Justin Tuck + Mathias Kiwanuka = Trouble

Pushing aside some old newspapers and magazines, I quietly kept to myself in the bustling break room of my supermarket job (17-year-old boys need money somehow).

Being congratulated on a Week Seven victory over the 49ers was nothing exactly special. I mean...we're supposed to win those ones anyway.

A buddy of mine, who happens to root for the hometown Pats, asked me for a prediction concerning the Giants and the postseason. I knew that we had the toughest second half schedule in the NFL and took a look at our upcoming games. We travel to Pittsburgh, host rival Dallas, and then go to Philly on primetime.

Even with our tough games following those three, it seemed like a prediction simple enough. I grinned as I told him, as though I wasn't even confident with the words that were coming out of my mouth, "We win two out of the next three...we win the NFC East"

Thank you Justin Tuck and Mathias Kiwanuka.

Strength at the End

Last year, as sweat dripped from the brow of many Giants fans, it was quite saddening to hear that Michael Strahan had announced his retirement.

While it was, of course, depressing and hard to imagine a Big Blue team without the gap-toothed warrior, many of us realized the team had promising end Justin Tuck waiting in the winds.

Then Osi Umenyiora went down. Nothing hurt more than hearing that over a radio. The media had a field day with that one. Would Strahan come back? Would the Giants regret not going for Jason Taylor?

I was not surprised at all when Mike didn't come back, and why should he? The man played for 15 years and did it all, including winning the Super Bowl in his final year, something not many have done.

As for Jason Taylor, I wasn't interested in someone who had just two or three years left in him anyway.

I was extremely pleased, however, that Boston College standout Mathias Kiwanuka would be moving back to his favorite position at defensive end. The result could not have been better.

Since moving back to defensive end, Kiwi has torn it up and that has often freed up, Tuck as well. Don't take my word for it though, the numbers say it all.

Justin Tuck: 36 tackles, 8.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, one interception, one TD

Mathias Kiwanuka: 24 tackles, six sacks, one forced fumble

Rest of the Season

While the NFC East is far from wrapped up, it is much easier to sift through the pile with ends like Tuck and Kiwi.

I honestly think that they could both end the season with 10-12 sacks, and that is saying a lot with how "decimated" our defense was after we lost Strahan and Umenyiora.

It's not like the New York media was ever going to be kind, but it always feels nice to prove them wrong yet again.

Now just imagine what 2009 is going to be like with Osi back... I know... It IS scary...

Written by, Edited by, Developed by Travis Rand, New York Giants Bleacher Reporter