an advantage to play in the wildcard game----on the road, as opposed to resting! Give me a break.

Eagles coach Andy Reid seems to be buying in as well (I know he doesn't really believe it), but he stated this week, and I am paraphrasing here, that playing as opposed to resting is an advantage. Really? So, Andy, if the Eagles had a game in week seventeen that would determine either a bye week and home field or playing on the road in the wildcard round, you would tell your players to tank it and lose? Huh?

Of course he wouldn't. Sundays game at the Meadowlands will be a classic NFC East matchup between two very talented and tough teams. It could go either way as we all know. However, if you get past all the hype of the idiots in the media, you will understand why the edge HAS to go to the Giants, here is why;

1) The Giants are rested. While the Eagles traveled to Minnesota and played a very physical game against the Vikings last week, then traveled back across country, the Giants rested. While the Eagles were butting heads and taking shots and getting banged up, the Giants were relaxing. When the Eagles beat the Giants at the Meadowlands back in early December, the Giants were an exhausted team. Call it an excuse if you will (the players have not said that, but I will). They had an early bye week and then had a vicious schedule against ten teams with winning records, many of which are still alive----it takes a toll. By the way, the Giants ended that stretch with a 7-3 record. Also, many key Giants players, Brandon Jacobs, Fred Robbins, etc, who were severly banged up that day will be fine on Sunday.

2) The Giants are battle tested. Not only are they defending Champs, but, as just mentioned, they have played and beaten the very best the NFL has to offer this season; Eagles, Cowboys (oh wait, never mind), Steelers, Ravens, etc.

3) Home field advantage. I know this season home field hasn't mattered much as the Giants and Eagles each won in the others building, but the playoffs are a different deal. Homefield in the playoffs is a huge advantage. The Giants stadium crowd will be in a frenzy. Last season, the Giants defied the odds---it doesn't happen often. Besides, I find it difficult to believe the Eagles will beat the Giants twice at home in six weeks.

4) The Eagles won the last game. Sounds stupid, I know, but when two evenly matched teams play each other multiple times it is amazing how often the team who lost the last game bounces back. The Giants, who have an outstanding coaching staff, will adjust to what the Eagles did last time.

5) The Giants are playing up the underdog role. I know, technically they are favored, but the Eagles have become the trendy pick of the mindless media. Giants players have commented this week on their familiar "lack of respect" theme. Is it legitimate? Who cares! So long as they feed off it. Seemed to work wonders last year.

6) You are what your record says you are----or so says former Giants legend Bill Parcells. Seriously, there is a reason the Giants are defending Champs, top seed in the conference, with a 12-4 record. The Eagles meanwhile finished the regular season at 9-6-1. This Eagles team that everyone in the media and Philly are getting so gaga about, is the same team that lost a few weeks back to an awful Redskins team, tied the dreadful Bengals, and got pimp slapped by the Ravens. Even the most ardent Eagles fan has to admit consistency has not been a hall mark of this team.

7) Eli Manning vs Donovan McNabb. I don't want to hear Eagles fans bitch about this----you kill this guy. Donovan is the best QB in Eagles modern history, yet Eagles fans hate him. However, he is not exactly the picture of "clutch." Case in point; when the Super Bowl was on the line, the team needed the QB to come through, what happened? Eli Manning responded in legendary fashion (if you think I am exagerrating, consider, only Eli and Joe Montana had two 4th quarter TD's, and only they led their team to last minute, game winning TD drives). What did Donovan McNabb do? Puked on his shoes! Point being, if the game is on the line late (it probably will be) history tells us Eli is the manning you want!

It should be a tremendous game--- and one the NY Giants will win!

Settle down, Eagle fans....

This will be a fun week, Giant fans; I watched the Eagles-Vikings game yesterday at a local Sports Bar. I live in a part of NJ that is probably 60-40 Philly vs New York fans. I know most, if not all, of the Eagle fans who go there. Other then that genetic defect which makes them fans of the Philadelphia Eagles, really they are not bad guys. I could even have reasonably intelligent discussions with them from time to time on non-football matters.

However, when it come to the Iggles, their brains turn into mush. Yesterday as I sat there enjoying what was an entertaining game, they just turned into morons----no other word for it.

Don't get me wrong, being passionate about your team is a good thing. These clowns are not passionate, they are mentally challenged! Every time the Eagles did something positive, rather then simply cheer, these knuckleheads yelled, cursed, jumped up and down on the bar---it was embarressing to watch. I realize asking for class from Philly fans is a stretch.

When it became clear that the Eagles were going to prevail over that pop warner team known as the Vikings, they started trash talking about the Giants. I love that stuff, it is fun---provided the people with whom you are jousting have an IQ over 12---clearly not the case here.

In their feeble minds, the Giants suck, as I heard several times during the day. By the way, if the Giants (reigning Super Bowl Champs for the third time and top seed in the conference) suck----what exactly do the Eagles do? I needed to remind them that while the Eagles are to be congratulated for the win, they still have accomplished NOTHING!

Next Sunday will be a great game between two very good football teams. The Eagles of course could win the game, you never know. However, I expect the World Champion NY Giants to pull out a hard fought victory. The Eagles fans I watched the game with yesterday already are discussing who the Eagles may face in the Super Bowl!

Arrogance and ignorance are a deadly combination----the Giants are still the team to beat and I would not celebrate just yet, Eagle fans!   

Repeat, Giants!!!

This will be a fun week, Giant fans; I watched the Eagles-Vikings game yesterday at a local Sports Bar. I live in a part of NJ that is probably 60-40 Philly vs New York fans. I know most, if not all, of the Eagle fans who go there. Other then that genetic defect which makes them fans of the Philadelphia Eagles, really they are not bad guys. I could even have reasonably intelligent discussions with them from time to time on non-football matters.

However, when it come to the Iggles, their brains turn into mush. Yesterday as I sat there enjoying what was an entertaining game, they just turned into morons----no other word for it.

Don't get me wrong, being passionate about your team is a good thing. These clowns are not passionate, they are mentally challenged! Every time the Eagles did something positive, rather then simply cheer, these knuckleheads yelled, cursed, jumped up and down on the bar---it was embarressing to watch. I realize asking for class from Philly fans is a stretch.

When it became clear that the Eagles were going to prevail over that pop warner team known as the Vikings, they started trash talking about the Giants. I love that stuff, it is fun---provided the people with whom you are jousting have an IQ over 12---clearly not the case here.

In their feeble minds, the Giants suck, as I heard several times during the day. By the way, if the Giants (reigning Super Bowl Champs for the third time and top seed in the conference) suck----what exactly do the Eagles do? I needed to remind them that while the Eagles are to be congratulated for the win, they still have accomplished NOTHING!

Next Sunday will be a great game between two very good football teams. The Eagles of course could win the game, you never know. However, I expect the World Champion NY Giants to pull out a hard fought victory. The Eagles fans I watched the game with yesterday already are discussing who the Eagles may face in the Super Bowl!

Arrogance and ignorance are a deadly combination----the Giants are still the team to beat and I would not celebrate just yet, Eagle fans!   

Repeat, Giants!!!

Wild card predictions...

It is Saturday in January and that means it is time for NFL playoff football in the wild card round! I have always loved this week (especially when the Giants are alive) and generally it produces some of the most exciting and unpredictable games in the NFL playoffs. It is great to have Saturday football as you can, if you choose, throw back some ice cold adult beverages without worry about having to wake up early for work tomorrow. I think I will take advantage.

As the reigning Champion Giants rest up and watch to see who will be their opponent next Sunday at the Meadowlands, I thought I would take a look at this weekends NFL games;

Atlants Falcons at Arizona Cardinals: As I have previously mentioned, the Cardinals are weak. They may actually be the worst division winner in recent memory. The good news for the Cards is that they are undefeated at home in the playoffs. The bad news, they are 1-0 with the last win coming in 1947! Yuk! It can't be easy to follow this team. While I am a bit concerned about a rookie QB, Matt Ryan, making his first playoff start on the road, that is offset by the fact that the Carsd are soft and weak. They have no defense and no running game---not ingriedients for playoff success.

Falcons, 34-27

Indianapolis Colts at San Diego Chargers: This has been a strange year for the Colts. Normally a team that is always in the conversation, they have been overlooked all season and Peyton Manning (Eli's brother, remember him?) has earned MVP honors as he lead them to a 12-4 record. The Chargers struggled to an 8-8 record in a terrible division and I think they will be breaking out the golf clubs tomorrow as the Colts advance.

Colts 35-21

Baltimore Ravens at Miami Dolphins: It has been an incredible turn around story for Bill Parcells and the Dolphins who came from 1-15 to 11-5 and a division title. The fairy tale ends tomorrow as the Ravens awesome defense is enough to overcome another rookie QB, Joe Flacco, making his playoff debut.

Ravens 20-9

Philadelphia Eagles at Minnesota Vikings: I will put aside my natural division rival hatred for the Eagles. They are playing good football and the Vikings are not. Period. Unless Adrian Peterson runs wild---I mean like 250 yards, 3 touchdowns kind of wild, they are cooked. Tevaris Jackson is simply not a good quarterback and he will struggle setting up a huge NFC East showdown next week at Giants stadium.

Eagles 27-10

Enjoy the games NY Giant fans as we wait to see who is up next for us---although my guess is the boys from Rockyville coming up the turnpike a week from Sunday.

Go Giants !

It is Saturday in January and that means it is time for NFL playoff football in the wild card round! I have always loved this week (especially when the Giants are alive) and generally it produces some of the most exciting and unpredictable games in the NFL playoffs. It is great to have Saturday football as you can, if you choose, throw back some ice cold adult beverages without worry about having to wake up early for work tomorrow. I think I will take advantage.

As the reigning Champion Giants rest up and watch to see who will be their opponent next Sunday at the Meadowlands, I thought I would take a look at this weekends NFL games;

Atlants Falcons at Arizona Cardinals: As I have previously mentioned, the Cardinals are weak. They may actually be the worst division winner in recent memory. The good news for the Cards is that they are undefeated at home in the playoffs. The bad news, they are 1-0 with the last win coming in 1947! Yuk! It can't be easy to follow this team. While I am a bit concerned about a rookie QB, Matt Ryan, making his first playoff start on the road, that is offset by the fact that the Carsd are soft and weak. They have no defense and no running game---not ingriedients for playoff success.

Falcons, 34-27

Indianapolis Colts at San Diego Chargers: This has been a strange year for the Colts. Normally a team that is always in the conversation, they have been overlooked all season and Peyton Manning (Eli's brother, remember him?) has earned MVP honors as he lead them to a 12-4 record. The Chargers struggled to an 8-8 record in a terrible division and I think they will be breaking out the golf clubs tomorrow as the Colts advance.

Colts 35-21

Baltimore Ravens at Miami Dolphins: It has been an incredible turn around story for Bill Parcells and the Dolphins who came from 1-15 to 11-5 and a division title. The fairy tale ends tomorrow as the Ravens awesome defense is enough to overcome another rookie QB, Joe Flacco, making his playoff debut.

Ravens 20-9

Philadelphia Eagles at Minnesota Vikings: I will put aside my natural division rival hatred for the Eagles. They are playing good football and the Vikings are not. Period. Unless Adrian Peterson runs wild---I mean like 250 yards, 3 touchdowns kind of wild, they are cooked. Tevaris Jackson is simply not a good quarterback and he will struggle setting up a huge NFC East showdown next week at Giants stadium.

Eagles 27-10

Enjoy the games NY Giant fans as we wait to see who is up next for us---although my guess is the boys from Rockyville coming up the turnpike a week from Sunday.

Go Giants !

It will be Giants-Eagles..

As the reigning World Champion New York Giants enjoy their hard earned and much needed bye week, as a fan it is hard not to look ahead at Big Blue's possible divisional round opponents. With the Giants having locked down the number one spot, they would play the lowest seed remaining. The three possibilites are the Falcons, Cardinals and Eagles.

The Falcons travel to Arizona to play the softest division winner in recent memory----break out the golf clubs, Cardinals, your season ends Saturday.

On Sunday, the sixth seeded Eagles play the Vikings. These are the same Vikings who struggled mighitly at home in a must win situation playing against the Giants skeleton crew. When Coach Coughlin cleared the remaining starters from the game, the Giants led 19-10. This was a game in which the Giants appeared to be basically just going through the motions and one in which they held out guys like Brandon Jacobs, Kevin Boss, Aaron Ross and Barry Cofield. Also remember most starters including Eli Manning only played a half.

The Vikings, to say the least, were not impressive. They have an awful quarterback in Taveras Jackson who will be tested severely by Jimmy Johnson's blitz happy defense. Expect several mistakes from him. The Vikings do however have arguably the best runnung back in football---although he is fumble happy----in Adrian Peterson. The only shot I see for the Vikings is Peterson running wild.

Since I do not expect that to happen, get ready for Giants-Eagles on January 11! The teams tied the regular season series---I say the Giants make it two of three and advance to the NFC title game once again.

As the reigning World Champion New York Giants enjoy their hard earned and much needed bye week, as a fan it is hard not to look ahead at Big Blue's possible divisional round opponents. With the Giants having locked down the number one spot, they would play the lowest seed remaining. The three possibilites are the Falcons, Cardinals and Eagles.

The Falcons travel to Arizona to play the softest division winner in recent memory----break out the golf clubs, Cardinals, your season ends Saturday.

On Sunday, the sixth seeded Eagles play the Vikings. These are the same Vikings who struggled mighitly at home in a must win situation playing against the Giants skeleton crew. When Coach Coughlin cleared the remaining starters from the game, the Giants led 19-10. This was a game in which the Giants appeared to be basically just going through the motions and one in which they held out guys like Brandon Jacobs, Kevin Boss, Aaron Ross and Barry Cofield. Also remember most starters including Eli Manning only played a half.

The Vikings, to say the least, were not impressive. They have an awful quarterback in Taveras Jackson who will be tested severely by Jimmy Johnson's blitz happy defense. Expect several mistakes from him. The Vikings do however have arguably the best runnung back in football---although he is fumble happy----in Adrian Peterson. The only shot I see for the Vikings is Peterson running wild.

Since I do not expect that to happen, get ready for Giants-Eagles on January 11! The teams tied the regular season series---I say the Giants make it two of three and advance to the NFC title game once again.

Oh well, we still win the NFC East...

I really thought the Super Bowl Champion Giants would come out firing on all cylinders today at the Meadowlands. I really believed the NY Giants would take it to the Philadelphia Eagles and clinch the NFC East title (which they actually did do, just not the way I had hoped).

Congratulations to the Eagles. They got the win. They deserved the win. I do not think they will make the playoffs, but still, they were clearly the better team on this day. Hands down.

I choose not to use the chaos of the past week as an excuse----nor does Giants coach Tom Coughlin as I just heard in his post game press conference. Credit to him for that. 

The Giants are clearly the class of the NFC East, if not the NFL. Still, you do not always win. 

The Giants were just not sharp today----dropped passes, missed tackles, bad penalties, etc. Then again, maybe the Eagles had a little something to do with it.

Regardless, the Giants lost 20-14.

The last time the Super Bowl Champion NY Giants lost, to the Cleveland Browns, all the mental midgets in the media jumped off the band wagon( and the Giants went on a seven game winning streak). The idiots will do it again. I would guess when the latest power rankings come out on Tuesday, the Giants will likely drop to #5 or so. Perfect! 

Reality check; the Giants are 11-2. They are NFC East Champs thanks to the Dallas Cowboys losing today in Pittsburg. The Giants are playoff bound and have earned a first round bye. Life is good. Of course, I would have loved it had the Giants taken care of business today at the Meadowlands, but still, they are in! 

If you had asked any self respecting Giants fan, prior to the season, keep in mind, a title defense season, would you have taken 11-2---the answer would clearly be yes!

Shake it off Giants----this is the NFL. Wins are difficult to come by. Take care of the Dallas Cowboys next Sunday night and all will be forgiven! 

Lets go Giants!

I really thought the Super Bowl Champion Giants would come out firing on all cylinders today at the Meadowlands. I really believed the NY Giants would take it to the Philadelphia Eagles and clinch the NFC East title (which they actually did do, just not the way I had hoped).

Congratulations to the Eagles. They got the win. They deserved the win. I do not think they will make the playoffs, but still, they were clearly the better team on this day. Hands down.

I choose not to use the chaos of the past week as an excuse----nor does Giants coach Tom Coughlin as I just heard in his post game press conference. Credit to him for that. 

The Giants are clearly the class of the NFC East, if not the NFL. Still, you do not always win. 

The Giants were just not sharp today----dropped passes, missed tackles, bad penalties, etc. Then again, maybe the Eagles had a little something to do with it.

Regardless, the Giants lost 20-14.

The last time the Super Bowl Champion NY Giants lost, to the Cleveland Browns, all the mental midgets in the media jumped off the band wagon( and the Giants went on a seven game winning streak). The idiots will do it again. I would guess when the latest power rankings come out on Tuesday, the Giants will likely drop to #5 or so. Perfect! 

Reality check; the Giants are 11-2. They are NFC East Champs thanks to the Dallas Cowboys losing today in Pittsburg. The Giants are playoff bound and have earned a first round bye. Life is good. Of course, I would have loved it had the Giants taken care of business today at the Meadowlands, but still, they are in! 

If you had asked any self respecting Giants fan, prior to the season, keep in mind, a title defense season, would you have taken 11-2---the answer would clearly be yes!

Shake it off Giants----this is the NFL. Wins are difficult to come by. Take care of the Dallas Cowboys next Sunday night and all will be forgiven! 

Lets go Giants!

Giants choke on their pride: Eagles 20 Giants 14

The invincible cloak came off the Giants today.  So much for the New York Giants not being distracted by the media circus. 

The real winds were the same for the Eagles and Giants.  The Eagles conquered them and the Giants.  And they did it by taking a page from the Giants play book by playing possession football.  The Eagles ran the ball right at the heart of the Giants defense and won.  The Giants couldn't get on the field to score. 

The Giants offense was non-existent today.  OK, the Giants didn't miss the Plaxico drama but they did miss his big play ability.  The Giant receivers looked short and inadequate today.  

Hopefully the Eagles left the Giants with enough pride to beat the Cowboys.  The Eagles are going to need help to get into the playoffs.  

Is today the end Eagles fans???

At last it is game day. If I am this relieved imagine how the defending World Champion NY Giants players must feel. Today is all about football---not gun shot wounds, alleged cover ups, hidden guns, etc. Just football. The players, I believe, must be chomping at the bit to just get out there and hit people.....namely people wearing the ugly uniform of the Philadelphia Eagles.

The Giants have a lot riding on this game today at the Meadowlands; wrapping up the NFC East crown, clinching a playoff berth, earning a bye week in round one of the playoffs, setting an NFL record by winning their seventh straight against teams with a  winning record. Also, with a win, the Giants would become just the third team to follow up a Super Bowl title with more regular season wins---the other two teams, the Denver Broncos and San Francisco 49rs, ended up repeating as Champs. 

Maybe most importantly, a win today, particularly a resounding win, would help put the Burress fiasco somewhat in the rear view mirror, at least until more events unfold.

It is  a shame regarding the events of last week. This should be a time when the Giants and their loyal fans are loving life; reigning World Champions, 11-1, on the verge of wrapping up the division, gunning (no pun intended---well, maybe a little) for the top seed in the NFC. Instead, attention has been drawn away from these accomplishments and towards the grossly stupid actions of Burress.

Yet I believe this will not affect the Giants on the field. They have dealt with plenty the past few seasons; Tiki Barber retires, yet on comes Jacobs, Ward and Bradshaw and the running game improves. Jeremy Shockey gets traded, up steps Kevin Boss (by the way, his numbers compare favorably to Goldylocks). Michael Strahan retires, Osi Umenyiora goes down for the season, in steps Justin Tuck and Mathias Kiwanuka and the defense somehow actually improves???

The Giants, through all of this have fared extremely well. In addition to the above mentioned list of accomplishments, they are now 25-5 over their last 30 and 15-1 overtheir last 16! Impressive!

So why believe that this latest episode will derail the Giants? It will not!  

Todays opponent, the Philadelpia Eagles are a good team. They are also a desperate team. A win and their season continues---a loss and they may as well try out Kevin Kolb because it is over. You might say the intangibles favor the Eagles. They don't. These Giants are a unique team. A Championship team. A team that not only wants to wrap up another NFC East crown but also wants to start the process of putting the Burress incident behind them.

I have a very strong feeling they will do exactly that today. Bring it home Giants!

At last it is game day. If I am this relieved imagine how the defending World Champion NY Giants players must feel. Today is all about football---not gun shot wounds, alleged cover ups, hidden guns, etc. Just football. The players, I believe, must be chomping at the bit to just get out there and hit people.....namely people wearing the ugly uniform of the Philadelphia Eagles.

The Giants have a lot riding on this game today at the Meadowlands; wrapping up the NFC East crown, clinching a playoff berth, earning a bye week in round one of the playoffs, setting an NFL record by winning their seventh straight against teams with a  winning record. Also, with a win, the Giants would become just the third team to follow up a Super Bowl title with more regular season wins---the other two teams, the Denver Broncos and San Francisco 49rs, ended up repeating as Champs. 

Maybe most importantly, a win today, particularly a resounding win, would help put the Burress fiasco somewhat in the rear view mirror, at least until more events unfold.

It is  a shame regarding the events of last week. This should be a time when the Giants and their loyal fans are loving life; reigning World Champions, 11-1, on the verge of wrapping up the division, gunning (no pun intended---well, maybe a little) for the top seed in the NFC. Instead, attention has been drawn away from these accomplishments and towards the grossly stupid actions of Burress.

Yet I believe this will not affect the Giants on the field. They have dealt with plenty the past few seasons; Tiki Barber retires, yet on comes Jacobs, Ward and Bradshaw and the running game improves. Jeremy Shockey gets traded, up steps Kevin Boss (by the way, his numbers compare favorably to Goldylocks). Michael Strahan retires, Osi Umenyiora goes down for the season, in steps Justin Tuck and Mathias Kiwanuka and the defense somehow actually improves???

The Giants, through all of this have fared extremely well. In addition to the above mentioned list of accomplishments, they are now 25-5 over their last 30 and 15-1 overtheir last 16! Impressive!

So why believe that this latest episode will derail the Giants? It will not!  

Todays opponent, the Philadelpia Eagles are a good team. They are also a desperate team. A win and their season continues---a loss and they may as well try out Kevin Kolb because it is over. You might say the intangibles favor the Eagles. They don't. These Giants are a unique team. A Championship team. A team that not only wants to wrap up another NFC East crown but also wants to start the process of putting the Burress incident behind them.

I have a very strong feeling they will do exactly that today. Bring it home Giants!

Eli is NFC player of the month!

It has been a pretty good year for World Champion NY Giants Quarterback Eli Manning; wins Super Bowl MVP honors, marries his long time sweetheart, having a great season (19tds, 8 picks, 11-1 record). Now Eli Manning has been named NFC offensive player of the month (not offensive in the Plaxico Burress sense...).

In November, Eli lead the Giants to an impressive 5-0 record---against team which all possesed winning records. He had a QB rating just over 94, and most importantley, he looked like a leader in doing it.

The second half swoon I heard some pundits predicting for Eli Manning appears not to be happenning. He has not only picked up where he left off during last season's magical post season Championship run---he has actually elevated his game!

It is not only about the numbers, Eli is a winner and is the main reason the Giants are sitting pretty at 11-1. If they need to to throw it only 25 times a game and let the running attack take center stage, that is fine with Eli. If they ask him to air it out as they did in Arizona a few weeks back, no problem.

Maybe the most important thing about Eli Manning is his cool, calm demeanor. Do you think the Giants players might just be following his lead in the way they have dealt with distractions this year?

Now I just want Eli Manning, once again, to be NFL player of the month in February...Go Giants---lets bury the Eagles on Sunday!

5 things to help the Eagles beat the Giants

The Eagles are in a desperate situation. They have played up and down all season long.  Lose and the Eagles can forget about the playoffs.  The Giants are the real deal and their record shows it.  One more win and they clinch the NFC East division title. 

1.  It would help if the Brian Westbrook is healthy and ready to run.  Of course, it helps if the offense would drink another cup of kick-ass that they threw down during the Arizona Cardinal game.

2.  Hopefully Eagle QB and new father of twins, Donovan McNabb will be helped by the thought that his wife and children are at home and doing well.  Time for daddy to go to work and bring home the Giant bacon.

3.  The Eagles defensive line will help themselves by stopping the run.  No free passes for the Giant's running attack up the middle.  The Eagles defense need to be stingy with the big running yards and set the edge so the Giant's earth, wind and fire running attack doesn't get any second helpings of big yardage.

4.  The Eagles secondary needs to cut off help from the Giants wide receivers.  The key words to listen for are a coverage sack on Giants QB Eli Manning.

5.  The Eagles offense needs to help out the Eagles defense by playing possession football.  The Giants can't run, throw or score if they don't have the ball.  If the Eagles hold on to the ball that would help the Eagles defense stay fresh and ready to attack the Giants offense.

Big games against good competition have not brought out the best in the Eagles.  The Eagles are the definition of average and the Giant are the defending Super Bowl champions.  

The Eagles are going to need help from their guardian angels.  Eagles by 3 points.

A trap game for the Giants?

The Giants are 11-1.  They have won 7 straight games.  When the Giants win one more that will clinch the NFC East division title.  And the Eagles are hovering around average.  Everything looks good for the Giants.  Too good. 

The Giant's finally got the media attention that they didn't want with the Plaxico Burress drama.  Antonio Pierce will be questioned about his involvement and that can't be good for his head. 

Whatever they might say to the press, the Giants players are thinking about things off the field and that is not good when it comes to playing the football game.  On the other hand, the Eagles desperately need to win this football game.  Their playoff season begins now because they need to win out the rest of the schedule.  The Giants are the first on the hit list.  And the Philadelphia Eagles are going to knock off the Giants this Sunday. 

Bad news for the Eagles...

I will admit I was very nervous last week about how the NY Giants would react following the Plaxico Burress nightmare. Turns out I had no reason to be as the Giants cruised to an easy 23-7 victory that really wasn't even that close.

I was nervous again earlier this week regarding Sundays game as I thought it may start to wear on the team. However, after the team ended Plax's season on Tuesday, Coughlin met with his team and they truly seem to have just moved on. In fact, Wednesday was maybe their best and most spirited practice of the season.  

“That was the most enthusiastic practice I've been around,” said offensive lineman Chris Snee.

By all accounts, the Giants seemed remarkably sharp and focused. I have seen numerous player interviews; Eli Manning, Mathias Kiwanuka, Justin Tuck, Sean O'Hara, Amani Toomer, etc---the message is the same, basically "we are there for Plax but this is a dead issue, we have moved on and are preparing to play the Eagles." Easy to say, I know, but they mean it!

I have a few friends who happen to be Eagles fans (other then that character flaw, not bad guys) who seem giddy thinking that this plays into their hands assuming the Giants will be distracted. Bad news fellas; it will work just the opposite. I believe the Giants will be extremely fired up not only to wrap up the NFC East title, but also to show that they mean it when they say it is  a dead issue. I truly believe the Eagles are walking into the proverbial buzzsaw.

Lets go Giants----put the Eagles out of their misery!

I will admit I was very nervous last week about how the NY Giants would react following the Plaxico Burress nightmare. Turns out I had no reason to be as the Giants cruised to an easy 23-7 victory that really wasn't even that close.

I was nervous again earlier this week regarding Sundays game as I thought it may start to wear on the team. However, after the team ended Plax's season on Tuesday, Coughlin met with his team and they truly seem to have just moved on. In fact, Wednesday was maybe their best and most spirited practice of the season.  

“That was the most enthusiastic practice I've been around,” said offensive lineman Chris Snee.

By all accounts, the Giants seemed remarkably sharp and focused. I have seen numerous player interviews; Eli Manning, Mathias Kiwanuka, Justin Tuck, Sean O'Hara, Amani Toomer, etc---the message is the same, basically "we are there for Plax but this is a dead issue, we have moved on and are preparing to play the Eagles." Easy to say, I know, but they mean it!

I have a few friends who happen to be Eagles fans (other then that character flaw, not bad guys) who seem giddy thinking that this plays into their hands assuming the Giants will be distracted. Bad news fellas; it will work just the opposite. I believe the Giants will be extremely fired up not only to wrap up the NFC East title, but also to show that they mean it when they say it is  a dead issue. I truly believe the Eagles are walking into the proverbial buzzsaw.

Lets go Giants----put the Eagles out of their misery!

Giants vs Eagles...

The World Champion NY Giants take on  division rival Philadelphia Eagles this Sunday at Giants Stadium. The Giants enter the contest at 11-1, with a chance to wrap up the NFC East and a first round bye in the playoffs. The Eagles (6-5-1), on the other hand have had a very disappointing season. One more loss virtually ends their playoff aspirations as that would give them a maximum of 9 wins----not enough to qualify. However, if the Birds win out (highly unlikely) they will most probably be in as the tie with the Bengals would actually help them.

Eagles fans are funny, prior to Sunday they were all ready to throw Andy Reid and Donovan McNabb off the Ben Franklin Bridge. Suddenly, after an impressive Thanksgiving Day win at home against the Cardinals, they are now the greatest thing since sliced bread. Relax guys----newsflash----the Cardinals suck!

Seriously, that is not a legitamate Championship contender. Every time the Cards come back East they show how soft they truly are. Yes, Donovan looked great. Yes, Andy Reid did realize it is not a mortal sin to run the ball. Yes, Brian Westbrook looked great....against the Cardinals. The Giants will pose a different challenge.

When the Giants came into the Linc a few weeks back they slapped the Eagles around in front of their famously polite fans. The final score was 36-31, Giants. Any one watching knew it wasn't really that close. The Giants offensive line was dominant as they ran 45 times for 219 yards!

Defensively, the Giants goal was to take Westbrook out of the game---they succeeded! My guess is that if the first 2 or 3 runs to him do not yield much, Andy Reid will once again abandon the run.

I see this game going much the same as last time since the Giants will once again control the line of scrimmage on both side of the ball. If the Giants eliminate the turnovers they had in that game, this one will be the blowout we should have had then---Giants 34-13! 

How nice to talk about football as opposed to, say, gun shot wounds.

Lets go Giants!

The World Champion NY Giants take on  division rival Philadelphia Eagles this Sunday at Giants Stadium. The Giants enter the contest at 11-1, with a chance to wrap up the NFC East and a first round bye in the playoffs. The Eagles (6-5-1), on the other hand have had a very disappointing season. One more loss virtually ends their playoff aspirations as that would give them a maximum of 9 wins----not enough to qualify. However, if the Birds win out (highly unlikely) they will most probably be in as the tie with the Bengals would actually help them.

Eagles fans are funny, prior to Sunday they were all ready to throw Andy Reid and Donovan McNabb off the Ben Franklin Bridge. Suddenly, after an impressive Thanksgiving Day win at home against the Cardinals, they are now the greatest thing since sliced bread. Relax guys----newsflash----the Cardinals suck!

Seriously, that is not a legitamate Championship contender. Every time the Cards come back East they show how soft they truly are. Yes, Donovan looked great. Yes, Andy Reid did realize it is not a mortal sin to run the ball. Yes, Brian Westbrook looked great....against the Cardinals. The Giants will pose a different challenge.

When the Giants came into the Linc a few weeks back they slapped the Eagles around in front of their famously polite fans. The final score was 36-31, Giants. Any one watching knew it wasn't really that close. The Giants offensive line was dominant as they ran 45 times for 219 yards!

Defensively, the Giants goal was to take Westbrook out of the game---they succeeded! My guess is that if the first 2 or 3 runs to him do not yield much, Andy Reid will once again abandon the run.

I see this game going much the same as last time since the Giants will once again control the line of scrimmage on both side of the ball. If the Giants eliminate the turnovers they had in that game, this one will be the blowout we should have had then---Giants 34-13! 

How nice to talk about football as opposed to, say, gun shot wounds.

Lets go Giants!

Burress Giant career is shot...

The World Champion New York Giants did the right thing yesterday. They suspended the idiot Plaxico Burress for 4 games----the rest of the regular season, and put him on the non football injury list ensuring that he won't be on the playoff roster. Buress is done as a Giant, and likely done in the NFL (although Jerry Jones is probably already trying to figure out a way to have him come to Dallas).

Think about what Burress's gross stupidity cost him; he will miss 4 game checks totaling $824,000. He likely will not be paid a $1million signing bonus owed to him by the Giants later this month. He likely will forefeit the balance of the $27 million from his contract. His NFL career---Jerry Jones nothwithstanding, is likely over. There is a strong chance he will serve jail time. He has humiliated himself and his family, as well as the NY Giants.

For what?

Why would a 31 year old man---a Father, a rich, famous athlete who not all that long ago was a hero as he caught the game winning pass in Super Bowl XLII, act like a cheap thug? Whatever the reason, that is exactly what Burress did and it cost him dearly!

The New York Giants now need to do their best to repair the damage and pray that this ugly incident does not bring down Antonio Pierce as well.

It is time for the Giants to move on and focus on repeating and it starts this Sunday against the division rival Eagles.

Go Giants!

The World Champion New York Giants did the right thing yesterday. They suspended the idiot Plaxico Burress for 4 games----the rest of the regular season, and put him on the non football injury list ensuring that he won't be on the playoff roster. Buress is done as a Giant, and likely done in the NFL (although Jerry Jones is probably already trying to figure out a way to have him come to Dallas).

Think about what Burress's gross stupidity cost him; he will miss 4 game checks totaling $824,000. He likely will not be paid a $1million signing bonus owed to him by the Giants later this month. He likely will forefeit the balance of the $27 million from his contract. His NFL career---Jerry Jones nothwithstanding, is likely over. There is a strong chance he will serve jail time. He has humiliated himself and his family, as well as the NY Giants.

For what?

Why would a 31 year old man---a Father, a rich, famous athlete who not all that long ago was a hero as he caught the game winning pass in Super Bowl XLII, act like a cheap thug? Whatever the reason, that is exactly what Burress did and it cost him dearly!

The New York Giants now need to do their best to repair the damage and pray that this ugly incident does not bring down Antonio Pierce as well.

It is time for the Giants to move on and focus on repeating and it starts this Sunday against the division rival Eagles.

Go Giants!

Giants advance to 11-1!

Eagles fans, you are looking at the picture of the NFL coach of the year in my opinion (hint, it isn't Andy Reid); NY Giants Tom Coughlin. The job he has done is amazing. Coming off last season's dramatic Super Bowl victory, Tom Coughlin, despite numerous distractions not the least of which being the recent self inflicted bullet wound to their prima donna receiver ( you know who I mean...) these Giants just keep on winning! The Giants are now 11-1 and cruising!

Today in Washington, the Giants faced an uphill battle. They were dealing with the aforementioned adversity caused by the shooting. They were playing a desperate, bitter division rival on the road. The Redskins were fired up after a very classy pre game tribute to the late Sean Taylor.

Everything pointed to a Giants loss.

Nobody told the Giants. Actually, they looked more like the desperate team as they started out with a three and out on defense before turning the ball over to Eli Manning and company who marched straight down field for an impressive Touchdown drive.

The Giants scored on their first three posessions and built a 13-0 lead. It should have ended in a shutout but for a terrible call by the officials (they have been doing a lot of that this year) negating an interception by Corey Webster. The pick was reversed due to a very cheesy hands to the face call on Webster. The Redskins would score shortly thereafter. No matter.

The Giants rolled on to an impressive 23-7 victory and can wrap up the NFC East title with a victory at home against the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday.

Giants QB Eli Manning was once again outstanding---and it is time to get Eli's name in the running for NFL MVP. He went 21-34, 305 yards one TD and one pick.

Defensilvely, the Giants were dominant holding Clinton Portis to a measley 22 yards rushing! Consider he is averaging over 100 per game this year. It seems each week Giants coordinator Steve Spagnolo comes in with a primary goal----last week it is not allowing yards after the catch to the Cardinals big receivers. This week, it was to shut down Clinton Portis. Each week Spagnolo's Giants defenders accomplish their mission.  

This is a very professional team we are watching. They just do not lose focus. Giants head coach Tom Coughlin, after the game, was asked about how the team dealt with the situation the idiot (you know, that receiver...) put them in. Coughlin basically said that once they found out he would be OK, they resumed their focus on beating the Redskins.

With these Giants, there are no excuses, no disctractions---just winning football. I read in several other sites where the rest of the division and probably the conference thought they had reason for hope in that this latest episode would sink the Giants. In fairness, I kind of wondered myself. Bad news for the rest of the NFL----this was just a speed bump---the Giants will deal with this and keep it rolling!  

Next up---Eagles---Go Giants!

Giants are unstoppable!

Distractions mean nothing to this team. Giants fans, I will say this right now; this was the most impressive win of the season for this team. I will admit (and if you read my post from earlier today, you will know) that I was very nervous about this game. The damage caused by the idiot receiver whose name I do not even want to mention, I thought would so severely distract the Giants, perhaps for the remainder of the season, that they could possibly unravel.

Happily, I was wrong! This New York Giants team seems to let nothing---and I mean nothing, stand in their way. Think about it; Michael Strahan retires, Osi Umenyiora suffers a  season ending injury, last week Brandon Jacobs and the receiver in question sit out. Result, the Giants just keep on rolling!

They are currently 11-1 and looking like a very special team after today's impressive 23-7 win against the Washington Redskins.

I will do a more detailed game post later, but for now, enjoy this Giants fans, this team looks unstoppable!

Lets go Giants!!!

Distractions mean nothing to this team. Giants fans, I will say this right now; this was the most impressive win of the season for this team. I will admit (and if you read my post from earlier today, you will know) that I was very nervous about this game. The damage caused by the idiot receiver whose name I do not even want to mention, I thought would so severely distract the Giants, perhaps for the remainder of the season, that they could possibly unravel.

Happily, I was wrong! This New York Giants team seems to let nothing---and I mean nothing, stand in their way. Think about it; Michael Strahan retires, Osi Umenyiora suffers a  season ending injury, last week Brandon Jacobs and the receiver in question sit out. Result, the Giants just keep on rolling!

They are currently 11-1 and looking like a very special team after today's impressive 23-7 win against the Washington Redskins.

I will do a more detailed game post later, but for now, enjoy this Giants fans, this team looks unstoppable!

Lets go Giants!!!

Giants continue to dominate!

Sorry Eagles fans---you may not want to read this.The New York Giants traveled back to their home away from home----Sun Devil Stadium in Glendale, site of their historic triumph in Super Bowl XLII, and knocked off the Arizona Cardinals, 37-29. The interesting part to me is the way the Giants can just rotate players in and out with seemingly no effect on the outcome. Star Wide Receiver Plaxico Burress pulled himself after the first series since he felt he could not run full speed. No problem, Domenik Hixon stepped in and grabbed 6 catches for 57 yards. Brandon Jacobs was sidelined with a sore knee, the Cardinals ganged up on the run limiting the Giants to just 87 yards on the ground. No problem, Eli Manning had one of his best performances of the season going 26-33, 240 yards, 3 touchdowns.

Yes, the Giants (10-1) are on a big time roll. They posess a three game lead in the NFC East and hold a two game lead for the #1 seed in the conference.

They were in control for much of the game. While Cardinal QB Kurt Warner put up some big numbers with 350 yards passing, the Giants defense did the job as they did not give up any big plays. They made the Cardinals earn every yard and cut out the quick strike capability they have shown this  season.

The Giants had several stars yesterday; Eli Manning as mentioned, was brilliant. Actually, his numbers should have been better if not for three droppes passes. He was dead on accurate! The aforementioned Domenik Hixon, in addition to a great job receiveing, was awesome in the return game with big runs of 68 and 87 yards. Why in the world did the Buffalo Bills ever let this guy go? Fortunately for the Giants, they did and Jerry Reese snatched up another gem. Rookie Kenny Phillips had a big game deflecting two passes and breaking up a touchdown pass on a nifty play in the end zone. He is going to be a star.

The World Champion Giants are cruising right now. With just five weeks left in the regular season, it is becoming evident to me that the only team who can beat the Giants is the Giants themselves----enjoy it folks! The Giants are special!

Sorry Eagles fans---you may not want to read this.The New York Giants traveled back to their home away from home----Sun Devil Stadium in Glendale, site of their historic triumph in Super Bowl XLII, and knocked off the Arizona Cardinals, 37-29. The interesting part to me is the way the Giants can just rotate players in and out with seemingly no effect on the outcome. Star Wide Receiver Plaxico Burress pulled himself after the first series since he felt he could not run full speed. No problem, Domenik Hixon stepped in and grabbed 6 catches for 57 yards. Brandon Jacobs was sidelined with a sore knee, the Cardinals ganged up on the run limiting the Giants to just 87 yards on the ground. No problem, Eli Manning had one of his best performances of the season going 26-33, 240 yards, 3 touchdowns.

Yes, the Giants (10-1) are on a big time roll. They posess a three game lead in the NFC East and hold a two game lead for the #1 seed in the conference.

They were in control for much of the game. While Cardinal QB Kurt Warner put up some big numbers with 350 yards passing, the Giants defense did the job as they did not give up any big plays. They made the Cardinals earn every yard and cut out the quick strike capability they have shown this  season.

The Giants had several stars yesterday; Eli Manning as mentioned, was brilliant. Actually, his numbers should have been better if not for three droppes passes. He was dead on accurate! The aforementioned Domenik Hixon, in addition to a great job receiveing, was awesome in the return game with big runs of 68 and 87 yards. Why in the world did the Buffalo Bills ever let this guy go? Fortunately for the Giants, they did and Jerry Reese snatched up another gem. Rookie Kenny Phillips had a big game deflecting two passes and breaking up a touchdown pass on a nifty play in the end zone. He is going to be a star.

The World Champion Giants are cruising right now. With just five weeks left in the regular season, it is becoming evident to me that the only team who can beat the Giants is the Giants themselves----enjoy it folks! The Giants are special!

How to handle difficult players: Eagles vs. Giants

Andy Reid picks players with good character.  Reid builds around players who have good values and incorporate the Eagles values.  The last guy who didn't have character played in a Super Bowl for the Eagles.  The next season after the Super Bowl, he who shall remain nameless wasn't too happy with his one year old contract and then started not giving all he had.  That guy got suspended and kicked off the team.  The Eagles have made the playoffs once since that nameless player left.  Now the Eagles have plenty of guys with character.  Character is nice.  Players with character make great role models for our kids.  Character gives you the ability to stay in games.  Character is not going to win games.  

Since 2004, the Philadelphia Eagles team with lots of character has been average.   Talent wins games.  Look at what the New York Giants are doing with their star receiver, Plaxico Buress.  Last year, the guy doesn't show up to practice 30 times.  The Giants keep it quiet while they go on to win the Super Bowl.  This year, Buress continued his missing practice and covering it up with lame excuses.  The Giants let it leak out and also fine him.  They suspended him for one game.  Buress is still catching passes for the New York Giants because he can miss practice and beat anyone in the NFL.  It helps to have talent that wins games.  The Giants will keep him around until they replace him.  But not until the Giants are ready to trade him and get some value for him.

And the Giants don't keep non-conformers and non-performers around too long.  They said good-bye to Jeremy Shockey last season.  New York got two draft picks for their old baggage and continue their winning ways.

Andy Reid and the Eagles didn't have that kind of patience.  With that nameless player, they cut their losses and ended up with cash back.  And one more thing, they got better team chemistry in the locker room.  Personally, I prefer chemistry on the field that results in wins.  Peace in the locker room doesn't do a thing for me.  Andy Reid's job is to mange the personalities that come with talent.   Reid needs to get talent and learn to motivate the personalities.  Reid is killing the Eagles with his safe choices. 

Sorry Donovan, the Giants are just the better team!

Despite Donovan Mcnabb claiming the Giants were not the best team in the NFC East, they are proving to once again be the best in the entire NFL! Enough already from those who like to question whether the reigning Super Bowl Champion New York Giants are for real. I have heard enough about flukes, soft schedules, etc. In the last 3 weeks, the Giants have beaten the Steelers (in Pittsburg), Cowboys and the latest victim, the Philadelphia Eagles.

Last night the Giants went into Philly and dominated the game. Yes, I realize the final score, 36-31, didn't indicate that thanks in large part to two costly turnovers, but they beat them up. Consider; the Giants rushed the ball 45 times for 229 yards! The Giants held the ball for almost 40 minutes. The Giants held the great running back Brian Westbrook to only 59 total yards! They were by far the better team.

I will not bore you with a bunch of facts and figures from the game. Lets look at the big picture. The Giants are now 8-1 and hold a two game lead over the Redskins. They are 3-0 in the division----the best division in football, and 6-0 in the conference. Going back to last season's incredible playoff run, the Giants are 12-1! Folks, we are watching something special here. If the Giants can stay relatively healthy and keep their heads on straight, we may very well be watching the best team in the history of the franchise. As all Giants fans remember, even the great Championship teams under Bill Parcells never responded the year after winning a title the way this group has. They are better then last year! Despite losing Jeremy Shockey (4-5 with the Saints---how's that one working out?) Michael Strahan and Osi Umenyiora, they are actually playing better football.

Keep up the good work Giants---keep it up!

Almost time to play...

The World Champion New York Giants are just hours away from another big divisional contest. Game Day has arrived Giants fans, and I am ready. The Champion Giants kick it off at 8:15 tonight in Philly with the opportunity to basically bury any real chance the Eagles have at winning the NFC East.

I have a very, very good feeling about this one. I think the Giants, despite what Donovan McNabb says, are clearly the better team and I think they will take care of business. The Giants have a chance to go on prime time TV in front of a national audience and show that their last prime time game, in Cleveland, was just a fluke.

The bottom line for me is that if the Giants can run the ball, and they are the best in the NFL at doing exactly that, they will have their way with the Eagles.

Divisional games can be hard to predict, and the Eagles are a very good team, but I REALLY like the Giants tonight. 

Lets Go Giants!

Giant notes...

Okay New York Giants fan, we are a day away from the World Champs big game down in Philly in which the Giants can, and I believe will, basically end any real hope the Eagles have at winning the NFC East. A few bits of information as we wait;

Did you hear Eagles QB Donovan "chunky soup" Mcnabb trash talking? Nothing really too bad, but he basically said he does not feel the Giants are the best team in the division. He also said that even if the Giants win on Sunday he still would not concede they are the best. Lets see Donovan, the Giants are defending champs, in first place, they have a record of 7-1. The Eagles on the other hand have a remarkably empty trophy case, they are 5-3 and in 3rd place. Hmmmm. So Donovan, how is it you do not concede the Giants are the best team? Don't get me wrong, I know players have to be confident and believe they are good---and the Eagles are a good team---but how about a little respect for the reigning Champs? Remember the old addage---you are the Champion until someone knocks you off.

Also, in an embarressing moment for a generally very well run NFL, they first fined Giants star pass rusher Justin Tuck for a hit on Cowboys Brook Bollinger, then rescinded it. Brilliant! For those of you unfamiliar with the hit in question, it was a joke. There was absolutely nothing wrong with the hit. It was not late---Bollinger had literally just released the ball. Tuck didn't go after his knees nor did he lead with his helmut. The play drew a 15 yard penalty leading to the Cowboys only offensive touchdown. It was a terrible call! However, you on hand may be able to say it was just a mistake. But for the league to look at the tape and come back four days later and fine him is beyond any reasonable explanation. I get that they want to protect the Quarterbacks, and I agree with it. But lets not go overboard. If defenders are denied the right to lay good, hard, clean hits on the QB you may as well make it two hand touch.

In a bit of injury news for the Giants, safety James Butler will  not playing giving first round pick Kenny Phillips his very first NFL start! I look forward to seeing what he can do. I think KP will be a star in this league and may just end up "Wally Piping" Butler. (For those of you unfamiliar with the reference, Pip was the Yankees first baseman a long time ago, got injured and was replaced by an unknown guy named Lou Gehrig----Pip was never heard from again).

Seriously, Kenny Phillips can do it all. He is strong, fast, hits like a train and covers a lot of ground back there. Giants coach Tom Coughlin has praised the job KP has done on special teams and in the considerable playing time he has gotten in the nickel. I really want to see him develope on a full time basis. The player most experts compare him to is the Eagles Brian Dawkins. While I hate to praise any Eagle, that is a hell of a compliment.

Okay, only 30 hours left now until kickoff---Lets Go Giants!