New York Giants: The Good News and Bad News

Dec 6, 2015; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New York Giants head coach Tom Coughlin reacts during the fourth quarter against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium. The Jets defeated the Giants 23-20 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

The season isn’t quite over yet but it’s hard to imagine the New York Giants being able to recover from their past two defeats, crushing as they were.  With their season hanging in the balance and playoff hopes dimming, it’s time to take stock of where this team sits.  Here are a few notes of good and bad to chew on.

Bad News:

Tom Coughlin may be done

That Jets loss not only may have crippled the season for the Giants, it may have put the final nail in the coffin for Tom Coughlin.  The head coach has already been on thin ice for not making the playoffs since 2011.  Throw in the fact he’s 68-years old and questions are surfacing whether he has the fire anymore to handle running a team in the pressure cooker of New York.  Barring a quick turnaround, his days could be numbered.

The running game is at rock bottom

Good defense and clutch Eli Manning weren’t the only reasons the Giants won two Super Bowls since 2007.  People seems to forget they were also a team that could run the football really well.  That’s something they’ve lost over the past few years and it may have hit rock bottom.  Collectively New York has just three rushing touchdowns on the season and their leading rusher is Rashad Jennings with 431 yards.  The last time they had a 1,000-yard runner was Ahmad Bradshaw in 2012.

Good News:

Odell Beckham Jr. was not a one-year wonder

There was a fear for a time that what Odell Beckham accomplished his rookie season may have just been a fluke.  That with time defenses would adjust and take him out of games, especially with no legitimate secondary target to take pressure off him.  With four games remaining the receiver has 1,154 yards and 10 touchdowns.  It’s safe to say those fears of him being a one-year marvel were wrong.  The Giants have themselves a superstar.

Robert Ayers looks like a keeper

Even when they play well, things seem to go wrong for the Giants defense as they were dissected by Ryan Fitzpatrick in their latest letdown.  One bright spot this season though has been the play of defensive end Robert Ayers.  Despite missing four games this season, he still leads the team with four sacks as well as two forced fumbles.  He may not be a superstar who will demand double teams, but it’s clear the veteran was a good signing who can help them moving forward.