The Agony of Defeat

Giants fans have endured two straight losses of exponential suffering. What's worse is the Giants playoff hopes are all but non existent as a result of the latest loss to the Baltimore Ravens. Where did the defending champs go wrong? It's been a ludicrous season of ups and downs that have left football fans puzzled with the results of the Gmen.

The Giants did what they have done every year under Tom Coughlin: They had a great first half. Following the dominance of a 6-2 record, the Giants lost 5 out of 7. Important players like Sean Locklear, Andre Brown, and Kenny Phillips are just some of the numerous injuries this team suffered from. The Giants had injuries left and right throughout the season, perhaps more than usual. Prince Amukumara, Justin Tuck, Chris Snee, Ahmad Bradshaw, Chris Canty, Dave Diehl, and Hakeem Nicks are some of the numerous injuries this team has had to deal with as well. A lot of these Giants came back and played when it was clear they were not ready to play. Frankly, this team was completely decimated with injuries, but the biggest problem was in the past two games the Giants were completely embarrassed up front on both sides of the ball. Injuries was without question a big part of that.

To be fair, injuries are a way of life with this great game of football and they are never an excuse. The Giants had more injuries than usual, but even during the magical seasons of Super Bowl XLII and XLVI the Giants had their fair numbers of injuries, as has every Super Bowl champion. A big problem with this team was the attitude. As defending champs, there is no doubt the Giants had the toughest schedule in the NFL. They were able to slaughter two NFC powerhouses in San Francisco and Green Bay, but also lost exponentially to Baltimore, Atlanta, and Cincinatti. All of these teams are of playoff caliber, but there's no excuse for the Giants downright pitiful performance the past couple of weeks. This team got scared, there's no question. They doubted their capabilities as defending champions, perhaps following the one point loss to Washington. Yes, they were able to beat New Orleans, but that was one of the easiest games the Giants had on their schedule. Over the past two weeks the Giants completely lost the fire and who they are as a team. Coach Coughlin lost them. Their response to the blowout against Atlanta is what's particularly frustrating. The Giants still had a chance to control their own destiny and they failed to cease the moment.

That's definitely one thing that deserves some criticism: the coaching. Throughout the week before Baltimore it was clear that Coach Coughlin was uneasy going into the game. He did not have an answer for the teams loss to Atlanta and as the week progressed, it was clear the Giants probably did not have the personnel to be prepared to win a game in the trenches against Baltimore. Instead of preaching to his team to rise to the occasion, there seemed to just be this weird sense of doubt. Coughlin did not give up, he never has, but he was not confident his team could win. That much was clear in his press conferences following the Atlanta humiliation. But if that's the case, and you knew your offensive line was banged up, why on earth did you try to run it down there throat? When an offensive line is struggling the scheme has to change, there's no question. West coast offenses are able to thrive in situations like this. Quick flair and out routes, it's all about the yards after catch. Instead the Giants game plan involved establishing the run with Bradshaw and his sprained knee, and then airing it out with routes 10-15 yards down field while Eli was under duress due to the inefficient banged up offensive line. It made no sense, it was a big part of the struggle and the agony Giants fans had to experience.

Not to even mention the defense, which may have been an even bigger joke than the offense. The secondary looked terrible the past two weeks, especially with Jayron Hosley getting toasted against Atlanta. But he's a rookie, against Baltimore our veteran cornerback Corey Webster looked even worse as Torrey Smith torched him on every snap. The secondaries play was disheartening but the biggest disappointment of the Giants this season was the pass rush. Week after week the Giants failed to generate pressure consistently and it's the biggest reason for the Giants identity crisis. The Giants defense had some good games this season but mostly that was from takeaways, the pass rush really failed to get the job done. Jason Pierre-Paul did not live up to the expectations he created last year, and that's partly due to the back spasms he suffered from, and partly due to the fact that he's been double teamed frequently this season. Osi was inconsistent and will likely not be with the team next season, but the biggest problem was that of our captain, Justin Tuck. No one can question Tuck's character and heart, but there were numerous games where Tuck's names did not come up the whole game. Perhaps it's due to his shoulder problem that he's clearly been playing through, but regardless, the defensive ends did not come through for us in generating consistent pass rush this season. And as for the run stop, that was even worse. The problem starts up front.

Eli had a few bad games this year, but he's not the problem. Never has been. People saying Eli had a bad game against Baltimore just don't get it. He was off for Atlanta, but for Baltimore there was virtually nothing he could do. The oline was in shackles, he was getting hit on every play. Hakeem Nicks was not healthy enough to play wide receiver. Martellus Bennett looked aloof and very out of it, as he occasionally tends to. Eli did all he could with banged up targets and awful protection, and most importantly he didn't quit. Arguing that he's not elite because he couldn't transform the teams success when desperate on his own is just stupid. Drew Brees hasn't been winning this season but no one criticizes him. Peyton Manning's success in Denver doesn't mean he's a freak of nature, Denver was good and won a playoff game with Tebow remember? And Tom Brady has always been in position to have success due to the brilliance of coaching and management from Bill Belichick. No knocking on any of these quarterbacks, the point is these "elite" quarterbacks are not only in great positions to win because of their abilities but because of players and coaches around them. No football player alone can be the reason a team wins on its own. Blaming it all on Eli is stupid and irresponsible as a Giants fan. He could do better no question, but this is a team game.

Now all pain and agony aside, the Giants still have a potential chance to sneak in to the playoffs if the Packers, Redskins, and Lions all win. That's tough, but fans need to accept that as long as there's a statistical .0000001% chance all hope cannot be lost. Although the most important thing is the Philadelphia Eagles, our worst enemies, are coming into our house. Naturally Nick Foles is hurt so Mike Vick will be getting the start in potentially his last game as an Eagle. Not to mention it's also likely to be Andy Reid's final game as head coach for the Eagles. Over the years, Reid and the Eagles have fucked us time and time again. Heck we even lost to them this year on a field goal that was two yards short of being game winning. My how things would be different if that had gone in. But no matter what, this game is personal. These teams could be 0-15 or 15-0 going into this game and they'd still both want to kill each other. The Giants are coming off two stinkers, but they can't lay down against the Eagles. They simply can't do that to the fans. Things are bad, players are hurt, and a lot of confidence has been lost. But the fans still bleed Giants blue, and the Eagles are still our sworn enemies. It's time to just beat these bastards, they're the worst.

Alas, the reign of the Super Bowl Champions may seem dim. But fans can't forget that Giants football is forever. Teams struggle, it's part of the game. If teams didn't struggle, the sweetness of victory wouldn't be sweet at all. It's all part of this beautiful game that will never end. Giants football is a tradition shared from generation to generation, and the phrase, "through thick and thin," is something every fan should oblige by. Yes, the pain and bitterness is there, but there's always a tomorrow, and there's always another play. The Giants can't quit, and neither can the fans. But always remember, there's always going to be more. That's what's truly awesome about this game at the end of the day. Moments of spectating glory, and victory aside, it's the loyalty to the tradition that makes everything special. This Giants season has had ups and downs, and no matter what happens, there's always a next year.

But it aint over till it's over. Don't quit, gear up for the Eagles. Beating the Eagles is enough significance for any Giants fan despite any circumstances. More importantly, remember what Coughlin said, "Play for Pride." Players are hurt, fans attitudes are low, and the overall mentality is down. But don't give up, keep fighting.

Go Big Blue...and go Lions and Packers..............and that team in red and white. (Vomits).

Lets get psyched to beat the Eagles though. This always does it for me:

We're in Hell

Wellington Mara rolled over in his grave on Sunday as the Giants were absolutely demolished, annihilated, and bombarded into oblivion against the Atlanta Falcons. Clearly still remembering last years wild card match up, the Falcons jumped out quickly. Asante Samuels got back to his old ways of tormenting Giants fans on the games opening play and the Falcons never looked back. A missed field goal from Tynes, and the Giants utter inability to convert on third and fourth down resulted in the Giants getting shut out for the first time since 1996. It was a true day of misery for Giants nation as the Gmen can no longer control their own destiny in the NFC East.

The Giants playoff hopes however are far from lost. In light of the Packers defeating the Bears, if the Giants can win out they clinch a wild card birth.

The question now becomes, how do the Giants overcome this abomination of a football game and get their heads on straight? The answer is simple, in response to enduring the pain, don't forget who we are. Being defending Super Bowl champs may seem long ago after this recent humiliation, but it's the ability to overcome adversity that has driven this team for the past decade.

And adversity has just royally punched us in the balls. The Falcons took advantage of every opportunity the inept Giants offense provided them, while the defending champs rolled over and showed no fight. This Giants team is banged up. Perhaps Wilson is not ready to take the torch with an injured Bradshaw. Not to mention Nicks is clearly still hurt, he can't get out of his breaks and he put in no effort to dive for a ball that could have been a huge gain. And this secondary is not the same without Amukumara, Hosley is nowhere near ready to be a starting cornerback in the NFL. No matter where Giants fans look, there seems to be no hope.

Giants fans, consider this the pivotal moment of the 2012 regular season. The Giants had every right to think they were a top notch NFC playoff contender and after this pathetic excuse for a game all those good feelings are turned to dirt. But by miracles of circumstance, the Giants can still get in the playoffs based on their own ability to win out. 10-6, that has to be the vision now. Anything less cannot be tolerated from anybody in the Giants organization.

So the defending champs can either embrace this blessed opportunity, or dwell on recent issues. Coach Coughlin should throw out the tape from this game because any breakdown of footage will only disgust the Giants, and quite frankly wondering about the "what could have been" is a pointless, torturous exercise. Especially in a game like this.

The Giants have to find a way to forget about this game, and ultimately move on. Remembering the fact that we're Super Bowl champs is not how to do that. But remembering how the Giants became Super Bowl champs is. Overcoming obstacles, and coming together as a team in times of darkness are keys to success.

The Giants are a family, and now is when they need fans to believe in them more than ever. Two games, two wins, that's all that can happen. The odds of getting bailed out by other teams losing is not a reliable way to get in the playoffs. The Giants need to put the exclamation point on their season and simply remember that it aint over till the fat lady sings. The Baltimore Ravens are next, so to think optimistically, the Giants should understand their obvious game plan. Do whatever's possible to slow down Ray Rice. Force Flacco to throw, and that's when the pass rush has to capitalize. In must throw situations, Flacco has suffered numerous costly turnovers throughout the course of his career. Focus on the task at hand, and capitalize on the opportunity to beat a Ravens team that is also limping around of late.

The final match up against the Philadelphia Eagles will be crucial. But regardless, the Giants can't even remotely think about that right now. This is the pivotal moment of Giants football this season. It's been a roller coaster of ups and downs, highs and lows. The Giants have blown out teams like the 49ers, Saints, and Packers, and yet suffered embarrassing losses to the Steelers, Bengals, and Falcons.

But it's all history. All of it. Football is like life, no matter what it throws at you there's always another game, another drive, another snap.

Another moment that can live in Giants folklore forever...

Giants fans, do not dwell on the agony and the pain, think of the future and the opportunities at hand. It's the Giants anything is possible. Fans have learned that over the years. In times of darkness and despair, think of any cheesy movie out there. Does Batman rise up? Does Frodo destroy the ring? There's always a twist but the movie or story always ends with an upbeat moment of triumph where the protagonist overcomes obstacles that hurt their character and the story at hand.

Yes, these are movies and a foolish analogy, but the Giants are remarkably iconic of a hollywood lifestyle. Never give up. Believe until the very end.

Because we're in hell right now Giants fans, but in the words of Winston Churchhill, "If you're going through hell...keep going."

"I'm Sorry Wilson!"

By Anthony Beers

A message from Tom Coughlin to David Wilson:






"Wilson...I'm sorry Wilson!"

On David Wilson's first career carry against the Dallas Cowboys he committed the worst crime in all of football: he fumbled. That crime is even more significant as a rookie under head coach and royal hard ass Tom Coughlin. Over the next twelve games Wilson would see just 28 total carries at running back.

Over the course of the season, Wilson waited for his chance to truly contribute to this team. He gave it his all as the Giants kick returner, but there's no question the Giants 2012 first round draft pick was dying to get some snaps on offense. Coughlin's restraint of the rookie, even after the injury to running back Andre Brown two weeks ago, put a hunger deep inside Wilson. If he wanted to see snaps he had to earn it.

Then yesterday, the moment came. Early in the first quarter Eli Manning threw a pick six to New Orleans Saints defensive back Elbert Mack. The presence of fear began to take hold of Giants fans. After the Redskins and Cowboys both put together miracle wins just moments before the game started, the Giants simply could not afford to lose this game. The fans, whether they're willing to admit it or not, for a brief moment started to feel that doubt. But alas, on the ensuing kickoff, David Wilson had the eye of the tiger. The kids time had come. After awesome lead blocking on kick return, Wilson saw the seam and exploded. Bam. Six points. The crowd goes wild. The Giants were right back in it and the fans could feel the momentum swing.

Everything clicked following that kick return. The Giants took the ball away on defense, Eli Manning threw four touchdown passes, and the Giants blew out the New Orleans Saints who were also in desperate need of a win. As a result of this loss the Saints playoff hopes have been significantly diminished. The Giants reminded the football world that if you don't have a defense, you aint goin' to da show. And the New Orleans 'Aints aint got no D. Da Giants said dey gonna beat dem Saints, and dey did.

Mockeries of the Saints inept defense aside, (a pure result of the Saints defense scandal this past off season), a huge part of this win goes to the Giants defense. The Giants have the best safeties in football even without Kenny Phillips. Antrel Rolle, (who leads the team in tackles), and Stevie Brown are both playing on a pro bowl level. Will Hill stepped up in his role as the third safety as well. The Giants three safety set with Rolle as the nickle option back, seriously works. It's what propelled the Giants in the post season last year, and it's the reason the Giants have been able to beat two great quarterbacks in Aaron Rodgers and Drew Brees this season. Defense. Winning. Awesome.

The hero of yesterdays game however was without question David Wilson, who made Giants history with 327 all purpose yards. Wilson was unleashed, and finally took advantage of the chance that the kid was dying for since that infamous fumble so many moons ago. Wilson was the first Giants kick returner to bring one to the house since Domenik Hixon against the Patriots in December of 2007. Following the game, and several back flips, Wilson was all smiles.

This is not the first time Giants fans have seen something like this. In fact, in December of 2007 on the door step of the Giants first super bowl run under Tom Coughlin, the Giants had to win a crucial game against the Buffalo Bills in week 16 of the regular season. With a win, the Giants would clinch the playoffs with an NFC wild card birth. The game had horrible weather conditions with wind, freezing rain, and snow and as a result the passing game struggled. So still needing to put the game away, Tom Coughlin decided to put in a rookie running back who had been benched earlier in the season due to fumbling problems. On the rookies first play, he busted a run eighty-eight yards for a breath taking touchdown. That rookie, was Ahmad Bradshaw.

Tom Coughlin, ex running back at Syracuse University, knows what he's doing. By benching rookies with any signs of struggle, he is humbling them and making them more appreciative of any chance that follows. It's Coughlin's way of bringing out the best in his players, and making sure these rookies are on board with the team concept. Sometimes when these great players come out of college with a big NFL deal, they forget what it's like to appreciate the beauty that is playing this great game of football. Coughlin is simply reminding these confident rookies that the margin for error in this game is far too small to not be weary of. Give it 100%, all the time, and truly love and cherish every moment that is shared with your teammates.

Yup, that's the ol' Tommy Coughlin winning football formula. All in, doing whatever it takes to win. The Giants should be proud of this romping of the Saints, but should know that every game needs to be played at the intensity that Wilson showed Giants fans yesterday. Because this is what football's all about, battling with every ounce in your heart and soul to get into playoff contention. December football is the best time of year, and right now the Giants playoff hopes are very much alive.

But as the players, coaches, and fans all know, that can all disappear in a flash. That's what's so awesome about winning in December, it's do or die. It's as Al Pacino says in Any Given Sunday, "coming together now...as a team...or dying as individuals." It's go time man. It's officially the "Dirty Bird" segment of the Giants schedule with the Falcons, Ravens, and Eagles coming to town over the next three weeks. It's likely that if the Giants wish to win the division, they won't know it until that final game against their most bitter rivals of all time.

That's fucking poetic shit man. Time to mess up these dirty birds, take it one week at a time. Right now the Giants are at the top and have the ability to control their own destiny. The Falcons are coming off their first loss in quite some time to play the Giants on Sunday at 1:00. There's no question the Falcons clearly remember how the Giants embarrassed them in the first round of playoffs last year in a humiliating 24-2 defeat. Atlanta should come out with a chip on their shoulders, to say the least.

The Giants are right where they want to be...you better bELIeve it...time to make a serious statement in the NFC on Sunday.

NFC East Madness

The Giants suffered a very painful loss to the rising Washington Redskins on Monday night. It was a disappointing loss to Giants fans and the results are costly. The NFC East is now much tighter with the Giants leading the division by one game with the Cowboys and Redskins breathing down their neck. What's even more unfortunate is due to divisional woes this season the Giants will lose most tie breakers to the Cowboys or Redskins. The Giants will likely have to keep the lead if they wish to make the playoffs.

On Monday night the Giants came out and had a very good first half. Up 13-10 the Giants had a solid running game and Eli looked sharp. Penalties and a missed field goal (due to a bad snap by DeOssie) hurt the overall score but the Giants were effectively moving the ball and the defense was playing tough against the head ache that is the Redskins offense. The Giants threw a couple deep balls and struggled to put together the big play but it seemed like fans were in store for another Cruz bomb that fans witnessed the first time these teams played together. On a couple of throws to Cruz and Nicks they were there, but simply couldn't connect on the big play.

The second half was a completely different story. The Giants attempted to continue their running success from the first half with Ahmad Bradshaw but the Redskins had nothing of it. And in what was supposed to be a big debut for the rookie David Wilson he saw only four carries. The running game struggled against a tough run-stopping Redskins defense, but for reasons very mysterious to everybody, the Giants offense kept trying to hand the ball off to no avail. It put more pressure on the  Giants to convert these difficult third and longs. The offense did not adjust to what the Redskins were doing in the second half and as a result the Giants scored a measly three points in the second half.

Defensively the Giants gave up a lot of rushing yards to Robert Griffin III and Alfred Morris, but they played extremely tough and held one of the hottest offenses in football to just 17 points. Fans may see the Giants gave up a lot of rushing yards but don't let that fool you. Stopping Washington's rushing attack with RGIII in the pistol formation is virtually impossible. With multiple running threats in the backfield it really isolates defensive assignments and virtually makes it a seven on seven game for RGIII. Griffin knows every Giants defender has a different match up, and on every snap the defense has to respect the running threat that he provides and everybody knows about. With explosive receivers like Pierre Garcon and Santana Moss in the passing game as well, the Redskins are a huge headache for defensive coordinators everywhere. Give the Giants defense credit, they played tough and one of Washington's touchdowns came off of the luckiest fumble recovery I've ever seen. Of course the media plays it as Griffin making a great play, that was just plane luck dude.

The Giants lost this game because of a lack of discipline on offense and a failure to exploit the Redskins biggest weakness: defending the passing game. The Giants were so close on a few deep balls from Eli in the first half that it seemed virtually unavoidable that the Giants wouldn't connect in the second half. But the Giants rarely attempted this, the only time they did Eli connected with Cruz on a big catch on the sideline, and that resulted in the Giants only field goal of the half. Kevin Gilbride and Eli Manning's combined play calling for the running game really hurt the team. And David Wilson only getting four carries while Bradshaw was getting stuffed in the second half remains a mystery. The only Giant on offense that had a complete game was Martellus Bennett, aka the Black Unicorn. It was good to see Bennett have some success in a big game and the Giants will need that to continue if they wish to win the division.

As a result of these recent wins for the Redskins, everyone in the sports media has RGIII fever. Man it is impossible to not hear RGIII this and RGIII that. Heck I've even heard murmurs from NFL fans that believe RGIII is better than Eli Manning. Pardon my french, but let me clear that fucking shit up right now. RGIII is an explosive player and quite frankly seems like a gentlemen. But in no way shape or form is a .500 rookie quarterback better than a two time Super Bowl MVP. Not to mention RGIII's scrambling ways are not traditionally the formula for super bowl success due to the fact that mobile quarterbacks take way too many hits. The Giants did not sack RGIII in this game, but man did he take some shots in the open field. This will hurt RGIII at some point in his career, just as it did Mike Vick, and Donovan McNabb in his younger days. The point is though, this conversation simply can't be had right now. Robert Griffin III's accomplishments come nowhere near to the great Elisha Nelson Manning's. Fans saying things like that are just a response from the overdose of media hype that ESPN and other networks provide of everybody royally bowing down and kissing RGIII's ass because he happens to be very fast. Eli will never get media attention like that because he's not nearly as flashy and quite frankly avoids any controversy whatsoever. The only time Eli got a lot of hype in the media was due to the "elite/non-elite" controversy on the Michael Kay show last year. Either that or the fact that Eli is Peyton Manning's baby brother. That stuff is all pish posh. Eli Manning is a great football player and if fans don't recognize that they are oblivious to the truth. And this great football player that every Giants fan should cherish, (seeing as he's the best quarterback the teams ever had), is without a doubt 100% better than Robert Griffin III.

Alas, the drama that is the NFC East continues next week. Every game from here on out is the most important game the Giants will play this year. Next on the list is the New Orleans Saints. Drew Brees and the Saints will be coming to the Meadowlands after an embarrassing  loss to their division rival Atlanta Falcons on Thursday night. That night Drew Brees threw five interceptions and did not throw a touchdown pass for the first time in over fifty games. Brees and the Saints will really want to bounce back after a tough loss, and the Giants are right in the same boat. The past few years the Saints have absolutely torched the Giants, but this year the Saints defense is nowhere near as threatening as it has been in years past. That's obviously due to the scandal and suspensions that followed for the Saints this off season, but the point is the Giants offense has absolutely no reason to not produce, and they may have to if Brees decides to get hot.

Naturally the Giants lost to the Redskins because it was mathematically a loss the Giants could afford. But those days are officially over. It's time for the Giants to stop fooling around and show the world the defending world champs are still the kings of this insane division. This race may be down to the wire though. Every Giants fan deep down knows that the week 17 match up against the Philadelphia Eagles may have big meaning. Giants fans probably have known that since the schedule was made.

The Giants have made two miraculous runs to the Super Bowl with their backs against the wall. As a result, over the years when the Giants could afford to lose a game they in fact tended to do so. The Giants know they still are in a great position though because they control their own destiny. Win or lose, the defending champs will come to play. New Orleans is next, and Giants fans know this is no time to give up. Fasten your seat belts because the NFC East madness has likely only began.





I'd like to make a shout out to this dude Chuck Knoxx, who is a Giants fan that everybody should admire. Chuck makes bad ass videos on his youtube channel and is an optimistic fan for everything Giants football. He also has a Facebook and Twitter. Be sure to check out Chucks videos if you need to get in the right mindset. Go Big Blue.