Giants Offense May Be Their Only Hope if They Plan on Playing Into January

Some could say that with the way the Giants defense has been playing, Eli Manning’s performance doesn’t even matter.

Looking forward, Manning’s game may be the only thing that matters.

It’s hard to look ahead to the postseason right now and allocating one of the six spots to the currently floundering New York Giants. But this is a team that has not missed the playoffs as long as Manning has started from week one and boasts a resume that includes a remarkable 21 wins in 26 games since the 2007 regular season finale.

So let’s give them a spot, then gaze into the road ahead that likely will not contain a merciful first-round bye.

As a Wild Card team, the Giants potential three-game stretch that would culminate in an appearance in Miami, could be the most treacherous imaginable. The initial round could place the Giants at the site of their last playoff win; in Arizona.

While the Cardinals offense does not pose the same threats as the Patriots team in 2007, the Giants defense lacks the same dominating potential that was on display throughout that post season.

Even if they do maximize their performance, the Cardinals will be able to get into the 20s. It would be up to Eli Manning and the rest of the Giants offense to stay stride for stride with the Cardinals.

Manning’s play of late has conjured memories of some of his dastardly stretches that were dispersed throughout his early seasons. With the integration of several new young targets, consistency was anything but a given before the season started. But an explosive 5-0 start that lent Manning some early MVP talk, placed a heap of expectations on the Giants offense for the rest of the season; and they haven’t come close to living up to it.

There have been sensational plays scattered over the past month, but porous throws, miscommunications, and drops have rightfully overshadowed them. Each week the offense has progressively looked more out-of-sync and points have been hard to come by.

As an outsider, no one from the media nor from the couch can accurately distribute the blame. Manning has been inefficient, the play calling has been questionable, and receivers are not getting open.

Can these issues be solved? This will be the Giants deciding question for the season. If they are able to avenge their previous loss to the Cardinals and win on the road, their next game would be located in another dome against the New Orleans Saints or Minnesota Vikings.

And if the Giants are able to pull off another upset, then there will be another uphill battle against whichever team they didn’t play in the divisional round; in a dome.

This would virtually guarantee the Giants defense allowing at least 20 points a game;offense, the onus is on you.

Ideally, the running game would resurrect memories of the 2007 playoff run in which they pounded away at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Dallas Cowboys, Green Bay Packers, and the New England Patriots successfully to keep the defense fresh and open game for Manning. But their performance the last month has been shaky too, so the offense’s fate may be squarely on Manning’s shoulder.

Right now, the prospects are dim. A tantalizing three-game stretch against potentially three of the league’s most efficient quarterbacks is a scary test to ponder given the 112 points the Giants defense has relinquished the last three games.

However, the league does change fast and what may seem certain in November could be far from the truth as the days become shorter and the raindrops turn into snowflakes.