 The New York Giants have been incredible through the first four games of the season. They dominate on both sides of the ball, ranking fifth in scoring offense and sixth in scoring defense. The offense is gaining over 400 yards a game with a balanced attack and the defense is holding teams to a league low 232.3 yards a game. This team currently looks like they could make it back to the Super Bowl fairly easily. The first four games of the 2009 NFL schedule opened division wins over the Washington Redskins and the Dallas Cowboys. Then the Giants beat up on Tampa Bay (24-0) in Week 3 and convincingly beat the Kansas City Chiefs 27-16. Eli Manning is definitely one of the top five, if not the top three, quarterbacks in the league right now. He has a quarterback rating of 104.1 and has earned those high marks by doing more than being a game manager. Manning is throwing for 259.9 yards a game. That number is good for ninth in the league, but includes eight touchdown passes and just two picks. He somehow has been able to connect on 63.2 percent of his passes and average an impressive 8.31 yards per attempt. Manning gives the Giants a field general that makes the offense more than just a running back duo eating up yards and clock. Still, the New York Giants offensive game plan relies on the backs to do just that. Brandon Jacobs has averaged just 3.6 yards a carry. The backs numbers have been slipping since he averaged five yards a carry in 2007 and 2008. This could be the result of teams stacking the line though, which probably has helped Manning put such impressive numbers. The number two back Ahmad Bradshaw is getting about half the carries as Jacobs, but has been making the most of them, averaging 5.6 yards a carry. The number that has to concern Giants fans a little bit is one. The Giants running backs have combined for just one rushing touchdown. Kicker Lawrence Tynes has been picking up plenty of field goals as a result, hitting 10 of 13 attempts in just four games (including 5 of 7 from 20 to 29 yards out). Instead Manning has been getting those points with a surprisingly good core of receivers. Steve Smith is the go to target with 34 catches. He does not have the big play ability of the other Steve Smith, as evident by his 12.1 yards per reception. Still he has caught 34 balls and four touchdowns. The deep threat had been Mario Manningham, but with the return of rookie Hakeem Hixon Mannignham could lose his starting spot. Manningham is a feast or famine player that drives fans and fantasy owners mad with his inconsistency and dropped passes. Kevin Boss remains a solid target in the middle of the field. The tight end is a big target and has replaced Jeremy Shockey despite lacking the athleticism. Manning has a solid group with Boss and the group of young receivers and has this team playing with unbelievable balance, averaging 255.5 yards a game in the air and 145.5 yards a game on the ground. The defense may only be allowing 232.3 yards a game overall, but 117.3 of those yards are on the ground. That number is actually the 13th worst in the league. The Giants have focused on stopping the pass, leading the league by far with just 115 yards a game through the air. The Giants scheme works in a new era in professional football where passing is arguably more important than running the ball. New York has been winning the turnover battle too, with eight takeaways and just four turnovers. The upcoming Giants schedule has a few very big tests In Week 6 they play the Saints in New Orleans, in Week 8 they the Eagles in Philadelphia, and in Week 9 they play the Chargers at home. New York has issues as well. Manning injured his foot in Week 4. It is nothing too serious, but will require him to play through a great deal of pain until he can finally get some rest in Week 10. Given the running game's failure to put the ball in the end zone this could mean Giants fans have something to worry about. If Eli is not delivering precise aerial strikes then the rather difficult schedule ahead could seriously hinder the team's playoff hopes.
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