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: