2014 Giants NFL Handicapping
Manning, Giants Don’t Have Firepower To Keep Up With Best From NFC
Eli Manning and the New York Giants followed a string of six-straight losses to open the 2013 season by winning seven of their final 10 games and finishing 7-9.
2014 New York Giants Team Preview/Predictions
- 2013 Record: 7-9
- ATS Record: 7-9
2014 Giants Futures
- Super Bowl Odds: +4000
- Conference Odds: +2200
- NFC East Odds: +300
- 2014 NFL Regular Season Wins: 7
That second-half turnaround and some notable offseason additions have NFL experts predicting the Giants will be a playoff contender in 2014 but there is plenty of reason to believe that won’t happen.
The balance of power has shifted to the NFC with a number of legitimate playoff contenders and as it stands New York hasn’t done enough to keep up.
Manning threw a career-high 27 interceptions last season and there was plenty of blame to go around.
First of all, Manning’s arm looked tired at times and he was far too inconsistent with his throws. Second, the Giants didn’t do a good enough job of protecting him in the pocket and proving him with enough weapons to spread the ball around.
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Manning has worked hard in the offseason to improve his arm strength and precision but he has never put up elite passing numbers and the team didn’t do much to improve his protection other than signing guard Geoff Schwartz to start on the left side next to tackle Will Beatty.
Right guard Chris Snee is coming off multiple surgeries and center JD Walton hasn’t played in two seasons so it’s hard to imagine the line improving.
The Giants did bring in a number of players to fill out the skill positions through both free agency and the draft, including rookie first-round pick receiver Odell Beckham Jr..
Beckham is expected to immediately take over as a starter on the outside as the third receiver behind Victor Cruz and Reuben Randle. Kellen Davis was signed at tight end but New York lacks a major threat at the position with Adrien Robinson as the starter.
The Giants signed running back Rashad Jennings to challenge for the starting job, but it has become his by default after David Wilson was forced to retire due to a neck injury. The depth is scarce at practically every position including running back where Jennings will start ahead of Peyton Hillis and Da’Rel Scott.
The eighth-ranked defense from a year ago was upgraded in free agency with the addition of cornerbacks Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, Walt Thurmond, and free safety Quintin Demps.
Rodgers-Cromartie immediately upgrades the No. 1 corner spot ahead of Prince Amukamara with Thurmond taking over as the nickel and Demps will start next to strong safety Antrel Rolle.
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Middle linebacker Jon Beason was re-signed in the offseason after an outstanding season and New York added Jameel McClain from Baltimore to start on the strong side with Spencer Paysinger back on the weak side.
The one area the Giants didn’t address on the defense was the lack of a consistent pass rush after the 34 sacks they recorded as a team ranked 25th in the NFL last season.
Justin Tuck signed with the Oakland Raiders as a free agent leaving New York to hope that Jason Pierre-Paul, Cullen Jenkins, and Mathias Kiwanuka can all bounce back with better pass-rush numbers.
Head coach Tom Coughlin has two Super Bowl rings and there is no question he is one of the league’s smartest minds but how many games this team wins will come down to Manning’s arm and the rest of the starters staying healthy. Even then the Giants might not have enough talent to challenge for a playoff spot.
New York’s terrible start to last season should have led to more change but a strong finish created the illusion that this team could bounce back and contend for a playoff spot with a couple of additions.
That won’t happen in 2014 as the Giants once again struggle early on and fail to finish above the .500 mark for the second-consecutive year.
2014 Giants Predictions
- Place they’ll finish in NFC East: 4th
- Place they’ll finish in NFC Conference: 14th
- Over/Under Wins Prediction: UNDER
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