Few are not aware of the horrific start to the season by the NY. Football Giants. I mean it doesn’t get much worse than a 0-3 start; the latest loss by a lopsided shutout at the hands of the non-elite Carolina Panthers. But should their early results come as such a shock given their recent past?
Consider that Big Blue owns a 3-8 record over their last 11 regular season games which include two shutout losses. Throw in their abysmal Pre-Season performance (1-3), especially that of Eli Manning who looked ‘disinteredted’, the loss of Safety Stevie Brown (8 interceptions last season), Jason Pierre-Paul returning from back surgery in June, and the loss of RB Andre Brown to IR, and you have a recipe for disaster.
The worse begginning to a season under Tom Coughlin’s rule, the Giants 38-0 loss to the Panthers on Sunday, Sept. 21, 2013, ends the revered coach’s amazing streak in which he started 5-2 every year since he was hired in 2004.
The capitan Eli Manning, who had an up and down season last year, looked totally rusty in the pre-season and has thrown 8 interceptions in the first three games this year. The biggest culprit on this team without question has been their offensive line which has not made it possible for any lanes to open up for David Wilson (75 rushing yards in three games) and Brandon Jacobs (who now has 10 carries for six yards since signing with the Giants for a 0.6 YPC average).
With an ineffectice O-Line the protection for Eli has also been non-existent. It’s affected the time he has to release the ball and has a lot to do with him making poor decisions by virtue of his 8 picks. He also has already been sacked 11 times!
#10 Eli Manning, sacked multiple times in the 38-0 loss to the Panthers, only had 1 passing yard in the first half on Sunday, Sept. 21, 2013. Photo: Mike Mccarn/Associated Press
Second on the list of causes for the Giants demise, is their lack of any semblence on defense; from a limited pass-rush to cornerbacks and safeties that have allowed their opponents to rack up 115 points (38.3 YPG) average through the early going.
It won’t get any easier for the G-Men either as they will face the 3-0 Kansas City Chiefs next week at K.C. and then after a home game against the Eagles, they will have to play the 3-0 Bears in Chicago. It is quite conceivable that by October 13th we could be staring at the Giants sitting at 0-6 or at best 1-5.
Playoffs? Ponder this: The last time an NFL team began the season at 0-3 and made the playoffs was 15 years ago when in 1998 the Buffalo Bills and the Detroit Lions both accomplised that feat.
Tom Coughlin? The man will be inducted into the Hall of Fame in the first round of eligibility, or should be. Got to feel for him as earlier last week he lost his 63 old brother in a freak accident. Instead of his team playing one “for the Gipper”, they just rolled over and played dead. Losing usually begets more losing…
Giants coach Tom Coughlin at the press conference after the embarrassing loss to the Panthers said, “He expected more from this team..” Photo: Rueters
This latest edition of this team is clearly lacking in talent. Hopefully Giants General Manager Jerry Reese will go into his bag of tricks and pull out some players that can make a difference in the 13 remaining games for the Giants to at least gain some relevance in a very poor division. In the meantime, Owners, Coaches, players and fans…”Let the panic begin!”
FANTASY FURNACE 