These last few weeks of NFL action are going to be great. Tight races in the NFC North, South and the AFC North and East. A really competitive Rookie of the Year race - tons of great rookies, including 2 great QBs in Matt Ryan and Joe Flacco. I can’t think of a season where there’s been two rookie QBs as good as these two. There is also next week’s clash in Giants Stadium where the Panthers will go in to try and “steal” the No.1 seed everyone thought the Giants had wrapped up.
There is serious drama playing out in Dallas and New York, 2 of the NFL’s storied franchises (not to mention the largest and 5th largest media markets).
Speaking of my Giants, I believe that Pinhead Plaxico cost us a repeat. I’m a paranoid and pessimistic fan to begin with, and now I just don’t see how we can win it again.
I’ve been freaking out for the last 3 weeks at how bad Brandon Jacobs has looked since he hurt his knee. All I keep thinking about was how Bill Parcells, a god in the eyes of Giants fans, said he had studied NFL history and would never invest in a 240+ lb running back. How Parcells said that only 2 huge running backs have had more than 1 good season : Jerome Bettis, who had a long, consistent career, and Christian Okoye (who only had 2 good seasons).
The one thing that’s been assuaging my fears were these 2 things: we still have Ward, Bradshaw and Droughns in the backfield, and we have probably the deepest receving corps in the league with a top-5 receiver in Plax, old reliable Amani Toomer who can still bring it, Steve Smith in the slot (who’s probably one of the best slot receivers in the game), Domenik Hixon who’s made big plays when counted on, and 2 high draft picks in Moss and Manningham sitting on the bench.
The key to the receivers though is Plax. Without him, nobody needs to be double covered. Now that he’s out, teams will constantly copy the Eagles and bring 8-9 guys in the box b/c they know the Giants love to run. Now, if we had Jacobs at 100%, I’d still say bring it on, bitch.
But with Jacobs hurt, I don’t like our chances. Everything falls on the Giants passing game and Eli. It worked last year, but we had Plax. Now? We’re toast.
In fact, I WANT the Carolina Panthers to win the No.1 seed in the NFC. This way, if the Giants and Panthers both win their first playoff game, the NFC title game will be in Carolina. This is good b/c a) the Giants are road warriors and b) if we need to pass 40 times in a game, I’ll take Charlotte in December, which is 644 miles south of Giants Stadium (yes, I looked it up). Less wind, higher temperatures.
As for the Cowgirls, I think they’re done. Without Barber, and with the infighting, they can’t win. This is the time of the year where teams who succeed bond together and do whatever it takes to win.