On Injuries and Luck

So here we are again on another Tuesday. Everything in the NFL is all too clear. This is title time. December will determine the playoff spots and eventual Super Bowl participants. Those spots will go to the lucky, those teams with fewer injuries and an easier schedule. Every fantasy player knows that. For example, if you were unlucky enough to be including Jahvid Best or Vernon Davis on your week 11 roster, you probably lost.
For the local teams, the Jets so far seem to be far luckier than the Giants. The Giants are fast becoming a shambles. Much of their star receiving corps is decimated. No Steve Smith and no Hakeem Nicks means serious hurt for the G-Men. The offensive line keeps getting made over, seemingly every week. Their defense has been healthier but has had to experience the added pressure of having an offense that can’t stay on the field long enough for them to rest.
Here’s the injury list, courtesy of Yahoo: Check out the players who are out. Diehl is the left tackle, big hurt not to have him; Madison Hedgecock is the fullback. He ordinarily makes holes or makes them wider for the running backs. Shaun O’Hara is their center and he was a pretty damned good one. Steve Smith is their bigtime receiver and the key player when third down rolls around. Shawn Andrews played well under difficult circumstances. The return guy, Hixon, is out. The reserve receivers, Barden and Cruz, are out. Mathias Kiwanuka, another guy who could pressure opposing passers, is out. Quite simply, these remaining Giants are not the Giants.
Player Date Status Injury
Domenik Hixon
Aug 23, 2010 injured-rese Torn right ACL
Adrian Tracy
Aug 31, 2010 injured-rese Elbow
Jim Sorgi
Aug 31, 2010 injured-rese Right shoulder
Courtney Brown
Sep 5, 2010 injured-rese Ankle
Michael Johnson
Sep 28, 2010 injured-rese Back
Victor Cruz
Oct 16, 2010 injured-rese Hamstring
Mathias Kiwanuka
Oct 28, 2010 injured-rese Neck
Bruce Johnson
Nov 2, 2010 injured-rese Knee
Adam Koets
Nov 9, 2010 injured-rese Torn left ACL
Ramses Barden
Nov 16, 2010 injured-rese Left leg, left foot
David Diehl
Nov 19, 2010 Out Hip, hamstring
Madison Hedgecock
Nov 19, 2010 Out Hamstring
Shaun O'Hara
Nov 19, 2010 Out Foot
Steve Smith
Nov 19, 2010 Out Pectoral
Shawn Andrews
Nov 19, 2010 Questionable Back
Kevin Boss
Nov 19, 2010 Probable Back
Darius Reynaud
Nov 19, 2010 Probable Hamstring
Osi Umenyiora
Nov 19, 2010 Probable Knee
Corey Webster
Nov 19, 2010 Probable Toe
Gerris Wilkinson
Nov 19, 2010 Probable Hand

All that bad luck was certainly in evidence against the Eagles. At first glance, Ahmad Bradshaw and Brandon Jacobs were terrible but when you consider who was blocking for them, maybe they had given a valiant effort against overwhelming odds. The only holes that opened up were in the passing game as Eagles blitzers found the paths to Eli surprisingly wide. Eli was pretty good too when you consider the constant pressure, not to mention the fact he was throwing to receivers who either didn’t get open or weren’t in the right place. It was a pretty sad story on Sunday and it doesn’t figure to get better in a hurry.
The Jets have everybody they need, especially Mark Sanchez and Santonio Holmes. For comparison, the following is their injury list:
Ropati Pitoitua Aug 26, 2010 injured-rese Left Achilles
Kris Jenkins Sep 15, 2010 injured-rese Torn left ACL
Darrelle Revis Nov 19, 2010 Probable Hamstring
Mark Sanchez Nov 19, 2010 Probable Calf
Matt Slauson Nov 19, 2010 Probable Knee
Brad Smith Nov 19, 2010 Probable Low back
Eric Smith Nov 19, 2010 Probable Ankle
Damien Woody Nov 19, 2010 Probable Knee
Calvin Pace Nov 19, 2010 Probable Foot
Dwight Lowery Nov 19, 2010 Out Concussion
Marquice Cole Nov 19, 2010 Out Hamstring
Jerricho Cotchery Nov 19, 2010 Out Groin
David Harris Nov 19, 2010 Probable Calf
Nick Mangold Nov 19, 2010 Probable Shoulder
Josh Mauga Nov 19, 2010 Probable Hamstring




















Except possibly for Jerricho Cotchery at wideout, the Jets have everybody they need. The Giants situation is ridiculous.
As for the schedule, the Giants upcoming opponents have a record of 33-27 and that includes Minnesota, a team that will probably play a lot better under a new coach. They’ll see Philadelphia again and Washington twice. They’ll see the Packers and the Jaguars and Vikings, and maybe even Brett Favre. I’d be pleasantly surprised if they finish 3-3 over the next six. That would probably get them a playoff spot, but 9-7 is never a lock. As things stand right now, the Packers, Bears, Saints, Falcons and Bucs all have better records and fewer injuries.
The Jets have opponents with a 31-29 record including the Pats again and Pittsburgh and Chicago. If those all result in losses, the Jets could be in trouble too but that’s unlikely. I expect the Jets to be there at the end, if not as AFC East Champions then as a wildcard, and maybe even the second one.
They say people make their own luck. I never believed that. You can be sure the Giants don’t either. It’s amazing they’ve been able to play as well as they have, given that horrific injury list. It speaks well to the quality of their reserves and general management. But reserves are reserves. Even a gifted reserve player hasn’t had the reps required to function as a regular.
I can’t speak of injuries these days without conjuring up images of the sorrowful Mets injuries these last few years. Carlos Beltran, Johan Santana, Jason Bay, Reyes on and off, relief pitchers, the list goes on and on. Three of those four will be back to kick off 2011 but that’s not a sure thing either given the new management situation. Speaking as a longtime Mets fan, a few trades involving a few or even several of these players, wouldn’t necessarily be a bad thing.
But the Mets situation is a column in itself. This was supposed to be about football.