Next week is key to the season

[whcarm]

It's still early, I know, but I really think next week will tell us a whole lot about the rest of the season.

It's our last home game before we go on the road for three weeks. It's against a divisional opponent that is currently tied with us for second in the NFC East (half game back of the Eagles who play at home against the Bucs next week).

If we win that game then we will be 4-2 and will be able to head off on the road against the Panthers, Commanders and Cardinals with confidence. If we don't win, then we are going to be back in turmoil once again.

We are pretty evenly matched with the Giants. We both have top 10 rush offenses. We both have top 10 scoring offenses. We both have top 10 total offense.

We have a top 5 rush defense, but they are in the top 10. Both pass defenses aren't that great. We are in the top 20, while they are in the top 25. We are in the top 15 with sacks, they are probably close to the top 15 after their sacks of Vick today.

The only major mismatch is that they have a top 10 passing offense while we are closer to about 25th in the league.

So, overall things seem pretty evenly matched. But we have home field advantage. But they showed they could play well on the road against a tough team in Atlanta today.

We really need to win this game. If we win it, then I think we will end up at 10-6. If we can't beat the Giants then I think we will probably go 8-8.

 

[parchy]

If this is anything like last year, we do alright in this game, win five of our next six and then just collapse in Giants II.

But hey, new year right? Maybe we fold now.

 

[Galian Beast]

I agree with you completely.

If we win against the Giants we can go 7-2 going into the game against Indy. This team will have an identity, and that said I think we should probably be owning any team in the nfl by then.

This team has probably more potential on offense than it does even on defense.

I think we need to do a better job on special teams returns, because we're really sacrificing yards.

Eli Manning isn't all that mobile, nor does he have the quickest release, nor does he really hurt you early on in games, he still makes lots of mistakes. I expect that this game will be a redeemer compared to the Eagles game. I am worried about their pass rush though.

 

[Rampage]

throw T.O. the damn ball and we will be alright. did you guys notice how pumped up we got after he scored. plus i don't fear indy

 

[Billy Bullocks]

Our run D needs to keep playing like they have. If we can take away Tiki and make Eli beat us, we will win.

I don't think that our season would be over if we lost, but I think it might really set the tone in terms of if we are a wild cardish team, or a division winner.

We have an easier late schedule than the rest of our division, which should bode well for us, especially if we can come out of the early portion of the year succesfully.

 

[The Fonz]

If you have poor execution or poor play calling you get bad results. I do think we’re a good team, but we’re not playing at that consistent level yet. I will take the win today but don't forget,the Houston Texans are ranked last in the league in defense and 29th in offense,so our good test as you said will be next week and at home.

 

[LittleBoyBlue]

throw T.O. the damn ball and we will be alright. did you guys notice how pumped up we got after he scored. plus i don't fear indy

Yeah we gotta get him the ball on a regular basis... this guy can rack up points for us... if we do... we can go 8-3 with the remaining games....(9-2 or 10-1 would be better of course) ... we just cant go 7-4 because that might not be enough

 

[LittleBoyBlue]

If you have poor execution or poor play calling you get bad results. I do think we’re a good team, but we’re not playing at that consistent level yet. I will take the win today but don't forget,the Houston Texans are ranked last in the league in defense and 29th in offense,so our good test as you said will be next week and at home.

Nice sig... but you need to put little fences between the WR's and DB's

 

[Frosty]

The things I think, I think that will be tested next week

Bledsoe is he still in command or sinks his own ship

TO can the coaching staff, TO and Bledsoe get on the same page to make a difference

Can Mike Zimmer keep the Cowboys Defense from giving up the Big Play and still play defense

Will the Cowboys coaches get out coached

Bottom line I'll take a ugly win, just win baby

 

[TheSkaven]

If we win against the Giants we can go 7-2 going into the game against Indy.

7-2? I want more of what you are drinking. It's a tough divisional matchup against the Giants (which we should win), it is on the road against Carolina (one of the hottest teams in the league now that Steve Smith is back), then an NFC East road game against the Commanders. Yeah, this team could go 7-2, but they could almost as easily be 4-4.

There really are no soft spots in this schedule.

 

[AbeBeta]

Next Monday is huge. To get to the playoffs we need to got at least 6-2 at home -- our 3 divisional home games are musts.

 

[alancdc]

We need to win this week, and be 4-2 going to Carolina. The irony is that Carolina tends to play better on the road than at home? They really don't have much of a home field advantage. Having said that, we need to be 4-2 going into that game.

 

[canters]

In all fairness to the team, and wishful thinking, I see us being 5-3 at the midway point. If we don't beat the G-men, we MUST beat the Panthers (tall order---Steve Smith is carrying the team and Jenkins and Peppers will be hard to handle).

We should be able to beat the 'skins.

 

[ghst187]

I tend to agree, its a must-win game for us, at least if we want to be a contender.
The NYG are a good team, we haven't beaten a good team yet.