The countdown sign to Super Bowl XLVIII in the Giants locker room displayed 131 on Monday. In bold black numbers it counts the days until the NFL championship is contested in MetLife Stadium.
Reportedly the brainchild of general manager Jerry Reese, it was intended to serve as motivation for the 2013 season. But now it's become a haunting reminder of how quickly dreams can dissipate. It's not the only one of Reese's ideas that hasn't worked out this season.
The Giants are off to an ugly 0-3 start, and while Coach Tom Coughlin has warned his team not to point fingers, there are several glaring reasons why the Giants have underachieved. Some are just plain bad luck (injuries to RB Andre Brown, OL David Diehl and S Steve Brown) and some point back to decisions made by Reese and the Giants front office.
Coughlin was the only voice from the team hierarchy made available on Monday to explain the most one-sided loss of his Giants coaching career. He pulled no punches, saying he challenged his players' pride and told them not to finger point. He also talked about the need for more enthusiasm, but had no answer why the good work on the practice field hasn't translated to game day.
"We thought we were in good shape, thought we were on the same page. I was disappointed in the result," he said of the 38-0 loss to the previously 0-2 Panthers.
He also hinted there may be changes and vowed, "We're going to find out and uncover people that can help us win." Problem is the cupboard could be bare. The offensive line is a mess. After giving up an NFL-low 20 sacks in 2012, the offensive line seems to have gotten old overnight with no relief in sight. Injuries have hampered RG Chris Snee and C David Baas, and LT Will Beatty looked overmatched against DE Greg Hardy, who collected three of the Panthers franchise-tying seven sacks.
The $38 million deal Reese gave Beatty doesn't look too good right now, and the acquisitions that were supposed to add depth and emergency help have been slow developing. James Brewer, Jim Cordle, Brandon Mosley have all had auditions, but can't be trusted. The Giants have few options to improve the line other than move veteran Kevin Boothe back to center when Diehl is ready to play guard again.
Elsewhere, second-year running back David Wilson has been more of a detriment than explosive. His two fumbles were devastating against the Cowboys and he has totalled 75 rushing yards in three games. Brandon Jacobs might have been a feel-good signing, but he has just six yards rushing in two games.
Perhaps more troubling is the Giants defense lacked fight in Carolina, drawing the ire of former linebacker Carl Banks. Reese hasn't put much of a premium on linebackers, preferring to stock a defensive line that has forgotten how to rush the quarterback.
Their current group of nondescript linebackers — Keith Rivers, Mark Herzlich and Spencer Paysinger — has registered virtually no impact plays. Meanwhile, the defensive line has rested on its laurels for too long. That could apply to an entire team still blinded by its Super Bowl jewelry.
"That's one of the bad things about us is our history," said DE Justin Tuck. "We keep looking at, 'we did this . . . and we did that.' But this is a new team. We've got to find out what this team is about."
Reese has built two Super Bowl teams by making decisions and drafting players that worked out. At some positions every general manager rolls the dice and hopes for the best. But gambling on an unproven running back, an aging offensive line and mediocre linebackers has backfired so far in 2013.
That's why the countdown sign in the Giants locker room may be pointing to the Super Bowl, but another countdown has already begun on their postseason hopes.
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