Giants Establish They Are the NFC Team to Beat

By PATRICE EVANS

Updated 7:50 AM EST, Mon, Nov 10, 2008

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Heading into their game with Philadelphia, the Giants were listed as road dogs (+3) despite being two games up atop the division; it will be the last time they come into a game as underdogs this season.

While the final 36-31 score was close, Big Blue played like a team with a higher gear than Brian Westbrook and the Eaglets; aside from a couple bad turnovers, the Giants looked like the best team in the best division in football. A team that will now hear whispers turn to real talk about the prospect of back-to-back Super Bowls.

It's an unfamiliar position for these G-Men, who over the last few seasons have more typically played up or down to the level of their competition. They beat the Patriots last year; but they were inspired by the greatness of the opponent, and the historic opportunity. Coming into 2008, most NFL analysts dismissed the team as a fluke; surely they wouldn't maintain the high level of play we saw in the playoffs over the course of a full season. They're not that consistent. They're not that good.

But they are.

A roster that has taken the confidence earned from being a champion and put it to good use, the Giants now dominate on both sides of the ball. Ten weeks into the season: They have the number one scoring offense. They have the number one yardage defense. They have the second best record in the NFL, and a lot more credibility than the Titans who are currently led by John McCain, err Kerry Collins (which, oddly enough, means the last two NYG quarterbacks to play in the Super Bowl, under two totally different regimes, currently helm the best two teams in the league.).

Much has been made of the Giants having a tougher second half of the schedule, but part of that difficulty is due to the competition in the division. Against that competition Eli and Co. are 3-0, and have dominated the action for at least a half before trading shots the rest of the game.

The New York Giants are now the team to beat; let's see how they handle it.