Reasons to Celebrate: The season isn't over yet, and the Giants are still in first place

The last two weeks the New York Giants haven't given fans many things to celebrate. Eli Manning hasn't thrown a touchdown pass in weeks, the coaches insist on starting David Diehl, Victor Cruz is invisible, and A.J. Green proved his claims correct with the defense having holes like a block of Swiss cheese.

However, I am a "glass half full" type of girl, so it's only in my nature to find some sort of positives out of this situation.

For one, the Giants finally get their bye this week. Not trying to make excuses, but there's no denying that you can see how drained they are. Plus the bye comes in the middle of this cursed November month that Giants fans don't look forward to. They have a week not now get some rest, re-focus, and find a way to get back to being that team that won a Super Bowl just a year ago.

The Giants are still in first place. Even if the Dallas Cowboys defeat the Cleveland Browns next week, they are still a game behind in the standings. Not to mention this is also a time of year where the Cowboys usually start to implode. Their upcoming schedule is home against Cleveland, home against Washington, home against Philadelphia, away against Cincinnati, home against Pittsburgh, home against New Orleans, and away against Washington. Knowing the way the Cowboys finish off their seasons, they could easily lose at least four of those games.

As for the other two NFC East team, the Eagles have an easier schedule on paper, but...it's the Eagles. Michael Vick has a concussion and the team is inept. There are a few teams the Redskins can beat in the remaining weeks, but the only thing the Giants have to worry about with them is just beating them when the time comes.

All in all, if you're pushing the panic button, you're jumping the gun a little bit. It's not quite time to be standing on the ledge. Until the standings tell you that the Giants are officially out of playoff contention, the season isn't over yet. We've seen these guys do some things that make you scratch your head, which includes the possibility of them plowing over the much more challenging teams coming up instead of the mediocre teams they just played. Some of their wins may be ugly ones, but a win is a win and I know they can get their game cleaner and more powerful in the remaining weeks.

As Yogi Berra once said: "It ain't over 'til it's over."

Follow Kelsey O'Donnell on Twitter @KelsODonnell