T-Rock's Take: Inside the Giants

Make your plans accordingly...

Which is probably the best news possible. MRI exams were today but TC had no information. O'Hara told me last night that he heard something pop in his left knee, which is why he stayed down so long; if it were an ACL tear, he'd have gone right back to the turf if he'd gotten up quickly.

TC said both Mitchell and O'Hara were feeling better today. MCL tears aren't nothing, but I'm betting O'Hara can play with his. Mitchell is another story, since he has so much running and cutting to do. But Gerris Wilkinson played quite well last night, I thought, so perhaps Mitchell isn't as crucial as it might have seemed.

Sam Madison's abdominal strain doesn't appear to be a bad one, either. TC said Kevin Dockery (hip flexor) and Ahmad Bradshaw (bruised leg) are getting better and at least Bradshaw should be ready for the Bucs. They need Dockery, too, all of a sudden, because Corey Webster can't win for losing when he's on the field. Terrible illegal contact call on him last night.

As for the playoffs, TC said he snuck in some peeks at the Bucs film on Friday and Saturday, as did some of his assistants.

By about 7:30-8 p.m. tonight the Giants will know when they're playing in Tampa. Word is that if the Steelers are hosting either the Jags or Browns, the Giants will go at 1 p.m. on Sunday. If it's Steelers-Titans, then the Giants will be on Saturday night. But the Titans won't be in the playoffs until 11:30 tonight, so maybe this is all the usual speculation.

Soon as I know, you'll know. If you're at home furiously updating the blog, natch.

Also out: LB Tank Daniels, OL Adam Koets, DT Manny Wright and TE Jerome Collins. Funny we all thought Jacobs would sit but it's Bradshaw that's out. Danny Ware, your life is calling.

Also, Lorenzen is the third QB, which could matter, but if he plays, all that means is Eli can't go back in. No biggie.

Retired Giants GM Ernie Accorsi is working as a consultant to Falcons owner Arthur Blank. ESPN's Chris Mortensen reported it this morning, and Accorsi confirmed it to me in an email a few minutes ago.

"Consultant. No job," was the key part of his message. He's advising Blank, who can't be terribly happy that his first-year coach, Bobby Petrino, bailed after 13 games, and then Blank got played by Bill Parcells when the owner thought he had someone to step in as football operations chief.

Strange coincidence: Accorsi's top choice to replace TC in January was Petrino. Guess he and Blank can commiserate over that.

Not sure there's anyone Accorsi could recommend the Falcons poach from the Giants front office. Maybe assistant GM Kevin Abrams, but I'm guessing the Falcons will want a splashier hire. Abrams is too Canadian to be considered splashy.

Accorsi is attending Johnny Unitas' son's wedding today and won't be at Giants-Pats.

I am watching The Manchurian Candidate right now, which is among the awesomest movies ever made. This would be the original, Sinatra-Laurence Harvey-Angela Lansbury version. And it kicks butt.

Somehow, I feel Belichick has made a deal with someone the way Angela Lansbury did with the Commies in this movie.

Anyway.

Pats 28, Giants 13

Here's why:

-- The Pats are good. Seems you don't get to 15-0 these days without some decent players. The Giants have faced a couple good offenses this season -- notably the Cowboys and Packers -- and those offenses have done well, despite the Giants steadily improving D.

-- The Giants offense has been... Bad is the wrong word, but not as good as could be. Unless the Giants pound the running game, which I steadfastly believe they will not do because guys get hurt that way -- witness Brandon Jacobs' myriad injuries and Ahmad Bradshaw's bruised leg. So Eli will try to throw some and mix it up, but I don't think they will find much rhythm.

-- The starters will be gone by the third quarter. I think TC is playing a little game with everyone. Yes, the Giants will try to win -- and guys like Chase Blackburn and Jay Alford and Dave Tollefson will try very hard, because they never get to play -- but they will not try needlessly, especially after the Pats pull ahead.

This, I believe, allows the Giants to save face. TC can tell them they played hard, everyone got a shot to play and they did the smart thing, which was rest for a half. And the Pats get a very anticlimactic 16-0, which takes a little of the joy from that, I'd say.

And the minute this nonsense ends, the Giants will be focused and ready for Tampa.

Burress and Jacobs are probable, Manny Wright and Bradshaw are questionable, Kevin Dockery and Sinorice Moss are doubtful, which means they're not playing.

Tom Brady is probable with that nagging shoulder injury he's had all year long. Poor guy.

Just checking the standings and the Giants' opponents next season are just about set.

Aside from the usual home and home dates with the Redskins, Cowboys and Eagles, the Giants will play the 49ers, Seahawks, Ravens, Bengals and either the Panthers or Saints at home (if the Saints win on Sunday, it'll be them; if they lose and the Panthers win, it'll be Carolina).

On the road, the Giants will face the Cardinals, Rams, Browns, Steelers and Vikings. That's likely two potential bad-weather games away from home, so take note, Eli.

From the locker room today, Plaxico Burress and Brandon Jacobs both worked (Plax was limited, Jacobs was not) and both expect to play on Saturday. Eli expects to play a full game, though I doubt that'll happen -- not because of any plan, just because I don't think the game will be close enough to warrant it by the end.

Nice to see David Tyree back in the locker room after missing two weeks due to the death of his mother.

Had a funny chat with Lawrence Tynes, whose heart was in his throat when Jeff Feagles lay face down on the Ralph Wilson Stadium turf after Donte Whitner crashed head-first into Feagles' left thigh.

Tynes is the emergency punter, and he's done it twice in a game between college and the pros. His collegiate punt at Troy was a left-footed, 33-yarder that was about to be blocked (it's why he switched to the left foot) and he put it out of bounds at the opposing 3.

With the Chiefs, he took a direct snap from a field-goal formation and dropped a punt out of bounds inside the 1. "I'm never doing it again," he said. "I mean, I can never do better than those."

The biggest problem with Feagles' potential injury? He's the field-goal holder and the only other holder Tynes has worked with is Jared Lorenzen, who is the emergency QB. Which means he can't enter the game unless the starting QB is out. So Anthony Wright would have held for Tynes, and the two have never worked together.

Something perhaps for special teams coordinator Tom Quinn to take note of.

Feagles did say today he was in pain, and he certainly got crunched by Whitner. He's still sore, but he punted during practice today and seemed OK.

"I was down there so long because my career was flashing before my eyes," Feagles said. After 20 seasons, there were a lot of flashes, I guess.

OK, I'm off tomorrow, but if Erik Boland has any news, it'll find its way to you.

You betcha -- TC said Burress would take limited reps, but he plans on taking some reps because the medical staff said Burress' ankle can't get any worse. Whether this means he's gonna work sporadically through the week and not on Saturday (my guess) is still undetermined.

Ahmad Bradshaw is not practicing with a deep leg bruise. Also out are Kevin Dockery (hip) and Sinorice Moss (back). Brandon Jacobs will work, likely in a limited capacity.

More to come...

Hope everyone who's celebrating today is enjoying Christmas. I don't expect the usual flood of comments to the Q, but maybe everyone's fired up enough about Saturday.

It's the only Q to ask for this week: What would YOU do if you were TC on Saturday night? Rest the starters, play them a half or go the whole game and try your hardest to beat the Pats?

Steve Smith and Domenik Hixon are the 3rd and 4th WRs. Also inactive: David Tyree, Kevin Dockery, Manny Wright, Danny Ware, Adam Koets and Jerome Collins. That also means the Giants are going with two TEs.

Also, Kevin Everett is in the house. Think what you will about motivations and such, but it's a great thing no matter whom you root for.

That means Aaron Ross will start at corner, with R.W. McQuarters as the nickel. Sinorice Moss (back) and James Butler (hamstring) will be game-time decisions.

So Todd Collins(!!!) beat the Giants last week, proving me very, very wrong. I am undeterred though.

Giants 16, Bills 10

Here's why:

-- When the Giants commit to running the ball, they usually win. It's hard to pin blame for last weekend's debacle on just one person. TC and Kevin Gilbride deserve a fair share, because the talk of "we only went nuts with the pass when we were behind" doesn't wash; they wanted to stretch the field into some single coverage that they expected with eight guys in the box, and the drops and the wind-blown throws and Eli's indecisions should have made the coaches adapt.

All that said, I can't see them doing it again, especially when the forecast for tomorrow is worse than Sunday's -- stronger winds, more rain, etc. TC would be signing his own pink slip if he comes out throwing.

-- Eli rebounds from bad games well. I believe I said this before and got smacked in the face with the first three quarters of the Chicago game, but the Giants won that one. Bottom line, the QB wins games more than he loses, no matter what you think of his ability.

-- The Bills are not much on offense. Marshawn Lynch is a good back, but they need some passing game to open things up. Don't see Trent Edwards heaving the ball down field a lot.

-- I expect Strahan to play big. Don't think he cares too much about Pro Bowl snubs, but in truth, I don't believe he's ever been snubbed -- he was always hurt the years he didn't get voted in. So I think he'll be out to show he's deserving of another bad, flower-print shirt, even if his peers and the fans didn't think so.

Those are admittedly thin reasons, I know. And 16-10 will have you all chomping your nails until the very end, so this is no lock. I don't sense the huge collapse, though.

Wanted to make that clear up front. I've stuck to the team concept with the last few lists, but there's really nothing Giants-related that can help you guys at this point. So, to get rid of some of the tension heading into Sunday, here are my favorite music tracks of 2007. Enjoy, don't enjoy, get mad at me, laugh at my choices... It's all in the name of thinking about something other than a potential collapse.

No particular order, except for No. 1 at the end:

Kate Nash, "Foundations" -- Lily Allen meets Billy Bragg.

Manchester Orchestra, "Wolves At Night" -- Thank goodness for satellite radio. I get to stay current with music and hear Bob Papa too!

Jay-Z, "Roc Boys" -- Gibril Wilson argued the other day that Jay-Z is the best rhymer around. I disagree, but any rap that includes mazel tov is OK for me.

The Hives, "Try It Again" -- Big, dumb rock was in this year for me.

Queens of the Stone Age, "3's and 7's" -- Big, dumb rock, take II.

Ghostface Killah, "We Celebrate" -- Is he just Ghostface still or is the Killah back? I can never remember.

Lupe Fiasco, "Superstar" -- Not even Michael Strahan's constant singing of this made me dislike it.

Dinosaur Jr, "Almost Ready" -- Back to my college days.

Les Savy Fav, "Patty Lee" -- Ditto, though I think these guys haven't been around as long.

Wu-Tang Clan, "Take It Back" -- The bestest hip-hoppers ever, hands down.

And at No. 1...

Interpol, "The Heinrich Maneuver" -- Takes me back to the summer, when the Giants were going to be bad (everyone said so) and it was warm out.

Oh, and one more completely non-Giants note: Happy birthday, big bro. You'll get your putting stroke back just in time for my next visit, I'm sure.

So says TC, who has a lot riding on this game. As do some Giants. If they lose and end up missing the playoffs, a new coach would make some changes, no doubt.

Anyway, here's proof of how relaxed they are: In the players' lounge off the locker room, defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo was talking. On the table... A Bible, several pamphlets on God and a Playboy.

So there you go.

Not working today: DT Manny Wright, WR Sinorice Moss (back), WR Plaxico Burress (ankle) and CB Kevin Dockery (hip). S James Butler (hammy) did some work and S Gibril Wilson (knee) practiced fully. Looks, for now, like Wilson and Michael Johnson would start at safety and Aaron Ross and Sam Madison at corner.

Justin Tuck (neck), Kareem McKenzie (cold) and Brandon Jacobs (hammy) all worked fully.

Big gaffe in my notes today -- Homer Jones did make two Pro Bowls, the last in 1968. Should've said that Plax would be the first Giants WR in 40 years to make a Pro Bowl... The headline is a quote from the immortal former Giant Kevin Lewis, who chided me for asking him a question during the 2005 training camp about his being the 2004 starting MLB due to injuries.

He said he'd earned it and killed me with the quote in the headline... I was mortified, having been on the Giants beat for exactly one week at that point. Later, I learned I should not have been so mortified.

Today, however, I am. Bad job by me.

Plaxico Burress (ankle) and T Kareem McKenzie (cold) won't practice, but TC said the other five players on the injury report would be working in some capacity.

James Butler (hamstring) will "start to do some work," TC said; Gibril Wilson (knee) is scheduled to practice. Kevin Dockery (hip flexor) should be OK, though he will do very little today. Sinorice Moss (back) is scheduled to do limited work, as is Brandon Jacobs (hamstring), whose injury is still about the same.

Also saw Jeremy Shockey hobbling out of the stadium on crutches. His surgery is Friday.

Courtesy of our favorite foul-mouthed, juvenile funny boys over at Kissing Suzy Kolber -- I can't even provide a link because it's not family entertainment. But here is how they see the Giants getting into the postseason:

The Giants can clinch a playoff spot if:

Eli Manning's Citizen Eco-Drive watch instructs him how not to implode drives.

OR

Sinorice Moss applies backward running skills to backing into playoffs.

I love those guys.

Here's the whole NFC Pro Bowl roster:

OFFENSE

QB: Brett Favre, Tony Romo, Matt Hasselbeck
WR: Terrell Owens, Donald Driver, Torry Holt, Larry Fitzgerald
RB: Marion Barber, Adrian Peterson, Brian Westbrook
FB: Tony Richardson
TE: Chris Cooley, Jason Witten
OT: Flozell Adams, Walter Jones, Chris Samuels
OG: Steve Hutchinson, Leonard Davis, Shawn Andrews
C: Andre Gurode, Matt Birk

DEFENSE

DE: Osi Umenyiora, Patrick Kerney, Aaron Kampmann
DT: Tommie Harris, Kevin Williams, Pat Williams
MLB: Lofa Tatupu, Patrick Willis
OLB: Lance Briggs, Julian Peterson, DeMarcus Ware
S: Ken Hamlin, Darren Sharper, Sean Taylor
CB: Al Harris, Terrence Newman, Marcus Trufant

SPECIALISTS

P: Andy Lee
K: Nick Folk
KR: Devin Hester
ST: Brendon Ayanbadejo

Plax and Jeremy Shockey are first alternates, Chris Snee and Michael Strahan are second alternates and Jeff Feagles is third alternate.

OK... I'm floored by the number of Q of the D comments and I haven't had time to sift through yet. I'm sure you'll have more about the Pro Bowl picks. That's 11 Cowboys, 7 Vikings (really??), 5 Seahawks, 4 Packers and 4 Bears.

Who got screwed? Strahan, I'd say -- honestly, I thought he deserved it more than Osi because No. 92 has been a beast against the run and pass this year. And Shawn Andrews over Snee? Don't think so.

Plax also got royally boned here... Torry Holt? Huh? T.O., Driver and Fitzgerald all have a case to be there. So does Greg Jennings, so does Bobby Engram. But, as one clever Giant pointed out to me, "You don't game plan for Engram, you don't game plan for Jennings. You game plan for Plax."

The biggest snub has to be Nick Barnett of the Pack. Guy's an absolute monster. Patrick Willis is going to be a heck of a player, but making 900 tackles doesn't mean you're the best at your position.

More comments!!!

First, excellent job keeping the comments flowing in the absence of a Monday post... Day just got away from me, and I figured you all could wait to hear about TE Jerome Collins joining the active roster.

On to the Q.

What do the Giants need to turn the offense around? I know you've been debating it endlessly, but I'm looking for specifics: More no-huddle? More Bradshaw? Trick plays? I mean, maybe Sinorice Moss needs to run a few reverses -- he runs them anyway, even when he's out on pass routes (couldn't resist that one).

So, let's see all you future coordinators come up with a game plan, not just to beat the Bills in Buffalo, but for the playoffs.

Unbelievable that this has happened for the third time in a month to a key starter... Shockey's the most key player they've lost, though. It may be as bad a loss as this game, which has been brutal.

So he is out, unfortunately. Also out: RB Danny Ware, S Gibril Wilson, S James Butler, OL Adam Koets, DT Russell Davis and OL Kevin Boothe. Steve Smith, here's your chance.

Anthony Mix is inactive for the Skins. No revenge game for him.

Just getting around to answering a few questions from the comments board this week...

Tom G., regarding Eli: I have written about the Eli debate before, noting that his un-flashy personality and un-flashy play have meant more than the usual young QB criticism. It doesn't hurt that he's here in New York.

I do take issue with things like, "the media hates Eli." ESPN's group of chatty Kathys do not constitute "the media" -- in fact, the ones who voice their opinions most strongly, the ex-players, would bristle at being lumped in with the plaid-sportscoat crowd. The fact is, Eli is about to take the Giants to the playoffs his first three seasons as a starter. Yes, he's had some hideous games, but he's about to accomplish something pretty impressive.

Oh, and one more thing: Judging by Dale A.'s consistent comments on Eli, I'd say it isn't just a media bias. Some fans really don't like Eli.

On Steve Smith: I don't think he'll play today for a pretty simple fact. The Giants are 9-2 without him in the lineup, and TC has certainly proven that he'll stick with a certain lineup if it's working. Now, yes, I agree that Sinorice Moss is not a viable third WR this season, and neither Smith nor Moss do much on special teams, so there's no reason to sit Smith in favor of Moss. But I think Moss, who had two very nice catches in Philly, is ahead of Smith on the learning curve, and that settles it for TC.

On resting players against the Pats: If the Giants are in the playoffs and in the No. 5 seed, Plax won't play, Jacobs won't play and maybe Pierce won't play. If they do play, it'd be preseason-type play totals.

Now, the competitive angle is an important one, and no one wants to go into a postseason with a 40-point loss on their heads.

But I saw a thread on BBI that was generated by Francesa and Russo (frankly, if you're a big Giants fan, you have to be nuts to listen to them, just my two cents), who had a debate over whether it would mean more in the annals of football history for the Giants to have beaten the Pats, or for the Giants to have won a round of the playoffs.

The thinking, I believe, was that posterity demands the Giants try to win that game, because no one would remember them if they beat Tampa or Seattle and then got hammered by the Cowboys. Beat the Pats, and they'll be remebered forever.

It's probably one of the 5 or 6 dumbest things I've ever heard said about a sports team. Beating the Pats is nice and all, but if they go on to win the Super Bowl and the Giants have 3 or 4 guys banged up and lose the following week, I'm sure the history books will be kind to them... Huh?!?

If I were a fan, there's no debate. You play for your own accomplishments, your own season, your own legacy. And succeeding in the playoffs, even winning one measly game, is what you play for. Not to say you were the ones who beat a good team that went on to win a Super Bowl. No one cares.

You think the '85 Dolphins take pride in the fact that they managed to snap the Bears' quest for a perfect season? Uh, no. You also have to be a huge football fan to even know whom the Bears lost to that year. Because they, you know, won the Super Bowl.

In any event, I can't see how the Giants would play their injured starters. And if Dave Tollefson hits Brady and the Pats QB gets hurt, you think Belichick will be proud of that 16-0 record?

Giants 20, Redskins 6.

Here's why:

-- Todd Collins. Todd Collins!!! You know, I make these predictions, and sometimes I'm just convinced certain things will happen. Like when the 49ers were in town, I just thought Trent Dilfer would come to play. Instead, he left wearing a Pink Floyd t-shirt. Now, a guy who hasn't started a game in 10 FRICKIN YEARS is coming to town, with a team that actually has a chance to make the playoffs. How could anyone pick the Redskins?

Of course, if this guy lights up the Giants, every commentator, every writer, every fatalistic Giants fan will say the Giants are weak. What I'll say is this: Todd Collins?!? Are you kidding?

-- Giants D-line vs. Skins O-line. No Jon Jansen, no Randy Thomas on the Skins line. Yes, they have Chris Samuels, but that only means Osi will have a tough day and he'll get run at a lot. Can't see this matchup benefitting Todd Collins (!!!). Bet on Antwan Randle-El throwing at least one pass.

-- No Gibril, no problem. If Collins (!!!) has any chance to hit some plays, he's going to be throwing quick. Michael Johnson and Craig Dahl showed an ability to make containment stops in Philly and that's mostly what I think they'll have to do tomorrow night. Bigger responsibilities for the LBs, who have been playing well -- funny how Reggie Torbor, whom we all (myself included) labeled a bust, has pretty seamlessly fit into the scheme.

-- The run game. I'm guessing the Giants will run the ball 35-40 times, with a stiff wind projected for tomorrow night -- I'm not in love with Eli throwing the ball all over the place with the wind kicking up. If Jacobs hangs onto the ball and, maybe more important for me, if Ahmad Bradshaw gets a few touches, I don't think the Skins very respectable defense will keep up.

I'm not seeing a tremendous night for the offense, but a defensive score and some more dominance by that unit adds up to 10-4 and a playoff berth. Which, despite my accuracy predicting the individual games, means I'm an idiot, because I said this team would be 7-9.

Of course, very few of you disputed me...

Still trying to keep it relevant to football... This is a haphazard collection of Pro Bowl votes by a number of Giants polled today. I asked for the two most deserving players on their ballots, which the Giants filled out yesterday, and for two Giants who they felt were most deserving since players can't vote for their teammates.

Here we go:

Gibril Wilson -- WR Greg Jennings (Packers) and WR Steve Smith (Panthers). No T.O.? Gibril just grinned. He's not a fan.

2 Giants: Chris Snee and Plaxico Burress.

Antonio Pierce -- QB Brett Favre (Packers) and RB Adrian Peterson (Vikings). "You don't see too many rookies on Pro Bowl ballots."

2 Giants: Osi Umenyiora and Burress. He acknowledges T.O. is a lock, but says there's no one better than Burress after that. "No teams have to game-plan for anyone the way they do for him."

David Diehl -- LB DeMarcus Ware (Cowboys) and DT Tommie Harris (Bears). "Harris is amazing, because the guy's been hurt so much but he still plays at a really high level."

2 Giants: Pierce and Michael Strahan.

Kawika Mitchell -- Favre and Tony Romo, in that order. "If the Packers didn't have Favre, I don't know where they'd be. He's more like an MVP."

2 Giants: Osi and Jeff Feagles.

Sam Madison -- T.O. and Brian Westbrook (Eagles). "Not getting see Westbrook much until I got here, I didn't know much about him. But he's amazing, the things he can do."

As for Owens... "He does all the talking out there, but he backs it up. Much as you don't want to vote for him, he performs."

2 Giants: None. "Everybody." Hey, thanks, Sam.

Sinorice Moss -- CB Marcus Trufant (Seahawks) and DT Darnell Dockett (Cardinals).

Justin Tuck -- G Leonard Davis (Cowboys) and LT Chad Clifton (Packers). "Clifton was the best tackle we played against this year, hands down."

2 Giants: Snee and Osi.

OK, I didn't even make it to 10, but this is what we got.

Since I solicited your feelings on the matter and now some players, here are my Pro Bowl-worthy Giants:

Umenyiora, Strahan, Feagles, Burress, Snee and Tuck.

Enjoy your Friday, and always enjoy your FridayList.

TE Jeremy Shockey (abdominal strain), WR Plaxico Burress (ankle), S Gibril Wilson (knee) and S James Butler (hamstring) were on the side today during practice, though Wilson was running and cutting pretty well. Maybe a Buffalo return for him.

We'll see after practice who did what... And yes, this time I will be back with an update.

UPDATE: TC said Butler is out for Sunday and Wilson will be a game-time decision, though Wilson himself said that he most likely would return a week from Sunday... Shockey did some goal-line drills... Aaron Ross (hamstring) and Craig Dahl (ankle) practiced fully.

Burress, Gibril Wilson, James Butler, Craig Dahl (ankle) and Aaron Ross on the side... More after the locker room.

We'll keep it brief: Which Giants deserve to go to the Pro Bowl? Balloting wraps up this week, so I thought you could be heard on the subject.

Let me know.

Not exactly newsworthy, but hey, it involves the Giants.Anyone want to party with Jeremy Shockey on New Year's? My thanks to Deadspin for alerting the world to this ad.

A better question: Does Shockey really need an internet ad to get guests?

I feel like Best should've been all over this first.

It's a happy recap for the Giants, and who was ever happier than Nipsey Russell? I loved Match Game.

Moving on...

TC didn't give much of an injury update and wouldn't speculate as to whether Gibril Wilson or James Butler would return for Sunday night's game with the Redskins. TC also dodged the question of whether, if the Giants win on Sunday to clinch a playoff spot and perhaps lock up the No. 5 seed, he would rest the banged-up starters (Plax, Pierce, Jacobs). One game at a time, he says often.

On to the game:

THE GOOD

-- Spags. One play I forgot to mention in yesterday's post that I really loved. Third quarter, Eagles up 10-6, third and 11 from their 31. On the D-line: Strahan, Jay Alford, Fred Robbins and Kawika Mitchell, who was in on some dime downs to save Pierce's ankle. Lined up as blitzing LBs: Tuck and Umenyiora. They got a head of steam and both hit the "A' gaps, occupying the interior linemen. Then, Craig Dahl flies through the middle, untouched, and nearly gets McNabb down. McNabb threw an incompletion on the run.

Maybe I'm going a little overboard on the defensive coordinator, but he's been outstanding this season. People want to heap praise around the league on what first-year coordinator Jason Garrett has done with the Cowboys offense, and that offense is extremely good. Spagnuolo deserves just as much praise for what he's done with a talented group that was either too beat up or not well-coached enough to make plays the last three seasons.

-- Mitchell. Another very, very sound game. I'm sure the Chiefs don't really need him this year.

-- Sam Madison. He looks even older out there now playing with a bunch of 23 and 24 year olds, but he's in the right place at the right time. Scooped up Westbrook's fumble and stopped Westbrook for a 1-yard loss on the Eagles' second-to-last drive.

-- Plax. I'm sure TC has a tiny stroke every time he sees Burress running with the ball like it's a hand grenade he's about to toss, but it is fun to watch when No. 17 is zig-zagging across the field.

-- Jeff Feagles/Lawrence Tynes. Not a bad K/P combo. Feagles had one semi-shank, but the rest were excellent -- six punts and only one returnable. Tynes has now hit nine straight and he got the 19-yarder through only thanks to Feagles snaring a high snap by Alford.

THE BAD

-- Red-zone offense. Eli had time to deliver the fade throws to Shockey, but just missed. Can't have that happen when the running game isn't working in close. TC today sounded like someone who wasn't looking for different play calls, just better blocking, so forget any trickery.

-- Jacobs. Four lost fumbles in eight games this season. Not exactly Barber-esque from his early days, but still. TC had a good remark about that: "I don’t really care that it makes a guy a little bit uncomfortable and slows him down a hair. That is not significant. What is important is the ball." Righto.

Back with the Q of the D tomorrow.

- Will Eagle Man return to the comments board? I think not.

-- Is this a team that can win a round in the playoffs? Yes, I think so. The defense hasn't shut down an elite team as yet, but they are playing very well and it has enough confidence to go into Tampa or Seattle and make things happen.

-- Does Tom Coughlin deserve an extension? Not so sure about that yet. I'll tell you who does: Steve Spagnuolo. Michael Strahan may want to finish his career playing for TC, but I'd bet he could be convinced to play another year for a new head coach but the same DC.

-- Are the offense's problems due to play-calling or execution? Lots of offenses are predictable, or rather they can only be unpredictable at times. The Giants will never be a razzle-dazzle team. But would it have hurt to throw Ahmad Bradshaw out there for a few plays just to get the Eagles thinking? Brandon Jacobs was stifled for all but a couple runs and the goal-line offense was stale. They won't get away with that in the playoffs.

-- Are the Eagles finished? For this season, yes. Eagles president Joe Banner declared that Andy Reid would be the coach and Donovan McNabb the QB for 2008. Can't say that's the best idea, but a couple of good receivers would help.

-- Is Jerry Reese a genius for plucking Michael Johnson and Craig Dahl from obscurity? Don't forget starting CB Kevin Dockery too... Reese should be proud of his rookies playing key roles -- Jay Alford had his first career sack and played well too -- but I think a lot of the credit goes to Spagnuolo. Think these rooks would be mentally prepared and confident if Tim Lewis were their boss?

OK, more tomorrow.

Sorry for the lateness, people... Steve Smith, James Butler, Gibril Wilson, Danny Ware, Adam Koets, Kevin Boothe, Russell Davis out.

Pierce and Jacobs are playing; how much remains to be seen.

Everyone important is playing for Philly.

It's 10 or so minutes to kickoff, and Lincoln Financial Field is maybe one-third full. And they're playing Neil Diamond. Just so you know.

No word yet on whether Antonio Pierce is playing tomorrow, and since the Giants are taking the bus caravan and not a plane to Philly, there's no reason to decide yet. Gibril Wilson is the only one staying home thus far.

OK.

Giants 24, Eagles 21

Here's why:

-- Feeling that the offense has shaken out some cobwebs with the rally in Chicago. Still not perfect, but Eli has had one great game in Philly and his greatest rally there. I think he likes playing on the road, and that helps the whole offense.

-- Feeling that Brian Westbrook will definitely gash the Giants, but there's no one else to drive the stake home. McNabb will be booed more than Eli, especially if the Eagles fall behind, and there will be a pass rush. Spagnuolo knows the Eagles well and I'd hardly say that Philly has done much innovation with their offense the past few seasons. I mean, they've had a bunch of different QBs, but they do what they do: McNabb buys time, he's accurate and then they run if need be.

-- Lawrence Tynes will make a big kick. We've all been deriding Tynes since he got here, but the fact is the guy has been good. He's hit his last six FGs, he's 7-for-7 from 40+ yards and 18 of 21 overall. The last one he missed was in London. David Akers, who always seems like a much better kicker, is 19 of 25, and 2 of 8 over 40 yards.

-- I don't think Pierce will play, but he was half a player last week and the Giants defense worked fine. If Kawika Mitchell has as good a game as he had in Chicago, the back seven is safe. Even with Craig Dahl and Michael Johnson manning the safeties.

I am now 10-2 for the year picking the Giants, which means absolutely nothing. Just throwing it out there.

It's a "stomach injury," according to the report... So either Shockey had some bad clams or it might be something like an abdominal strain. He didn't practice fully today, so he's probable.

UPDATE: It's an abdominal strain. No bad clams.

Steve Smith and Brandon Jacobs are also probable, which is good news. Burress, Pierce, Butler and Ross are questionable, and Wilson is out.

For the Eagles, Brian Dawkins (back) was added to the injury report and he's questionable, along with Brian Westbrook.

Same four starters on the bikes today: WR Plaxico Burress (ankle), LB Antonio Pierce (ankle), S Gibril Wilson (knee) and S James Butler (hamstring). Aaron Ross, Brandon Jacobs and Steve Smith participated in the early drills and we'll see what they did the rest of the time.

Based on some of the comments yesterday, Butler and Plax will play, Wilson will not and Pierce... Not sure about that. He's definitely hurting, but he's been known to be a bit misleading with reporters from time to time, so we'll see. My guess is he doesn't play -- he certainly doesn't want a repeat of '05, when backup TE Steven Spach nearly ripped Pierce's foot off, leading to torn ligaments and the end of Pierce's first Giants season after 12 games.

My last show of the regular season, gang. Here ya go. Make sure to watch to the end to see MG sweat like Albert Brooks in Broadcast News.

Brandon Jacobs too, but he is rarely anything but upbeat.

Aaron Ross: "I still don't feel like me, but I feel good enough to get through it. It's just day to day now, and hopefully I'll be better on Sunday... If they come in a spread offense or with three tight ends, I think I'll be ready for any of it."

Steve Smith: "Today, I did the most I've done (since the hamstring injury). Usually if I run a lot it feels sore, but today it feels good, so I'm happy. I did a lot of scout-team stuff and ran a few plays with the offense. I was in here (Monday) running pretty hard too."

Lots of talk about Brian Westbrook, about playing a big game and even about the Giants' penchant for playing better on the road.

"It shouldn't be that way, but it seems like it's been that way the last couple years," Jacobs said.