footballfan

The Giants began the season as the staple for great, all-around football.  The defense, despite the numerous injuries, stood up to opponents in a fashion that almost looked as good as the defense that won them the Super Bowl last year.  Eli Manning and the passing game seemed to develop as the weeks progressed, almost taking a 180 degree turn from last season.  Who could forget the running game that developed into Earth, Wind, and Fire, a lethal combination that could produce from anywhere on the field.  Contrary to the awesome start the G-Men ignited their season with, the past few weeks have been a struggle both on and off the field.

Could the Plaxicco Burress controversy cause the Giants to perform poorly on the field?  Analysts and players alike refused to believe that such drama could impact the on-field play of the defending Super Bowl champions.  It looks like they were wrong.  Since the latest Plaxicco story began to unfold a little more than 3 weeks ago, the Giants have won only a single game that they have played.  The past two weeks, the Giants have given up 40 points total to the Eagles and Cowboys and have only scored 22 points.  I don’t think it’s so much a mental distraction for the Giants.  I truly believe that teams have adjusted their defense to the fact that Plaxicco is not on the field.  No matter how many touches he recieved in a game, the defense always had to be prepared for the “big play.”  The current Giants recieving core, which includes Hixon, Toomer, and Smith, doesn’t pose too much of a threat in the fashion that Plaxicco had on a defense.  Teams have been able to change their defensive strategy and have been able to blitz more, cover the run better, and provide better man-to-man coverage.

The absence of Brandon Jacobs from the backfield has also had an impact on the Giants ability to score and to pick up those extra few yards when needed.  The Giants are guaranteed a playoff spot but can they perform to the standards of other playoff caliber teams?  The next two weeks will be critical for the Giants and could play a large part in their playoff strategy.

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