NFC Power Rankings: Final Regular Season Rankings

1. Saints (13-3)

They earned a bye week, but they basically took off the last two weeks of the season. Don’t be surprised if the Saints start off rusty in their first playoff game, especially since they have a history of starting games off slowly. They are still the favorite to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl, but the margin is much much closer than originally thought. (Last Week: 1)

2. Vikings (12-4)

The Vikings absolutely dominated the Giants, which is a good sign, even though the Giants had become a pushover by the end of the season. Favre was hitting his receivers and letting them make plays. As long as Favre and Adrian Peterson are healthy, this team has a great shot to make the Super Bowl. Antoine Winfield needs to get fully healthy. (5)

3. Packers (11-5)

If not for the freak Roethlisberger touchdown as time expired in Week 16, this team would be heading into the playoffs on an eight game winning streak. Even with the loss, they are one of the hottest teams in the land and I would not want to face them this coming week. (3)

4. Cowboys (11-5)

With the big win against the Eagles, the Cowboys have successfully shaken off their post-November struggles, finishing the season 3-2. The last time they faced an NFC East team they had swept in the regular season was against the Giants in 2007, and we all remember what happened there. (6)

5. Eagles (11-5)

With all of their offensive players back healthy, the Eagles laid an egg in Cowboy Stadium. Fortunately, they get a chance to wash away their sins with a rematch this week. Expect a much closer game. (2)

6. Cardinals (10-6)

Did the Cardinals limp their way into the playoffs again, or did they strategically bomb knowing they would face the Packers again this week? Either way, I wouldn’t look too much into their late-season swoon, as they basically did the same thing last season. (4)

7. Panthers (8-8)

DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart became the first duo to each rush for 1,100 yards in a season. With a healthy Steve Smith next season, this team is ready to become one of the forces in the NFC once again. They’ll go as far as new QB Matt Moore can take them. (7)

8. Falcons (9-7)

The only NFC team with a winning record not in the playoffs. The Falcons finished the season strong and I expect them to be in the hunt again next year. Fans have to be happy with the way they competed down the stretch, but they can’t help but be bitter that a couple of key injuries are what kept them out of the playoffs. (9)

 

9. 49ers (8-8)

Congratulations to Vernon Davis for tying Antonio Gates’ record of 13 receiving touchdowns for a tight end. He combines with Michael Crabtree to form a dynamic young receiving duo. (10)

 

10. Giants (8-8)

Could they beat a Pop Warner team right now? Depends if that Pop Warner team is headed for the playoffs. The Giants were 2-7 against playoff teams and 6-1 against non-playoff teams. (8)

11. Bears (7-9)

Jay Cutler finished the season strong (eight touchdowns, one interception in last two games), giving fans reason to be optimistic. With an improved Cutler and a healthy Brian Urlacher, the Bears could help make the NFC North one of football’s best divisions next season. (11)

12. Redskins (4-12)

The Jim Zorn era is over, but as long as Daniel Snyder continues his ADD ownership style, things won’t get much better. The organization needs some stability. (12)

13. Seahawks (5-11)

By losing four straight to end the season, the Seahawks have given themselves another top 10 pick in the upcoming draft. This might be the offseason that they decide to rebuild, and they’ll have to think long and hard about going in a different direction at quarterback. (13)

14. Buccaneers (3-13)

They have a couple of good young pieces, but this roster is a long way away from competing again. (14)

15. Lions (2-14)

It turned out that the only thing keeping the 2009 Rams from duplicating the 2008 Lions’ winless season was the 2009 Lions. (15)

 

16. Rams (1-15)

The most cliche way to end an end-of-season power rankings is to simply say, “the St. Louis Rams are now on the clock.” And that’s just fine with me. (16)

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NFC Power Rankings: Week 17

Tier 1 (The Elite)

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Tier 2 (In The Playoffs)

1. New Orleans Saints (13-2)

They have clinched home field advantage and a first round bye, which also gives them the No. 1 spot in power rankings. But They have now lost two in a row, and if I were Sean Payton, I would let my players play in Week 17 in the hopes that they can get back into a groove before they sit at home for a week. (Last Week: 1)

2. Philadelphia Eagles (11-4)

The Eagles can clinch a first round bye this week, which would give them another week off to get fully healthy. Expect them to play hard against the Cowboys with the division crown on the line. But they might not want to fully tip their hand, as a first round matchup between these two teams is also possible. (2)

3. Green Bay Packers (10-5)

Their last-second loss to the Steelers seems to have had no ill effect on the Packers.  They absolutely thrashed the hapless Seahawks, and they will enter the playoffs on a roll. I take back some of the negative things I’ve said about this team. As long as Aaron Rodgers is at the helm, they’ll always have a chance to score points. (6)

4. Arizona Cardinals (10-5)

The Cards still have an outside shot at the #2 seed, and they need to beat Green Bay for it to happen.  But like the Eagles, the Cardinals could be facing the Packers in the first round.  It should be interesting to see how they go about their week 17 game, with the division already locked up. (4)

5. Minnesota Vikings (11-4)

How can someone as talented as Adrian Peterson be so awful at holding on to the football. It’s possible that his game-losing fumble will make him a better player in the long run, but until he proves he can hold on to the football, there is one giant flaw in his otherwise almost-perfect game. 

As for the entire team, they looked much better this week, but their defense couldn’t stop an okay Bears offense. (3)

6. Dallas Cowboys (10-5)

The Cowboys took care of business and have now locked up the sixth NFC playoff spot.  With a win over the Eagles this week, they clinch the NFC East. Tony Romo and company are doing a good job dispelling the Cowboys December myth. (5)

Tier 3 (In The Hunt)

-NONE-

Tier 4 (Life Support)

-NONE-

Tier 5 (Playing For Pride)

7. Carolina Panthers (7-8)

The way they’ve been playing lately, it’s easy to see why this team was a Super Bowl favorite last year. Jonathan Stewart proved he could be one of the top backs in the league, with a 200 yard performance against the Giants. 

Matt Moore has announced his intentions to stick around as the starting QB. (9)

8. New York Giants (8-7)

The Giants picked the worst time to play their worst game of the year. This may have been their worst performance since they got shut out at home by the Panthers in the 2005 playoffs. 

It’s anyone’s guess as to how they will play in a meaningless Week 17 game, but once the season ends, a lot of questions will be answered, and a lot of jobs will be lost. (7)

9. Atlanta Falcons (8-7)

The Falcons missed the playoffs, largely due to injuries to their two best players. But with a win this week against the Bucs, they will have back to back winning seasons for the first time in ages, and that’s something to build on heading into next year. (8)

10. San Francisco 49ers (7-8)

If not for one fluke Brett Favre touchdown pass, things could have gone so much different for the Niners. But with a win over the Rams, the Niners will finish at .500, which is better than most predicted for them coming into the season. The future could be bright. (10)

11. Chicago Bears (6-9)

Jay Cutler had one of his best performances of the year against a good Vikings defense.  Maybe now that the pressure is off, he is free to play the way we all know he can.  Bears fans hope to see much more of this in his second year. (12)

12. Washington Redskins (4-11)

They weren’t embarrassed this week, but they lost at home to the Cowboys, taking away their last chance to make their fans happy. (11)

13. Seattle Seahawks (5-10)

Another horrific loss. With two touchdowns and eight interceptions in the last two weeks, Matt Hasselbeck is making himself expendable. (13)

14. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-12)

Another impressive win has elevated the Bucs into the “playing for pride,” and the players should have a lot to be proud of. Let’s give Raheem Morris another year before we bury him as a head coach. (14)

Tier 6 (In The Hunt…For The No. 1 Pick!)

15. Detroit Lions (2-13)

I remember the days when two wins was enough to get you the No. 1 pick… (15)

16. St. Louis Rams (1-14)

Just one more loss and the No. 1 pick is theirs! Sooo close! (16)

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New York Giants Close Stadium, Season With a Whimper

Whenever a team wins its sport’s respective championship, the players and coaching staff are given a grace period in which they are forgiven for most sins. It is safe to say that for the New York Giants, the grace period is over. 

After a 5-0 start, the Giants find themselves 8-7 with a meaningless week 17 game against the Vikings. After that, it’s golf season.

What went wrong for the Giants on Sunday?  Let’s look at my “Five Keys to Victory” for the answer to that:

1. Stop Steve Smith

Despite not playing most of the second half, Steve Smith of the Panthers caught five passes for 60 yards and a touchdown. His touchdown came on a play in which he brushed off what looked like a crushing hit from Michael Johnson and walked into the end zone for an easy score. It was later revealed that he broke his arm on this play. A broken arm, not the Giants defense, was the only thing that could stop Steve Smith.

But this one is on Bill Sheridan. Why is Kevin Dockery, a pretty good 4th CB, covering Steve Smith. This is just another example as to how clueless Sheridan has been this season. Instead of putting Terrell Thomas, the team’s best remaining defensive back, on Smith, he puts a guy who wouldn’t be a nickelback on must teams. Perplexing.

Verdict: Fail

2. Contain Running Game

Hahaha! Riiiiiight. Jonathan Stewart had 206 yards and a touchdown on 28 carries.  That’s a 7.4 average. The team was allergic to tackling all day, mostly attempting weak arm tackles. There were times when I saw defensive backs backpedaling away from the ball-carrier instead of coming up to try and make a play. The team just had no interest in tackling.

Even fullback Brad Hoover had 37 yards and a touchdown on 9 carries. Overall, the Panthers ran for 247 yards, dropping under 250 only because they took a couple kneel downs to end the game.

Verdict: EPIC FAIL

3. Block Julius Peppers

The very first play of the game, Julius Peppers came in unblocked and tackled Brandon Jacobs for a loss of three yards. He didn’t continue to play that dominant for the entire game, nor was he as unstoppable as he was last week, but he still beat the Giants’ offensive line on numerous occasions.

Peppers finished with a sack, two tackles for a loss, and a QB hit.

Verdict: Fail

4. Commit To The Run

Kevin Gilbride must have been confused by my word choice. When I said commit to the run, I didn’t mean “stop doing what is working just for the sake of committing to the run.” 

After the first drive in which Eli Manning moved the ball almost at will on the Panthers, with Ahmad Bradshaw in the backfield, Kevin Gilbride decided to put Brandon Jacobs back into the game. First play: a thirteen yard completion to Steve Smith. Eli was in total control and the Panthers pass defense was on their heels.

What does Gilbride call next? Two straight Brandon Jacobs runs. The result: one yard. 

The day continued like this for Jacobs, who finished with one yard on six carries. I’ll repeat: one yard on six carries. Ahmad Bradshaw had a respectable 53 yards on 11 carries, yet Jacobs was still in the game during what could have been crucial drives in the second quarter. 

It’s not Gilbrides fault that Jacobs has become a shell of his former self, but we’ve seen this all season. Jacobs’ terrible performance yesterday should not have surprised anyone. Gilbride and Coughlin should have had a shorter leash with Jacobs, knowing that they can no longer entrust their season in his hands.

Verdict: Fail

5. Cover The Tight End

The Panthers’ top two tight ends combined for one reception and two yards. The one reception was a touchdown, however. Still, not much to write about here.

Verdict: Success

Conclusion: It’s not too hard to see that the Giants failed miserably in the top four keys. When you cant stop the run and you can’t run the ball, you’re going to have to do everything else right in order to win. That clearly did not happen. Add four Giants turnovers and no Panthers turnovers, and it’s easy to see why 41-9 was a score that accurately portrays the competitiveness of this game.

Other Game Notes:

This was the only game the Giants lost this season to a non-playoff team. They also beat only one playoff team, the Cowboys (twice).  This fact alone should show you what their chances were had they somehow made the playoffs. It also shows you that the Giants were firmly entrenched among the middle tier of teams; good enough to blow out bad teams, could not compete with good teams.

It was a battle of Steve Smiths, and ours won! Take that, Carolina!  What is interesting, though, is the symmetry involved. Both Steve Smiths had pretty good games, but were both injured while scoring touchdowns…okay I guess it wasn’t that interesting.

Hakeem Nicks had another bad drop. At what point do we start to worry that his huge hands are not as sticky as advertised?

Michael Boley fooled horribly on Stewart’s touchdown run. It was almost as if he saw a ghost and started chasing it. Boley has had a good year, but he has had a couple of notable lapses.

Why design a pass play specifically to Madison Hedgecock? With all the talented weapons the Giants have on offense, they should NEVER design a play specifically for Hedgecock, especially on third down. Manning hit a wide open Hedgecock in the corner of the end zone, and not surprisingly, the full back dropped it.

With the fans pumped up and with guys like Harry Carson, Carl Banks and Lawrence Taylor in attendance, these Giants players and coaches should be ashamed and embarrassed. That is all I have to say.

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New York Giants: Keys To Beating The Carolina Panthers

1. Stop Steve Smith

Last week against a good Vikings’ defense, Steve Smith caught nine passes for 157 yards and a touchdown, and that’s not including a ridiculous touchdown catch he had called back.

Simply put, Smith is one of the most dangerous receivers in the league, and can be the best player on the field on any given day.

The Giants would have had their hands with him anyway, but with Corey Webster and Aaron Ross hurting, stopping Steve Smith will be one of Bill Sheridan’s greatest challenges.

With new quarterback Matt Moore playing a competent brand of football (unlike Jake Delhomme), Steve Smith is again playing like the elite wide receiver we all know he is.

Smith can hurt you on deep, medium and short routes, and is impossible for one man to stop completely. It will be a team effort for the patchwork secondary.

The majority of the work will have to be done by Terrell Thomas, who has had a great season. But the safeties will have to be in top form was well if the Giants are going to slow down this dangerous weapon.

2. Contain Running Game

In last year’s epic week 16 battle between these two teams, DeAngelo Williams thrashed the Giants for 108 yards and four touchdowns.

Well, Williams may miss this year’s game with an injured ankle, but his backup, Jonathan Stewart, is more than capable. Against a stout Vikings run defense, Stewart produced 109 yards and a touchdown on 25 carries.

The Giants have done a good job of stopping the run recently, and they will need to continue that trend in order to stop the league’s third ranked rushing offense (148 yards per game).

And an added bonus to stopping the rushing game would be preventing Carolina from having two 1,000 yard running backs.

Williams has already passed that threshold, and Stewart needs 198 yards in the next two games.

If the Giants want to be the last team with two 1,000 yard rushers, stopping Stewart this week will go a long way.

3. Block Julius Peppers

Although he only had one sack against the Vikings last week, Peppers was an absolute monster.

He dominated Bryant McKinnie all night, pressuring Brett Favre and forcing him to rush his throws. Aside from the sack, he hit Favre three times, causing coach Brad Childress to consider taking him out of the game when the Vikings were up by one point.

For the Giants, left tackle David Diehl draws the tough matchup, and he is not nearly the physical specimen that Bryant McKinnie is.

The Giants are going to have to give Diehl as much help as possible, with double teams and help from tight ends and running backs.

4. Commit To The Run

For the past few weeks, I’ve been arguing that the Giants should not resist becoming more of a pass-first team.

The way their team is built, with a strong quarterback and good young receivers, it would be foolish not to embrace the passing game. But in order to be able to pass the ball against teams with strong secondaries, you have to also commit to the run.

Without a balanced attack, defenses can key on one part of your offense, making it one dimensional.

The Panthers have a great pass defense (fourth best in NFL), and while I wouldn’t let that scare the Giants from doing what has worked these past few weeks, I would suggest they try to stay as balanced as possible.

Use the run to set up the pass, especially since Carolina’s run defense is seventh in the league.

Ahmad Bradshaw looked electric last week, so it would be a good idea to feature him heavily.

And if Brandon Jacobs is ever going to reach 100 yards again, this is a great week to do it.

Together, Bradshaw and Jacobs figure to put up a lot of yards if given the opportunity.

5. Cover the Tight End

Over the last seven games, the Giants are allowing the opposing team’s top tight end to average 6.4 receptions and 78.3 yards, allowing a touchdown 57% of the time.

That is not very good, scientifically speaking.

The Carolina Panthers don’t have one tight end as talented as any of the guys the Giants have faced the past seven weeks, but they do have two solid young receiving tight ends in Dante Rosario and Gary Barnidge.

Combined, the two don’t even have 40 receptions or 600 yards. But they are both talented enough to make plays when most of the defense’s attention is on the running backs and Steve Smith, especially against a team with the Giants’ recent track record for leaving tight ends open.

It’ll be up to the linebackers and safeties not to forget about the tight ends.

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New York Giants Destroy Washington Redskins: Game Balls and Game Notes

This was an ugly game but it was just what the Giants needed. After some close, tense games a laugher like this was very welcome.

I feel like I should start with the ridiculous fake field goal, but I don’t know what I can say that hasn’t already been said. 

If you haven’t seen the play, simply type “Worst Play Ever Redskins” into Google.  I’m sure you’ll find the play.  Or just go here :

I think my favorite thing about the play is that, even after they showed the Giants the formation and the Giants called time out, they did it again.  And then Hunter the punter, who is about to get destroyed by three Giants, hurls the ball towards the only receiver that decided to run towards the end zone. 

Unfortunately, that one receiver was being quadruple covered.  The only thing that could have made the play better would be if Bruce Johnson, who ended up with the gift interception, was able to return it for a touchdown. 

Still, it’s a play we’ll be seeing forever, as long as there are blooper reels (right next to Leon Lett).

Hakeem Nicks showed off his great after the catch skills on a nice 45 yard catch and run.  He had two catches for 66 yards before leaving with a hamstring injury.  I felt like Nicks was on his way to a rookie of the week-type performance, an award for which he was nominated last week but lost out to Redskins DE Brian Orakpo.

I keep getting excited about how good this receiving corps is going to be.  Call me crazy, but I think the potential is there for this to develop into one of the top receiving groups in the league. 

Steve Smith is already having a Pro Bowl-type season, Mario Manningham has shown flashes of brilliance in what has been a very good first full season and Hakeem Nicks is just dripping with talent.  They are each different types of receivers and they complement each other well. 

It doesn’t hurt that they are all under 25.

Throw in 25-year-old tight end Kevin Boss and 25-year-old fourth receiver Domenik Hixon, and you have a very deep group of receivers. 

And then there’s WR Ramses Barden and TE Travis Beckum (six receptions, 39 yards this year)—a couple of third round draft picks that could also factor into this team’s passing game in the future. 

All in all, the only thing that will stop this team from having a great passing offense going forward is conservative play calling.

Steve Smith had five receptions, and is now only 10 away from becoming the first receiver in Giants’ history to catch 100 passes. 

Smith is having a great season, but it’s kind of amazing that a team that has been around for so long has never had a player catch 100 passes.  I guess this is just another example of how the Giants, and the NFL in general, are becoming more of a pass-first team.

Welcome back defense. 

Who knows if you are here to stay, but for one night at least, it was great to have you back.  I actually felt bad for Jason Campbell for most of this game, especially since we need him healthy for his big game against the Cowboys on Sunday Night.

Is it just me, or does David Carr look really awkward when he throws?

The game ball goes to the entire defense.  As lame as that is, it’s just impossible to pick one guy. 

Osi Umenyiora, Barry Cofield, Jonathan Goff, Justin Tuck and Fred Robbins all had sacks.  Chase Blackburn, Bruce Johnson and Terrell Thomas all had interceptions (Thomas returned his for an easy TD). 

There were six tackles for negative yards and 12 QB hits.  It was a great overall performance—the kind we’ve been waiting for from this defense all season long.

Offensive game ball goes to Eli Manning, who has raised his play considerably since the Thanksgiving debacle. He went 19 for 26 with 268 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions. 

Over the last two games, He has completed 72 percent of his passes, thrown six touchdowns and no interceptions.  For the year, he has a career-high 26 touchdowns, a completion percentage of 61.2 and a QB rating of 96.

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NFC Power Rankings: Week 16!

Tier 1 (The Elite)

NONE

Tier 2 (In The Playoffs)

1. New Orleans Saints (13-1)

Over the past few weeks, the Saints have looked very beatable, but we always gave them the benefit of the doubt because a win is a win. Now that they have finally lost a game, all the weaknesses they showed in those other games seem much more real. They are still the best team in the division, but should no longer be considered elite. (Last Week: 1)

2. Philadelphia Eagles (10-4)

The NFC’s hottest team has now won five in a row, and they are still in the hunt for a first round bye. I toyed with the idea of putting them first, but the difference in records are too great. But if these two teams played each other right now, I have a feeling the Eagles would be the hot pick. And if they play each other in the playoffs…well the Eagles just might have Brian Westbrook and Jeremy Maclin as two more weapons for Donovan McNabb.

3. Minnesota Vikings (11-3)

The way they’ve looked the past few weeks, it’s hard to believe this was once a team many thought was on a crash course with New Orleans in the NFC Championship game. They could still very well win their next two games and clinch a first round bye, but my guess is that Vikings fans feel much less confident right now than they did three weeks ago.

4. Arizona Cardinals (9-5)

As I said above, a win is a win, but it’s never a good thing when you blow a 17-point lead to the 2-11 Lions. Fortunately, the Cardinals fought back and won the game and have now clinched the NFC West (although that was never really in doubt). They will now host a home playoff game, and it wouldn’t shock anyone to see them lose, just as it wouldn’t shock anyone to see them make the Super Bowl again.

Tier 3 (In The Hunt)

5. Dallas Cowboys (9-5)

They finally shook the December curse with a huge upset win over the previously undefeated Saints. But before they can look forward to a huge January battle with the Eagles, they must dispose of the angry Redskins.

6. Green Bay Packers (9-5)

The Packers were about one inch away from basically clinching a playoff spot. But alas…they were unable to defend Ben Roethlisberger’s pass and Mike Wallace kept his feet in bounds and the Packers must now beat the Seahawks and Cardinals to control their own destiny.

7. New York Giants (8-6)

It was an impressive win against the Redskins, and everything was clicking on both sides of the ball. But the fact is, the Giants can win their next two games, and it won’t matter unless one of the teams above them loses. So even if they can get over their inconsistencies, the ball is not fully in their court anymore.

Tier 4 (Life Support)

NONE

Tier 5 (Playing For Pride)

8. Atlanta Falcons (7-7)

Their last minute win over the Jets was nice, but it will have a bigger impact on the AFC playoff picture than on their own. This should be a better team next year, and if they were able to stay healthy, there’s a good chance they’d be two tier’s higher right now.

9. Carolina Panthers (6-8)

That was an impressive pounding of the Vikings, although it made for a boring Sunday Night game. Still with Steve Smith, Jonathan Stewart and Matt Moore at the helm, this is not a team I’d want to face right now, even with DeAngelo Williams on the shelf.

10. San Francisco 49ers (6-8)

Alex Smith may well be the quarterback of the future, but he didn’t look like an NFL starter on Sunday. Much of that had to do with the fact that his offensive line was collapsing around him, but his performance was a definite step in the wrong direction.

11. Washington Redskins (4-10)

Their 45-12 loss to the Giants was embarrassing, but that doesn’t change the fact that they’ve played mostly solid ball the past few weeks. Now lets take a few moments to visualize their botched fake field goal pass that went for an interception…

12. Chicago Bears (5-9)

Three more interceptions for Jake Cutler, and one for “Caleb Hanie.” Cutler now has 19 touchdowns to 25 interceptions. I think it’s clear the Broncos won year one of this trade.

13. Seattle Seahawks (5-9)

Not only did they lose 24-7 to the Buccaneers (yes, those Buccaneers), but by allowing Tampa Bay to win another game, they basically handed the #1 pick over to a team in their division.

Tier 6 (In The Hunt…For The #1 Pick!)

14. Detroit Lions (2-12)

They showed enough fight to come back from a 17-0 deficit to the Cardinals, but they couldn’t finish the job.

15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-12)

Their victory over the Seahawks must have been nice for morale. Josh Freeman bounced back from a couple bad starts to win his second NFL game.

16. St. Louis Rams (1-13)

Well…it’s theirs for the taking! They just have to make sure they don’t do something stupid, like win a game.

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New York Giants Keys To Beating The Washington Redskins

1. Don’t Overlook The Redskins

It may be easy to look at the Redskins’ 4-9 record and think they are a pushover, but the reality is, they are just a few breaks away from being 7-6 and right in the thick of the NFC playoff picture. From week 11 to week 13, the Redskins lost three games to very good teams by a combined margin of seven points, including an overtime loss to the undefeated New Orleans Saints.

They are playing as well as they have all season right now and they are just the kind of spoiler I wouldn’t want to face if I were on a contending team,but the Giants are the more talented team, and if they play up to their potential, they will win this game.

2. Don’t Rely On Defense

This key is more of a letter to Kevin Gilbride and the Giants offense than it is a specific strategy point. Somehow, Gilbride and the Giants’ offense has miraculously become the shining beacon of hope for the Giants. If the team is going to make the playoffs, it will have to be on the strength of the offense, since the defense has proven that it is completely inept. Quite a turnaround from what this franchise is use to.

Basically what I’m saying is, that the Giants’ offense cannot expect any favors from the Giants’ defense. They are going to have to put up points, and they must not rest on their laurels if they get off to a good start. If they are up 14 with eight minutes left, they should not take their foot off the pedal, because the defense has shown it cannot be counted onto hold late leads.

The remaining keys will be specific to the offense until the defense proves it is not a hopeless case.

3. Keep Going To Nicks

Eli Manning must not be discouraged by Hakeem Nicks’ three bad drops Sunday night against the Eagles and I don’t believe he will be. Nicks is known for his great hands, so his case of the dropsies is likely an aberration and not a sign of things to come. Nicks showed that with the ball in his hands, he is a playmaker, breaking away from two Eagles defenders after the catch for a long 68 yard touchdown.

Nicks, who leads all rookies with 685 receiving yards, will start again opposite Steve Smith and Eli should look his way often, as the two continue to build a rapport that could make them one of the better QB-WR combinations for the next few years.

4. Beware of Orakpo

While the Giants have one of the top rookies on the offensive side of the ball, the Redskins boast one of the best defensive rookies in Brian Orakpo. The defensive lineman from Texas has 11.0 sacks on the year, including four last week against the Raiders. While no one expects him to repeat that performance, he is a dangerous little pass rusher and he needs to be accounted for in games.

5. Don’t Fumble

The Giants fumbled five times and lost four of them Sunday night against the Eagles. There really isn’t much more to say about this. Just don’t fumble the ball; it’s that simple.

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NFC Power Rankings: Week 15

Tier 1 (The Elite)

1. Saints (13-0)

After another close call, one could argue that this team is closer to the second tier of NFC teams than they are to the elite. But 13-0 speaks for itself, and we all saw what they did to the Patriots, Giants, Eagles, and many others. This is still the odds on favorite in the NFC. (Last Week: 1)

Tier 2 (In The Playoffs)

2. Vikings (11-2)

After a concerning loss to the volatile Arizona Cardinals, the Vikings had one of their best wins of the season, beating a quality Bengals team. It’s also a good sign that Adrian Peterson got back on the horse, running for 97 yards and two touchdowns. (2)

 

3. Packers (9-4)

They almost gave it away at the end, but their win against the Bears basically locks up the wild card. The offensive line is healthy again, and while Aaron Rodgers didn’t have a huge game, they ran the ball much better. They have now won five straight, and while games at Pittsburgh and Arizona are tough, they’ll be 10-6 at worst. That should be good enough to make the playoffs. (4)

4. Eagles (9-4)

How good is this offense? Are they an elite group? Maybe. They sure did put on a show Sunday night, even without Jeremy Maclin. But their big play ability puts them in a class with the Vikings and maybe just below the Saints and Cardinals in terms of NFC offense. The only problem is, with the way their defense played against a good but not great Giants offense, they are going to need all the points they can get if they want to make a deep run in the playoffs. (5)

 

5. Cardinals (8-5)

I still think the Cardinals are good enough to beat anyone in the NFC, but there needs to be repercussions for their seven-turnover game on Monday night. Their offense can be as good as anyone’s, but they obviously need to play more consistently than they have. Still, they had some awful games down the stretch last year, so it would be foolish to count them out. (6)

Tier 3 (In The Hunt)

6. Cowboys (8-5)

It’s happening again. The Cowboys will not have a winning December after losing to a great Chargers team. Now they must beat the Saints if they want to maintain control over their own destiny. Their game against the Eagles could be huge, or they could get lucky and face a team resting their players for the playoffs. But for now, the Cowboys need to worry about beating the unbeaten Saints. (7)

 

7. Giants (7-6)

Their defense just can’t stop anyone. Eli Manning and the offense looked great, besides the five fumbles, but all 38 points were meaningless because the defense couldn’t cover anyone. Unless things change drastically over the last three games, the Giants will have an opening at defensive coordinator. The Giants now need to win out and hope the Cowboys lose to the Saints, Redskins, or Eagles. (6)

Tier 4 (Life Supp ort)

8. 49ers (6-7)

The defense played ridiculous, shutting down the Cardinals’ offense and creating seven turnovers. The offense can be great at times, but Alex Smith needs to play consistently. But with a healthy Frank Gore and some other young offensive weapons, this is a team that can be very dangerous next year. (9)

9. Falcons (6-7)

I was impressed with how they played the Saints, but let’s be honest: This team is not making the playoffs. Without Matt Ryan and Michael Turner, this team is just not very good. (8)

Tier 5 (Playing For Pride)

10. Redskins (4-9)

This team could easily be 7-6 if they had only held on to some late leads (they lost three games in a row by respective scores one, three, and three(in OT)). I would not want to play this team right now if I were in the playoff hunt. (12)

 

11. Panthers (5-8)

They lost, but they played the Patriots tough. For teams in this tier, playing good teams tough is all you can ask. (11)

 

12. Seahawks (5-8)

Just an ugly performance against the Texans. I’ve been calling for the Seahawks to rebuild all year, and for the sake of their fans, I really hope they consider it. (12)

 

13. Bears (5-8)

They hung around with the Packers, but an ugly interception broke their back. It continues a season long theme for the Bears: Jay Cutler‘s inconsistencies. Heading into the 2010 season, Cutler will be a huge question mark. That’s not what Bears fans envisioned when they made the trade for their franchise quarterback. (13)

 

Tier 6 (In The Hunt…For No. 1 Pick)

Instead of wasting anyone’s time with sarcastic jabs at these bottom dwellers, I’ll just state their latest results.

14. Lions (2-11)

Lost 48-3 at the Ravens. (14)

 

15. Buccaneers (1-12)

Lost 26-3 to the Jets. (15)

16. Rams (1-12)

Lost 47-7 at the Titans. (16)

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New York Giants Lose Game and Destiny to Eagles

Every week I write a “Five Keys To Victory” article, which focuses on five aspects of the game that the Giants must concentrate on in order to win.

Let’s take a look at my five keys to this game and assess how the Giants performed.

1. Sack McNabb

The Giants managed just one sack of Donovan McNabb, and it wasn’t even a real sack; it was Osi Umenyiora’s strip of the ball that was ruled an incomplete pass by one ref. The Giants brought no pressure, and McNabb was able to feel at home in the pocket.

Ever since that 12-sack game, I don’t think McNabb has had an easier, more leisurely day than when he’s facing the Giants.

Verdict: Fail

2. Cover Jackson

DeSean Jackson was able to embarrass the Giants secondary for six receptions, 178 yards, and a demoralizing 60-yard touchdown reception. This play was the one that broke the Giants’ backs, as they had just earned their first lead of the game on Domenik Hixon’s 61-yard touchdown reception, only to have it taken away one offensive play later. Jackson also scored on a 72-yard punt return.

Verdict: EPIC FAIL

3. Run the Ball

Although they were playing from behind for most of the game, the Giants’ offense still managed to churn out 133 yards on the ground.

Brandon Jacobs looked great, running hard and frequently pushing the pile for extra yards. Jacobs had 60 yards on 15 carries and one touchdown. Ahmad Bradshaw did his job as a change-of-pace back, scampering for 55 yards on 15 carries and a touchdown. The two combined for only 4.0 yards per carry, which is okay, but not great.

Overall, the running game looked better than it had in recent weeks, and Eli Manning even added 18 yards on two runs.

Verdict: Success

4. Limit Poor Decisions

While Manning did not throw any interceptions, the spirit of this “key” was, “don’t turn the ball over.” I even ended this segment by saying this: “And let’s try and hold on to the ball as well. No fumbles.” Yet the Giants fumbled five times and lost four of them.

There is nothing redeeming to say about this aspect of the performance.

Verdict: EPIC FAIL

5. Block for Hixon

The Giants gave Hixon enough room to run for 172 yards on eight kick returns. The 21.5-yard average is good, but he was not able to break off a long one. Still, it seems as if he is always making the first guy miss and will never go down easily (sometimes to his detriment, as he fumbled twice trying to pick up extra yards). He also added 19 yards on two punt returns.

But Hixon’s biggest play of the day came on offense, where he has not made much of an impact this year. Hixon took a short pass and broke away from a couple of Eagles defenders for a long 61-yard touchdown.

There were a couple of Giants in position to block for him, but there were no Eagles defenders to block. Hixon was able to waltz into the end zone on a touchdown that would give the Giants their first and only lead of the game.

But while Hixon personally had a good game statistically (minus the fumbles), the focus of this key was on the blocking. The overall blocking on special teams was only okay, and Hixon’s almost 200 return yards were more a result of his 10 return opportunities.

Verdict: Push

 

Results

The Giants were successful in only one of the five keys (running the ball), while their blocking for Hixon was pretty good, but not great. It’s pretty clear that what did them in was their inability to stop the Eagles’ passing game and their five fumbles.

Other game notes:

* The offensive game ball goes to Eli Manning, who did everything in his power to win this game. Manning completed 27 of 38 passes for 391 yards, three touchdowns, no interceptions, and a 130.5 QB rating.

Eli looks fully healthy and may be on his way to his best season yet. He is completing 60.4 percent of his passes (barely a career high), has thrown 23 touchdowns to 11 interceptions, and has a career-high 93 QB rating.

He may be overpaid, and he’ll probably always be considered overrated by certain stubborn fans, but I am happy to have him as my quarterback.

* There is no defensive game ball this week, but I will give a thumbs up to Jonathan Goff, who caught his first career interception in only his second start. He did fail to record a tackle, however.

* Much has been made about Lawrence Tynes’ struggles: The Giants have brought in other kickers to practice to give Tynes a shot in the arm. But the reality is, Tynes has been having a better season than Jeff Feagles.

I sure hope the Giants are bringing in punters off the scrap heap to come in and compete during practice, because the next best available guy has to be at least as good as Feagles. His 40.4-yard average is second worst in the league, and his 35.4-yard net average is third worst. What a shame.

* I’ve been saying for a while that, as early as next year, the wide receiving corps will be one of the strengths of this team. But as of right now, these young receivers are still a work in progress.

Hakeem Nicks had a bunch of ugly drops, even though his trademark is supposed to be his sticky hands that catch everything. Mario Manningham ran a couple of routes too close to the sideline, although he has shown an Amani Toomer-like ability to keep his feet inbounds. Even reliable Steve Smith, the new Giants single-season receptions record holder (85), had a bunch of ugly drops last week.

* Right now, we have a young, talented, but inconsistent group of playmakers. But in the near future, depth and talent at receiver will be the team’s strength, and I hope that we do not waste our talent because of some false bravado idea that the Giants are a power-running football team.

There is no rule that the Giants cannot be a passing offense, and if the talent on the team dictates that they should be a passing offense, that is the direction this team should take. Eli has shown that he has the ability to throw the ball well in cold, bad weather games, and the NFL has evolved into a passing league.

I’m not saying that the Giants should abandon the run going forward. A balanced offense is always the most effective. But the idea that the Giants’ franchise must always be built on a smash-mouth rushing offense is ridiculous and naive.

* Paging John Fox. Please return home to Giants stadium no later than March 2010, where you will resume defensive coordinator duty, with the understanding that you will take over as head coach once Tom Coughlin has moved on.

 

The Giants now need the Cowboys to lose at least once, or else all is lost. New York owns the head-to-head tiebreaker.

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New York Giants: Keys To Beating The Philadelphia Eagles

1. Sack McNabb

Remember that guy who taunted the Giants by picking up the phone on the Giants sideline to call his mom for some celebratory Campbell’s soup during the NFC playoff game last season?  That guy was Donovan McNabb, and Giants fans would like nothing more than to see him crushed by Giants defensive linemen all night.

Incidentally, this is also the best way to stop the Eagles’ offense.

When constant pressure is put on McNabb, he has been known to perform erratically, often under-throwing his receivers.  But when given oodles of time, McNabb can pick apart defenses—hitting his speedy receivers for long gainers. 

In recent matchups, the Giants have failed to create significant pressure and McNabb has remained upright.  Unfortunately for the Giants, this defense is based on a strong pass rush, something that has been lacking all year.

If the Giants can get back to rushing the passer, the Eagles’ offense can be contained.  But if they continue to struggle, McNabb and the big-play Eagles offense will devastate the Giants’ banged up secondary.

2. Cover Jackson

The speediest of the aforementioned speedy Eagles receivers is DeSean Jackson.  You may know him as starting receiver for the All-Bonehead Team (but more likely, you know him as the Eagles’ #1 wide receiver).

Jackson missed last week’s route of the Falcons with a concussion, but he says he will be ready to play Sunday night.  Jackson has 769 receiving yards on only 44 receptions, good for a whopping 17.5 yards per catch.  He also has six touchdowns, the shortest being from 35 yards out.  In short, Jackson is a big play waiting to happen.

The Eagles have many dangerous weapons on offense, including young stud wide receiver Jeremy Maclin, excellent young tight end Brent Celek (especially in the wake of Jason Witten’s 14 catch performance), and young running back LeSean McCoy.  Even guys like Jason Avant, Leonard Weaver and Michael Vick should be gameplanned for. 

But it’s DeSean Jackson that the defense can least afford to let off their radar.

3. Run The Ball

The Eagles are a balanced defense, stout both against the run and pass.  The best way to keep a good defense honest is to start with an effective running game.  If the Giants cannot commit to running the ball, the Eagles will put extra effort on stopping the pass, and everything will go downhill from there.

Jacobs and Bradshaw looked better last week.  Jacobs ran harder than I’ve ever seen him on his 74-yard touchdown catch and run, and he had some other good tough runs.  He broke a couple of tackles on his short touchdown run. 

Bradshaw showed some good shiftiness on a couple of runs, including one that set up a big field goal.

The offensive line looked okay, but they still need to do a better job of opening up holes for the running backs.  If the line can get a good push, the Giants must stick with the run so that Eli will have a better shot against this ball-hawking defense.

4. Limit Poor Decisions

Remember a couple of seconds ago when I called the Eagles defense “ball-hawking?”  Turned out I was right.  The Eagles have recorded 20 interceptions so far this season— third best in the NFC.

Two cornerbacks in particular, Asante Samuel and Sheldon Brown, have combined for twelve interceptions.

Last week, Eli made some poor decisions, most notably the ugly underthrown heave to Mario Manningham that was picked off by Mike Jenkins.  Some of his other mistakes went as relatively harmless incompletions.  But against the Eagles, Eli will have to be more careful.  Don’t make me repeat what I said earlier (about them being ball-hawking.  Because they are).

I’m setting the maximum for interceptions at one (1).

And let’s try and hold on to the ball as well.  No fumbles.  I’m looking at you, running backs.

5. Block For Hixon

Domenik Hixon got some nice down-field blocks from Terrell Thomas and Derek Hagan on the electric punt return that broke the Cowboys’ backs.  It was such a great play, it’s easy to forget that Hixon had to avoid five Cowboys and break four tackles before running up the sidelines.  He showed great speed and quickness, as well as awareness and strength to break through the tackles.  Just imagine what he can do with the team blocking for him the whole time.

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