Questions On Defense Have NY Giants Longshots For 2011 Super Bowl

NFL News - February 11th, 2010 - Written by John

Just one year removed from earning the no. 1 seed in the NFC playoffs, the New York Giants fell back to earth and missed the postseason altogether. Despite Eli Manning's career year, nothing could be done to stop the bleeding on defense as the unit ranked 30th in the league in points allowed. They surrendered 40 or more points in three of their last four games to finish 8-8, and failed to have a rusher with more than 67 yards in any game after Week 8. Still in one of football's most-brutal divisions, Bodog has New York listed with 20-to-1 odds to straighten it's issues out and win next year's Super Bowl, according to NFL Betting Lines.

If it does, attention will certainly have to be given to the secondary, which picked off a mere 13 passes in '09, and and the front line that registered only 32 sacks. Osi Umenyiuri is threatening to retire if he isn't afforded a starting spot, which could put the front line at an even bigger disadvantage.

But Manning is, in fact, coming off a record year in which he crossed 4,000 yards for the first time and threw 27 touchdowns. Wide receiver Steve Smith was a Pro Bowler in his first full season, catching 107 passes for 1,220 yards and seven touchdowns. Both Mario Manningham and rookie Hakeem Nicks had over 700 yard through the air as well, giving the Giants one of the best receiving corps coming into the 2010 season.

Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw provide one of the conference's best one-two punches if healthy. But that's a big if. Jacobs never carried the ball more than 16 times in any game after Week 8, but still needed major surgery at the end of the year. He had to repair torn cartilage in his right knee on Feb. 5, leaving him out at least a few months before training camp. Bradshaw, who led the team with seven rushing scores, missed one week during the year because of injury, and only had 48 carries over the last five games.