New York Giants News & Notes: 3-Game Losing Streak

by cjmulrain on Nov 4, 2009 7:07 AM EST in News Comment 22 comments

You may have noticed that I haven't been posting too many comments the past couple of days - mostly it's because I just don't know what to say about what has happened to the Giants over the past three weeks. I know a lot of people are ready to write them off as a team that feasted on an easy schedule and really isn't that good, but I'm not ready to do that yet. I don't think a team that looked so good for 5 weeks, regardless of who it was against, can really be this bad, especially when you consider the way they destroyed a Raiders team that made the Eagles look silly. Football's a funny game.

If you're like me and desperately searching for a ray of light in this stretch, here's something: two teams have had 3 game losing streaks and gone on to win the Super Bowl: the 2005 Steelers & the 2000 Ravens (and technically, the 2007 Giants lost 3 in a row, if you count the 2006 playoff loss to the Eagles). Onto some links:

Ian O'Connor says the Giants can't hide behind the Yankees any longer. His analogy to the '96-'98 Yankees makes me sad, because that's exactly what I thought was happening up until the Saints game. Instead, I'm feeling very similar to how I felt in August & September, 2007 - when it became apparent that the Mets, who had been the best team in the NL since opening day '06 were all of a sudden not very good. Luckily the Giants aren't waiting until the end of the season to have some kind of epic collapse.
Chris Canty & Michael Boley are returning to practice this week. They can't get back on the field soon enough - it's obvious to everyone that the Giants don't have enough athletes on defense right now.
This Sunday's game will be the first time that Eli Manning and Phillip Rivers will play against one another since they were traded for each other on draft day, 2004. Manning played against the Chargers back in 2005, but Drew Brees was still the Chargers QB then.
Paul Schwartz writes that the Giants cannot wait for a big turnaround. Well, at least we have something in common with them.
The NY Times Fifth Down blog continues its look at the top 10 moments in Giants Stadium history with Rodney Hampton's 51-yard TD runn against the Vikings in the 1994 playoffs. Interestingly enough, that game served as the last win in the careers of Lawrence Taylor and Phil Simms, but it was also the first playoff win for Michael Strahan.

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Nice post CJ

especailly about the lossing streaks. In fact the 05 Steelers had to fight their way into the playoffs. Also the Colts in 06 were 3-4 in thier final seven weeks and teams were running for like 200 yards against them each week and they ended up winning the SB, unfortuntley for this years Giants Bob Sanders is not walking through the door any time soon.

I agree it does not matter who you play the Giants beat some bad teams but they beat them the way a good team is supposed to so I don’t fully by the argument of they have not played a quality scedule. I also like your analogy to the 07 Mets, but at least this Giant team won a championship at some point so it does take a lot of the sting out of the current situation.

Like you said football is a crazy sport and it seems a teams fortune can can can change very quickly, for good or for bad. The Steelers did not make the playoffs in 06 after they won, the Pats did not make the playoffs in 02 after they won, and even the Eagles after making the playoffs for 5 straight years had some ups and downs from 05-08. In the NFL I think no matter how good your team is on paper there are always weaknesses because it’s close to impossible to build a team without any in this day and age of the cap and FA’s and some of the giants weaknessess & rebuilding areas are being exposed due to injuries & age.

by Landeta on Nov 4, 2009 7:33 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Losing streak

There are many issues on this team, but no reason to toss in the towel at this point. At this point in 2007 no one thought the Giants were a Super Bowl team. At this point last year no one would have put the Cardinals in the Super Bowl. Let’s see what happens.

by Ed Valentine on Nov 4, 2009 7:41 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

your 100% right about not tossing in the towel

but I cant help think after seeing the last couple games that it seems the Giants have a history of quickley going into the tank after connsecutive winng years or championship seasons. Don’t get me wrong were lucky to root for the Giants, they’re a better organzation hisotrically than about 95% of the ones in the NFL but It just seems like when you think they are going to contend for a championship year in and year out it never materializes and they have to go thorugh some rebulding.

by Landeta on Nov 4, 2009 7:56 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

In the tank?

Look at it this way. The Giants have been in the playoffs four straight seasons. That’s a great stretch that isn’t matched very often in today’s NFL. Even if this year turns out badly, I think it’s hard to complain too much. This is still a great organization.

by Ed Valentine on Nov 4, 2009 8:03 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

“It’s hard to complain too much”

So, how are you enjoying your first day hanging out with Giant fans Ed?

LOL!

Blueshirt Banter: Covering the New York Rangers

Big Blue View: Unofficial New York Giants blog

by Jim Schmiedeberg on Nov 4, 2009 8:37 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

LOL!!

Well, I know people do complain. Wouldn’t be NY sports fans without looking for things to complain about — even if they have to make ’em up. But, gotta be realistic about the fact that we have had things pretty good the past few years.

by Ed Valentine on Nov 4, 2009 9:05 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I just want them to come out and be better.

that’s all. They seemed to do that against the Cardinals by leaps and bounds. They lost, yet it was more execution than flat out suck that killed them there.

The Eagles game was obviously Saints part II…absolute suck.

This Chargers game is a big one, to state the obvious. THey lose? Well, you can all say what you want, 5-4 is not the end of the world. Tho if they put in another 60 min stinker…we may be looking at black at the end of the tunnel.

Win? Maybe the turning point of the season? Maybe not, you can’t count on consistency right now.

You’re 100% right on the funny game thing. Funny like getting blown out by a team that lost to a team the Giants blew out (if this was the Big 12…the Giants would be in first place if they ended up with the same record).

Funny like the preseason suck showing its ugly head 5 weeks later.

Would also be funny if the Giants figure this all out.

Be funny how they all count the Giants out right now…laugh even, yet…its the start of November? ALl the games count….yet, you can’t tell me playing your best football in November is worth anything.

DO WHAT JERRY HAIRSTON DO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

by FreeBradshaw on Nov 4, 2009 7:54 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

The Hampton play

Sums up all that is wrong with the current coaching.

The play Hampton scored on had been run several times in the first half without much sucess, however they had noticed something the Vukes D was doing, so they adjusted the play by having the TE (I believe Cross) run motion the opposite way he had in the first half.

Bingo – Hampton finds the hole and goes down the sideline for a score.

I also recall that on Hampton’s other TD that game they converted a 3rd or 4th and one inside the 10 and went straight back to the LOS and ran another play to Hampton around the end with the Vikes in a short yardage package and scored.

Those were the good old days!

by G Fan in England on Nov 4, 2009 8:52 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Oops - Vikes not Vukes!

by G Fan in England on Nov 4, 2009 8:53 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Hamptong Jersey

I do remember that play, In fact Rodney Hampton’s jersey is the only one I got.

by Bajaserge on Nov 4, 2009 2:34 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I also own a Rodney Hampton jersey

still my all time favorite Giant, a true warrior who was the only offensive star on some atrocious offensive teams. Reading that post reminded me of all the football cards I collected (I was thirteen in 1994), I’m pretty sure i can still picture the cards I had of every guy mentioned in that article.

Homer: Aw, twenty dollars! I wanted a peanut!
Homer's Brain: Twenty dollars can buy many peanuts!
Homer: Explain how!
Homer's Brain: Money can be exchanged for goods and services!
Homer: Woo-hoo!

by bigbluethruandthru on Nov 4, 2009 6:34 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Not throwing in the towel

I am not quite ready to throw in the towel on this team,at least not right now and the only reason for that is the way Eli played in the first game at the opening of Jerry’s World. He played with so much calm and confidence in a hostile environment and got us a big win. There is definitely something different in Eli and the team as a whole right now which I am hoping will change after the bye week. Not to make excuses but these guys have been playing a long time without a bye.

by rbman3 on Nov 4, 2009 9:39 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

That Chargers game in 2005

was particularly galling because that entire Charger fanbase acted like jilted lovers and just relished the Giants inability to stop Tomlinson that night. Another loss this week will not only give them 4 in a row, but will give the team an extra week to stew on it and get barraged by media questions during the off week.

by rzor on Nov 4, 2009 9:44 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Reading the Subtext

Without critical appraisal skills we cannot distinguish mediocrity from artistry, Michael Bolton from Ray Charles. Everything becomes just kind of… okay. But with critical appraisal skills and a knowledge of history and the ability to synthesize information using nuance and subtlety you learn that things are not all that okay after all. That they can be better. Like Ray Charles. Reading the comments above says that far too many of you are settling for Michael Bolton. 1) “… but at least this Giant team won a championship at some point so it does take a lot of the sting out of the current situation.” 2) “… they’re a better organzation hisotrically than about 95% of the ones in the NFL…” 3) “The Giants have been in the playoffs four straight seasons. That’s a great stretch that isn’t matched very often in today’s NFL. Even if this year turns out badly, I think it’s hard to complain too much. This is still a great organization.” 4) “But, gotta be realistic about the fact that we have had things pretty good the past few years.” 5) “Not to make excuses but these guys have been playing a long time without a bye.” And that’s just from the first few comments. When your Bolton CD wears out, I hear this Celine Dion has got some real soul power.

by nybaseballgiants on Nov 4, 2009 9:51 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

ha ha

I get what your saying I was just trying to point out that some of the more winning organizations over the past few years have had a down year hear and there.

I’ll admit I’m starting to come around to your idea about how some of the Giants problems historically can be due to the fact they stubbornley stick to a philsophy. After watching the Giants D the past few weeks the one that comes to mind is their philosphy not to pay coaches and especailly coordinators big salaries. Yea sure they hit the jack pot know and then with young talent like Bill Parcells, Bill Belecheck, John Fox, Steve Spagnulo, but these guys are always going to bolt for HC jobs and it’s tough to capture lightning in a bottle twice in a row with a fist time coordiantor. I had a bad feeling when they hired Sheridan instead of paying more for a proven guy. I know Sheridan had been their for a while but he’d only spent two years under Spags it’s not like he came from Philly with Spags and was rasied in that system. Jonny Lynn was under John Fox as a DB coach that did not turn out well. I know they are different situations but still it seems like it was the same though proccess of promote a first time coordinator from within regardless of if he’s ready instead of paying more to hire a proven assistant.

by Landeta on Nov 4, 2009 10:54 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

The hiring from within goes back a long way, accompanied

by poor results. Robustelli as GM? Alex Webster as coach? I thought those days were long gone when Young came in, but I ovelooked the tendency to do the same with asst coaches/coords until you pointed it out. It worked out well with Perkins (who abandoned us for his Alma Mater), and Tuna. Belichik and Fox went on to greater glory.
As for Sheridan, I had no idea that the veto for his move to the sky box didn’t come directly but from TC but from TC through the players. I don’t like it.
1. You want him to coach, let him coach the way he wants to.
2. It suggests that the co-ord relationship was a bit awry before Sullivan really settled into the job. That could explains a lot about how the D has been playing.

by blue gonz on Nov 4, 2009 11:20 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

nice stuff

just as in wartime, the enemy within always bears watching. who knew it would be our DC?

by nybaseballgiants on Nov 4, 2009 11:24 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

and that "nice stuff"

goes out to both landeta and blue gonz!

by nybaseballgiants on Nov 4, 2009 11:25 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Well...

I’ve never thrown in the towel on the Giants..That dates back to the days when we had to turn the antenna to tune them in..My Father would get up on the roof and I would holler to him when the game tuned in..We had a pretty good idea they were going to lose, and they mostly did lose..but we watched them anyway…That the way us diehard fans are…and to be honest aside from me and my Father seeing them win the Super Bowl..I think back and am happy that Wellington Mara (God rest his soul) got the chance to see his team win two of them…So anyway, looking at our team this year, do I think their toasted?..Yup..but I won’t throw the towel in..never have and never will.

by Bobbiblue on Nov 4, 2009 9:54 AM EST reply actions 1 recs

amen

by Bajaserge on Nov 4, 2009 2:40 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Definition of a Fan

I agree. Follow and support ypur team, NO MATTER WHAT!

by Nevets on Nov 4, 2009 5:02 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Be realistic

people, The personnel the Giants have on the field now days are not that good. We should be
happy they have a winning record. Other teams talents have improve from last year, while the
Giants have gotten older and weaker also, so many injuries.don’t help.

by Olddiehard on Nov 4, 2009 7:23 PM EST reply actions 0 recs