Season Recap - 2010 New York Giants

Final Record: 10-6

Finished: 2^nd Place in the NFC East

2011 Draft Position: 19^th

Preseason Ranking:   20
Preseason Letter of Misfortune:

Didn’t you guys, like, just two years ago, ruin the perfect season of the Patriots? What’s happened since then? Tell me, what?

You became the Super Bowl champions in 2007 by defeating one of the greatest teams in NFL history and have been in a tailspin ever since. In 2008, your record actually improved over your Super Bowl season, but you let the Eagles come to your house and embarrass you in the Divisional playoffs. One-and-done is never good, especially when you have the bye week to prepare and home field advantage. And against the Eagles, no less!

Last season the spiral continued and you fell to an 8-8 record. Not good enough to be good, not bad enough to get better, just kind of blah. Where’s the pride, New York? Where’s the sense of power? You’re not even the best team in New Jersey anymore. You're still better than the Knicks, though, so you have that going for you.

While the younger Manning has matured and is becoming a true NFL quarterback, the rest of your team has aged anything but gracefully. The power running game, a staple of Giants teams of the past, became virtually non-existent in 2009. Injuries and poor play kept you from having a 1,000 yard rusher last year. In 2008 you had two! The last time you failed to get a running back over the 1,000 yard plateau was in 2001, when neither Ron Dayne nor Tiki Barber cracked the 900 yard mark.

As a Cowboys fan, I am all for your struggles, but come on. When you combine the mess in Washington with the quarterback situation in Philadelphia and your own difficulties, the NFC East can no longer be viewed as the powerhouse division in the league.

Stand up, mend your broken bones, and run people over like you’ve done in the past – that was beautiful! But don’t lay down like you did last season… unless Dallas is on the opposite sideline.

Week 1: Defeated the Carolina Panthers, 31-18

Ranked – 9

Manning flicks the ball to Nicks for the hat-trick. In a battle of Steve Smiths, Hakeem steals the show.

Week 2: Lost at Indianapolis Colts, 38-14

Ranked – 22

Eli Manning wasn't the problem on Sunday Night. The problem was everything else. At least the entire NFC East looks to be filled with hit-or-miss teams this year. The Giants still aren't out of it.

Week 3: Lost to Tennessee Titans, 29-10

Ranked – 24

I am no quarterbacking expert, but I gotta believe trying a left-handed shovel pass into triple coverage while being tackled may not have been the best choice in that situation, Eli. Would Peyton have done that? I don't think so.

Week 4: Defeated the Chicago Bears, 17-3

Ranked – 18

Last week's feature, This Day in Football History, highlighted how the Giants defense sacked McNabb 12 times en route to a decisive 16-3 victory over the Eagles. Inspired by history and a porous offensive line, the Giants nearly duplicated this feat when they crushed the Chicago quarterbacks on Monday Night 10 times in a similarly decisive 17-3 victory.

Week 5: Defeated the Houston Texans, 34-10

Ranked – 13

The defense is winning games for them and now suddenly the offense wants to get in on the action. Scary.

Week 6: Defeated the Detroit Lions, 28-20

Ranked – 10

Another solid win elevates the Giants, down and out a few weeks ago, back into the class of the NFC.

Week 7: Defeated the Dallas Cowboys, 41-35

Ranked – 6

The Giants placed the Cowboys on life-support and probably ruined their season by putting Romo down. However, five turnovers and 35 points allowed should give Coughlin something to chew on during the bye week.

Week 8: BYE WEEK

Ranked – 10

Both Washington and Dallas have faltered. The division is theirs for the taking.

Week 9: Defeated the Seattle Seahawks, 41-7

Ranked – 2

In a weak conference, The Giants stand out as the team to beat. Next week's contest against Dallas will do nothing but make them more confident in their abilities.

Week 10: Lost to Dallas Cowboys, 33-20

Ranked – 10

I must admit I enjoyed watching Dallas destroy the Giants on Sunday, but I doubt Coughlin will let the Giants stumble too far before they right the ship.

Week 11: Lost at Philadelphia Eagles, 27-17

Ranked – 13

Two weeks ago the Giants were the toast of the league, but an embarrassing loss to the Cowboys and another sloppy loss against the Eagles has New York caught in a dead spin heading out to sea. They still have a chance to escape disaster, but suddenly the playoffs are no longer a sure thing and at least one wild card, if not two, will come out of the NFC South.

Week 12: Defeated the Jacksonville Jaguars, 24-20

Ranked – 10

How much of Jacksonville's last-second magic did the Giants manage to steal last week? Against the Redskins, they shouldn't need to use any of it.

Week 13: Defeated the Washington Redskins, 31-7

Ranked – 10 (ROCKY WEEK!)

[After a lot of blitzing by the Vikings early in their contest, Coughlin talks over the scoreboard situation with Eli Manning.]

Coach Coughlin:  Alright, Eli, did the blitzing bother ya?

Eli Manning: Nothing bothered me, Coach. Nothing bothered me. 

            Coach Coughlin: Well then, you should've had them! Now don't let up on this team. This team is dangerous. This team is DANGEROUS! 

Eli Manning: This team is dangerous? I'm dangerous! I'm dangerous!

Week 14: Defeated the Minnesota Vikings, 21-3

Ranked – 5

The Giants have finally established their two-headed rushing monster and with Jacobs and Bradshaw devastating opponents, Eli Manning can fall back into a game manager role where he thrives without the weight of the offense on his back.

Week 15: Lost to Philadelphia Eagles, 38-31

Ranked – 8

The epic collapse on Sunday will be forgotten if the Giants can win in Green Bay this weekend. If not, watch this team spin out of control, miss the playoffs and be in the market for a new coach soon after the season ends.

Week 16: Lost at Green Bay Packers, 45-17

Ranked – 12

The total collapse against the Eagles followed by the second-half explosion of the Packers has all but killed the Giants. Now, if they could ever just get back to New York...

Week 17: Defeated the Washington Redskins, 17-14

Final Rank - 13

Tomorrow, the 2010 Tampa Bay Buccaneers…