NYG, Holding onto Hope

Don’t take it too hard, New York Giants fans.  All is not lost.

Last night’s game in Dallas was certainly not one to write home about, and starting the season with a division loss will almost certainly sting later, but the one thing that keeps resonating through my head was that the G-Men were still in it the whole game.

Here are a few things to hold onto, and perhaps I’m grasping at straws, but what fan doesn’t like to hold onto positives? So, here we go:

One. Overdue Dallas. The Giants were 4-0 in as many games in “Big D”.  No other team has ever won four straight in Dallas, so that’s a nice record to remember.  I had a feeling that there would be a letdown because the Cowboys were way overdue for a win at home versus New York.  I gave the Giants the loss to start the season here, so I’m not surprised.  It’s disappointing, but not unrealistic.

Two.  The turnovers. After committing 6 turnovers, the Giants somehow managed to stay in the game.  Even down to an onside kick.  Granted, this can never happen again if the Giants expect to be contenders, but what does it say about this team?  The answer: tremendous heart.  Take it however you want but turnovers are gut wrenching for a team. Most teams would crumble and get blown out after 6 turnovers, yet somehow the Giants hung in there.  A stingy defense combined with a nasty passing attack got them back in the game.  Good things to look at for the future of this season.

Three.  Coughlin’s School of Fumble Trouble.  Ugh, running back mishaps.  I know, what can you say?  Those were the ones that stung the most.  The Giants can’t have their top two RBs (until Andre Brown gets back) making big mistakes. Remember when Tiki Barber and Ahmad Bradshaw had fumble troubles?  Last night reminded me of those times.  The same coach who got those guys back on track is still running practices.  Coach Coughlin will fix this problem.  Expect to see David Wilson tightly carrying a ball around wherever he goes this week.

Make no mistake, the Giants got BEAT in Dallas last night, and the players deserve to have coaches down their throats all week long, especially with big brother, 7 touchdown, Peyton Manning riding into town on a Bronco.  But the Giants are better than what they showed last night, and these bright spots, however dim they seem today, will work to their advantage the rest of the way.  Look for the Giants to bounce back and be contenders in 2013.