Are Giants quietly gearing up for another Super Bowl run?
The New York Giants rattled off their third consecutive win Sunday, defeating their archrival Philadelphia Eagles 28-23 in a scoreline that's flattering to their opponent. Surging through the NFC East at the right time, no one could fault fans for a sense of deja vu as the Giants once again quietly positioned themselves for another Super Bowl run.
Eli Manning played with a controlled aggression that set the tone for his team from the outset, throwing for four touchdowns in the victory. Manning used all of the weapons at his disposal, finding Odell Beckham Jr. (twice), Sterling Shepard, and Roger Lewis for scores, making the team's passing game nearly impossible to plan for. It's rare for Manning to play with a fully-healthy group of wide receivers, and Sunday's game was an example of how daunting the two-time Super Bowl champion can be when surrounded with a talented supporting cast at full strength.
New York spent heavily on its defense during the summer and the group provided mixed returns throughout the first half of the season, but Sunday was another story. Damon Harrison and Jason Pierre-Paul made Carson Wentz uncomfortable from the first snap, while Olivier Vernon excelled despite playing through a "shattered hand." Second-year safety Landon Collins submitted arguably the best game of his career, and a familiar formula for Super Bowl contention is quickly coming to fruition. A dominant pass and Manning utilizing a talented, diverse group of wide receivers at his disposal led the Giants to Super Bowl victories in 2007 and 2011, and now has New York in the mix for their third Lombardi Trophy this century.
It's early to make a declaration that the Giants will reign over the rest of the league, and to be clear, there are numerous obstacles in their way. The Dallas Cowboys have emerged as the class of the NFC, with Ezekiel Elliott starring as a leading MVP candidate and Dak Prescott flawlessly taking the reins from an injured Tony Romo. Rod Marinelli is running the Cowboys' defense better than anyone would've imagined, and they remain the leading candidate to represent the conference in the Super Bowl. This ought to feel eerily familiar for Giants fans, with the Cowboys posting a 13-3 record in 2007 and winning the division, only to be usurped during the playoffs. Who said lightning doesn't strike twice?
In spite of his pedigree, the Giants tuned out head coach Tom Coughlin toward the end of the 2015 season, and the team became staid and uninspiring in his final year. Ben McAdoo has injected life into his club, and though critics were quick to point to infighting and Beckham Jr.'s frequent temper tantrums, the Giants are no longer morose in no man's land. Culture change is often derided as an intangible notion to hide any meaningful analysis of the team, but the Giants' response to McAdoo's pedagogy is paying dividends.
With a pass rush that's coming into their own, and Manning commandeering a potent passing game that's finally healthy, the Giants are quietly lurking as a Super Bowl contender. Whether they're able to supplant the Cowboys remains to be seen, but their previous formula for Super Bowl glory remains intact as the second half of the year rages on.