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They've lost two of their last three games. And they were waxed, 34-0, by the Atlanta Falcons last Sunday, when Eli Manning threw two picks and the Giants' run defense was gashed, as it has been all season.

Sure, the Giants will come in fired up. They're 8-6 and fighting for a playoff spot. But they're 2-4 in the second half of the season. And they¿re definitely not the Giants of 2011, who were 7-7 after 14 games and went on that magical run to the Super Bowl.

Giants coach Tom Coughlin used the term "baffling" the other day to describe his team's struggles. Not only that, but Manning seems to be going through the same rocky patch as Joe Flacco, with the same thousand-yard stare when things go wrong.

And plenty has gone wrong: Manning has thrown 10 picks in his past eight games, habitually earning that classic sideline hands-on-hips, schoolmarm glare from his coach.

1. The Giants are not exactly rolling in here like Lombardi's Packers.

( Kevin C. Cox, Getty Images / December 16, 2012 )

They've lost two of their last three games. And they were waxed, 34-0, by the Atlanta Falcons last Sunday, when Eli Manning threw two picks and the Giants' run defense was gashed, as it has been all season. Sure, the Giants will come in fired up. They're 8-6 and fighting for a playoff spot. But they're 2-4 in the second half of the season. And they¿re definitely not the Giants of 2011, who were 7-7 after 14 games and went on that magical run to the Super Bowl. Giants coach Tom Coughlin used the term "baffling" the other day to describe his team's struggles. Not only that, but Manning seems to be going through the same rocky patch as Joe Flacco, with the same thousand-yard stare when things go wrong. And plenty has gone wrong: Manning has thrown 10 picks in his past eight games, habitually earning that classic sideline hands-on-hips, schoolmarm glare from his coach.

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