Loading ...The New York Giants beat the Brett Favre–less Minnesota Vikings easily on Monday night, running the ball well and playing great defense despite some special teams and passing game problems. The Giants have been right on the heels of the Philadelphia Eagles in most of the Power Rankings the last few weeks, but that's going to change one way or another next week.
Let's take a look at how the two relevant teams in the division stack up in the eyes of the national media heading into the likely division deciding game:
| Teams | Pro Football Talk | CBS Sports | Fox Sports | Bleacher Report | ESPN | USA Today |
 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 7 |
 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 7 | 6 |
 | 28 | 20 | 26 | 21 | 25 | 25 |
 | 22 | 22 | 21 | 20 | 20 | 17 |
As you can see, just about everyone has the Giants and Eagles neck to neck. CBSsports.com went out on a limb and dropped the Giants a whole two spots lower. Bleacher Report has the winner of next week's game likely to land safely inside the top–5.
We point out from time to time during these Roundups how unimportant these rankings are, and this is a perfect example of that with everyone already looking ahead to the matchup with the Eagles.
But for one week, these rankings seem indicative of the fact that the Giants and Eagles have yet to separate from one another. They have the same record, and despite some flaws have both shown enough to be unanimous top–8 teams.
If you care about the Dallas Cowboys and Washington Redskins rankings at this point in the season, see the chart above.
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Contrary to those who infer it, I am not an Eli Manning basher. I do; however, believe Manning is now more responsible for the team’s success or failure than he was is years past. It is a natural progression. Time and again, he has endured a slow start this year. Fortunately, his defense has kept the team in the game. On Sunday, we will need to get into a rhythm early. The key will be to keep Vick & Co off the field. Of course, Eli can do it. Yet, he is often inconsistent. Tell me you folks do not sometimes cringe when he throws off his back foot or when facing a strong pass rush.
Oh, I think the rankings above are abour right for the week.
There’s a difference between making an inference–which involves examining and identifying the subtext of an argument– and simply recognizing a theme in most of your posts regarding Eli.
catching up — Sintim IR’d/Ingram resigned — lots of people liked Kenny in the preseason
any word on MM and Smith?
are they both ruled out for sunday already?
Nothing official, but you can just about forget Smith playing. 0% chance he goes.
how about mm?
WTH happened to Smith? I thought he was ready to roll!? I haven’t had time to check up on everything (been busy with work) but I haven’t even hear MM was hurt. What the dealyo???
Nothing on Manningham yet.
Matthew, for someone who is a self proclaimed football scholar, it is hard to beleive you cannot recognize that Eli Manning not the superstar quarterback we were hoping to land in 2004. He is a good, solid and above average QB. Given the team’s history, that is good enough for me. But let’s not kid ourselves.
Jared,
Did someone hack into my account and lead ya’ll to believe that I’m a “football scholar?” If so, that’s one thing; but remember…I’m the same guy who locked himself in a meat locker. Sometimes KD’s absence is really hard to bear.
In any case, you are simply wrong, as you typically are on this subject. Eli has just thrown for his 6th consecutive season of 3,000 yards, making him the first Giant QB to do so. He’s also got a Pro Bowl appearance, a Super Bowl ring and a Super Bowl MVP in his pocket. He’s the unquestioned leader of this team, the hinge on which it turns. Is he perfect? No. Is he as prolific a quarterback as his older brother? No. Is he top 3 or 5? Probably not, though it depends on what you’re asking for.
But to some, like yourself, none of that will ever be good enough. That’s fine. I don’t need to see and hear the meatheads on ESPN and NFL Network to gobble up the manhood of my quarterback every day of the week. I need him to win us games and bring us to the playoffs. He’s done that all but 2 years that he’s been here, despite all the hate and injuries and ineptitude above and around him. He’s my quarterback and yours, too. You want “superstar?” Move to Dallas. You want a winner? Welcome to New York.
Who is Matthew?
Evidently jared as contacted my mother and learned my full name: Matthew James Joseph Kiernan. But I’ve done the same with him; Jared D-bag Jaggoffmorondingleberrystein.
Not sure, but I think he had something to do with the bible.
The giants D has played poorly in 2 1/2 games this seasons. They have played great in 5 games: Chicago, Houston, Seattle, Washington and Minnesota. They have played good enough in the other 5 games for the team to win. That being said I expect the D to hold their own or better against Philly. The question is whether the offense can do the same. I think it is tine for the Giants to end Philly’s win streak. We run the ball effectively in this one and win it 20-17.
Damn….this place is dead…
I’m here but I got nothing to say
I was hoping that my jab at jared would provoke a fight. But he must be busy crafting his rebuttal.
Crafting his rebuttal….double entendre of the day!
Who is the Vikings special teams coach, anyway? Now there’s a guy I wouldn’t mind seeing roaming the Giants sidelines someday.
I mean, the Vikes go out and pick up scrubs Greg Camarillo and Lorenzo Booker and both look like world beaters in the return game last night. Hell, last year even the woeful Darius Reynaud looked like he had mad skillz while playing with that unit.
And I doubt it it’s due to Minnesota’s superior talent on specials. When you consider the personnel that’s currently being used on the Giant return and coverage units, it’s something of a marvel that they are as bad as they are. There are a number of starters being used out there; guys who have shown the ability to play well within both the offensive and defensive schemes. Yet they turn into the Keystone Kops when used on special teams. Gotta be the coaching.
Anyone know if the Viking special teams coach is of Irish descent? If so, I’d hope that Coughlin gives him serious consideration in the offseason.
Brian Murphy
http://www.vikings.com/team/coaches/brian-murphy/6ab7412c-9d41-46f6-9d83-43b7fa9e8fba
I’d say he’s probably a bit-o’ Irish.
Coughlin…. Gilbride…Flaherty…Ryan… Sullivan…Pope…
A Murphy would be perfect!
Not only would he fit right in with the Ancient Order of Hibernians chapter that’s more commonly known as the Giants coaching staff…. but he sounds like the right lad to turn this sorry mess of a special teams unit around.
This is from the link that kujo provided:
Brian Murphy made an immediate impact in his 1st season as Special Teams Coordinator for the Vikings in 2009 after spending the previous 3 seasons as an assistant coach for the Vikings… The 2009 Vikings special teams units ranked #9 in the respected Dallas Morning News analysis by veteran NFL writer Rick Gosselin after finishing #25 in 2008.
Maybe the Vikes bring in a new HC after the season who cleans house to bring in his own people. Should that be the case, I’d hope the Giants give this Murphy guy a serious looksee.