Alright, we’ve all had a couple of days to grieve. Some of us called into work sick, using excuses we would be ashamed to admit. Some of us have yet to get out of bed, in hopes that we can sleep away our feelings. Some of us now owe a kidney to our acquaintance from Philadelphia, should the need for one ever arise (I still don’t remember making this bet). But now that some time has passed, it’s time for us to reflect on what we all witnessed.

To quote one of the great comedy films of our time, The Big Lebowski, “I’ve had a rough night and I hate the [expletive]-ing Eagles, man.”

I could talk about how the two things that everyone said would hurt the Giants did; Osi Umenyiora’s injury and Plaxico Burress shooting himself in the leg were hurdles the Giants could not overcome. The Giants could not put any pressure on Donovan McNabb and struggled to move the ball in the air, especially within striking distance of the end zone. I’m not saying that the Giants probably would have won if they had Osi and Plax. I’m saying that the Giants definitely would have won if they had Osi and Plax (prove me wrong).

I could talk about how our signature win in the post-Plax era came against a team who needed a last second field goal to beat the mediocre Saints and then got absolutely throttled by the slightly-better-than-average Arizona Cardinals. Apparently the Panthers were not that good, and the Giants’ hard fought victory over them was a battle of two struggling teams, not an NFC Championship preview.

I could talk about how I was right in saying that the #1 key to stopping the Eagles’ offense was to pressure McNabb, not to stop Brian Westbrook. The Giants again failed to record a single sack on McNabb, allowing him to convert key third downs at will.

I could talk about how the game was over when McNabb eluded roughly 15 Giants blitzers and converted a 3^rd and 20. The sad part is, not a single person was surprised to see it happen.

I could talk about McNabb’s childish picking-up-the-phone gag in celebration of a first down, but I won’t because he earned the right to be a smug, arrogant [expletive].

I could talk about how it took fellow blogger David Jacks just 30 minutes of watching Brian Dawkins commit helmet-first cheap shots to concede that he is a “dirty [expletive].”

I could talk about my overuse of the word expletive.

I could talk about Kevin Gilbride’s questionable play calling, including three straight passes from shotgun on 1^st and 5, a direct snap to Derrick Ward on 3^rd and 3 and a QB sneak on 4^th and inches, despite the fact that Brandon Jacobs eats 4^th and inches for breakfast. But despite how questionable these calls might have been, the execution was equally terrible.

I could thank coach Tom Coughlin for finally putting Domenik Hixon back on punt returns and using Lawrence Tynes on kickoffs. Unfortunately, it wasn’t enough.

But I won’t talk about all of these things, because it’ll only make everyone sad. I, for one, think there is enough sadness in this world. Let us instead look on the bright side, and examine the many positive things that New Yorkers can anticipate in the immediate future.

• Now that football season is over, Hockey season is officially in full swing. The Rangers and Devils are battling it out for first place (with, of course, a Philadelphia team that will eventually win it all). The Islanders’ 12 wins, while last in the NHL, would qualify them for a playoff spot in the NFL.

• Spring training is only months away and both New York baseball teams have retooled and are ready to rock their new stadiums. Unlike Shea Stadium, Citi Field will come furnished with a home bullpen. The new Yankee Stadium will come with a pitchers mound made of re-enforced steel, which is good news because the Yankees signed the fattest free agent pitcher to the fattest contract ever for a pitcher.
  

• Rumor is that New York will be getting its very own basketball team in 2010. The team will be called the “Knicks” in honor of the team that used to play here from the 1940s-1990s until mysteriously disappearing in 2000.

• A new president will be inaugurated on January 20^th. Whether you’re a member of the Democratic Party, Republican Party, Green Party, Libertarian Party, Constitution Party, Whig Party, Marijuana Party, Boston Tea Party, Boston Three Party, Communist Party, Socialist Party, Federalist Party, Anti-Masonic Party, Pirate Party, LOLcat Party, Sock Gnome Party, Birthday Party, Keg Party, Pre-prom Party, Toga Party or an Independent, this inauguration is a milestone for this country, and a great excuse to play some political drinking games. Take a drink every time President Obama says “change” or “hope” or any time it shows someone in the audience crying.

• By losing in their first playoff game, the Giants will now have a better draft pick than if they had won. It was a strategic move; let’s see if it pays off. This draft is deep at wide receiver, a position that I am told we could stand to improve.

• When the Eagles win the Super Bowl, Giants fans will be glowing with NFC East pride. E-A-G-L-E-S…kill me now.

• According to my Chinese calendar, 2009 is year of the Ox (more specifically, the “Earth Ox”). I can predict that the Giants will re-sign Brandon “Earth” Jacobs, who David Jacks refers to as the “Baby Bull” (Male Oxen are referred to as Bulls…see how it all connects?), and that the “Earth Ox” will flourish in 2009. My Chinese friends tell me that the Ox is also associated with “Water,” meaning that Danny “Water” Ware will play a major role in the 2009 Giants’ season. Bank on it.

• 2009 will be a great year for movies: Bride Wars, Paul Blart: Mall Cop, Untitled Wayans Brothers Project, Confessions of a Shopaholic, The Jonas Brothers 3D concert experience, The Hannah Montana Movie, Tyler Perry’s Madea Goes to Jail, The Fast and the Furious 4: 4 Fast, 4 Furious, Alvin and the Chipmunks 2: The Squeaquel…the list goes on and on.

• The new season of American Idol is upon us! Who will be this year’s Taylor Hicks? Find out soon!

• Piggybacking on my last point is my current point: New Kelly Clarkson album this year! No one does it quite like the original American Idol. And the best part is that a new album means a new tour! If she plays Giants Stadium, I am so there. Who is with me? That’s one trip to the Meadowlands that won’t leave you disappointed. If anyone wants to carpool with me to the Stadium, drop me a line. We can blast Since U Been Gone on repeat the whole way there.

Well I suppose that’s it. Let me know if there’s anything else to look forward to that I missed. I think I got them all, but just like the great Eli Manning, even I sometimes make mistakes.