The New York Giants did not get close to winning back-to-back Super Bowl titles during the 2012 season, failing to make the playoffs. At Thursday's press conference regarding the 2014 Super Bowl at MetLife Stadium, Giants' co-owner John Mara sounded optimistic about the team's future.

"Obviously, we were very disappointed not being in the postseason," Mara said Thursday following a Super Bowl XLVIII news conference at City Hall. "I haven't quite gotten over that yet, particularly the back-to-back games in Atlanta and Baltimore.

"But sometimes you go through things like that and it just strengthens our resolve to put a better team on the field. We've got some areas we need to improve on, and we're gonna do that."

Mara said the team's "window is still pretty wide," due mostly to the fact that quarterback Eli Manning should have many productive seasons ahead.

"He’s (32) years old; he’s got a lot of years left," Mara said today, at a press conference announcing the area's plans for Super Bowl XLVIII. "I think our window is still pretty wide. I think as long as he’s under center, we have a chance to win."

Mara is most likely right. There is, of course, no guarantee the Giants will win more Super Bowl titles with Manning, but you have to believe the opportunity is there -- which is one reason the 2012 season was disappointing. The Super Bowl window should stay open as long as the Manning-Tom Coughlin-Jerry Reese triumvirate is in place, and perhaps longer. After all, you have to believe Manning will be the quarterback long after the 66-year-old Coughlin is no longer the coach.