Many folks doubted the Giants were as good as the Cowboys coming into this season on paper, Peter King of SI among them. However King now sees the light and declares the Giants top dogs in the NFL.

In training camp, Justin Tuck told me the defensive linemen were sitting around at the team’s Super Bowl party in Phoenix three hours after the game last February, all talking about winning another one instead of how they were going to celebrate this one. The Giants are deep at running back and wide receiver (even with the Plaxico Burress fireworks), have a workmanlike and versatile offensive line, are surviving the killer losses of Michael Strahan and Osi Umenyiora, and are maturing in the secondary. Will they win again? If they don’t get a big injury on defense, and if Eli Manning continues his steady climb as a passer and leader, the answer is yes.”

I love hearing that story by Tuck. It just goes to show you that this team was hungry for another ring as early as three hours after they won their last one. It is so difficult to repeat, but I think if the Giants can prove their mettle against some tougher opponents, which they’ll soon be facing, they may have a decent shot at defending their title.