Mid Season Champs.
The Giants won last week, and every other team in the NFC East division lost. That helped to make the Giants the "NFC East mid-season champs". Unfortunately there are no rings or ceremonies attached to this title that I'm bestowing on them. Still, fans should give them a hand, because not too many expected to see the Giants at 6-2, their best record since the 1990 championship season, after finishing at 7-9 last season. Now eight games are gone, and the trick is to still be the champ after the next eight.

Giants on track.
They have won every game they seemed likely to, and lost games to the tougher teams they faced. They have beaten only one team with a winning record and that was the Eagles, a team who they've beaten regularly over the past four years. The other victories are against teams with a combined 8-25 record. The Browns (2-7) are like one of those weaker teams, and according to formula, optimistic Giants fans see the upcoming match as sort of a tune-up game for the following week against the Rams, a team the Giants are not expected to beat. It's hard not to look past Cleveland, and winning against them won't prove very much. Winning is always important, but how the Giants play against the Rams will be a good gauge as to where they really stand in this league. The Giants were pitiful in their two losses against the Redskins and Titans, and how they play against the Rams, win or lose, will show if the Giants are capable of going anywhere in the extended season, if they manage to get there as division champs or a wildcard.

So what's with Cleveland?
OK, we know that's an easy lead-in for some jokes, but seriously folks, who loses to the Bengals (2-6) these days? Cincinnati got hot and broke a 6 game losing streak by upsetting Denver (3 key turnovers) two weeks ago, and then put the Browns into a 6 game losing streak by beating them last week 12-3. In that game, Cleveland was held to just 54 total rushing yards as the Bengles avenged an earlier loss to the Browns.
In case you're wondering, Pittsburgh is the other win Cleveland had early on this year. Pittsburgh returned and got their revenge against Cleveland the week before the Bengals did, winning hands down, 22-0.
So, what's with Cleveland this year? It doesn't help that they're a second-year expansion team, trying to find themselves, while filling up their rosters with a mix of players from other teams and new hopefuls. Another big thing was losing quarterback Tim Couch, when he suffered a broken thumb in practice on October 19. He's out for the season. They would have had veteran Ty Detmer to fill in as Couch's backup, but he was lost for the year on Aug. 12 with a ruptured achilles. The Browns have been using Doug Pederson (from the Eagles - remember?) and rookie Spergon Wynn alternating at quarterback. Together against Cincinnati, Pederson completed 6-of-16 passes for 65 yards, and Wynn was 7-of-16 for 82 yards as the Browns managed just a field goal and 10 first downs. Pederson will probably get the start here since he knows the Giants, and has more experience. The Browns wish he had Wynn's strong throwing arm.

Former Giants.
All three players who left the Giants to play for the Browns are starting at key positions for them. Wide receiver David Patten, used as a reserve for the Giants for three seasons, found better opportunities for himself here. He has caught 23 passes for the Browns for 386 yards, averaging a team-leading 16.8 yards per catch. Patten is listed as questionable for this game with a sprained toe.
Percy Ellsworth was known as a ball hawk, and he had 18 interceptions in only 28 starts for the Giants, but was not considered to be a hard hitter or speed demon. His contract ran out with the Giants last year and they chose to let him go and develop Shaun Williams, their first-round draft pick in 1998. It looks like a good move so far. Williams, in his first season as a starter, is tied with Jessie Armstead for the team lead with 45 tackles and also has 2 interceptions and 8 passes defensed. For Cleveland, Ellsworth in nine games has yet to pick off his first pass, but they feel Percy has been in good positions, and like the way he covers the field. He loved playing for the Giants, and if his first pick comes against them, as close friend Sam Garnes said. "It will be just as good as him getting five of them."
Roman Oben was a third-round draft pick for the Giants in 1996, and the past three years started every game for them at left tackle. He also liked playing for the Giants, and was hoping to sign on again, but for more money than what the Giants were offering. Things seemed to get worse as negotiations wore on, with the Giants looking for replacement players, while Oben tested the waters with other teams. In the end, Oben signed for the better deal that was offered by Cleveland. Last season, the Browns gave up 60 sacks. So far this year with more than half the games played, they have given up just 14. The Browns feel that Roman Oben is one of the reasons for that improvement.

Former Browns.
Giants tackle Lomas Brown goes up against his old team this week. He was pursued by Cleveland as a free agent, played for them last season, and was then let go by Browns head coach Chris Palmer. "It was my first time I was ever fired from a job." Lomas said. "Even my father was mad about that." The Browns blamed it on the salary cap, but Lomas Brown doesn't buy it. Some players say that the coach and Lomas didn't see eye to eye on a number of things like tough practices.
Head coach Jim Fassel knew Brown from their days together on the Cardinals. Coach Palmer, admits to a conflict of sorts, indicating that he designed a grueling practice regimen to push a young team to get better. "We had a very young team and we needed to do certain things to try to develop those young players," Palmer said. "I have the utmost respect for Lomas Brown. I think he's a solid football player." Lomas Brown feels about the same way as Percy Ellsworth about playing against his former team. The seven-time Pro Bowl tackle says, "Oh, I'll be jumping for joy if we win this one. "You want to see a big man jump? Just wait 'til that final whistle on Sunday."

What can hurt the Giants.
What makes a team play good from week to week? One thing that helps is being up for the game. The three former Giants will certainly be there, and Lomas Brown should be able to get his teammates to stay focused on this game instead of thinking about the one with the Rams next week. Other than that, the Giants always have to watch out for their special teams play .

Injuries: GIANTS: OUT: Andre Weathers (knee-injured reserve); T Chris Ziemann (knee-injured reserve). DOUBTFUL: WR Ron Dixon (foot); CB Jason Sehorn (rib); LB Brandon Short (ankle). QUESTIONABLE: CB Reggie Stephens (ankle). PROBABLE: K Jaret Holmes (ankle).
CLEVELAND: DOUBTFUL: WR Darrin Chiaverini (knee). QUESTIONABLE: DB Rashidi Barnes (knee); LB Lenoy Jones (hamstring); DE Arnold Miller (ankle).

Notes
The Giants have held their last three opponents to 27 total points.

Brad Daluiso will kick for the Giants against the Browns this week.

Cleveland has managed just 3 total points in the 2 games since their quarterback Tim Couch was sidelined.

Cleveland has 24 sacks this season, one less than its total for all of 1999.

Don't forget on Tuesday Nov 7. Your vote does count!

Next Game
Nov 12, Rams at Giants, 4PM FOX

For those very organized fans.
If you use a Palm Pilot and want to keep the Giants schedule, and actually, the whole NFL schedule on it, there is a free download available here at PFL.

Last Week's review, Giants Bye Week Stuff

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