Michael Strahan believes Giants still have a 'good chance' to reach the playoffs
Michael Strahan looks on prior to the NFC Championship game between the San Francisco 49ers and the Green Bay Packers at Levi's Stadium on January 19, 2020. Credit: Getty Images/Thearon W. Henderson
Michael Strahan believes that despite their latest slow start, the Giants have a "good chance to make the playoffs."
So the current Fox Sports analyst and former Giants star said during an appearance on the Long Island Association’s Virtual Fall Luncheon on Thursday.
"Tough schedule, but if the Giants can play with the same type of confidence they had last week, yes, absolutely," Strahan said during a 40-minute discussion that touched on his Hall of Fame playing days, personal history, media career, business interests and philanthropic work.
"The talent in the NFL is so close that it is really about the guys that just have the confidence to make plays," Strahan said. "That’s been the big reason the Giants are 1-3. It’s not because they shouldn’t have won games.
"It’s the perfect pass that goes off the fingertips. It’s this or a little bit of that. It’s the jumping offsides on a missed field goal that comes back to haunt you again when they kick it over [against Washington]. It’s just the little things, and those little things are what get you beat.
"The Giants are always close, like the bridesmaid, never the bride. Now we were the bride last week, and hopefully we’ll be the bride again more times than not this year. I think they’ve got a good chance to make the playoffs. They’ve just got to believe in themselves. It’s about talent. They have talent."
The Giants started 0-3, with the losses to the Broncos, Washington and the Falcons, then last Sunday defeated the Saints on the road, 27-21 in overtime, after trailing by 11 points in the fourth quarter.
"I think they have a chance to make the playoffs," Strahan said. "They added an extra game [to the regular season], so that helped us. Last year we finished 5-3 [in the last eight games]. This year we started out slow, and a lot of guys didn’t play in the preseason. Like I thought [quarterback] Daniel Jones probably should have played a little bit more.
"So now I feel like they’re good and getting their footing under them. Talent is one thing, confidence is another, and playing as a team. I was surprised last week to come from behind on the road. I think that builds confidence. So hopefully they’re back on track."
The Giants visit the first-place Cowboys (3-1) on Sunday.
"I hate to say it, but Dallas looks strong," Strahan said. "But I love when Dallas fans get excited, because they always seem to get disappointed at the end of the day."
Neil Best first worked at Newsday in 1982, returned in 1985 after a detour to Alaska and has been here since, specializing in high schools, college basketball, the NFL and most recently sports media and business.
