It seems that the plan for the New York Giants to repeat as Super Bowl champions is in jeopardy.  And it all started just a few weeks ago with the arrest of star wide receiver Plaxico Burress.

Plaxico Burress is the outspoken and often in trouble New York Giant receiver who was suspended after shooting himself in the thigh at a nightclub in New York City. 

Since his suspension, the Giants have lost two games in a row and the offense has stalled.  The Giants front office and coaches say their recent slump has nothing to do with the Plaxico situation but there is no denying the loss of Burress could very well cost the Giants (11-3) the first-round bye that just weeks ago seemed a sure thing.

If the Giants lose their final two games to Carolina (11-3) and Minnesota (9-5) and the Vikings win their last two, then the Giants will play a first-round game.

The Plaxico-less offense has been able to muster only 1 touchdown in losses to the Philadelphia and Dallas the past two weeks.

“There is very little getting done offensively,” coach Tom Coughlin said Monday. “We are just unable right now; we haven’t made a play in the last couple of weeks and we really have to make some plays. We’re very disappointed. The players are disappointed.”

The road won’t get any easier this week with the Panthers coming to the Meadowlands for a game in which the winner will clinch a first-round bye and NFC’s home-field advantage for the postseason.

In addition to the loss of Plaxico - Brandon Jacobs, the “earth” of the “earth, wind and fire” running back trio, has a knee injury that sidelined against the Cowboys last week and may be unavailable for the matchup next week with Carolina.

Plaxico’s replacement Domik Hixon has not stepped up and has dropped at least one sure touchdown pass and the senior citizen of the receivers, Amani Toomer is no longer a deep pass threat.

The Giants offensive line has also played sub-par over the last two weeks.  The offensive line has protected Eli Manning well, but against the Cowboys, Eli was sacked 8 times and 12 times over the last two weeks.

What is going on?

Since Plaxico is out, teams no longer need to double team the receivers. Instead they can position the Safety to stop the run.  And with Brandon Jacobs out, the Giant running attack is suspect.

The one bright spot for the Giants is their defense.  Their defense kept them in the 20-14 loss to Philadelphia and the 20-8 loss to Dallas.

Sundays game will be a testament to the intestinal fortitude of the Giants - but they have come back from adversity before.

Don’t count the Giants out yet!

Oh boy, the NFL Week 15 Power Ranking are out and the Titans have regained top billing.  The NY Giants slipped to number 2 after their week 14 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles.  Here are the rankings.
1. Titans (12-1) (2): The train keeps on rollin’. After upset loss two weeks ago to Jets, Titans back on track and on the way to No. 1 seed.

2. Giants (11-2) (1): A momentary glitch, or a sign of things to come? We’ll give the defending champs the benefit of the doubt and choose the former. For a more definitive answer, tune in on Sunday night in Big D.

3. Stillers (10-3) (3): You’ve got to be good to be lucky. In Sunday’s comeback win over the Cowboys, the Stillers were both.

4. Panthers (10-3) (6): Holy Crap(honso) Thorpe! 299 rushing yards against the Bucs? Whoa. Big challenge for Panthers now is winning on the road. They’re unbeaten at home.

5. Colts (9-4) (8): That’s six wins and counting. Home to Detroit, at Jacksonville and home to a Titans team that might not need the win in the finale, and the Colts might win out.

6. Buccaneers (9-4) (4): How often do you see this defense get pushed around like they did last night? Answer: not very.

7. Ravens (9-4) (9): Ravens are in the hunt in the AFC North, but we see Ray Lewis, Joe Flacco & Co. as a wild card team. ‘Specially if they lose at home to the Stillers this weekend.

8. Falcons (8-5) (5): Matt Ryan can’t close the deal in N’Awlins.

9. Patriots (8-5) (11): Huge day for Wes Welker as the receiver keys New England’s comeback in Seattle to insure three-way tie atop AFC East.

10. Dolphins (8-5) (14): The classic example of a well-coached team that doesn’t beat itself.

11. Cowboys (8-5) (10): Tony Romo is still a young quarterback, but he is putting together a series of late-season clunkers that can’t be ignored. Latest example: Sunday in Pittsburgh with a pick-six in the final moments against the Stillers.

12. Vikings (8-5) (12): In a word: whew! Vikes get past upset-minded Lions on the road.

13. Cardinals (8-5) (13): Kurt Warner beats his old Rams team to clinch a rare divisional title for the Cards.

14. Jets (8-5) (7): How many more ways can they break the fans’ hearts? After mega-wins at New England and Tennessee, losses to Denver and San Francisco bring them back to earth with a thud.

15. Iggles (7-5-1) (18): As long as Brian Westbrook is in the lineup, the Iggles have a chance. Massive win against defending champs on the road keeps their slim playoff hopes alive.

16. Broncos (8-5) (15): Looked like the Broncos were gonna lose against to an awful divisional opponent at home. Then Jay Cutler and the Broncos’ D saved the day against the Chiefs.

17. Saints (8-6) (17): Season-saving win over the Falcons.

18. Bears (7-6) (19): Bears manhandle woeful Jags to keep pace in what figures to be a down-to-the-wire race in the NFC North.

19. Texans (6-7) (22): It’s too little too late, but at least the Texans are showing something down the stretch.

20. 49ers (5-8) (23): Ever since Mike Singletary realized dropping his pants wasn’t the best way to win his players’ hearts, the 49ers have played some solid ball. Latest evidence: upset win over the Jets on Sunday.

21. Bills (6-7) (20): Nice way to export the NFL. Bills look completely inept in “home” game in Toronto against Dolphins.

22. Redskins (7-6) (16): They’re at Cincinnati, but they’re still no lock. They’re just awful.

23. Chargers (5-8) (26): Bolts thrash Raiders at home in 3-D on NFL Network. Whoop-de-do.

24. Packers (5-8) (21): How do you give up more than 500 yards … at home … to the Texans?

25. Jaguars (4-9) (24): Put Jack Del Rio at the head of the 2009 class of Coaches on the Hot Seat.

26. Browns (4-9) (25): Even Marty Schottenheimer is poo-pooing a return to Cleveland. Then again, he’s not offering a flat-out “no.”

27. Seahawks (2-11) (27): About the only good thing you can say about this team: They still play hard. Always the loser’s lament.

28. Chiefs (2-11) (28): See comment above.

29. Raiders (3-10) (29): The three words in the NFL that ring hollow: Pride and poise.

30. Bengals (1-11-1) (30): Well, at least Carson Palmer might not need elbow surgery.

31. Rams (2-11) (31): Did this team really beat the Redskins and Cowboys?

32. Lions (0-13) (32): Before Sunday’s game against the Vikings, head coach Rod Marinelli showed his players the team picture and asked if they wanted to see this in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, representative of the league’s first-ever 0-16 team. Even that didn’t work, as Lions blow a lead against the Vikings in what have been their last best chance to win.

Source: Newsday

TEAMS
Dallas Cowboys (5-3) at New York Giants (6-1)

GAME INFO
November 2, 2008
Time: 4:15
TV: Fox
Surface: Field Turf - Giants Stadium
Weather: More sun than clouds. Cool. 55° F. 6mph wind

SPREAD
N.T Giants (-9)  Under/Over 41 Points

TEAM STANDINGS
The Dallas Cowboys are in jeopardy of falling out of the NFC East playoff race with half the season to go. They trail the New York Giants (6-1) and Washington Redskins (6-2). The Philadelphia Eagles are right behind them at 4-3.

The New York Giants, on the other hand, have reeled off two consecutive wins and are in first place in the NFC East.

MOMENTUM
The Dallas Cowboys started the season strong, winning their first 3 games. Since then, they are 2-3. The Cowboys are 2-2 on the road and 3-3 against NFC teams. They beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Home last week by a score of 13-9. The Cowboys are averaging a little over 25 points a game while giving up, on average, 24 points a game.

The New York Giants are 4-0 at home and 4-0 against NFC teams. They have won 2 straight going into Sunday’s game.  They have won two in a row, are 4-0 at home, and 1-2 on the road.  They are averaging 27 points a game while giving up only 16.  In the fourth quarter of last Sunday’s game they held the Pittsburgh Steelers to -18 yards total offense - just an outstanding feat, considering the Steelers offense is led by quarterback Ben Roethlisberger.

KEY INJURIES
Cowboys: OG Kyle Kosier (foot sprain), RB Felix Jones (hamstring), CB Terence Newman (sports hernia) and QB Tony Romo (broken right pinkie) are out; TE Jason Witten (broken rib) said he wants to find a way to play if possible. Giants: OLB Gerris Wilkinson (knee) is out.

KEYS TO THE GAME
According to NFl.com, QB Brad Johnson will start, but if he struggles early the Cowboys won’t hesitate to turn to Brooks Bollinger, who took practice snaps with the first team this week. The 40-year-old Johnson lacks arm strength and mobility, making it difficult for him to get out of the way of the Giants’ ferocious pass rush or hurt New York vertically. Either quarterback will need a massive game from RB Marion Barber to alleviate the pressure. … If CB Anthony Henry isn’t ready to play, the Cowboys will start a pair of rookies in Mike Jenkins and Orlando Scandrick. Even when healthy, Dallas would have a difficult time matching up with all of the Giants’ options downfield, so the Cowboys desperately need an effective pass rush. Giants QB Eli Manning is still prone to critical errors when forced to unload the ball before he wants to.

SERIES HISTORY
This is the 92nd regular-season meeting between the two. The Cowboys lead the series 54-35-2. The Cowboys won the two regular-season games last year, but the Giants beat the Cowboys in the playoffs en route to winning the Super Bowl title. A Cowboys win would be their fourth straight regular-season win against the Giants.

PICK PREDICTION

Giants 27-13
Take the Giants even though they are giving nine points to the ‘Boys.

• The Giants defense is just too good
• Brad Johnson lack of mobility
• Giants are playing at home
• The weather will not hamper Eli Manning