NFL Power Rankings: Giants Will Keep Pulling Away from Inconsistent NFC East

The upcoming schedule that the New York Giants will have to face is brutal. Take a look at what they have to deal with for the rest of the season:

Date	Opponent	Present Record of Opponent
November 13	at San Francisco 49ers	7-1
November 20	Philadelphia Eagles	3-5
November 28	at New Orleans Saints	6-3
December 4	Green Bay Packers	8-0
December 11	at Dallas Cowboys	4-4
December 18	Washington Redskins	3-5
December 24	at New York Jets	5-3
January 1	vs. Dallas Cowboys	4-4

That's certainly not an easy run. But take a look at the records of the Giants, Eagles and Redskins. 

A two-game lead over the Cowboys and three games over the other two teams is pretty significant, especially given the inconsistency that they have all shown. 

Ironically, the Redskins are the only team in that group to have actually beaten the Giants this year. They are on a rapid decline. Even if they beat the Giants in December, their chances in the NFC East are slim to none. 

The Cowboys are a an interesting team. But their schedule from this point on is pretty tough, too. They are horribly inconsistent and haven't done very well against good teams this year. 

You certainly can't assume that they will do anything better than split their two games against New York. Another game against Philadelphia also sits on their schedule, as does a game in Tampa Bay. Frankly, even with a few easier games on the schedule, can you really count on the Cowboys to be any better than 9-7 this year?

Then of course, we have the Eagles. Philadelphia blows fourth quarter leads unlike any team I have ever seen. 

They also have a tough schedule. Like the Cowboys, anything better than 9-7 is a big leap. 

So what about the Giants? 

Their pass rush is one of the best in the league and Eli Manning is playing good football right now. Yes, they have a tough schedule, but they have beaten good teams this year. 

If they manage as much as a 4-4 second half record, the division will easily belong to them. 

It's not that I am overly confident that they will do that, but the inconsistency of their rivals will put the Giants in the playoffs atop their division when the season is over.

Michael Dixon's Week 10 NFL Power Rankings

1. Green Bay Packers	8-0
2. San Francisco 49ers	7-1
3. Baltimore Ravens	6-2
4. New York Giants	6-2
5. Detroit Lions	6-2
6. New Orleans Saints	6-3
7. Pittsburgh Steelers	6-3
8. New England Patriots	5-3
9. Cincinnati Bengals	6-2
10. Houston Texans	6-3
11. Chicago Bears	5-3
12. New York Jets	5-3
13. Atlanta Falcons	5-3
14. Buffalo Bills	5-3
15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers	4-4
16. Dallas Cowboys	4-4
17. Oakland Raiders	4-4
18. San Diego Chargers	4-4
19. Philadelphia Eagles	3-5
20. Kansas City Chiefs	4-4
21. Tennessee Titans	4-4
22. Cleveland Browns	3-5
23. Denver Broncos	3-5
24. Carolina Panthers	2-6
25. Washington Redskins	3-5
26. Minnesota Vikings	2-6
27. Jacksonville Jaguars	2-6
28. Seattle Seahawks	2-6
29. Arizona Cardinals	2-6
30. St. Louis Rams	1-7
31. Miami Dolphins	1-7
32. Indianapolis Colts	0-9