- Eli Manning certainly seems to think so:
"I think we are a playoff team. We have the talent and the guys that can definitely get there. We’re not in the exact position that you want to be in right now, but if we’re going to make the playoffs, we’re going to have to get hot, and if we go into the playoffs, we’re going to be a team that’s been playing real well and coming off a hot streak and playing our best football."
- Gary Myers, on the other hand, is pretty sure they aren't:
"There's no indication they have it in them to reach down deep, show some of the old Giants pride and put this season back together. That means by the time they absorb the one-two punch from the Cowboys and Eagles in back-to-back home games, they will be knocked out of the NFC East race and hanging on the ropes in the wild-card fight."
- Mike Vaccaro thinks that Eli Manning needs to carry the Giants if they intend on making a playoff run, a sentiment that is echoed by Josh Alper of NBC Sports. Alper thinks the Giants need to come out like they have nothing to lose, "like a boxer behind on points in the 11th." Alper also says that "Manning's the best player on the team, so let him loose." Can't say I disagree with that.
- Speaking of Manning, he discussed his injury and dismissed it as a cause of his less than stellar play on Thanksgiving:
"I am a guy who doesn’t really like to be in the training room and try to avoid it as much as possible. I only go there when I truly need it, so that has probably been the biggest annoyance. Trying to deal with it, I am not thinking about it when I’m playing the games. I am not thinking about it and worried about it."
- Justin Tuck talked about the loss of Antonio Pierce, going up against Flozell Adams, and why he's optimistic this week.
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Forget about Charlie Weis as a potential replacement for Kevin Gilbride should he get a head coaching job elsewhere or get fired by the Giants (is there anyone who has a wider perception gap between his supporters and his detractors than Gilbride?) I actually have to say I'm a little disappointed in this news - Weis may not have been a great college coach, but offense was never his problem at Notre Dame. I think he's one of the best offensive minds in the game, and while I don't think Gilbride is terrible, I think Weis would definitely be an improvement.
- Finally, the NY Times 5th Down Blog continues its countdown of the Top 10 Giants moments at Giants Stadium with George Martin's slow motion interception return. I am too young to remember that play, but I've seen the video many times and always get a kick out of it. It's a good thing John Elway was one of the greatest QB's of all-time, because he definitely wasn't going to make it as a defensive player with tackling skills like that.