So what do we really think about our chances now?

As Giants’ fans, we feel beat up after four straight defeats.  And really, after losing to the Eagles as bad as we did last Sunday, I thought the season was essentially over.  But after considering history and reality, it only made sense that the G-men would rebound against the Chargers and head into the bye week at 6-3 and in okay shape for the playoff run. 

We know by now that that didn’t happen, despite the team playing actually pretty well.  I, for one, expected that kind of play, but didn’t expect a last minute defensive implosion, or the result that transpired.  And I didn’t expect or want to believe that this team could be 5-4 heading into the break with a very legitimate shot of missing the playoffs altogether.  But that’s what we’re looking at.

But is it as bad as it seems?  Surely we were all so stunned late Sunday and yesterday that we felt nothing but doom and gloom, and we’ve earned the right to feel that way.  Heck, I grew up watching this team in the ’70’s and nothing was as low as the Pisarcik fumble game.  But I digress.  I think it’s important to look at the schedule and maybe more importantly, at the rest of the field in the NFC. 

If the season ended today, your division winners would be Dallas, Minnesota, New Orleans and Arizona.  That leaves room for two wild cards, who right now would be Philly and Atlanta, and the Giants right behind them by just a 1/2 game, because they have played one extra game at this point. 

I think you see where I’m going with this…..there are head to head matchups coming up, including the first game out of the break at home against the Falcons.  And the game vs. the Eagles is at home as well.  Yeah, I know….we haven’t shown we can beat either team right now, but based on how this team played against San Diego (for the most part), it was well enough to beat just about anyone.  The rest of the schedule is no picnic either, with home games against Dallas and Carolina, and road games at Denver, Washington and Minnesota.  But it’s not like playing the Giants will be a gimme for any of those teams either. 

Bottom line?  If the Giants go 5-2 and finish 10-6, you have to think that’s playoff worthy.  It’s also possible to go 10-6 and not make the postseason party, and there are a whole lot of other scenarios that can happen….honestly, we can’t forget about Chicago or Green Bay, who are on the fringe right below the Giants at 4-4.

So here’s the deal….play as well as you played Sunday, keep the mistakes to a minimum and just win some freaking games.  Winning tends to take care of everything else, and hopefully our Giants will do that after the break and show us that they do have a playoff pulse.

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