So there were doubts about the capabilities of the New York Giants this year after losing some key players. Last night, those doubts were smashed into thousands of pieces, pounded into dust, melted into liquid, and then heated until evaporation. The Giants played a phenomenal game last night against the Washington Redkins at their home stadium, thrilling fans with a 16-7 victory. Sure, the score may not impart the grand sense of domination I’ve created, but their play certainly did.

The offense. No Shockey, no problem. New York had plenty of firepower from their three main weapons: Manning, Burress, and Jacobs. Eli Manning played well last night going 19-35 for 216 yards and a rushing touchdown. Plaxico Burress had 10 receptions for 133 yards. Brandon Jacobs ran 21 times for 116 yards, averaging over 5.5 yards per carry and bulldozing Washington Safeties in the process. The offense seems to have proved itself as capable of doing their part.

The defense. That’s where the Giants really won this game.  Aside from holding the Redskins to only 209 total yards and 7 points, they also tallied numerous pass deflections, a forced fumble, and a sack. This, without Strahan and Umenyiora.

The Giants have thus far proved that last year they were no fluke Superbowl team; that they can come back and still play solid all around ball…at least against the Redskins.

They played (and won) the last game of the previous season and now they get to kick off the new year of NFL season play. The returning Superbowl champs will play the Washington Redskins this Thursday night at 7:00 pm ET and need to put their best foot forward against this divisional rival. But most pundits don’t believe the Giants have what it takes to do it again.

So why aren’t the Giants getting any love? Well, for starters the Giants have lost two key players since last year: Jeremy Shockey and Michael Strahan. Shockey, who has since been traded to the New Orleans Saints, was a huge component of the offense for the Giants last year, despite being injured late in the season and being unable to play in the Superbowl. Michael Strahan was a Pro bowl defensive end whose presence was incredibly intimidating to opposing quarterbacks. He retired after the Superbowl win. Additionally, defensive end Osi Umenyiora recently suffered a season ending injury.

So the Giants’ defense, which was a crucial component of last year’s success, has now been severely hindered. As has their offense with the loss of Jeremy Shockey. But take another look at the situation. Shockey, as said before, wasn’t able to compete in the Superbowl and the Giants did just fine, just as they did when Tiki Barber retired a couple of years ago. As for the defense, it wasn’t just those two powerful ends. The Giants had a strong defense all around and have plenty of willing substitutes for the vacant Umenyiora spot.

But making predictions about a team’s ability before the season begins is foolish. The Giants may be a solid team still but will they play as one? It’ll be fun to watch and find out.

The New York Giants players are having a bad time lately as most of their key players have been sidelined by tender injuries that are keeping them out of the team’s practice sessions.
Amani Toomer the veteran wide receiver of the Giants, is the latest player to sit out of the practice session this week owing to swollen left leg. Steve Smith, another prolific wide receiver, has also skipped the practice sessions due to general soreness. The other receiver Plaxico Burress is suffering from a more serious right ankle injury. The Giants fans are hoping that their star players get well very soon and practice for the NFL season which is just round the corner. The tickets to some of the Giants games are still being sold at the match venues and online.

The New York Giants are determined to make it a worthy outing this NFL season as they are currently on a signing spree and the latest player to have received a six year extension is their guard Chris Snee. The signing of Chris Snee will give the much needed boost to the Giants offensive line up and it is reported that a whopping sum of $43.5 million is the contract amount agreed upon by both parties. The stacks are high as far as Giants are concerned as they are the worthy NFL champions last season and are making all efforts to repeat the feat this season as well. Chris Snee will be contracted to the Giants till 2014. There will be brisk sales of tickets for Giants home games when the fans hear this news.

An ideal setting on a Sunday night, the 4th Feb, for the Super Bowl XLII saw the titans New England Patriots take on the so called minnows New York Giants at Glendale in Arizona. The amazing defensive tactics of Tom Brady, the most valuable NFL player of this season and the able support provided by the quarterback Eli Manning showcased on of the major upsets seen in the Super Bowl history as the Giants defeated the mighty Patriots by 17 – 14. The Patriots were believed to be an undefeatable side for a long time and this surprising victory for the Giants came after a defeat in the regular season final held on December 29th.

The Giants had nothing to loose in this match and were playing with competitive spirit and a sense of pride as they were not expected to score a win over the Patriots. Bill Belichick, the coach of Patriots who was expecting his team to run over the New York Giants witnessed one of the disastrous collapses of his team. John Mara, the Giants co-owner was a pleased man that night and dedicated the upset victory to the fans that have supported the team all along in moments of triumphs as well as disasters.

The Giants are a better team and Eli Manning is a better quarterback on the road. However, again on Sunday, the New York Giants were stunned by the Vikings, 41-17. Eli Manning hasn’t thrown an interception in his last 2 road matches as the New York Giants have built a 4-game winning streak away from their home Stadium. At 4-1, New York is one of the League’s best road teams. However, at 3-3, they are one of the worst home teams among the playoff contenders