To reach playoffs, Giants have to win their remaining three games, and Dallas Cowboys have to lose once.

Dallas plays unbeaten New Orleans Saints in Superdome next week, travels to Redskins the following week, before ending season at home against Eagles. Tough schedule!

Giants face Redskins away, Carolina at home, before ending season at Minnesota. Hopefully, 11-2 Vikings will rest Favre and Peterson for final game.

Dangerous Offense

Eli Manning is having a great year statistically, despite the absence of Plaxico Burress, but it would be much better, if team committed less penalties. Consider that Giants are ranked fifth in total offense, but eighth in points scored.

Sadly, Giants formerly outstanding rushing attack is gone, and they rank last in “red zone offense.” I cannot recall the last time Brandon Jacobs rushed for 100 yards.

Not So Dangerous Defense

New York Giants formerly great defense, is ranked 28th out of 32 NFL teams. I expect Bill Sheridan, the former linebackers coach, who succeeded the brilliant Steve Spagnuolo as Defensive Coordinator this season, to be replaced.

In my fantasy scenario, Giants will rehire Steve Spagnuolo, who left to coach St. Louis Rams next season. Rams are 1-12, and inexplicably ranked 30th in team defense, so Spagnuolo could conceivably be fired.

But Coach Coughlin, who fired offensive coordinator John Hufnagel before the final game of the 2006 season, is not ready to replace Sheridan. After defense surrendered 45 points to Eagles, Coughlin said of Sheridan:

“I let (Sheridan) know my support for him and I also let him know that it has to be better. We have to do a better job. We are here for one reason. The inconsistency part of it is disturbing, let’s face it. Six big play passes and three big play runs, you are not going to beat anybody like that. It’s not all that. Everybody wants to say 45. It’s not 45, it’s 31. Two scores were on special teams and offense.”

What’s Next?

After winning their first five games, Giants have lost six of their last eight games, and can only improve. Unfortunately, I do not expect them to improve enough, to win their next six games, and reach the Super Bowl.

A team with a porous defense, which commits seven or eight penalties each game, and is ranked last in offense when inside opponent’s 20-yard-line, does not sound like recent New York Giants. Delegating duties is fine, but it is ultimately up to Coach Coughlin to fix this mess, so New York Giants, and their fans, can look forward to Sundays again!

Sheridan, 50, started coaching in 1981, and has been with the Giants for four seasons. Sheridan said:

“I’m thrilled. I’m humbled but very, very excited and anxious to get going. I’ve prepared my entire career for this opportunity. I owe this to Tom Coughlin and Steve Spagnuolo and the rest of the defensive staff — Peter Giunta, Mike Waufle, Dave Merritt and Andre Curtis. This is nothing more than a reflection of the success we’ve had here.”

Coach Coughlin, as usual, explained his decision well:

“We won 26 games here in the last two years. Despite the fact that we’re all miserable, there is an inclination when that happens that you would stay within.

Steve Spagnuolo radically improved Giants defense, during his two seasons with the team. Giants defense was ranked 25th in NFL before he arrived. However, Giants defense was ranked seventh in NFL last year, and fifth in NFL this year.

Let us not forget that Giants were 11–1 this season, before Plaxico Burress and Antonio Pierce lost their brains.

For a preview, watch this video of Bill Sheridan, describing last year’s defense.

So Long Spags

Steve Spagnuolo will be named Head Coach of St. Louis Rams.

He will be missed.

Limited Offer

Spagnuolo had been interviewed by Washington Redskins for their head coach position, which has been vacant since Joe Gibbs resigned on January 8^th.

However, “Spags” would not have been able to choose his coaches because Redskins chose them three weeks after Gibbs left.

Redskins signed former Seahawk quarterback, Jim Zorn to be their new offensive coordinator, and Greg Blanche, an assistant coach, was promoted to defensive coordinator.

By The Numbers

In 2006, Giants pass defense was ranked 29^th in pass defense, and 14^th against running plays. After Spagnuolo’s first season with the Giants those number improved to 11^th against passes, and 8^th against runs.

Then they won the Super Bowl, against a team with a perfect record.

Hooray for Giants — for hiring Steve Spagnuolo, and then for signing him through 2010.

The Giants defense, which had been plagued by poor concentration, played their best game in decades.

Jumping Off The George Washington Bridge

On May 8, 2007, Osi Umenyiora, star defensive end of the New York Football Giants , and Chief of the Nigerian village of Ogbunike, told reporters:

“I have officially declared myself, Chief Osi Umenyiora, the best defensive end in the NFL. To prove this fact, I will have one of the best seasons ever for a defensive end. If not, I will jump off the George Washington Bridge.

I do not want to jump off the George Washington Bridge because it will be detrimental to my health.”

Umenyiora proved it on Sunday, by sacking Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb, six times, and also forcing two fumbles.

The Giants sacked McNabb twelve times during the game, which tied the NFL record for sacks in a game. This record had been shared by the Cowboys (1966 and 1985), Cardinals (1980), and the Bears (1984).

Vote for Chief Ositadinma Umenyiora

Please take a moment to give Osi credit for his stupendous performance. Vote for Osi Umenyiora as NFL defensive player of the week at:

• http://www.nfl.com/partner?partnerType=players-defense

Trying Harder

“It’s like playing a pick-up basketball game outside with your brother. Sometimes you try harder to beat them than in a real deal. I am looking forward to it.” —Steve Spagnuolo

Steve Spagnuolo is the team’s new offensive coordinator. Spagnuolo, who is called “Spags” by the players, came to the Giants this year, after spending the past eight seasons with the Eagles. Spags worked for the Eagles as an assistant to Jimmy Johnson , who has been Philadelphia’s defensive coordinator since 1999.

Spags clearly out coached his old boss.
The Giants kept the Eagles confused with different lineups, and with blitzes on almost every passing play.

Michael Strahan blamed Philly’s coaching for double–teaming him, and using Winston Justice, who was making his first career start, to cover (dead link removed) Chief Osi. Justice started in place of the injured William Thomas.

The Giants defense, which was ranked 32^nd after the second game, is now ranked 16^th after they played six quarters of inspired, and innovative, football.

Spags Has Improved the Giants

This is how Chief Osi described him:

“It’s not only the system, man, we believe in him as a person. We love him and we’d run through a brick wall for him. We’re just getting adjusted to his system now.”

Osi Umenyiora also said:

“The important thing is that we won the football game.
We were just hungry. We have outstanding pass rushers on this football team. A lot of disrespect was going on, talking about how bad this defense was. Spags got us ready and we came out. We fed off of last week. We just need to keep getting better. It’s huge to be able to set records, especially in a game of this magnitude. We needed this game.”

Other Defensive Stars

Mathias Kiwanuka had three sacks, Kawika Mitchell scored a touchdown on a recovered fumble, and Justin Tuck continued to impress me.

Lawrence Taylor was on the sidelines, and Michael Strahan, impressed him when he broke LT’s team record for sacks. Strahan said:

“It felt great and to do it here in front of the home crowd in a big game like this against a very tough opponent. And with L.T. here it was special.”

Lawrence Taylor said this about Michael Strahan:

“Michael’s accomplishment speaks for itself. His career is a tribute to his unique ability and his longevity. It is a violent, physical, game and I have great respect for a man who continues to play the way he plays in his 15^th year.

Where’s the Offense?

Plaxico Burress made a phenomenal catch in the end zone, which scored the Giants only offensive touchdown.

Derrick Ward was much less effective than last week, and Jeremy Shockey, who only has 16 catches all year, had his talents wasted again. Shockey should ask to be traded.

Parcells or Perkins?

I remember going to games with Jayne in 1983, when Bill Parcells replaced Ray Perkins and everything changed. Under Perkins, there were too many offensive plays, running the ball straight up the middle of the field. It reached the point where everybody knew the Giants were going to run the ball straight up the middle, twice, and then pass on third down.

Thankfully, after Parcells arrived, everyone ran in different directions, and nobody knew what to expect. The Giants also ran trick plays once in awhile, to further befuddle their opponents.

Now, the Giants have become like Perkins on offense, and Parcells on defense. When the Giants will take on the winless New York Jets next Sunday, will they remind us of Parcells, or Perkins?

I am not much of a sports fan, but there is a special place in my heart for one team: The New York Football Giants. I follow The Giants for sixteen weeks each year, and on each one of those weeks, I expect them to win.

Unfortunately, The Giants lost their first two games of the season, allowing their opponents to score a combined total of 80 points. The Giants defense, which was ranked 24th in 2005, and and 25th in 2006, was supposed to improve this year, under the leadership of a new defensive coordinator, Steve Spaguolo, but it performed even worse than its predecessors in the first two games.

I know it is silly, but I am sad when The Giants lose. Since their players are as good as any of their opponents, I blame all their losses on the coaches and zebras.

Multiple Momentary Lapses

The Giants started yesterday’s game, by dropping more passes than they caught. They compounded their problems, by losing track of their field position, and punted three times on fourth and one.

With eight minutes left in the first half, the defense reached an embarrassing low, when Redskin tight end Chris Cooley caught a touchdown pass, standing in the end zone. Incredibly, several Giants defensive players, who were also in the end zone, seemed to watch, as though mesmerized, while he caught the pass.

The offensive line also became mesmerized a couple of times, notably when Redskin defensive end Andre Carter ran by all of them, on his way to hitting Eli Manning, our starting Quarterback, so hard, that Manning fumbled.

Coaches, Zebras, and Cheerleaders

I believe that these deplorable mental lapses were caused by the presence of the lovely Redskin cheerleaders. The Giants don’t have cheerleaders during practice, or home games, and they were distracted by these flat–bellied beauties. Anyone could be distracted by women, who spend most of the game jumping up and down. However, The New York Giants are professionals, who quit lusting in their hearts, as soon as they realized what they were doing.

The defense figured this out first, when they stopped the Redskins on their final possession of the first half, on a first and goal series. The Redskins settled for a field goal, and led The Giants 17–3 at halftime.

It was the first time that The Giants did not score a touchdown in the first half, since Nov. 20, 2006, when trailed Jacksonville 10–3 at halftime, and and lost, 26–10.

New and Improved New York Giants

The defense ignored the cheerleaders for the rest of the game, and The Redskins were held scoreless in the second half. Meanwhile, Derrick Ward made me forget Tiki Barber for awhile, as he rushed for a career–high 94 yards on 26 carries. Rueben Droughns replaced the injured Brandon Jacobs in short yardage situations, and he scored The Giants first two rushing touchdowns of the season.

Jeremy Shockey caught five passes for 79 yards, and Plaxico Burress, who dropped more passes than he caught in the first half, scored the winning touchdown on a 25 yard catch and run.

Half a Game

The Giants have clearly demonstrated, that they are capable, of concentrating for at least half a football game. Justin Tuck on defense, and Derrick Ward on offense, deserved game balls, and offered hope for the future.

It was also comforting to see 35 year old Michael Strahan lined up on the outside, rushing the Quarterback a couple of times.

Entire Game?

The Giants next opponents are The Philadelphia Eagles and The Giants will need to concentrate for an entire game to beat them. The Eagles offense scored 56 points against the Detroit Lions yesterday, and their defense sacked Detroit QB Jon Kitna nine times.

The Giants must concentrate on each play, for the entire game, to beat them.

Distraction Factor

The NFL recognized this problem last week, and now prohibits cheerleaders from warming up in front of the visiting team’s bench to distract them.

Even so, The Eagles will use cheerleaders to distract the Giants next Sunday. It will be tough for to The Giants to ignore them, especially Nicki, so I hope The Giants have corrected this problem, once and for all.

Pass the Saltpeter

The Giants can beat anyone, as long as they ignore their opponent’s cheerleaders.