Eli Manning, New York Giants Can't Afford Another Floundering Regular Season

The New York Giants are coming off a remarkable playoff run that saw them capture a Super Bowl title.

That postseason followed an uneven regular season in which they went 9-7 and barely snuck in to the playoffs. If they hope to repeat as world champions, Eli Manning and the Giants can't struggle through the regular season in 2012.

The NFC East has improved this offseason. The Philadelphia Eagles got much better as the 2011 season went along and by the end of the year were playing outstanding football. They closed the season by winning four straight games and just missed a playoff berth.

Philadelphia went out and addressed its biggest need by adding a very good middle linebacker in DeMeco Ryans via trade. Then, the Eagles landed Mississippi State defensive tackle Fletcher Cox in the draft, further solidifying the middle of their defense.

Those two moves alone will make them better in 2012. 

The Dallas Cowboys also look to be much improved in 2012 after just missing out on an NFC East title last season. They went out and addressed their biggest need by signing cornerback Brandon Carr and drafting LSU corner Morris Claiborne. With their offensive stars returning healthy, the Cowboys should be a tough team to beat in 2012.

With their division improving around them, the Giants simply can't afford to struggle through the 2012 season and hope that a late-season run will save them again. In 2011, New York had to beat the Cowboys on the final day of the regular season just to reach the postseason.

In 2012, the franchise won't be able to be that lucky.

The NFC East will be much-improved from top to bottom in the coming season, and Manning and the Giants must be prepared for a long, difficult campaign. If they can harness their late-season magic from 2011, they should be fine, but they simply can't afford to spend another year floundering while trying to establish their identity.