Déjà Blue
by Aakash Japi
It wasn't supposed to come to this. Entering 2012, with another Super Bowl and a number of accolades under their belt, the Giants were the team to beat. For the first half of the season, they played like it, thrashing teams like the 49’ers, Redskins and the Cowboys on the way to a 6-2 start. But as is typical of the Giants, November came, and brought with it a tough schedule, a slumping team, and sloppy play. The Giants, who specifically said they would not succumb to their usual second half “bug,” did just that.
At the beginning of November, the Giants held a three game lead over the reeling Cowboys and Redskins, and seemed to have the NFC East under wraps. However, after a month with only one win, they’ve gave up a lot of ground, falling to 7-5 with both Dallas and Washington. The Super Bowl champs showed flashes of greatness, like their statement victory over Green Bay, but have still remained disappointingly inconsistent. They failed to build upon the achievements of last season.
Though New York remains a powerful team in the NFC, they still have a ways to go before they can match the consistent performance and success of the Brady-era Patriots, or the Favre-era Packers. Right now, it is the job of the team’s mental and emotional leaders, Eli Manning, Justin Tuck, and Tom Coughlin, to get the team back into the playing mentality, ensuring that they do make the playoffs. Though the Giants have faced worse situations than this, an extremely difficult December schedule could dismantal New York’s chances and end all hopes of a repeat.
In the weeks remaining, the Giants face the high powered offense of the Atlanta Falcons, and the lights-out defense of the Baltimore Ravens. This schedule comprises one of the hardest, if not the hardest, in the NFL. Whatever the Giants are planning on doing to right themselves, they need to do it fast. Because, after failing to capitalize on games against Cincinnati, Washington, and Pittsburgh, they are now faced with a self-created jam. Winning is essential, and for that, the Giants need to play to their greatest potential; they need to display the brilliance they did last year.
If New York can regain its footing, and put together a winning finish to the season; if the Redskins and Cowboys, after their sudden resurgence, revert to their mediocrity, then the G-Men might have yet another shot at the Lombardi. But the only piece of the puzzle that the Giants truly control is themselves.
If the Giants do blow it, it will be a stain upon Eli Manning’s, Tom Coughlin’s, and every single player on that team’s record. It will be a sign of an inability to pull things together, and create a winning streak when it is so sorely needed. It will exemplify the Giants’ lack of consistency and composure, and their failure to hold onto a once guaranteed playoff spot. It will reflect on the Giants’ deficiency in character, perseverance and strength.
This was a division that one month ago was the Giants’ to lose, and now, is theirs to recover. A collapse of this magnitude clearly shows New York’s failure to perform to its potential, and create a winning season when their fanbase, players, and supporters so dearly need and deserve it.
Play like everyone knows you can. That is all the Giants need. If they can repeat their wins against Green Bay and San Francisco, they will go on, maybe even with a first round bye. But if they continue to play without a game plan, then come December, they’ll face another sub-par record and playoff elimination. We all know they have the ability to be champions. The question is, will they?
It wasn't supposed to come to this. Entering 2012, with another Super Bowl and a number of accolades under their belt, the Giants were the team to beat. For the first half of the season, they played like it, thrashing teams like the 49’ers, Redskins and the Cowboys on the way to a 6-2 start. But as is typical of the Giants, November came, and brought with it a tough schedule, a slumping team, and sloppy play. The Giants, who specifically said they would not succumb to their usual second half “bug,” did just that.
At the beginning of November, the Giants held a three game lead over the reeling Cowboys and Redskins, and seemed to have the NFC East under wraps. However, after a month with only one win, they’ve gave up a lot of ground, falling to 7-5 with both Dallas and Washington. The Super Bowl champs showed flashes of greatness, like their statement victory over Green Bay, but have still remained disappointingly inconsistent. They failed to build upon the achievements of last season.
Though New York remains a powerful team in the NFC, they still have a ways to go before they can match the consistent performance and success of the Brady-era Patriots, or the Favre-era Packers. Right now, it is the job of the team’s mental and emotional leaders, Eli Manning, Justin Tuck, and Tom Coughlin, to get the team back into the playing mentality, ensuring that they do make the playoffs. Though the Giants have faced worse situations than this, an extremely difficult December schedule could dismantal New York’s chances and end all hopes of a repeat.
In the weeks remaining, the Giants face the high powered offense of the Atlanta Falcons, and the lights-out defense of the Baltimore Ravens. This schedule comprises one of the hardest, if not the hardest, in the NFL. Whatever the Giants are planning on doing to right themselves, they need to do it fast. Because, after failing to capitalize on games against Cincinnati, Washington, and Pittsburgh, they are now faced with a self-created jam. Winning is essential, and for that, the Giants need to play to their greatest potential; they need to display the brilliance they did last year.
If New York can regain its footing, and put together a winning finish to the season; if the Redskins and Cowboys, after their sudden resurgence, revert to their mediocrity, then the G-Men might have yet another shot at the Lombardi. But the only piece of the puzzle that the Giants truly control is themselves.
If the Giants do blow it, it will be a stain upon Eli Manning’s, Tom Coughlin’s, and every single player on that team’s record. It will be a sign of an inability to pull things together, and create a winning streak when it is so sorely needed. It will exemplify the Giants’ lack of consistency and composure, and their failure to hold onto a once guaranteed playoff spot. It will reflect on the Giants’ deficiency in character, perseverance and strength.
This was a division that one month ago was the Giants’ to lose, and now, is theirs to recover. A collapse of this magnitude clearly shows New York’s failure to perform to its potential, and create a winning season when their fanbase, players, and supporters so dearly need and deserve it.
Play like everyone knows you can. That is all the Giants need. If they can repeat their wins against Green Bay and San Francisco, they will go on, maybe even with a first round bye. But if they continue to play without a game plan, then come December, they’ll face another sub-par record and playoff elimination. We all know they have the ability to be champions. The question is, will they?