The New York Giants woke up this morning in a place no prognosticator thought they would be halfway through the 2011 NFL season -- 6-2 and clearly in the lead in the NFC East. The Giants' improbable 24-20 victory in New England Sunday against the Patriots was the clearest indication yet that the Giants are indeed for real in the fight for the playoffs in the NFC.
At 6-2, the Giants have a two-game lead over the Dallas Cowboys (4-4), and still. have two games to play against the Cowboys. The Philadelphia Eagles can improved to 4-4 with a victory over the Chicago Bears this evening on Monday Night Football. The Washington Redskins (3-5) are fading slowly out of the picture.
The Giants face a difficult road over the final eight weeks of the season. New York's remaining schedule may be the toughest in all of football.
At San Francisco, vs. Philadelphia, at New Orleans, vs. Green Bay, at Dallas, vs. Washington, at New York Jets, vs. Dallas.
The Giants served notice on Sunday, though, that they will be a force to be reckoned with in all of those games.