This year is very much starting to feel like a movie we've already seen thus far.
2006: we start 6-2, falter down the stretch with some epic losses and end 8-8 = everyone calls for Coughlin's head and no one takes us seriously going into 2007.
2007: we start 1-2, ugly fashion. Coughlin's lost the team. Then we get a home SNF game and win 16-3 behind 12 sacks from the defense. Leads us to a surge to 6-2 before the bye.
The rest is history...
2009: we start 5-2, falter down the stretch with some epic losses and end 8-8 = a lot of people say Coughlin's leash should be shorter. Mara discusses the status quo and *very few* take us seriously in the media (consensus 3rd/4th place in the East...save Matt Mosely and Peter King)
2010: we start 1-2, ugly fashion. Coughlin's lost the team. Then we get a home SNF game and win 17-3 behind 10 sacks from the defense. Leads us to a surge to 5-2 before the bye.
What lies ahead?
Frankly the biggest difference I see (SUPERFICIALLY) versus '07 is that we aren't chasing anyone (e.g. Dallas) in the division or otherwise. We sit on top. The conference is a bit more watered down than it was 3 years ago as well.
Talent-wise we may be overall deeper than '07 as well but as I pointed out Monday night we've now started 5-2 every year under TC (save '08 where it was 6-1).
Exciting ride ahead boys, should be fun.