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."