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New York Giants Drop After Bye In Week 9 Power Rankings

By Kenneth Teape

Oct 23, 2016; London, ENG; Running back Rashad Jennings (23) talks with wide receiver Odell Beckham (13) after his game winning 1 yard rushing touchdown during the fourth quarter of the game between the Los Angeles Rams and the New York Giants at Twickenham Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Flynn-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 23, 2016; London, ENG; Running back Rashad Jennings (23) talks with wide receiver Odell Beckham (13) after his game winning 1 yard rushing touchdown during the fourth quarter of the game between the Los Angeles Rams and the New York Giants at Twickenham Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Flynn-USA TODAY Sports /
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The New York Giants fell in ESPN’s NFL Power Rankings despite coming off their bye week.

The New York Giants headed into their bye week with a 4-3 record after defeating the Los Angeles Rams in London in Week 7. It is right about where many people would have projected the Giants to be; they beat who you’d expect them to and lost to teams many believe are superior to them.

While that is a difficult way to make the postseason, it is where the Giants currently stand. They have improved in some areas, but still need work on the product as a whole. They have been unable to put together a full game in all facets, evident from their last game against the Rams.

They were able to pick up the victory in large part because of the defense. Landon Collins and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie each had two interceptions of Case Keenum. Collins returned the first one of the day for a touchdown, while Rodgers-Cromartie iced the victory for the team in the end.

The offense struggled mightily throughout the afternoon. They couldn’t get anything going against the Rams, scoring their only touchdown after Collins’ second interception. It was an exhibition in ineptitude as the Giants struggled with an ailing Odell Beckham Jr.

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At the end of the day, they got the victory, which was the important thing. It gave them momentum going into the bye week and a winning record. But, it didn’t help them much in ESPN’s NFL Power Rankings.

The Giants headed into their bye week ranked 18th, but come out of it ranked 22nd. Here is what ESPN’s power panel, made up of over 80 writers, editors, and tv personalities, had to say about the Giants heading into Week 9.

"It’s hard to tell if the Giants are pretenders or contenders. They have a 4-3 record, but their minus-8 point differential is the worst in the crowded NFC East. That kind of point differential doesn’t bode well for their potential going forward."

What was said about the Giants isn’t wrong. No one knows for sure if they are playoff contenders or going to fade out in the coming weeks. It is a little weird they are behind teams they beat, such as the New Orleans Saints and Baltimore Ravens at No.19 and No.20 respectively.

The Giants will have a great chance this week to prove they are contenders and move up in the Power Rankings. They face off with NFC East division rivals Philadelphia Eagles. It is a good test for the Giants coming off their bye week and will go a long way to figuring out the playoff picture in the NFC.

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If the Giants are able to win and move to 5-3, they would take over sole possession of the last Wild Card spot, at least. This is the first of many important games for the Giants to end the season. If they can handle their business against their division, and at MetLife Stadium, they should end their playoff drought at four years.

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