This is the Giants some expected to see following their Super Bowl triumph.
They walked into San Francisco and bullied a 49ers team that was considered by some the one to beat in the NFC and one that appeared hell-bent on revenge after the Giants beat them in the NFC title game a season ago. Now that it’s Thursday, it’s time to think about what that win means for the rest of the season. Are the Giants ready to go on a roll, like they did at the end of last season, or .. .
“The NFL so many times it is about matchups,” former Giants QB and CBS analyst Phil Simms said.
“Just like the 49ers are a really good football team, but there’s no doubt in my mind the kryptonite of the team is the New York Giants. That was shown one more time again this weekend.”
Simms’ comment was not meant to discredit the Giants’ effort, and was more meant as a reflection on the 49ers. But this is still a Giants team that lost to the Eagles and Cowboys this year, and those are two teams that have gone backwards since beating the Super Bowl champs. While the Giants now look to go forward against an improved Redskins team that beat them twice last season.
1. Falcons (6-0) (Previous Ranking: 2) – Have survived three straight tough challenges – including a surprise one against the Raiders at home last week — to remain NFL’s lone unbeaten.
2. Ravens (5-1) (4) — Terrell Suggs seems is back practicing, which is perfect timing considering the devastating injury Ray Lewis suffered last week.
3. Bears (4-1) (5) – Running back platoon between Matt Forte and Michael Bush has been successful so far, and should continue to be so if egos can stay in check.
4. Giants (4-2) (9) – Found it troubling that Ahmad Bradshaw missed practice with his foot injury flaring up again.
5. Texans (5-1) (1) — The ease with which the Packers were able to move the ball through the air is a little bit worrisome with so many pass-heavy offenses in the NFL.
6. 49ers (4-2) (3) – Questions about Alex Smith will become more prevalent if his interception total rises, considering how well backup Colin Kaepernick has looked in spot duty.
7. Patriots (3-3) (6) – Third in passing offense, fourth in rushing offense and yet they are still 3-3 because they can’t stop the pass.
8. Packers (3-3) (10) — Aaron Rodgers found his mojo in Houston, which is bad news for any defense left on Green Bay’s schedule.
9. Broncos (3-3) (15) — Only losses this season have been to the Falcons, Texans and Patriots. The schedule softens after the bye for Peyton Manning’s team.
10. Vikings (4-2) (7) – Inability to score touchdowns doomed them after dominating first half in Washington. Just a reminder that the Vikings, while improved, have slim margin for error against decent teams.
11. Seahawks (4-2) (17) — Russell Wilson has shown standard rookie growing pains, but has also shown a flare for the dramatic against some of the NFL’s best teams.
12. Cardinals (4-2) (8) — Have simplified QB controversy by getting Kevin Kolb and John Skelton to rotate injuries throughout the season.
13. Eagles (3-3) (11) – Defensive coordinator Juan Castillo and quarterback Michael Vick both got tepid endorsements from Andy Reid on Monday. The fact that Castillo was fired the next day cannot be good news for Vick.
14. Steelers (2-3) (12) — Time to start worrying about Pittsburgh’s banged-up defense, which has looked bad against every team except the Jets.
15. Bengals (3-3) (13) — Cincinnati was 3-1 with matchups against the Browns and Dolphins on the schedule. They probably did not expect to be 3-3, but it does set up a crucial AFC North showdown with Pittsburgh on Sunday night.
16. Redskins (3-3) (19) — Pierre Garcon’s “mystery” foot injury means Washington has not had a healthy No.1 receiver since the first half of Week 1 and won’t have one at all against the Giants on Sunday.
17. Jets (3-3) (20) — If Mark Sanchez can’t expose the Patriots poor pass defense that Tim Tebow talk won’t stay on the backburner for long.
18. Chargers (3-3) (14) — For the second straight year, a solid September has given way to a miserable October.
19. Bills (3-3) (21) — GM Buddy Nix called out the defense after getting torched by the Patriots and 49ers, and the unit responded with much-improved effort in win over Cardinals.
20. Rams (3-3) (16) – Greg Zuerlein may be losing his “MVP” status after three missed field goals cost them a win in Miami.
21. Lions (2-3) (22) – Veteran receiver Nate Burleson said that the Lions players working hard to improve their off-the-field image hurt their “bad guy” mentality on it. But he’s convinced that’s changed after an ugly win in Philadelphia.
22. Dolphins (3-3) (26) — Ryan Tannehill has shown steady improvement each week, which is impressive considering how little time he spent at quarterback at Texas A&M.
23. Buccaneers (2-3) (23) — Defense abused Brady Quinn and the Chiefs, but face a bigger challenge in Drew Brees and the Saints this Sunday.
24. Cowboys (2-3) (18) – Probably played their best game of the season in Baltimore, but were undone by timely mistakes.
25. Saints (1-4) (27) — With the emotion of Drew Brees’ record-breaking evening in the past, the question is can New Orleans build on first win of the season.
26. Titans (2-4) (28) – They do have a surprisingly solid receiving group to build around between rookie Kendall Wright, Kenny Britt and Nate Washington.
27. Panthers (1-4) (24) — Let’s not forget DeAngelo Williams’ struggles in the rush to blame everything on Cam Newton.
28. Colts (2-3) (25) – Reggie Wayne’s amazing season was put on hold by Jets CB Antonio Cromartie on Sunday.
29. Browns (1-5) (32) – First win was immediately followed by a shaking up of the organization after their ownership deal went through.
30. Jaguars (1-4) (29) – Trip to Oakland has made the Raiders defense a popular pickup in fantasy football leagues this week.
31. Chiefs (1-5) (30) – Wait, we have a talented receiver? Let’s try and trade him. Rumor has it Kansas City is trying to deal Dwayne Bowe with the Dolphins a possibility.
32. Raiders (1-4) (31) — Tremendous effort on both sides of the ball in Atlanta, but just a team that finds ways to lose.