With two games to go in the season, the once-invincible Giants are losing their swagger as quickly as they gained it. A pair of listless efforts against divisional rivals Philadelphia and Dallas have let everyone back into the race and their stranglehold on the NFC is loosening.
All season long, the team managed to avoid distractions and injuries. Brandon Jacobs has missed the last two games and the running game has gone flat. Plaxico Burress's absence from the field has also caught up with the Giants as they don't have a playmaker in the red zone.
The once awesome offensive line has gotten nicked with injuries, a major reason for them surrendering eight sacks in a Sunday night loss to the Cowboys. Facing the Panthers and Vikings to finish the season, the Giants now must rediscover the magic that propelled them to their unlikely Super Bowl upset of the Patriots and an 11-1 start.
Maybe adversity is what the Giants need, though, and they'll use these last two weeks to their advantage in what is a tight race for home-field advantage.
Baltimore at Dallas
Line: Cowboys by 5.5
The Cowboys appear to be peaking at the right time, contrary to the Giants. Their defense has been exceptional against the run the past two weeks and Tony Romo finally had a decent game in a big spot with his two-TD effort against the GMen.
He won't play that well against the Ravens' rugged defense, but I think Dallas will limit the Ravens by stopping the run and forcing Joe Flacco, a 42 percent passer on the season, into a lot of 3rd-and-longs.
Cowboys 10, Ravens 6
Pittsburgh at Tennessee
Line: Steelers by 2
The Steelers are on top of their game in the most important stretch of the season, while the Titans are slowly being exposed as a pretty good team that took advantage of a woefully weak schedule.
In their loss to the Texans, they failed to run the ball effectively. Houston is one of the worst rushing defenses in football, so how do they fare against a team that's great against the run like Pittsburgh?
If they can't run the ball, Kerry Collins will get snowed in by the Steeler blitz, giving Pittsburgh great field position. They'll also have a much easier time running the ball against a Titans' D that's missing Albert Haynesworth.
Without the big man to anchor the defensive line, Willie and Mewelde will find holes against this defense, control the clock, and take over 1st in the AFC.
Steelers 20, Titans 13
Miami at Kansas City
Line: Dolphins by 3.5
The Fins are winning, but they haven't done so impressively. The Chiefs, meanwhile, have consistently beaten the spread but failed to win close games outright. Last week's meltdown against the Chargers is pretty much their season in a microcosm.
I'm sure they'd love to take out some of that aggression on the Dolphins and spoil their playoff hopes, which hang on winning the AFC East.
Chiefs 16, Dolphins 13
Arizona at New England
Line: Patriots by 8
Weather will play a huge factor in snowy Foxborough, where the Cardinals will be out of their element. A passing game won't work in these conditions, especially since the Cardinals will be throwing downfield into 18 mph winds with the snow hurting their traction.
Patriots 24, Cardinals 17
Cincinnati at Cleveland
Line: Browns by 3
The Bengals at least put up a respectable effort against the Redskins. The Browns have gotten worse with each passing week, they have a coach who knows he's cooked, and their offense is a disaster with a past-his-prime RB and a noodle-armed QB. Points will be at a premium, and it has nothing to do with defense.
Just really inept offense.
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