Giants vs. Saints: Giants Wasting Eli Manning's Prime with Atrocious Run Game

The New York Giants have the worst rushing offense in the entire league.

How many times have we ever been able to say that?

Giants football has been known for a tough run game, mean linebackers and a gritty, workman-like attitude since their beginning days.

This year, they are anything but.

Big Blue may have some injuries, most notably Ahmad Bradshaw, but their run game is atrocious, and they are currently sporting as many as three rookie linebackers in the lineup at a time. Two of them are sixth-round rookies, and the other is an undrafted free agent.

I'm not taking anything away from what some of them have accomplished, but for a team synonymous with the likes of Sam Huff, Carl Banks, Harry Carson, Pepper Johnson and Lawrence Taylor, things are very, very different.

Heck, the Giants defense has been different since the retirements of Antonio Pierce and Michael Strahan.

The run game has gone downhill since the post-Super Bowl year of 2008, and Eli Manning has steadily become this team's best offensive player.

But wouldn't you know it, the Giants are the only ones who haven't noticed.

Offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride is determined to run the football even without Bradshaw. And when Bradshaw was healthy, things weren't much better to begin with.

The Giants are dead last in the league with a 3.2 yards per carry average and 83.2 yards per game. But still, somehow, they're in the bottom third of the league in passing attempts. 

Meanwhile, Manning is the sixth highest rated passer in the NFL.

But the Giants, who play with no sense of urgency whatsoever until the fourth quarter, refuse to change up their philosophy.

That is going to change tonight, though. Whether the Giants stand toe-to-toe with the Saints and help induce a shootout, or they fall behind early, the Big Blue is going to have to throw to win this game.

A third straight loss is unacceptable. The Giants play the undefeated Packers next week and have given away back-to-back games against the 49ers and Eagles because of their inability to run the football.

Enough is enough.

The Giants need to grow up and face facts. If they want to win football games this year, it is going to be with Eli Manning chucking the rock to Hakeem Nicks, Victor Cruz, Mario Manningham, Jake Ballard and whoever else they can parade out there.

If they continue this disgusting running charade of attempting to dominate on the ground, they will miss their third straight postseason in the midst of Eli Manning's prime.

Is that any way to handle a franchise quarterback?

No, and tonight, the Giants need to realize that.