Giants vs. Saints: New York's Second-Half Collapse Will Continue in New Orleans

What do you know? It's November and the New York Giants are well on their way to yet another meltdown during the second half of the NFL season.

That is, assuming they don't somehow stem the tide in New Orleans against the Saints.

Tom Coughlin's crew has dropped each of its last two games in typically heartbreaking fashion. The G-Men held a tenuous lead over the 49ers heading into the fourth quarter of their Week 10 meeting before San Francisco took control with two quick touchdowns, the second coming on a 17-yard run by Kendall Hunter following an Eli Manning interception in Big Blue territory.

Then came last Sunday night at home against Philadelphia, when the Giants' offense sputtered, particularly on the ground, thereby allowing Vince Young to lead the Michael Vick-less Eagles to a baffling 17-10 win that was almost as miraculous as New York's Week 15 flop last season.

Now, the 6-4 Giants will stroll into the Louisiana Superdome, once again without the services of running back Ahmad Bradshaw, hoping to keep pace with Drew Brees and the Saints' prolific offense on the field as well as Tony Romo and the surging Dallas Cowboys in the NFC East standings.

And if that doesn't work out, well, they'll just have to try again next week when they return home to play the undefeated Green Bay Packers while the Cowboys take on the 4-7 Arizona Cardinals.

Oops.

If it's any comfort, New York's second-half slide probably should've started a week earlier than it actually did. The Giants' Week 9 trip to New England had all the makings of a defeat—Bradshaw was out, the Patriots were coming off a tough road loss to the Steelers and, well, it was smack-dab in the middle of the schedule.

Yet, New York managed to escape the Northeast with a 24-20 victory and a 6-2 record, thanks in large part to four turnovers by the Pats.

Truth be told, the Giants will still be within earshot of the division lead, even if they lose to the Saints and the Packers. Two games against Dallas in the final four weeks of the season will provide them the opportunity to either make or break their season.

That being said, a loss on Monday night would extend New York's losing streak to three games at as inopportune a time as any. Unless the G-Men can muster some magic of their own, they'll find themselves back in second place in the NFC East, looking up at the Cowboys and down at what's looking like another disappointing season in the Big Apple.