Eagles vs. Giants, Week 17: Randle should have 'significant role' in 2013

The New York Giants finally broke out of their funk, but it was simply a case of too little, too late.

On Sunday afternoon at MetLife Stadium, the Giants pounded the Philadelphia Eagles 42-7 in Andy Reid's final game as coach, but they didn't get the other help around the league to propel them into the playoffs for a second consecutive season.

Now, the Giants hold the 19th pick in the NFL Draft and will move into the future knowing they have many pieces in place, but certainly some issues that need to be addressed.

As Ed Valentine points out over at Big Blue View, there are a lot of positives to take away from the 2012 campaign:

Randle started and played most of the game because the Giants -- finally -- determined that the rookie was a better option than the diminished Hakeem Nicks, who was never fully healthy this season. He caught two touchdown passes, including a 38-yarder that -- with his bad knee and foot -- Nicks simply would not have been able to haul in. Randle showed that he has developed to the point where the Giants have to find a significant role for him in 2013.

We saw Stevie Brown pick off his eighth pass of the season, once again confirming that he is the best 'center field' type safety the Giants have had in a long time.

It's not going to be a happy next few weeks for Giants fans as they watch other teams making treks through the playoffs, but then again it's never a fun time regardless of how you missed the postseason.