The Giants (5-6) came off the bye with a golden opportunity to take command of the NFC East division race. Instead, Big Blue came up short in Washington (5-6), losing 20-14 to split the season series with their division rival. If the season ended today, Washington would win the division based on tiebreakers. The Giants will look to stop a two-game losing streak when they host the Jets (6-5) this Sunday. Washington hosts the Cowboys (3-8) on Monday night.
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Dallas didn't have much to be thankful for last Thursday. Playing in their annual Thanksgiving game, the Cowboys lost, 33-14, to undefeated Carolina (11-0), and lost quarterback Tony Romo, who re-injured his collarbone, for the season. Hours earlier, the Eagles (4-7) lost their third straight game, a 45-14 blowout in Detroit (4-7). The Eagles visit the Patriots (10-1) in Week 13.
With Week 12 of the NFL regular season in the books, Giants.com takes a look at power rankings coming in from outlets across the country:
NYG: 16
Movement: Down 7
NFC East: No. 16 Giants, No. 19 Washington, No. 24 Eagles, No. 26 Cowboys
NFL Top 5: Panthers, Patriots, Cardinals, Bengals, Broncos
Comments: Ahh, the drama (dramedy) of the NFC East. The Giants wasted an opportunity. With the Eagles and Cowboys getting squashed on Turkey Day and the Redskins destined to be a side dish in the division if Big Blue swept them, the outcome was swept away in Eli Manning interceptions and Giant mistakes. But hey, they're still in a first-place tie.
NYG: 18
Movement: Down 7
NFC East: No. 15 Washington, No. 18 Giants, No. 26 Eagles, No. 27 Giants
NFL Top 5: Panthers, Broncos, Patriots, Cardinals, Bengals
Comments: It is a season of could-have-beens and should-have-beens for the Giants. They squandered leads to lose their first two games. They lost a game against the Patriots they should have won. And there was no excuse for the Giants playing the way they played for three quarters Sunday against the Redskins. Their late rally wasn't enough, and now the Giants find themselves in catch-up mode (thanks to the Redskins' tie-breaker edge) in a division race they could have all but wrapped up Sunday.
NYG: 17
Movement: Down 3
NFC East: No. 16 Washington, No. 17 Giants, No. 24 Eagles, No. 26 Cowboys
NFL Top 5: Panthers, Patriots, Cardinals, Broncos, Bengals
Comments: What a disappointing performance. For three quarters Eli Manning just torpedoed their chances, and by the time he warmed up it was too late. Amazing this team almost beat the Patriots a few weeks ago.
NYG: 13
Movement: Down 3
NFC East: No. 12 Washington, No. 13 Giants, No. 27 Eagles, No. 30 Cowboys
NFL Top 5: Panthers, Patriots, Broncos, Cardinals, Bengals
Comments: With three top-10 defenses left to play, they can't bank on Odell Beckham and Eli Manning to bail them out down stretch.
NYG: 18
Movement: Down 7
NFC East: No. 17 Washington, No. 18 Giants, No. 26 Eagles, No. 30 Cowboys
NFL Top 5: Panthers, Broncos, Patriots, Bengals, Cardinals
Comments: How bad would they have played in Washington if they hadn't had two weeks to get ready?
NYG: 18
Movement: Down 3
NFC East: No. 13 Washington, No. 18 Giants, No. 24 Eagles, No. 29 Cowboys
NFL Top 5: Panthers, Patriots, Broncos, Cardinals, Bengals
Comments: The Giants now sit at 5-6, and things don't get much easier. The Giants have the third-toughest remaining strength of schedule this season.
NYG: 16
Movement: Down 6
NFC East: No. 14 Washington, No. 16 Giants, No. 21 Cowboys, No. 30 Eagles
NFL Top 5: Panthers, Patriots, Cardinals, Bengals, Broncos
Comments: Although the Giants played with three backups on their offensive line, it's no excuse for their inability to score at all until nearly 50 minutes had gone by.
