Record: 3-0, 1st in the NFC East

After their Super Bowl title defense was ended by the Eagles in the NFC divisional round, the Giants have raced out to a quick start in the NFC East in 2009. Back-to-back wins over the Redskins and Cowboys to open the season put the Giants at 2-0 in the division, but it's the questions the Giants answered that resonated most. When Plaxico Burress shot himself out of the Giants' lineup last fall, Eli Manning was left without a go-to receiver and the Giants never recovered offensively. Heading into 2009, the receiver position was still a major question mark for the Giants, but Mario Manningham and Steve Smith appear to have answered the call, providing Manning with consistent, big-play targets. Smith is second in the league with 23 receptions, and Manningham and Manningham leads the league in pass receptions of over 20 yards with six.

Defensively, Osi Umenyiora is back as a lethal pass-rushing force after a season lost to injury. Starting strong safety Kenny Phillips is out for the year, leaving a big void in the Giants' secondary, but any holes could be masked by the relentless pass rush. With an attacking defense, a well-balanced offense and one of the better offensive lines in the league, the Giants appear to be worthy adversary for the Eagles.

Difference Maker: After back-to-back 1,000 yard rushing seasons for the powerful Brandon Jacobs, the Giants let complementary back Derrick Ward go to Tampa Bay in the off-season. Jacobs will now be spelled in passing situations by the speedy Ahmad Bradshaw, but it's still up to the physical Jacobs to be the bruising back he's been in the past if the Giants are to maintain long drives and wear teams down defensively.

-- Posted by Bo Wulf, 6:09 p.m., October 2