The Giants Are The Best Team In Football
The old Giants tended to struggle against teams like the Seattle Seahawks. The old Giants had a history of playing down to their competition. The old Giants didn't fare particularly well coming off of bye weeks. The old Giants conveniently found excuses for letdowns.
These are not the old New York Giants.
No, my friends. This is a new bunch. This is a squad that now has a 2007 Super Bowl ring. But they're even better now. They are clearly the best team in the NFL in 2008. If you don't think so, maybe it's time to take a closer look.
You can't claim I'm biased. The Giants are not "my" team. I bleed green-and-white. My father and fiancee are Big Blue die-hards. Plus, being in market, I get to watch all of the G-Men's games. This used to be an often painful experience. Now, it's like watching a well-oiled machine. It's reminiscent of the way the team with that other Manning guy looked a few years back.
Sure, it was the Seahawks, whose secondary looked as if covering receivers was a new and foreign concept. No matter. Sunday was an illustration of all the reasons the 2008 version of the Giants, despite being without Strahan and Umeniyora, is even more frightening than last year's championship team.
Find me a weak spot. It's happened with Eli. The complete transformation has occurred. He is a calm, poised accurate passer. He is a leader. He controls the game. I can't believe I just wrote any of that, still remarkable. Surrounding him is a corps of receiving threats that can catch any pass, fit any situation. Possession. Third down specialist. Deep threat. The Giants are covered. And that's without Plaxico Burress.
In front of Eli is one of the most underrated (and I think best) offensive lines in football. Call them "blue-collar," "scrappy" or whatever the heck you feel like. They run block phenomenally well. They protect phenomenally well. They are a great offensive line. Period.
Behind Eli is an Earth, Wind and Fire trio that's intimidating no matter what you call them. Leading the way is an unheralded but prototypical fullback. And, if need be, they actually do have a tight end but haven't even needed to throw to him yet.
On the other side of the ball, the Big Blue wrecking crew is similarly stacked. Guys like Tuck and Kiwanuka make it hard to believe that they could ever be people playing in front of them. The secondary is getting better and better and Pierce is as solid as can be guiding the backers. The men in the middle are also a lot better than they get credit for. Throw in the greatest directional punter ever and a 79-year old field goal kicker picked up off the scrap heap who's yet to miss a kick...
Right now, this team can do little wrong. At this moment, they are making every opponent remember who sits atop the NFL. And, if they keep playing like this, there's no reason not to think they might be able to hold onto that distinction for a good while longer.
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5 comments:
I agree 100% with this 'new' Giants team (no let downs, finishing opponents, etc) but I am not ready to 'crown their asses' just yet.
I was at the game yesterday and you could feel the difference. It's almost as if they lost the Super Bowl and have something to prove. Every player was focused.
This is a heck of a team. A "scrappy" o-line that did whatever it wanted. A deep RB and WR crew. A sick d-line. They did whatever they wanted, whenever they wanted.
Is the Scribe attempting some sort of reverse "hex" on the Big Blue? Let us see them beat or at least battle Dallas before we crown them.
Amen. I'm glad my fiancee has finally admitted that the big blue wrecking crew is a force to be reckoned with. love you!
the catch, the catch the catch!!!!
I love love love the Giants! I bleed blue. And I cannot believe how good they are playing. But... I am ever so cautious to raise my expectations so highly on them. First, because it is the Giants and history (outside of last year) has told us to be moderate in our expectations, and Second, and more importantly, Eli - I agree that Eli has done remarkable so far - and I wouldn't trade him for anyone, but... as the weather starts getting bad and windy in Giants stadium, that's when Eli needs to prove that he can sustain his playmaking. The past 4 seasons has shown that the wind gets the better of him, usually. Just check out his career stats in September/October vs November/December at home. Go Giants!
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