The New York Giants were in disarray three weeks ago after their embarrassing 41-17 home loss to the Vikings, which dropped them to 7-4, and gave new fodder to the same naysayers who wanted the head of Tom Coughlin after the team's 0-2 start. Another rebound was in order for the Giants, who shut up those early-season critics by ripping off 6 straight victories. A win over the Bears started things off; and today the G-Men followed that up by earning a grinding 16-13 win over the Eagles, giving them two consecutive victories, a 9-4 record and a firm stranglehold on the first NFC wild-card spot.

If it's been a tough year for the Giants at times, it's been an even tougher year for their QB Eli Manning, who was the target of much of the wrath being leveled at the team in the wake of the Minnesota debacle (deservedly, since he threw four picks). Today Eli played much more to form, which for him is efficient if unspectacular - 219 yards on 17 completions and 1 TD. Plaxico Burress was Eli's main target, catching 7 balls for 136 yards and the 1 TD - I guess this means Plaxico is over those ankle issues. The defense, meanwhile, bothered returning Philly QB Donovan McNabb just enough, sacking him 3 times (compared with the 12 they racked up against him in their first meeting) and limiting him to 179 passing yards.

The Giants have all-but locked-down a playoff berth now. The Eagles, meanwhile, have guaranteed themselves a season of no better than 8-8 - and even if they somehow manage to win out and get to .500, it's almost certain they would not make the post-season. This is doubly-disappointing for Philly considering the run they put on last year to get into the playoffs, and the big expectations that gave them for this season. Fairly or unfairly, Donovan McNabb is going to bear the brunt of fan ire over the team's tumble. They're going to remember the way the team played down the stretch last year with Jeff Garcia under center, and think of how close they came to beating the Patriots this year with A.J. Feeley back there, and the conclusion is going to be that Donovan has to go.

It's very possible that the Eagles concur with this too. Yes, it's true that Eagles president Joe Banner gave McNabb a vote of confidence this week, saying Donovan would be the QB in 2008. But, it's also true that Philly drafted Kevin Kolb in the second round this year, and that Feeley has probably proven himself enough in limited action to give the team confidence that he can hold down the fort at least until Kolb is ready. It definitely feels now that the Eagles and McNabb are well on the road to a messy divorce. This is sad, especially given the success Philly achieved largely thanks to McNabb (4 NFC championship games, one Super Bowl appearance). But, it's also true that McNabb hasn't been the same player the last couple of years, and that Philly fans are rough on guys who don't get the job done (hell, they're rough on guys who do get the job done).

At this point, I'm not sure McNabb would mind being moved on. There are plenty of teams out there who could use a QB with McNabb's experience and savvy, even if his skills have diminished. And who knows - maybe in a place like Chicago or San Francisco, McNabb could recapture some of the magic. Stranger things have happened.