Slowing Momentum, Offensive Woes Leave Giants’ Playoff Hopes in Question

The New York Giants entered Thursday night with a clear edict. Beat the floundering Eagles in Philly, and the surging Giants would be in the playoffs for the first time since their Super Bowl run in 2011.

But the Giants didn’t win for the ninth time in 10 games. In falling to the Eagles 24-19, a number of problems were exposed for the G-Men. Some of the problems are old. Others are new.

And combined together, they were enough to cloud the Giants’ postseason fortunes and hand the NFC East title to their hated rivals in Dallas.

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The first problem is one that’s gotten very little attention of late. After downing the Cowboys for the second time this season a couple of weeks ago (the only team in the NFL that’s beaten Dallas at all), the Giants were hailed far and wide as the hottest team in the NFL.

But they really haven’t been that hot—especially on offense.

The Giants haven’t scored 20 points in a game in the month of December. During the six-game winning streak that preceded the dropoff, the Giants averaged 23.7 points a game. Over the last month, however, that number has dropped by more than a touchdown.

The Giants are 2-2 over those four games.

It isn’t hard to find the reasons for the offensive slowdown. Over a month ago, tailback Rashad Jennings told Zach Braziller of the New York Post it was imperative that Big Blue improved running the football down the stretch.

“November, December, got to be able to run the ball,” the veteran running back said. “Every team needs to be able to run the ball and stop the run in November and December, and we got to continue to learn how to do that.”

Yeah, about that.

Entering Week 16, New York ranked 30th in the NFL in rushing, averaging just 81.2 yards a game. Yes, there’s been some improvement …

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