The Giants are in a tough division that is getting tougher while the spluttering Jets may be the worst team in the NFL.
New York Giants:
Last season: As always, the Giants started superbly, going 6-2 before blowing up badly in the second half of the season, missing the play-offs by a hair with a 9-7 record. Under Tom Coghlin they always win more than they lose but usually either just scrape in, or miss out, on the post season. The two-time Vince Lombardi winner gets a shot at redemption this year.
Defensively the Giants were appalling, allowing the second most yards per game of any team, while Eli Manning had a slightly below par year.
This season: You'd always back Coughlin to bounce back but they must end this trend of struggling in the second half of the year. On defence, Jason Pierre Paul and Justin Tuck have to get their old form back and with the wealth of wide out options, Big Blue must score more heavily, especially against divisional rivals Washington, who beat them in two tight ones last year.
Verdict: The Giants are not the Pats, and they are not going to win 14 games. With RGIII back for Washington, the Eagles rejuvenated under Chip Kelly and the Cowboys to overcome too the NFC East is a brutal division. It may all come down to games against Redskins in Week 13 and 17. As always with the Giants it will be close and exciting, but I fear they may just miss out again in 2013.
New York Jets
Last season: It's possible to describe the Jets' season in one word and three numbers: buttfumble, 6-10. That is all.
This season: Jets fans would be lucky to see anything as graceful as a buttfumble this year, they might even be praying for one.
Rex Ryan is a dead man walking, unless he pulls off some miracle and the Jets win the Super Bowl, with Mark Sanchez throwing the game-winning touch down to Poochy the dog, who slams it down and then instantly returns to his home planet.
The quarterback situation can safely be described as a nightmare. Geno Smith has proven that, even with no pressure on him during the preseason, he's unable to cope. Here's an illustrative video to show exactly what we mean.
http://youtu.be/jLS_9EpaWcM
Add to that the fact Sanchez is quite clearly injured and may well end up getting cut before the season is over (or at the very least placed on IR at some stage), Brady Quinn has been picked up as cover and the best looking player that they've had (we mean on the field, in terms of looks Quinn has the market cornered) has been Phil Simm's son Matt, who actually threw some completed passes when he played. It seems that Geno is getting the start though, so the phrase “learning curve” will be heard a lot.
On defence, they're also god awful, and will be coughing up points left, right, and centre and Darrelle Revis, who was their best defensive weapon, is now gone. The only plus point that they do have is that Chris Ivory is a very good running back, but he has trouble staying healthy and any injury to him will absolutely ruin whatever chance the Jets had of making progress when they manage to get possession of the ball.
Verdict: If you're a Jets fan, it might be time to start looking forward to who you can choose with one of the early picks of the draft next year. You might even get the first one. It's going to be a year of single digit wins, and we mean low single digits. Maybe 4-12, if you're lucky and can beat the Bills. If not, best make that 2-14.
