The Coughlin conundrum
 

I think this is the worst situation a coach could face. He has two stars (Burris and Jacobs) that need rest and he faces a blowout if he doesn't play them. So we know he's going to play them. He's passed the first portal where he committed to avoiding the blowout, claiming that he's trying to win the game.

What is he really planning to do if the score reaches a certain margin, though? I think his worst nightmare is having proclaimed that he's trying to win the game, and then finding his team down 2-3 TDs in the first half. That's where the rubber meets the road for Coughlin. When Tom Coughlin believes that it's a losing battle then he will be forced to yank starters like Burris and Jacobs in order to have a shot at Tampa Bay. The problem is that 2-3 TDs is not an insurmountable lead to take back, but in his mind he won't be able to hide the fact that he believes it is insurmountable.

And then things could get really ugly. Once his team sniffs his real intentions, it's all over by the bawling. All that is there for entertainment factor is watching records fall, and waiting for the clock to tick down to the first 16-0 season in history. That's great for half of the fans. It's a living hell for the other half. I think a lot of TVs click off at that point so that they won't have to watch. Maybe some will stay on just to dwell upon history being made, even if it is painful history for them. Fans will have decisions to make too.

An easier consideration for Bill is when to yank Tom and Randy. Well, after they get their records then he has no reason to leave them in there except to maintain the lead. We know he won't give a team any shot to get the momentum back. Maybe he decides to run the ball at that point - a pretty safe option for the QB and receivers. Whatever, he seems to have a much easier decision than Coughlin.

If you're asking me the Giants have created a nightmare of inconsistency this year where they still don't know who they are as a team. Their QB has been wildly inconsistent, and is on a major downward trend lately. That is now fully in their faces. They are a tweener team and to me that's the worst kind of team to have going up against a great team one week before the playoffs. That's the lose-lose that they have created by being inconsistent. It's their baby. Take care of your babies you real men.

Re: The Coughlin conundrum
 

You know how when a team makes it to the Superbowl, other teams try to copy them?

I think Eli's terrible play is intentional; they are just following the Chicago Bears model.

Re: The Coughlin conundrum
 

I hope they go all out.................. LOSE (and they will), and then lose to TB in the first round. The Jinks suck and deserve every *****ty turn their crappy coach puts them in.

Re: The Coughlin conundrum
 

Damn that's funny.

Re: The Coughlin conundrum
 

Tom shouldn't worry. Eli spoke with Peyton this week, and he now has the secret to beating the Pats.

Re: The Coughlin conundrum
 

The W-L record of NE opponents in their next game following a game with NE is 4-11 (Buffalo, Cleveland, Dallas, Washington). Of those 4 wins, 3 came against weak teams (against Jets and Dolphins) and Dallas was lucky to have a bye week to get over the beating before they faced Minnesota. This makes it for another lose-lose situation for Giants (lose to NE and lose to Tampa Bay again).

Re: The Coughlin conundrum
 

Coughlin says they will try to win the game. He didn't say he will play his starters the entire game to try to win the game. Whom ever is on the field for the giants they will try to win the game, that is what coaches get paid to do, win games. It is the exact same thing BB says. They try to win every game no matter what players are on the field.

Re: The Coughlin conundrum
 

Exactly. That's what Coughlin is trying to say...it's the same thing BB says every week. Do you expect him to come out and say "It's a meaningless game and we'll be starting out 2nd and 3rd stringers."?

Re: The Coughlin conundrum
 

This crap is why the best thing to say to the press is "I will do what's best for the team.".

Re: The Coughlin conundrum
 

I think this is the smartest approach. I see no reason to risk injury to Osi, Strahan, Eli, Jacobs or Burress in order to stop a streak.

If I were Coughlin, I'd also be keeping an eye on what Gruden's doing. They've made no bones about resting their starters in TB: http://www2.tbo.com/content/2007/dec...t/?sports-bucs