Do I think the New York Giants should win their first-round playoff game in Tampa Bay Sunday? Without a doubt.
Am I supremely confident that the Giants will emerge with the first playoff victory of the Tom Coughlin/Eli Manning Era? Not a chance.
These are, as Giants' fans know all too well, the teasingly-good, maddeningly inconsistent and sometimes disturbingly awful Coughlin/Manning Giants.
For about 58 of the 60 minutes last Saturday against New England the Giants were not only a good football team, but a championship caliber one.
Yet, at other times this season they have a looked like a horrid, rag-tag collection of players who could barely beat the Dolphins -- which, in fact, is what happened when they played Miami. In losses to Minnesota, Washington and early in the year to Green Bay the Giants were atrocious.
Which team will show up Sunday? Damned if I know.
The Giants are coming off the excellent performance against New England and a stirring come-from-behind win over Buffalo.
I would like to think they are carrying momentum on their side that would lead to a solid, complete performance and a rout of the Buccaneers. It wouldn't surprise me if that is precisely what happens.
On the other hand, this being the Giants and Eli being Eli it wouldn't shock me if Sunday becomes a turnover festival with the Buccaneer secondary feasting on poorly thrown Eli passes. That, of course, would lead to the Giants getting bounced out in the first round of the playoffs for the third straight time.
Which team do you think is going to show up Sunday? Personally, I'm incredibly curious to find out.