Big Blue Notes

Conventional wisdom would lead us to believe that in tomorrow night's showdown with the undefeated New England Patriots, the New York Giants have nothing to play for.

Nothing to play for.  I hate that phrase.  Nothing to play for?  How about pride?  How about professionalism?  How about in a season that consists of a mere sixteen games that taking one off is just a bad idea, especially as your up and down team heads into the playoffs.

The fact that Tom Coughlin has decided to try to win this game is reassuring on more than one front.  First, the Giants are not a team that ought to take a game off.  They need to stay as sharp as possible heading into the playoffs.  Should someone suffer an injury, so be it, that risk is there every time a game is played.  Do you give a hampered Plaxico Burress a few plays off, yes because he is already banged up and a player going into the game injured is different than limiting a player's time on the field out of fear.

I also think it's great for the NFL that should New England win, that the win will come against an opponent who wasn't mailing it in.  I don't feel Coughlin and the Giants are obligated to do this for the sake of the Patriots' place in history, hell, there were fifteen previous opportunities for the Patriots to get knocked off and it didn't happen.  It does make the final game as meaningful as the other fifteen.

Finally, I'd hate to have tickets to a game where one team decided to throw in the towel before the game even started.  In so much as football games are events, there is no excuse for a team not to do what it can to win.  Yes, the object is to win the Super Bowl and the thinking is that a Giants win tomorrow would have no impact on that goal as they've already sewn up a playoff spot and their seeding.  I disagree.  Playing this game to win will help the Giants in their playoff run.  A victory would boost the team's confidence going into Tampa Bay.  An effort instead of a week off keeps the motor running.  This team cannot pretend they can turn it on and off.

I remember the 2005 Colts. They started 13-0 and everyone spoke of the possibility of an undefeated season.  Tony Dungy pretended not to care then decided he did, but it didn't matter as his team lost two of it's last three and got knocked off by Pittsburgh in the playoffs. 

There's a lesson there for both teams in the Colts' 2005 collapse.  First, for the Patriots:  Don't shy away from greatness.  The Colts were afraid to go 16-0, it was obvious and it weakened them.  To their credit, the Patriots have always taken their games one at a time and, given their propensity for not letting up, it's obvious they are going for broke.  In a league that yearns for parity and mediocrity, such a bold stride toward greatness ought to be greatly appreciated  For the Giants, who are not nearly as good as that Colts team:  Don't stop.  Bodies in motion stay in motion.  Inertia is deadly in football and should not be the goal of any team.

Again, I will make no prediction here.  The Giants have the talent to give the Patriots a game and that's all I can ask for. 

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