Four Games, Big Games

Now, is when things get serious for the Giants! 

4 games left within this season, and the New York Football Giants hold a 1-game lead over Washington and Dallas. This Sunday will be a big game in the Meadowlands as the Saints roll into town with a high-powered offense. Yes, their record shows a team not even worthy of playoff contention, but giving the recent success that the Saints have over the Giants, one might say that this game is not a cakewalk. The primetime lights will be on bright at MetLife Stadium, and now it's up to the Giants to show why they're the defending Super Bowl champions. 

Walking into this game, the Giants come in with question marks. What is going on with the defense? Are they playing "Soft" as Jason Pierre-Paul and Antrel Rolle have said? Where has the running game gone? Can you fully trust rookie David Wilson going down the stretch and possibly into the playoffs? What's going on with the passing attack? One thing is for sure: this game will not be a cakewalk. To me, going into this game will be offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride. Sure, we all know Eli Manning will do what he can to deliver the ball to the receivers, and Ahmad Bradshaw will carry his load, even more so that Andre Brown is out for the rest of the season, but we're talking about Kevin Gilbride, or to us Giants fans, known as "Kildrive" because his questionable play-calling can cost us games. The Giants offense is going against a Saints secondary that has allowed the most big plays in the NFL this season. With no Sean Payton as their head coach, this Saints team isn't the same team we're used to season for the past few season with that explosive offense and stout defense. You can tell from the 1st game when they played the Redskins and RGIII, this Saints team was doomed. For the Giants defense, it's simple: pressure Drew Brees, and get to him. He's obviously not the same QB the league is used to going against year after year. If JPP and Rolle think this defense has gone soft, and you can make the case that they have even before their bye week, then this game Sunday afternoon is the game to prove that they're still on top. 

The Giants have been down this road before, more than several occasions. They're a team that can't win easy, but when they do win, it's the greatest taste of victory ever. With 4 games left in the season, the Giants need to fight and claw their way to a consecutive NFC East title. Trips to Atlanta and Baltimore await before finishing the season at home against a finished Philadelphia product getting ready to fire their long-time head coach Andy Reid. Last season, it was a game against the cross-locker room mates the Jets that sent the Giants on a nice run through the playoffs and to a 4th Super Bowl title, twice in 4 years. That was the statement win that they desperately needed. This time around, it won't be that easy. This game is against the Saints, and it begins on Sunday afternoon. Help from the Ravens and Bengals would be nice, but i think the Giants would like to get this done on their own. 

If anything else: the last 2 times the Giants played the Saints, it was in the Superdome, and had no chance to win. Now, they get them in the Meadowlands. Outside in the cold, where domed teams don't do so well. Just a little added motivation to win this game.