Have you ever watched a football game and wondered if either team really wanted to win? That is kind of what it feels like in the NFC East right now. One week after claiming the NFC East lead, the Washington Redskins lost to the Dallas Cowboys. Now the Redskins, Eagles and Giants are 5-7. The Cowboys have crept back in the picture at 4-8.
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Whichever team wins the division will host a playoff game. It is more than likely that the wild card team this division winner hosts will have a better record. The best case scenario is that the Giants clinch the division at 9-7. There is no room for error in the NFC East. When a 4-8 team has a chance at making the playoffs, the division has failed.
The problem is that it is hard to see the Giants (or any NFC East team) going on a winning streak to end the season. It may be more likely that we see another 7 win team make the playoffs. The masses complained about a 7-8-1 Panthers team hosting a playoff game last season. The NFC East could provide another underqualified division winner.
The Giants finish their season with games against the Dolphins, Panthers, Vikings and Eagles. They should be able to beat a horrible Dolphins team. The Panthers are a much better team and the Vikings are a tough test. The Eagles have had the Giants number. The Giants realistically could finish 6-10.
The Giants struggles are twofold. First they lack the talent in key positions. They have a poor secondary. They have a weak offensive line. They have a lackluster pass rush. The Giants also lack a killer instinct. They have practically laid an egg in every big moment of their season. The Giants have blown fourth quarter leads. The Giants just get in their own way.
I’d like to beat the drum and get you motivated for the playoff push. The problem is that even if the Giants get in the playoffs, they are not a championship caliber team. This is not 2007, nor is it 2011. The NFC East is awful and the Giants are 2-3 against division rivals. That is very telling.