Big Blues

This season could be rough for the Giants

By Max Berger

Bob Leverone / AP

Yikes . . . that’s about all you can say so far regarding the 0-3 New York Giants this 2013 season. It’s not even the fact that the Big Blue has lost three games already, a season after they missed the playoffs since winning the Super Bowl in 2011. It’s that these games they have been getting absolutely demolished.

Week One: 36-31 loss to the rival Cowboys with quarterback Eli Manning throwing a pick six to Dallas defensive back Brandon Carr with under two minutes left.

Week Two: 41-23 loss to older brother Peyton Manning and the Broncos, being down just 10-9 at halftime but allowing a ridiculous 31 points in the second half.

Week Three: 38-0 smack down by the Panthers in which seemingly all the stress and frustration peaked in the worst loss of the Tom Coughlin era.

“Disappointed isn't a strong enough word. I expected more,” Coughlin said after Sunday’s debacle in a matchup where his defense was obliterated again and Manning was sacked seven times by Carolina, according to ESPN.

So, the simple, but not-so-simple question: what is wrong with the Giants?

Let’s start with the offence and post-interception facial-expression king Eli Manning, who this year has been racking it up in the negative facial-expression department as well as in interceptions. Despite throwing for 931 yards through three games, fifth in the NFL, he has thrown a league-leading eight interceptions, ranks 27th in QB rating, and has completed only 58.8 percent of his passes. The offensive line, too, has struggled mightily, allowing the fourth most QB hits (22) and second most sacks (11) in the league. 

Also, thanks to this porous offensive line and weak running back production, New York has rushed for only 133 yards in three games. Not only are there 26 players with a higher rushing total than this, but the 133 yards rushing is the fifth lowest rushing total ever through three games since the AFL-NFL merger in 1970, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. 

Wide receivers Hakeem Nicks and Victor Cruz have been relatively productive thus far, but it won’t matter if Eli keeps throwing picks, the line can’t protect him and they can’t run the ball.

Thought that was bad enough? We haven’t even discussed the defense yet…The Giants and defensive coordinator Perry Fewell have allowed the ninth-most total yards (1,147), sixth-most rushing yards (388) and, most importantly, the most points allowed this season with 115 point. Offenses are blistering the New York defense. averaging 38.3 points-per-game. 

To put this in perspective, the next worst rated defense in terms of points, the Jacksonville Jaguars, have relinquished 98 points to opponents, and offenses are averaging 32.7 points per game against them. 

Even more telling, the first-ranked defense boasted by the 3-0 Seattle Seahawks has let up the following through three weeks: 725 yards, including 285 rush yards, and only 27 points total, nine points per game average. Wow. These are two teams at very opposite ends of the spectrum.

Even more bad news for Coughlin & company - the schedule doesn’t get any easier to climb out of this 0-3 hole. 

Starting this next Sunday, the Giants travel to Arrowhead Stadium, home of the 3-0 Kansas City Chiefs, coached by former Eagles head coach Andy Reid, who is very experienced and familiar with their schemes. Additionally, the Chiefs built a top-10 defense and are yielding a stingy 11.3 points per game to opponents. 

Next, the G-men face the aforementioned explosive Philadelphia Eagles, and although Philly has struggled defensively, their offense could give the Giants fits. The Birds lead the league in total yards and rushing yards, two of the biggest issues with the New York defense, which presents its division rival with another problematic. 

Then, in week three, Big Blue travels to The Windy City to take on the 3-0 Chicago Bears under new head coach Marc Trestman. The Bears are an extremely well-balanced team, and with Cutler, Forte and Brandon Marshall lighting it up, coupled with a defense that forced five turnovers in a Monday Night Football romp against the Steelers, this could spell even more trouble for the Giants.

With these three tough upcoming matchups, who knows what lies ahead next for this football team; but, as statisticians will tell you, numbers never lie. As defensive captain Justin Tuck said after Sunday’s loss against the Panthers, “We are a desperate football team right now.” 

Realistically, for Tuck and his teammates, this situation could become even more desperate over the next few weeks. 

Tom Coughlin, how’s that seat feeling?