I swear this was not printed when I started thread
Week 4 Judgements: Giants biggest surprise of all
Oct. 3, 2004
By
Clark Judge
SportsLine.com Senior Writer
Suddenly, it's all quiet on the eastern front.
That's what happens when you win three in a row -- which, in case you didn't notice, is what's going on with the New York Giants. Talk all you want about Atlanta's success or Tampa Bay's failures, but the most surprising team of the season's first quarter is the Giants.
I don't care that they haven't beaten an opponent with a winning record. They're 3-1, end of discussion.
Apparently, the Giants agree because you don't hear anyone these days complaining about fines or bellyaching about coach Tom Coughlin. Three weeks ago, the guy was too harsh, too strict and too mean to succeed; now, nothing.
Coughlin hasn't changed. His team has. It's winning, and it's a game behind the unbeaten Philadelphia Eagles. No, the Giants aren't a great team. They're not a particularly good one, either. But they're a winning one, and I'll take winning over style points.
"Our rate of improvement has been quicker than I expected," defensive end Michael Strahan said after Sunday's 14-7 upset of Green Bay.
The difference? Yes, Kurt Warner's better than he was supposed to be. Yes, Tiki Barber is making yards, not fumbles. Yes, the offensive line doesn't look like an open window. But the difference is a rejuvenated defense that, over the past three games, forced 13 turnovers and allowed four touchdowns.
Tim Lewis, take a bow. The former Pittsburgh defensive coordinator has the Giants playing so well now that they've surrendered as many points in their past three games as they did in the opener against Philadelphia. For the record, opponents have four touchdowns and 31 points in their past 37 series; the Eagles produced four TDs and 31 points in 11 possessions.
The key is mistakes. The Giants don't make them, and their opponents do. Over its last three games, New York has a plus-9 advantage in the takeaway/giveaway differential. Compare that to last year's ledger, when the Giants tied Buffalo for last at minus-16, and it's no mystery what's happening here.
Coughlin has cleaned up a messy team. I like that. Apparently, from what you don't hear out of the locker room, his players do, too.
Week 4 Judgements: Giants biggest surprise of all
Oct. 3, 2004
By
Clark Judge
SportsLine.com Senior Writer
Suddenly, it's all quiet on the eastern front.
That's what happens when you win three in a row -- which, in case you didn't notice, is what's going on with the New York Giants. Talk all you want about Atlanta's success or Tampa Bay's failures, but the most surprising team of the season's first quarter is the Giants.
I don't care that they haven't beaten an opponent with a winning record. They're 3-1, end of discussion.
Apparently, the Giants agree because you don't hear anyone these days complaining about fines or bellyaching about coach Tom Coughlin. Three weeks ago, the guy was too harsh, too strict and too mean to succeed; now, nothing.
Coughlin hasn't changed. His team has. It's winning, and it's a game behind the unbeaten Philadelphia Eagles. No, the Giants aren't a great team. They're not a particularly good one, either. But they're a winning one, and I'll take winning over style points.
"Our rate of improvement has been quicker than I expected," defensive end Michael Strahan said after Sunday's 14-7 upset of Green Bay.
The difference? Yes, Kurt Warner's better than he was supposed to be. Yes, Tiki Barber is making yards, not fumbles. Yes, the offensive line doesn't look like an open window. But the difference is a rejuvenated defense that, over the past three games, forced 13 turnovers and allowed four touchdowns.
Tim Lewis, take a bow. The former Pittsburgh defensive coordinator has the Giants playing so well now that they've surrendered as many points in their past three games as they did in the opener against Philadelphia. For the record, opponents have four touchdowns and 31 points in their past 37 series; the Eagles produced four TDs and 31 points in 11 possessions.
The key is mistakes. The Giants don't make them, and their opponents do. Over its last three games, New York has a plus-9 advantage in the takeaway/giveaway differential. Compare that to last year's ledger, when the Giants tied Buffalo for last at minus-16, and it's no mystery what's happening here.
Coughlin has cleaned up a messy team. I like that. Apparently, from what you don't hear out of the locker room, his players do, too.
I predicted the Giants would go 7-9 this year BUT I didn't expect them to start 3-1.Rude said:
Rude,
Are you saying that the Giants don't have a shot at either Dallas game or the remaining Skins game? It is likely they are outclassed by the Eagles and Vikes but the rest of the teams remaining are certainly beatable. After the early wins and looking at the remaining schedule, 7-9 would be a disappointment. They should go 8-8 at a minimum.
Go Big Blue!!!!
