With the coaching search complete, owners John Mara and Tisch (who was among the biggest advocates for the Giants hiring Harbaugh) can finally exhale — and perhaps even enjoy this weekend’s playoff games. Two in particular. On Sunday, New England faces Houston. Later, Chicago meets the Rams. A year ago, those teams won four and five games, respectively. Both believed they were close. Both found the right coach — the Patriots with Mike Vrabel, the Bears with Ben Johnson — and made immediate strides. Now, they’re on to the second round of the playoffs.
The Giants believe they can do the same. Their roster remains imperfect. Dart needs more weapons. The offensive line requires real solutions, not short-term patches. The defense, despite recognizable names, fell well short of expectations a season ago. Still, with Harbaugh in charge, the task ahead no longer feels overwhelming.
At minimum, the Giants finally have a path forward. And for the first time in a long time, there is a legitimate reason to believe in a blueprint toward relevance.
