Can the Giants realistically win the NFC East?

Can the New York Giants win the NFC East?

Technically yes, but no, they cannot.  It’s not even worth it to tease the possibility because it’s not going to happen. It’s not a negative take, it’s a realistic one.

Here are three reasons why this improbable comeback is going to come up short.

They’re going to lose on Sunday

The Giants have lost eight of their last nine against the Philadelphia Eagles, and are playing on the road against a wounded but very dangerous team. The Eagles are missing pretty much their entire secondary, but the Giants’ game (minus the past week or two) has never been to stretch the field.

Eli Manning is not the same quarterback he was a few years ago, and based on their track record they can’t get over the hump, especially in an extremely hostile environment.  Look for Carson Wentz to have another big game, as this game is just as important for the Eagles as it is for the Giants.

They barely beat two of the other worst teams in the league

The old adage is that you only play who is on your schedule.  Based on that notion, the Giants have two victories in a row only because they played two of the other worst teams in the league.  Their three wins come against a then fledgling Houston Texans team, a depleted 49ers squad who plays hard but just doesn’t have the talent to compete, and a completely dysfunctional Bucs squad that can put up points with the best of them but can’t play a lick of defense.

The Giants aren’t winning because they’re good, they’re winning because the teams they’re playing are very bad.  This team is extremely flawed, and as talented as Saquon Barkley and Odell Beckham Jr. are, they can’t do it on their own for the rest of the season.  If the Giants are even going to sniff third place in the NFC East, they need everyone to contribute.

They’re a 3-7 team for a reason

I’m sorry, did the Giants trade their entire team and get in return the Los Angeles Rams?  Sure they’re on a roll, but this is still the same team that’s lost seven games and that scored over thirty points for the first time in three seasons.  It’s like putting lipstick on a pig;  You go on a bit of a win streak and all of a sudden all of the flaws that the team has had are washed away.

They’re still absolutely awful at protecting Eli Manning.  Eli Manning still checks down way too often.  He still holds the ball in the pocket too long.  Odell Beckham Jr. still drops passes.  Evan Engram still has had a terrible season.  The defense still gives up big plays too often.  The front four doesn’t get enough pressure.  The head coach looks lost at certain points in games.

Have I gone on for long enough?  This team has seven losses because they aren’t a good team, and two wins against the 49ers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers isn’t going to change that.  They are a losing team and won’t be a good team until they make some moves in the offseason.  They need to upgrade the offensive line majorly, draft a quarterback for the future, shore up their secondary and cut some bait on the defensive line.  Until they do that, they’re not winning more than six games, let along winning the NFC East.