While fellow writer John Fennelly takes you down a half glass empty path, and then slaps your face and tells you to have a good sunday, I’m going give you the opposite, HOPE. Lets face it the NFC east just isn’t that good, in fact while  I’m writing this post the Eagles are losing to the Redskins 7-3 and if the Giants beat the Cowboys at home on Sunday they will be one game out of the division lead, owning the tiebreaker. “Let me tell you something my friend. Hope is a dangerous thing. Hope can drive a man insane.”

The Giants get a shot at 3 NFC east opponents before the year ends, most notably this week at Dallas and the following week at Philadelphia. If, a huge if, they come out with 2 wins the Giants will most likely be in the last wild card spot and either tied, or one game behind, in the division. The schedule for the Giants, Eagles and Cowboys boast only one patsy each. The Cowboys have the Redskins as do the Giants, and the Eagles get the 49ers. The Eagles and Cowboys have three out of 5 on the road, while the Giants have 3 out of 5 at home. “Remember Red, hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things, and no good thing ever dies.”

Eli Manning may have an injury that could end his season, but I promise you this; If the Giants are still in playoff contention Eli will be out there. Despite the fact that opposing fans ridicule Eli’s toughness it couldn’t be any more of a myth. The younger Manning simply doesn’t miss games. Say what you want but a broken Eli is still better then half the starting qb’s in the league.   “I hope the Pacific is as blue as it has been in my dreams. I hope.”

Is Tom Coughlin on the hot seat? Not at all, is his staff? Yes, but Tom? No No No, in 6 years as the Giants head coach he has compiled a 53-38 record. You don’t fire coaches who win. However you may fire coaches who inherit great defenses and turn them into mush, no doubt Sheridan is on the hot seat. As much as you hate Gilbride, know that he is running Coughlin’s offense, but no doubt he may be pushing the label with his unbalanced attacks and refusal to use another back when running stretch plays. “Forget that… there are places in this world that aren’t made out of stone. That there’s something inside… that they can’t get to, that they can’t touch. That’s yours.”

That leads me to this…Osi Umenyiora and Justin Tuck will not be held down any longer, for no other reason then this: “I have to remind myself that some birds aren’t meant to be caged. Their feathers are just too bright.” These two are absolute studs and even Bill “the terminator” Sheridan can’t hold them down much longer (ok he has for 11 weeks but the quote fires me up so deal with it), now if he could only get the secondary on the same page.

The team is struggling, but as long as the playoffs are still a real possibility, I for one will not  lose hope, but I will hedge my bet knowing this; playoffs or not there is talent here. There is a young wide receiver core, a stable quarterback, dynamic defensive ends, an emerging corner (t2) and a solid head coach. Another year, some new coordinators and an infusion of young talent and next year we may be back in Zejatenao, like we were in 2007. They are truly not far off….I HOPE.