At 3-6, the Giants are not mathematically eliminated from the playoffs. However, if they should lose to the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday, it will all but end any chance they have of making the playoffs. It seems eons ago when the Giants were 3-2 and won three consecutive games.
But since then, the Giants have lost four games in a row and were rarely competitive. During their four game skid, the Giants have 136 to 62. In their last game against the Seattle Seahawks, the Giants gave up an embarrassing 350 yards rushing. Some may attribute the four game skid to the significant injuries the Giants have suffered. But injuries do not excuse the lack of effort the Giants have showed over recent weeks. Other teams such as the Arizona Cardinals have dealt with numerous of injuries, but their heart and effort have never been questioned. In fact, some Giants such as Antrel Rolle have questioned the effort they have put forth.
So now on Sunday at MetLife Stadium, the Giants face a must win game. If the Giants are going to win, they better do a better job containing the outside edges on defense. The Seahawks exploited this in the last game and you can be sure the 49ers and their mobile quarterback Colin Kapernick will look to exploit this as well.
Good news for the Giants is; it looks as if running back Rashad Jennings will return to action. Jennings hasn’t played since week 5 against the Atlanta Falcons when he sprained his MCL. In the four games Jennings has missed the Giants running game has suffered, averaging only 83 rushing yards a game. Due to this, the Giants offense has been one dimensional because they’re not able to keep opposing defenses honest with the threat of a running game.
Whether Giants do it by running the ball or passing them ball doesn’t matter, as long as the end result is that they win. If the Giants win they’ll improve to 4-6 and still very much alive in the playoff hunt. After the 49ers games, only two of their remaining six opponents have a winning record and those two games are at home when they play the Cowboys and Eagles.
But if they should lose Sunday, the season will be lost as well, and you can expect significant changes will be made to the roster and coaching staff for next season.
