How come no one talks about the Giants being the best team in the NFC?

**Dark Horse** · 10-16-06, 11:49 PM

See ya next MNF...

**josebla89** · 10-16-06, 11:54 PM

The Giants Can Be Very Good At Times; And Have Been Playing Well. But Only Two Games Thus Far Of Playing Really Well; Havent Been Consistent. They Can Play With Anyone When They Actually Show Up

**josebla89** · 10-16-06, 11:55 PM

if steve smith is on the field the panthers are better

**anthon9283** · 10-17-06, 02:41 AM

If the Giants D can play like the last 2 games then they are a very good team, the games before those they had Offense but their D was nonexistent.

**Italia_NYC** · 10-17-06, 08:13 AM

I don't know about the NFC, but in my opinion, they are the cream of the crop in their division. When both their offense and defense show up to play they can beat anyone. Their only enemy is themselves. They have talent at every position and decent depth to boot, but sometimes that causes problems. Too many high profile players wanting the ball and wanting to make big plays puts a lot of pressure on Manning.

In regards to this weeks Monday night game against Dallas, this is my favorite game of the week. I think the Giants are going to embarrass Dallas, and to give them 3.5 points is an insult.

**psycho44** · 10-17-06, 12:26 PM

The Giants should be 1-4. They are a 2nd half team.

Come from behind 14-3 in 2nd half to beat Falcons and down 24-7 going into 4th quarter beats the Eagles. Come to think of it these Giants just playing with the Birdies.

Let's just add Seattle too. Down 35-3 at the half the game ends 42-30 for Seattle. They've beaten every team in the 2nd half even the Colts.

I'd say the +3.5 is respectable for a 3-2 road team facing a 3-2 team in a division rivalry. ALthough you can get Dallas for -3 at some books.

**bigboydan** · 10-17-06, 01:15 PM

I'm not sold on the G-men being the best team in the NFC at all. I think that the Bears and Panthers are much better than they are IMO.

**Italia_NYC** · 10-17-06, 01:27 PM

Originally posted by psycho44

The Giants should be 1-4. They are a 2nd half team.

Come from behind 14-3 in 2nd half to beat Falcons and down 24-7 going into 4th quarter beats the Eagles. Come to think of it these Giants just playing with the Birdies.

Let's just add Seattle too. Down 35-3 at the half the game ends 42-30 for Seattle. They've beaten every team in the 2nd half even the Colts.

I'd say the +3.5 is respectable for a 3-2 road team facing a 3-2 team in a division rivalry. ALthough you can get Dallas for -3 at some books.

Actually, you could make the case the G-men should be 4-0. You can't make the case a team is a bad team because they play better in the second half. Though I would agree that a good team shows up for four quarters (see the Giants-Redskins game two weeks ago), but few do, and if I had to pick the half to show up and play in, it would be the second half. They are a resilient bunch, I’ll give em that.

**Seattle Slew** · 10-17-06, 01:33 PM

I think the Dallas-NY Giants loser this week could be headed for trouble. Both teams look fragile, but both talented enough at 4-2 with a win this week to keep going to the division title. Not sold on Philly being a playoff team yet either. Only sure thing is Redskins are in big trouble.

**Italia_NYC** · 10-17-06, 01:45 PM

Originally posted by Seattle Slew

I think the Dallas-NY Giants loser this week could be headed for trouble. Both teams look fragile, but both talented enough at 4-2 with a win this week to keep going to the division title. Not sold on Philly being a playoff team yet either. Only sure thing is Redskins are in big trouble.

That's a good and fair assessment. And while this game will be important to both teams, I think it is more important for Dallas. Just looking at both teams next three games for instance spells near doom for the Boys if they lose.

The Boys next three games are at Carolina, at Washington and at Arizona.

The G-men’s next three are all at home against the Bucs, Texans and Bears.

Either way, I don't foresee a blow out by either team Monday night. They usually place eachother tough and close. But gun to my head, I'm taking Manning and Burress all day long over Bledsoe and Owens. It's not even worth comparing the two's running games.

**Illusion** · 10-17-06, 09:55 PM

New York has made some good comebacks, but they have gotten blown out of games early. That's why nobody is talking about the Giants.

**turtlenthehouse** · 10-18-06, 10:49 PM

If Eli Manning wins the BIG GAME before his brother does, then I will give them the respect.

**rm18** · 10-18-06, 11:35 PM

Nobody including Chicago is close to Carolina

**moses millsap** · 10-18-06, 11:44 PM

I think when it's all said and done, Carolina will be in the Super Bowl from the NFC unless Grossman's performance this past week was just an aberration.

**nosuzieno** · 10-19-06, 07:07 PM

homefield for playoffs will belong to the Bears, can Carolina beat them there again?

**imgv94** · 10-23-06, 11:42 PM

I think people need to realize that the Giants are a top 3 NFC team for sure.. Top 5 Overall...

**dave11486** · 10-23-06, 11:46 PM

I think the Giants might be the best too...Carolina lost to a Cincy team that I have little respect for, and I don't care if it was in "The Jungle"

**Jimmy The Greek** · 10-24-06, 12:39 AM

I've got Nov 12th marked on the calendar - showdown with Chicago. And I agree with those above that Dallas is in big trouble now.

**Checkerboard** · 10-28-06, 10:55 PM

I think NYG will cover over TB, (I got 8.5) to establish clear NFC East bragging rights . . .

**josebla89** · 10-28-06, 10:58 PM

I dont know about that, everytime i get on the giants they let me down. Tampa has been playing everyone pretty tough. also theres going to be some major wind gusts going on down there which favors a close game with two good defenses

**Italia_NYC** · 10-29-06, 09:47 AM

Hate to say it, but I have to agree with Jose. The Giants rarely (if ever) play well as favorites and have an uncanny ability to play down to the level of their competition. I honestly can’t remember the last time the Giants beat a team they were “supposed” to beat handedly.

All this being said; the Giants are just too good of a team right now to lose to a rookie QB and a struggling TB team in their own home. 9 points though; I don’t recall the last time the Giants were 9 point favorites either.

**Checkerboard** · 10-29-06, 05:58 PM

all right! NYG came through for me. Now they can all go home
and watch DAL lose to CAR!

**Italia_NYC** · 10-29-06, 06:13 PM

Originally posted by Checkerboard

all right! NYG came through for me. Now they can all go home
and watch DAL lose to CAR!

Amen!

By the way, in regards to this thread; as football fans, everyone better have the Chicago/Giants game circled in a few weeks. The winner of that game will dictate where the NFC Playoffs is played. Can't wait to see what happens when the Bears finally play a good team!

**Checkerboard** · 10-29-06, 06:20 PM

yeah, that's a biggie . . .

**McBa1n** · 10-30-06, 03:31 AM

There was a few ppl talking about them being the cheese of the NFC pre-season on here. I got turned onto them, but my concerns then are the same now: consistency, leadership and offensive line.
They are starting to get the first
They have leadership emerging now in light of a lot of bad before the bye week - I think a few key players put their egos on the side (if Plaxico could, he'd be a top 10 receiver) for the better oft he team.
The O line has been much better than I thought they'd be, but they are still no better than 'pedestrian' or 'mediocre' - and that is likely their deathknell come playoff time.

The thing about the Gmen is they play with a lot of swagger and confidence - but if you PUNCH them in the mouth, they go away pretty quickly. They have resolve, but they are a team you have to bully a bit - and put THEM on the defensive. No one is very good on the defensive, however, GREAT teams can overcome being on the defensive and win the game. NE and the Colts are 2 teams that come to mind.

I'm not sure the Giants are good enough to win it all, or even win the NFC. They need to keep their strong play going. They've been mustard lately.

**Italia_NYC** · 10-30-06, 09:47 AM

Actually, the Giants offensive line has quietly turned into one of the best in the NFC and one of the better in the entire league. There is a reason Barber week in and week out has great games, and Manning for the most part stays upright. Their O-line is a tremendous factor for why they are 5-2 and they will only go as far as that line takes them.

And not for nothing, but when that team shows up to play on both sides of the ball, they can beat anyone, anywhere. They just need to be more consistent to be considered the elite of the NFC, which in my opinion, they are on paper.

**Checkerboard** · 10-30-06, 09:50 AM

I got NYG down -12.5, in HOU on 5th Nov.

**Tommy Nosepicks** · 10-30-06, 04:05 PM

I think the perception is that the NFC is weaker so the "best" teams simply don't suck as much as all the others. I exaggerate but you get the point.

Side note: the season is almost half gone! Damn!!!

**McBa1n** · 10-30-06, 06:15 PM

You're right, Italia NYC, but I wouldn't go crazy. Top lines in the NFC? sure. NFL? ehhh... They are moving up fast. I havn't seen the tape of the game yet from yesterday. It's always the big issue for the Giants, I think. I guess living for 15 years in the NY market has trained me into being overly-concerned about that part of the team.

One other thing, and I don't know why I forgot to say it, but a bigger concern (I wouldn't call their O line a concern so much as - if they keep going as they are, they'll be fine), is the Defense. They SEEM to be playing better (I really don't like their Linebackers, other than Pierce, even if they were all healthy, and now with backups? ouch). The Giants D, for the longest time, has always choked in a 'headline game', aside from that blowout of Minnesota during the Superbowl run. Minne didn't exactly show up that game, though. The Giants D disappears in those big games. The Seattle game this year is one - we'll see how they do against the Bears. If they can play the Bears tight, which they should, then I think you have to say they could be top 2 in the NFC, top 3 at worst. If they get blown out, then they just aren't ready. Giants D really has to prove they can play in a marquee game. That's their shortcoming. They havn't shown up in those games for a REAL long time.

**Italia_NYC** · 10-30-06, 07:03 PM

Originally posted by McBa1n

You're right, Italia NYC, but I wouldn't go crazy. Top lines in the NFC? sure. NFL? ehhh... They are moving up fast. I havn't seen the tape of the game yet from yesterday. It's always the big issue for the Giants, I think. I guess living for 15 years in the NY market has trained me into being overly-concerned about that part of the team.

One other thing, and I don't know why I forgot to say it, but a bigger concern (I wouldn't call their O line a concern so much as - if they keep going as they are, they'll be fine), is the Defense. They SEEM to be playing better (I really don't like their Linebackers, other than Pierce, even if they were all healthy, and now with backups? ouch). The Giants D, for the longest time, has always choked in a 'headline game', aside from that blowout of Minnesota during the Superbowl run. Minne didn't exactly show up that game, though. The Giants D disappears in those big games. The Seattle game this year is one - we'll see how they do against the Bears. If they can play the Bears tight, which they should, then I think you have to say they could be top 2 in the NFC, top 3 at worst. If they get blown out, then they just aren't ready. Giants D really has to prove they can play in a marquee game. That's their shortcoming. They havn't shown up in those games for a REAL long time.

Excellent points McBa1n. I was actually surprised they played so well against Dallas on Monday night. That was a huge game for them on prime time and they actually showed up to play. The only thing I may differ with you on is if this Giants team beats the highly overrated Bears in a few weeks, I don't thinks there is any choice but to declare the G-men the #1 team in the NFC and the team to beat. I mean sadly, the NFC for the most part stinks and who really in that division is going to offer them any challenge? I said it before and I'll say it again; the winner of that game will dictate where the NFC playoffs are played this year.

**the underdog** · 10-30-06, 07:15 PM

giants and new england will play in the superbowl

**onlooker** · 10-31-06, 02:13 AM

Originally posted by the underdog

giants and new england will play in the superbowl

Lets hope not.

**Dougoudou** · 11-02-06, 06:20 PM

I still think Giants are not good enough to win the NFC. If there is value in the NFC (personally can't see it) it is either Carolina or Seattle (yes, them). I don't consider Giants HFA strong enough (compared to Chicago or Seattle for example). If Seattle solve their problems (right now their record is catching up with their other numbers), they will have a chance. Bears have defense and HFA. Carolina has prooved they can do it in big games and they have talent in more positions. Maximum respect to Tiki but he is like 400 years old. I am not sure if this team will continue going. They better not face another (Philly was one) good pass attack again or we might think different about them again.

**imgv94** · 11-02-06, 07:15 PM

Good stuff Doug!!!