Reviewing The Road Ahead: Giants Final Three
By Joe Tufaro
The Giants have three games remaining, two in the division, and one three ring circus with the Jets. Here’s how it stands right now:
The Washington Redskins (4-9) come to town this Sunday to face the New York Giants (7-6). The Redskins dealt the Giants their first loss of the season way back on September 11th. A division loss they surely wish they had back now. The Redskins continue to struggle on offense with Rex Grossman being either very bad or very good. Scoring merely 17.6 points per game the Redskins have survived in games by having a good defense. These division games are always a battle and this one will no doubt race our hearts a little. Look for some trick plays, mis-directions, throw backs, half back passes, wide receiver passes, etc. This is a team that can make our defense look silly at times, but when it comes down to it the Giants should handle this team down the stretch and win going away on the fourth quarter.
The New York Jets (8-5) host the Giants on Christmas Eve. This will be a crazy week in New York as only New Yorkers, and the New York Press can produce. I call it a three ring circus, but only two rings will be active during the week. The Giants won’t participate in the build up except for a few quotes from the usual suspects. (Rolle and Jacobs) In the other two rings will be the Great Rex Ryan and his ever running mouth. Next to him will be Plaxico and Bart Scott delivering daily doses of how much fun it is in their building, and how they own the town….regardless of the lack of success. This will bring back memories of the 2000 World Series between the Mets and Yankess, except it will all be rolled into one day. Talk radio will have a banner week, and I’m sure we will have plenty of posts concerning all the craziness. There will be no “Spirit of The Hoilday” at the Jets home game…it will be the worst show of sportsmanship you have seen in years. The Giants should be able to shutdown the Jet offense…and if I were Antonio Cromartie, I’d start getting ready to run after Victor Cruz and Mario Manningham. Jake Ballard should be a key to this game as the Jets have, for the second year in a row, lost their starting safety Jim Leonhard. The Giants will NEED this game less if they beat Washington, but don’t mistake silence for complacency..The Giants will have the headlines up on the walls at the Timex Center all week and they will come to play.
The Dallas Cowboys(7-6) close out the regular season on New Years Day in New Jersey. The Cowboys will have no running attack to help Mr. Romo. It will be very interesting to see how the Cowboys play the next two weeks. They face a Philly team that either will show up and play or mail it in. I’m guessing they play a division game pretty hard. They must play a game in Tampa and then survive a day against Philly to make New Years Eve meaningful.