'Giant" Expectations A Bit Premature

When was the last time the Jets and Giants were this good at the same time? They’re a combined 14-4 after yesterday’s wins. Visions of February glory are everywhere. The last time our local teams were doing this well on the gridiron, they were better-15-3 in 1986.(Gang Green was 8-1, Big Blue 7-2) The Giants romped to 14-2 and their 1ST Super Bowl, while the Jets finished 10-6 and lost a hideous second round playoff game to the Cleveland Browns. But I say now-DON’T start planning those Jet Blue and Southwest excursions to Tampa just yet.

Yes, yesterday’s wins were great for both teams. The Jets’ 47-3 cruise over the ‘Lambs’ of St. Louis was about as perfect a game as a football team could play-more lopsided than the electoral count in last week’s Presidential election. Meanwhile, the Giants were gritty on the road, overcoming two turnovers and getting a few breaks to beat the Eagles 36-31 and grab a choke hold on the rest of the NFC.

The next two weeks are monstrously important for the Jets: Thursday night, right here on WPIX, the Jets go to Foxboro to play the Patriots. While the teams are tied at 6-3, the Pats’ Week 2 win gives them the edge-making the game even more important for the Jets. A loss basically puts Gang Green in a 2 game hole. Look for the Pats to key on stopping Thomas Jones and Leon Washington. They’ll try to force Brett Favre to win with his strong but sometimes risky arm. The Patriots held the struggling Bills to 3 points for 58 minutes of yesterday’s 20-10 win. After the Jets play the Patriots, they go on the road again to face the currently undefeated Titans. Never has a regular season match up between ‘the Hoodie’ and 'Mangenious' meant so much. A loss Thursday and Gang Green will have to find a way to beat Tennessee on November 23rd just to stay a within a stone’s throw in the AFC East, not to mention a wildcard spot.

The Giants are 8-1, and only a collapse could cost them a playoff spot. Tom Coughlin may have guaranteed himself a raise just by challenging Eli Manning NOT being over the line of scrimmage on the pass that set up their score to make it 27-24. Everyone in America, including VP elect Joe Biden, who was at the game, knew Eli was over the line of scrimmage. BUT-Manning's foot BARELY said otherwise. Whoever convinced Coughlin to challenge should get a raise that will not be subject to any of Barack Obama’s tax hikes. That decision took a lot of guts in a meaninful game and a lot riding on the call.

The Giants did get a break on Brandon Jacobs’ second touchdown. I thought he had fumbled before he crossed the goal line. But replay saw it differently. The Giants did just enough on defense-most notably stuffing Brian Westbrook-and won a game that shouldn’t have been that close. Jacobs was great, but has to avoid fumbles.

Big Blue has a killer schedule their last seven-the teams have a combined winning percentage just under .600 Winning all 3 of their division games and beating the 7-2 Carolina Panthers should be enough to get a first round bye and maybe home field throughout the NFC playoffs. There’s 86 days until Super Bowl 43-let’s take a deep breath and try to enjoy the ride a week at a time.