Yesterday we made the claim that the NY Giants were the most inconsistent team in the NFL, a hallmark of underachievement.  Inconsistency means showing up with intensity and focus vs teams like the Packers, Niners and Patriots, while somehow not showing up vs the Cardinals, Seahawks, Dolphins, Eagles ... and once again against the Redskins when the playoffs were on the line. 

After the first 10 games, we chronicled this pattern for the 2011 season.  Updating it after the last 4 games, we examine when the Giants were favorites vs the point spread and when they were underdogs.  (Note: the one point spread we had trouble with was the Arizona game.  In that case, we believe the Giants were ~4 point favorites, so on "general principles" we will assume they did not cover the spread, considering they needed a Cardinal collapse in the last 5 minutes anyway to avoid a loss.)  When the Giants are favorites, they are 1-6-1 against the spread.  When the Giants are underdogs, they are 4-2 against the spread.  If you can find another team in the NFL that is that disparate, that uneven in their performances, let us know.

Mike Francesa was on WFAN yesterday, ripping into both the Jets and Giants for delivering terrible performances on Sunday.  One was worse than the other.  Both teams needed to win these games, both teams lost, yet somehow because the NFL s*cks so bad this year, both teams find themselves STILL controlling their own destiny, despite the fact that one is 8-6 and the other is 7-7.  And this fact is not lost on Francesa, who can barely contain his amusement at the next fact:  that with these two pigs playing AGAINST ONE ANOTHER.. the fraud of these two teams continues yet another week BECAUSE SOMEONE HAS TO WIN!  Yes, when two weak teams play each other in the NFL in Week 16, one will prevail (barring a tie, how fitting would THAT be?!) and find themselves in Week 17 knocking on the door of the playoffs.  At this point, Francesa is laughing at how cosmic this scene is, that these two teams are going to anoint someone to at least have a shot at the playoffs.  The message from Francesa is that between a horrible Giants defense and a blowhard coach named Ryan, don't believe in either.

And we agree.  Don't believe in the Giants, because all they had to do was SHOW UP for us.  And they did not.  All we needed as fans was a little respect and professionalism.  But we did not get that on Sunday.  Shame on them.  The absence of leadership in the coaching staff, the players, and the front office is evident.  Frankly, I am really not interested in puckering up for Coughlin's a** yet again.  Not when the coaches fail, the players don't show up, and the front office let's this continue.  Why do we throw in the front office?  Because how many of you are willing to bet that if the Giants win the last two games vs two franchises that are equally as sloppy, that Giants management will not fete its playoff team and look the other way again?  Au contraire!  They'll be hawking the tickets to the NFC East Division winner at 9-7!  Woohoo! .. Warts?  What warts?!

We need Giants management to wake up to the fact that there was not a serenade of boos at the end of the game because everyone had already left the building.  We deserve better than these Decembers.  Even if the Giants somehow win the last two, do not be fooled.  We can do better than a season of Giant inconsistencies.   

Pathetic.  Embarrassing.  Horrible.  Ugly.  Disgraceful.

Are these words familiar?  It is December in the Meadowlands, so it must be Tom Coughlin pulling another boner. 

In 2008 it was the Eagles loss where Gilbride was taken to school.  Never mind that 5 weeks later the braindead OC could not make any adjustments and lost again to the Eagles.  In 2009, it was the Panthers loss as they closed the stadium.  In 2010, it was the 31-10 lead blown to the Eagles.  And now in 2011 it is the stench of a Washington loss where the Giants didn't show up to play football.

What do all of these games have in common?  The Giants were playing very winnable games as home favorites and were in a position to seal up playoff appearances.  They were not ready to play and got beaten handily in each contest.  Oh, and Tom Coughlin was the head coach.

A few weeks back, we observed the pattern that the Giants play better as underdogs and underachieve as favorites.  That pattern was alive and well today.

Everyone who wants to defend Coughlin as a good head coach needs to understand that he stands for poor coordinators and underachievement. I do not care if the Giants win the last two games 50-0 or lose the last two games 50-0.  In either case, the coaches need to be let go.

In 2008, when Gilbride needed to make adjustments vs the 8 man front, where was Coughlin?

In 2009, when Sheridan single-handedly destroyed an entire franchise's defensive identity, where was Coughlin?

In 2010, when the Giants were uncompetitive vs the best teams and his special teams were abysmal, where was Coughlin? 

Bob Papa: "You'd think that with Rex Grossman, you'd give him less zone and force him to beat you (in man)."  But all we get is more zone.  In 2011, when Fewell's defense and its players are outschemed and underachieve, where is Coughlin? 

Today we saw: penalties, way too many dropped balls, soft coverage, off coverage, zone coverage, too many 3rd down conversions given up on defense, lack of urgency/energy, horrible run defense, abandoning the run on offense, 1 screen poorly executed, lack of short pass rhythm, Rolle guarding Moss, MM cutting off his route, Amukamara benched.

Where is Coughlin?

Aikman: "sleepwalking"  did "not even show up"

Strahan: "soft"

I do not want to hear about injuries.  If your team is good enough to play with fire and effort, going toe to toe vs the Packers, then it is good enough to win games vs the Washington Redskins.  Get your business done.

Coughlin: "The responsibility comes back to me and I accept it."  We keep hearing that, that Coughlin accepts responsibility.  Yet year after year we get more Coughlin.  Ugly loss after ugly loss. 

MEMO TO GIANTS MANAGEMENT:  ENOUGH 2007 TEFLON ALREADY.  WE NEED NEW COACHES.

Does anyone out there really think that winning the next two weeks will prevent Coughlin from underachieving next season?  This head coach is as good and as bad as his coordinators, and the result is that the Giants are the most inconsistent team in the entire NFL.  Inconsistency is a poker tell- the Giants beat themselves and lose games (SEA, PHL, WAS) they should win on a regular basis.

The Giants are 7-7.  You are your record.  Only a mediocre NFC East allows the Giants to somehow remain alive this season.  Do not let that putrid performance we all witnessed today get swept under the rug by Giants management.  Do not let a possible 9-7 season and playoff appearance camouflage the fact that this franchise is not winning a title with this coaching staff.   

Phil Simms joined Francesa on WFAN for the NFL Now.  Simms will be doing the DEN-NE game.

1) Eli Manning-  He is the man for the Giants.  He has steadily gotten better.  Throwing the football better.  Give Gilbride a lot of credit.  The WRs fit that system.  Victor Cruz is not a secret anymore.  Manning to Nicks as good as most in the NFL.

2) Phillip Rivers- Rivers got hot vs a couple of teams that could not rush the passer.  The Ravens will test him much more than he was tested the past two games.

3) NYJ-PHL.  I like the two corners of the Jets vs the Eagles wideouts.  Good matchup for the Jets, where the Eagles go for longer/crossing routes with Vick in his 7 step drop.  The Eagles cannot use the wide-9 or else the Jets will run for 200 yards. 

4) Interim Coaches- Melvin Tucker has taken over a trainwreck.  27 people on IR.  Jacksonville, KC, Miami.  Good chance for these interim guys to audition.  Helps players too.  Romeo Crennel wants to (head) coach.  He pulled Palko.  KC should be ready to play, even if they give up 35 to the Packers.  KC offense is limited. 

5) Bears-  Caleb Haney exposes the weaker WRs of the Bears; without the Jay Cutler laser, these wideouts are not able to create on their own.

6) Skelton- The AZ QB continues to get better, looks like he can be a very good professional QB.               

7) Locker- Better thrower than Tebow, throws down the field, not a rhythm thrower on the shorter stuff.  So his stats will not look good but he can connect long.  Tennessee is very happy.

Anthony Brown, a Redskins blogger at Redskins Hog Heaven, answers our questions about Sunday's game.
 
UNYG: The Redskins got off to an auspicious start.  Defeating the Giants on opening day, then posting a 3-1 record after 4 games.  What happened?

RHH: It's football. Injuries happen. The Redskins lost LT Trent Williams and LG Kory Lichtensteiger in the first half of the Eagles game. The Redskins game plan that day was to find mismatches against Philly safety Kurt Coleman...who worked his way out of Andy Reid's doghouse with three of the Eagles four picks of Rex Grossman. Mike Shanahan then proved how badly he misjudged quarterback talent by benching Grossman in favor of John Beck. The 'Skins have gone 1-7 since then. The loss of RB Tim Hightower after six games took steam out of the running game until the emergence of rookie Roy Helu.

UNYG: When the Giants and Redskins played on opening weekend, Washington RB Roy Helu had one carry for 2 yards.  To date, Helu has taken over as the starting running back.  Can you tell us more about him?  Besides running the ball well, he is also a very good at catching passes out of the backfield. (44 catches for 315 yards)  Do you believe the Skins will exploit the Giants weak linebacking corps with a heavy dose of Helu?

RHH: Washington could use Helu and tight end Logan Paulsen to look for match-ups against the Giants. It is more likely that OC Kyle Shanahan will call for Grossman to target WRs Jabar Gaffney, Santana Moss and Donte Stallworth as primary receivers. Gaffney and Stallworth played large roles in last week's game against the Patriots. This is where I acknowledge that Justin Tuck missed that first game along with key members of New York's secondary. Grossman says the team turned a corner in the second Cowboys' game. They might have, to go by Sunday's showing against New England, but this time, the Redskins are injury-riddles and the Giants fairly healthy.

UNYG: Starting offensive tackle Trent Williams has been suspended.  This means Willie Smith will up against ferocious Giants DE Jason Pierre-Paul.  Can we expect the Redskins to use two TE sets to slow down JPP?  What do you think the Skins will do?

RHH: With TE Chris Cooley out and Fred Davis suspended with Williams (Why are the only two dopes suspended for rec drugs on my team?), The Redskins are not likely to use two tight ends for extra blocking. Logan Paulson is the blocking tight end. I look for a heavy role for him. Mike Shanahan complimented back-up tackles Willie Smith and Troy Polumbus for their play against the Patriots. With Shanahan, one never knows if he is serious, or blowing smoke Tom Coughlin's way. Injuries on the O-line are real problems for the Redskins.

UNYG: In addition to Williams, TE Fred Davis will also be out.  In September, he had a career day against the Giants. (5 catches for 105 yards)  In general, the Giants have had difficulty covering guys especially in the middle of the field.  Besides Santana Moss, what receiver will attack the Giants defense between the hash marks?

RHH: Roy Helu is Washington's fourth-leading receiver. Fourteen of his 40 receptions were in one game (49ers). That game cost John Beck his starting job when Shanahan saw that he was dumping to Helu rather than throwing  to open receivers down field. But that game showed that Helu is capable of attacking the second level defense as a receiver. The Redskins do not have a real replacement for Davis.

UNYG: Your colleague Greg Trippiedi believes: But if I learned one thing at all watching the coaches' tape from the Giants-Cowboys game it is that both teams are fundamentally flawed in a way not dissimilar to the Redskins.  The best coverage unit in the NFC East right now? Sadly it's the Washington Redskins.  Do you think the Redskins can slow down the Giants potent pass attack?

RHH: Greg's point (not that I speak for him) is that the Redskins secondary can do about as well against the Giants receivers as the Giants secondary can do against the Redskins. The difference is quarterback. Eli Manning is no Rex Grossman. How I envy you for that. CB DeAngelo Hall is the Grossman of the defense. He can do many things to help the 'Skins to win, if one can tolerate imperfection. Hall has jumped routes, sometimes without safety help and has taken bad angles on receivers at critical times. He and fellow CB Josh Wilson have defended 12 passes, best on the team. Washington's respectable pass rush helps the secondary.

UNYG: Journeyman Redskins quarterback Rex Grossman put up big numbers against the Giants in September.  Subsequently, he was benched.  Then he was reinserted into the starting lineup.  Do you think the Redskins will draft a quarterback? 

RHH: Fantasy football in Washington is seeing Robert Griffin III or Matt Barkley in a burgundy jersey next season. Hog Heaven fans those flames as much as anyone. That's way premature. Neither man has performed in the NFL Combine nor have they interviewed teams. Fans just want better options at quarterback. It is unlikely that both Grossman and Beck make the 2012 roster. Since Daniel Snyder owns the team, Washington makes everyone's list as a potential destination for Peyton Manning if the Colts release him. I don't see the Colts releasing him. If they did, I do not see Peyton coming to Washington for any amount of money. The Jets would hold more interest. As a football fan, seeing the Manning brothers in New York would be very cool. For the record, I would rather the Redskins draft RG3 or Barkley rather than signing the elder Manning.

Other notes:  Pro Football Weekly's Nolan Nawrocki assesses Corey Webster. 

What does Webster do well?  According to Nawrocki:  Has excellent body length, with very long arms, and disrupts receivers at the line of scrimmage. Very good press-cover skills 

What does he not do well?  Is not as comfortable in off coverage as he is on the line.

Nawrocki's expert opinion bolsters our take here at UltimateNYG.  Fewell does not leverage his talent.   

Osi has been ruled out!  

Without Baas and Beatty, the Giants have a ground game. Is this a correlation? Or is it a coincidence?  We shall soon find out.  Meanwhile, with the Giants shuffling their offensive line,  they have gained 100 yards rushing in TWO consecutive weeks.  Give credit to Boothe and Petrus for opening up holes for Giants running backs.  Since the Giants have a rejuvenated rushing attack, this is only going to help.  Because as well as Eli has played this season, he could have an off game in the upcoming weeks.  Therefore, it is critical the rush offense improves as this season comes to a close.  Additionally, offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride concurs.  The weather becomes a factor up here,” Gilbride said. “It’s not the cold very much and it’s not even the rain as much as the wind can really be a troublesome factor.”    Indeed, the wind has affected Eli's play at home.  Perhaps the confines at the new stadium will be more forgiving.  We will find out over these last three "home" games.

Wonder is an NFL generalist who has shared his views on all 32 teams around the league.  He has started his own blog, WonderVision.  Today we are going to share with you some of the posts from his new site.  He gives paragraph recaps on all the teams, except one notable, the Green Bay Packers.

In order from worst to up the "totem pole," here are his observations of the NFL:

The 0-16 Division
Indianapolis Colts

The No Excuses Division
Minnesota Vikings
Miami Dolphins
St. Louis Rams
Jacksonville Jaguars
Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The Trying But No Talent Division
Seattle Seahawks
Washington Redskins
Carolina Panthers
Arizona Cardinals
Cleveland Browns
Kansas City Chiefs 

The El Foldo Division
Philadelphia Eagles
San Diego Chargers
Buffalo Bills

The Alydar Division
Detroit Lions
Chicago Division
Cincinnati Bengals
New York Giants
New York Jets
Tennessee Titans
Denver Broncos 

The Also Rans
Houston Texans
Dallas Cowboys
Atlanta Falcons
Oakland Raiders

The Avis Division
Baltimore Ravens
Pittsburgh Steelers
New England Patriots
New Orleans Saints
San Francisco 49ers