EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. Is this beginning to seem familiar?
The back-to-back horrible losses? The coach on the hot seat? The harrowing, narrow road win against the Washington Redskins? The sudden emergence of an offense on a roll? The energized locker room?
And, coming next to a New Jersey swampland near you: A raucous Giants Stadium, complete with fans waving 80,000 towels at the Philadelphia Eagles.
That was the way it was in 2000, when the Giants stormed into Super Bowl XXXV with seven wins in a row. And that is how 2002 is beginning to look, with the Giants having won three in a row and ready to host the Eagles with a chance to secure a wild-card berth.
The situation is simple, and it will be reinforced on the towels fans will be given on their way into the stadium: Win & In.
Only seven starters from two seasons ago are starters now, but there are plenty of holdovers who recall what it was like and see the resemblance.
Its a belief you can go out there and win thats a remnant of the Super Bowl year, cornerback Jason Sehorn said. We stepped on the field with confidence and we had success. They go hand in hand.
Coach Jim Fassel said, Its a team right now that is dealing with the same type of confidence. Are we good enough? That is yet to be determined.
Even if they win Saturday, the Giants almost certainly are not good enough to overcome being a wild card, which likely would mean needing to win three consecutive road games to reach the Super Bowl.
But that is a function of a mediocre start that ruined any chance of being a No. 1 seed, as they were in 2000.
In some ways, though, for all their injuries and inexperience, the Giants believe they are better than they were then, especially on offense. If we had this offense for the Super Bowl, boy, I think we would have won that sucker easily, defensive end Michael Strahan said, recalling a 34-7 loss to the Baltimore Ravens in which the Giants totaled 152 yards.
Kerry Collins, Amani Toomer and Tiki Barber are playing better than ever, tight end Jeremy Shockey has added a new dimension and the rebuilt line continues to improve. The Giants have scored more points in each of the past two games than they did in any regular-season game in 2000.
Maintaining that pace against the Eagles, who rank second in both total defense and scoring defense, will be a daunting task. They have been on a remarkable roll, winning six games in a row, five since they lost quarterback Donovan McNabb to a broken ankle.
Weve all been thinking about Philly since (Sundays 44-27 victory over the Indianapolis Colts) was over, Strahan said Monday after the players voluntarily came in to watch tapes. I was happy about the win but I wasnt jumping for joy, because I realize the toughest team we will face all season we have this week to make the playoffs.
The Giants three wins over the Eagles in 2000, including a playoff game, was the key to the Super Bowl run, and their three losses to them in the past two seasons is the biggest reason they have lost the past two NFC East races.
Turning around that trend Saturday would land the Giants back in the postseason, after which anything would seem possible. I think we could be a very dangerous team in the playoffs, cornerback Will Allen said.
As in 2000, that clearly is the mood of most players and coaches after Sundays rout. Fassel did not even bother watching a tape of the Colts game, saying, I didnt feel like I needed to. I was at the game.`
Instead, he focused on the Eagles, including their 17-3 victory over the Giants Oct. 28. Its going to be one hell of a football game, Fassel said. Theyve got their invitation to the dance. Were still waiting for ours in the mail.
And, coming next to a New Jersey swampland near you: A raucous Giants Stadium, complete with fans waving 80,000 towels at the Philadelphia Eagles.
That was the way it was in 2000, when the Giants stormed into Super Bowl XXXV with seven wins in a row. And that is how 2002 is beginning to look, with the Giants having won three in a row and ready to host the Eagles with a chance to secure a wild-card berth.
The situation is simple, and it will be reinforced on the towels fans will be given on their way into the stadium: Win & In.
Only seven starters from two seasons ago are starters now, but there are plenty of holdovers who recall what it was like and see the resemblance.
Its a belief you can go out there and win thats a remnant of the Super Bowl year, cornerback Jason Sehorn said. We stepped on the field with confidence and we had success. They go hand in hand.
Coach Jim Fassel said, Its a team right now that is dealing with the same type of confidence. Are we good enough? That is yet to be determined.
Even if they win Saturday, the Giants almost certainly are not good enough to overcome being a wild card, which likely would mean needing to win three consecutive road games to reach the Super Bowl.
But that is a function of a mediocre start that ruined any chance of being a No. 1 seed, as they were in 2000.
In some ways, though, for all their injuries and inexperience, the Giants believe they are better than they were then, especially on offense. If we had this offense for the Super Bowl, boy, I think we would have won that sucker easily, defensive end Michael Strahan said, recalling a 34-7 loss to the Baltimore Ravens in which the Giants totaled 152 yards.
Kerry Collins, Amani Toomer and Tiki Barber are playing better than ever, tight end Jeremy Shockey has added a new dimension and the rebuilt line continues to improve. The Giants have scored more points in each of the past two games than they did in any regular-season game in 2000.
Maintaining that pace against the Eagles, who rank second in both total defense and scoring defense, will be a daunting task. They have been on a remarkable roll, winning six games in a row, five since they lost quarterback Donovan McNabb to a broken ankle.
Weve all been thinking about Philly since (Sundays 44-27 victory over the Indianapolis Colts) was over, Strahan said Monday after the players voluntarily came in to watch tapes. I was happy about the win but I wasnt jumping for joy, because I realize the toughest team we will face all season we have this week to make the playoffs.
The Giants three wins over the Eagles in 2000, including a playoff game, was the key to the Super Bowl run, and their three losses to them in the past two seasons is the biggest reason they have lost the past two NFC East races.
Turning around that trend Saturday would land the Giants back in the postseason, after which anything would seem possible. I think we could be a very dangerous team in the playoffs, cornerback Will Allen said.
As in 2000, that clearly is the mood of most players and coaches after Sundays rout. Fassel did not even bother watching a tape of the Colts game, saying, I didnt feel like I needed to. I was at the game.`
Instead, he focused on the Eagles, including their 17-3 victory over the Giants Oct. 28. Its going to be one hell of a football game, Fassel said. Theyve got their invitation to the dance. Were still waiting for ours in the mail.
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