The New York Giants won't defend their Super Bowl title. They will, in fact, be incredibly fortunate to simply make the NFC Playoffs.
I know the Giants' late-season history, and you do, too. If, however, you can find a way to rationalize the embarrassing performance by the Giants Sunday in a 34-0 loss to the Atlanta Falcons and tell me how this is a championship-caliber team I am all ears.
Technically, in fact, when you figure out all of the tie-breakers the Giants will wake up Monday morning in third place in the NFC East behind the Washington Redskins and Dallas Cowboys. All three are 8-6, but the Giants would lose the tie-breakers to either team at this point.
The Giants seem like a team that got intoxicated by last season's late run to a title. They squandered opportunity after opportunity a season ago before finally getting their act together late and going on a title run.
You know they expected to do it again. When you keep throwing away games and, for whatever reason, not playing up to your capabilities, eventually you get burned.
The Giants got the first part of last season's formula right as they squandered a number of games this season they should have won. Sunday's humiliating defeat, however, reminds us that simply because it happened once doesn't mean it will happen again.
Many of my initial thoughts are in the video that coincides with the post. More in the morning.