For being the superbowl champs...

[DWinzit]

It just blows my mind the way some of the ATNers are writing off the Giants playoff run as a run of luck or whatever.

Are you saying there was no luck involved? There is always luck involved in a successful run by any team in any sport. Lady luck was on the Giants side.

I could see one or two games, but three road playoff games and a superbowl against an undefeated team? A team has to have a bit more than luck to pull off that accomplishment.

They won 11 straight away games. Giants fans, Tom included, were more comfortable with their team playing on the road.

Does making the Giants out to be an incredible team take away some of the hurt associated with the quick Dallas playoff exit?

[BMahoney]

The East is the strongest division in football hands down. I mean hell we had three teams in the playoffs last year. And the Eagles are on the rebound...What other division can come close to that?

-The AFC south had 3 teams in the playoffs as well, and the Texans are definitely a team on the rise. The NFCe is historically the best division in football but currently, the AFC south is just a better division. The colts and jags would each most likely sweep the east, the Titans D is insane, and Texans might pushed the AFCs to have 4 teams in the playoffs if Andre Johnson stayed healthy all season.

[VCDefectors]

Are you saying there was no luck involved? There is always luck involved in a successful run by any team in any sport. Lady luck was on the Giants side.

You're not gonna convince me that winning three road playoff games and beating an undefeated team in the superbowl is the result of getting lucky. So we'll have to agree to disagree on this.

They won 11 straight away games. Giants fans, Tom included, were more comfortable with their team playing on the road.

Now that's very possible, but do you define this as luck? I don't.

Does making the Giants out to be an incredible team take away some of the hurt associated with the quick Dallas playoff exit?

I didn't make them out to be an incredible team. Their performance speaks for itself. But did it somehow comfort the sting of the Cowboys getting beat? It did at first. I can admit that. But knowing that the Cowboys will have to face them (as well as the Redskins and Eagles) twice, none of that stuff matters to me now. I said it back in early February and I'll say it again. The NFC East in 2008 is up for grabs and whoever wins it will be battle-hardened enough to be serious superbowl favorites.

[JMUGator19]

Hmm, well I have never looked at it that way, to be honest. I have always considered an upset to be when an inferior team beats a superior team. Those can be two different things.

Really... when an inferior team beats the superior one...

and just how do you justify calling the patriots the inferior team?

The team that loses is not necessarily the inferior team. if it were the case, there would be no need for the word upsets. think about it.

[DWinzit]

Now that's very possible, but do you define this as luck? I don't.

Define, no but luck does play into the equation. You must admit it is not a common occurence for a team to have a better record away than home, especially 11 wins in a row.

[Fred Jones]

You have to put them on top if for no other reason that they are king. Until someone knocks them off they are the champs.

[VCDefectors]

Really... when an inferior team beats the superior one...

and just how do you justify calling the patriots the inferior team?

The team that loses is not necessarily the inferior team. if it were the case, there would be no need for the word upsets. think about it.

That was exactly my point. Sometimes, skimming through a thread helps.

[VCDefectors]

Define, no but luck does play into the equation. You must admit it is not a common occurence for a team to have a better record away than home, especially 11 wins in a row.

Don't get me wrong. I hear what you're saying. Every superbowl winner catches some lucky breaks along the way. But I just don't see how you can say that they won the trophy BECAUSE of those breaks. In fact, with the Giants, you could argue they won the superbowl mainly because they had a pass rush that none of the other teams had an answer for. Is that luck? I don't think it is. Maybe you do.

[DWinzit]

In fact, with the Giants, you could argue they won the superbowl mainly because they had a pass rush that none of the other teams had an answer for.

Yes they had an exceptional pass rush. You however are pushing aside the other items I already mentioned along with a few others.

They stayed healthy which is always one of the biggest reasons a team enjoys success. Their biggest loss, a very good pass catching and blocking TE in Shockey, as discussed many times could have worked to their advantage. Eli appeared much more comfortable without having to deal with Shockey's rants in the huddle, on the sideline or off the field. Am I calling Shockeys injury luck....Sounds funny but perhaps. They certainly went further with him than without.

[VCDefectors]

Yes they had an exceptional pass rush. You however are pushing aside the other items I already mentioned along with a few others.

They stayed healthy which is always one of the biggest reasons a team enjoys success. Their biggest loss, a very good pass catching and blocking TE in Shockey, as discussed many times could have worked to their advantage. Eli appeared much more comfortable without having to deal with Shockey's rants in the huddle, on the sideline or off the field. Am I calling Shockeys injury luck....Sounds funny but perhaps. They certainly went further with him than without.

They were able to overcome the health issues they had. That's different than what you are suggesting. And besides Shockey, they also had a gimpy Plaxico Burress, and were banged up throughout the year in the secondary.

[DWinzit]

They were able to overcome the health issues they had.

Which you must admit were very limited in comparison to others.

During preseason when predictions are made, the big caveat for any team is always staying healthy.

[DWinzit]

I love the way the Giant's pick right after a SB win, while still playing in the old stadium, to announce a major ticket price increase.

[Hitman#21]

No shot there the Favs to repeat, it is so hard in nowadays NFL to repeat. The Giants werent the better team.

[Tom [Giants fan]]

Ok, I admit that I didn't read through all these posts so I may repeat some things.

The Giants had things working for them at the end of the season. Plus, they had one of the best drafts they have ever had last April. What is that based on? The contributions of the drafted players. They all played a big part of the success that the Giants had. Especially Bradshaw. The Giants let players go before last season that Giant fans were up in arms about including Petitgout. A lot of them thought Reese was crazy and in over his head. It turns out, Petitgout spent most of the season injured and Diehl was more than a suitable replacement. And Reese knew he would be or got lucky with it, whichever you want to say. Kawika Mitchell was a cheap but very effective signing. Reese didn't give into the big contracts or the "star" players. He signed guys who were serviceable and did not break the bank. He has done the same thing this offseason with letting Mitchell go refusing to pay him what he didn't think he was worth. Then he went and signed Danny Clark to a similar contract as he did Mitchell last year. Will it work again? Only time will tell.

Reese has a great draft and played free agency very smart. And maybe he lit a fire under Eli Manning which we don't know about by the comments he made about him looking skittish. Honestly, Eli did look to be afraid of getting hit before that comment. After it, you can see a difference in him stepping into throws when he is about to be hit instead of going backwards.

Maybe I am seeing all of this through blue colored glasses but I think Reese did a heck of a job during the offseason and in the draft last year which was a big contributor to what transpired. It just took a bit of time to get it working.

I don't know about repeating because it is tough for any team whether they are the favorites to do so or not. But, I am getting spoiled with playoff appearances so I am expecting at least that for this coming season.