The Nail in the Coughlin

(Photo by Rob Foldy/Getty Images)

Here are the facts. Football is, and never will be, a beauty contest. After six straight weeks of defeat, it seemed as if the Giants finally found a necessary resurgence in the running game. New York tallied 21 straight points in Jacksonville to begin the game, as RB Rashad Jennings scored two touchdowns on the ground. 21-3 was the halftime score, and with a dominant first half, the Giants performance was a refreshment to the previous woes. Against Dallas last Sunday, New York went into the locker room with a 21-10 lead, but failed in scoring more than a touchdown in the second half, as Dallas finished the game outscoring Big Blue 21-3. The lucky number of 21 was not lucky last week, and unfortunately for New York, the number was a curse for a consecutive week. Jacksonville marched down the field for 22 unanswered points, and Jaguars kicker Josh Scobee nailed the game winning field goal in the final minute of regulation to seal the victory, beating New York by a final of 25-24.




New York falls to 3-9 on the year, carrying a seven game losing streak, their worst streak since the 2004 season (the first year under Tom Coughlin). Coughlin's status has remained ambiguous, but a loss to the 1-10 Jaguars has surely put the nail in the coffin. The year has been lost, but after 11 seasons, 2 Super Bowl championships, and five years of failing to make the postseason in the last six seasons, Coughlin's tenure as the Giants head coach is finally coming to an end. The turn of events have been disappointing and unfortunate, but reality must sync in, and the slate must be wiped clean. Tom Coughlin's legacy will be discussed among the greatest who have coached the game, but sooner or later, well, time runs out for everyone. 

(Photo by Rob Foldy/Getty Images)

With four games remaining, the nightmare season is finally coming to a close, but the state of the Giants season is still a conundrum. Currently, the Giants are looking at the fifth pick in the NFL Draft, and with serious holes at offensive and defensive line positions, a viable solution may be to think about the Spring, and simply ride out this season's wave the best they can, ignoring the win and loss columns and focusing on the fundamentals of good football. 

Here is this week's breakdown. There isn't much that hasn't been covered over the last seven weeks. 

The Story of the 2nd Half

The absence of production in the second half was already mentioned above, but the inconsistency to play all sixty minutes has been a huge problem all year. In last week's heart breaker, 21 points were scored in the first half, The same occurred Sunday, and the commitment of playing all four quarters is inadequate, and the production is surely unacceptable. In the end, three Giants turnovers cost the game, and these careless mistakes have been difficult to fix. 

                                                                                                                       The Giant Plague

(Photo by Rob Foldy/Getty Images)

What has left this season in shambles is the endless list of injuries on offense and defense. Aside from the IR players who have been sidelined for quite some time, the depth of the Giants roster has reached its limit, and the practice squad men who once laughed at making the roster, may be given an opportunity to step on the field. Offensive-lineman Geoff Schwartz left the game in the second quarter with a sprained right ankle, which lead to OT James Brewer filling the void. Sadly, the injuries kept piling up, as the substitute Brewer left action with a
concussion in the 3rd, along with strong DE Robert Ayers leaving with a pectoral injury and starting RB Rashad Jennings with ankle problems. "Help Wanted" should be a sign posted outside the facilities, because Big Blue has run out of players. 

W2W4

To anyone still watching this team, it is clear that consistency is the major concern of the Giants offense and defense. Jacksonville may have been a "free-bee" for a win, but the Jaguars are paid professionals, and nothing is given in the NFL. Moving on to next week, New York visits a depleting Tennessee Titans squad. Although the Giants are surely capable of coming out victorious, it is very difficult to pick a Giants team that is 1-5 on the road to knock off the Titans. This game is a toss-up.

Prediction: TEN 29, NYG 24 (NYG +3.5)