david dieHl - New York Giants

Giants nearing end after another clunker
By Jonathan Clegg
Wall Street Journal
Dec. 24, 2012
BALTIMORE—The Giants' defense of their Super Bowl title didn't officially end here Sunday.
This team isn't mathematically eliminated from playoff contention. We can't categorically rule
out the possibility that a franchise known for catching fire late in the season will somehow earn
another implausible postseason reprieve.
But if Sunday's 33-14 loss to the Baltimore Ravens didn't definitively bring down the curtain on
their chaotic season, it certainly felt like the end of the road.
"I'm shocked at what happened today. It's frustrating, it's disappointing. That's all I know,"
defensive tackle Chris Canty said after the game.
For the second straight week, the Giants fell in a blowout defeat in a critical late-season
showdown, further diminishing their chances of reaching the postseason and extending a
second-half collapse that has left fans, players and coaches collectively scratching their heads.
Having looked like one of the league's elite teams midway through the season, the Giants have
now lost five of their last seven games to fall to 8-7. This latest letdown against a Ravens team
that came into the game on their own three-game losing streak means they can no longer win
the NFC East divisional title.
"It's a very difficult time for all of us. What has happened the last couple of weeks is very
difficult to explain," coach Tom Coughlin said.
The Giants must beat the Philadelphia Eagles next weekend and receive significant help from
other teas if they are to sneak into the playoffs as a wild card. Even if the Giants win their final
game, they will likely only qualify for the playoffs if Dallas, Minnesota and Chicago all lose next
weekend.
"If you get in the playoffs, you deserve to make it. That's very remote right now," Coughlin said.
"I feel badly for everybody in that locker room because I'm sure none of them can figure this
thing out either."
Sunday's loss showcased many of the flaws that have plagued this team of late. The offense
couldn't sustain drives, the defense couldn't get off the field and the Ravens easily won both the
time-of-possession and field-position battles. In a game that was all but over by halftime, the
Ravens rolled up a season-high 535 yards of total offense, including 227 rushing yards, and held
the ball for more than 39 minutes.
But this setback also raised a fresh set of headaches. The offensive line, which had given up the
fewest sacks in the league coming into Sunday's game, was terrorized by the Ravens' pass rush,
surrendering three sacks and ensuring that Eli Manning was under heavy duress almost every
time he dropped back to pass.