Many experts have doubted the New York Giants on the basis of the loss of key defensive players like Michael Strahan, Gibril Wilson, and Kawika Mitchell. The experts have said that the losses should be too crippling to overcome the Dallas Cowboys and even put the playoffs in jeopardy with the offseason movement by the Philadelphia Eagles and the Washington Redskins.

While it is refreshing to hear the doubters not questioning Eli Manning’s ability as a quarterback, it is a monumental annoyance to hear such doubt for a team that won the Super Bowl last season.

I understand that last years run came after a string of upsets that still has people thinking luck had more to do with it than the team. I also understand that the experts are picking the Dallas Cowboys to win the NFC East because they won it last season and the Giants lost key personnel during the offseason. I do not understand how the Giants cannot even be chosen as a clear playoff team by everyone.

Last year in the playoffs the Cowboys fans with tickets to the divisional playoff game were disappointed, Packers fans with tickets to the NFC Conference Championship game were surprised, and the entire New England Patriots fan base, as well as the rest of the nation, was shocked by the Giants victory.

This team fought through the playoffs playing great defense with backup corners R.W. McQuarters and Corey Webster playing. This season the starters are back and Sammy Knight has been brought in to replace Wilson. That means the team is actually only one starter down in the secondary, as opposed to two. The defensive line will still have a powerful pass rush with Justin Tuck and Osi Umenyiora. The entire basis of the dominant defense from last season was that pass rush, so the team should be fine.

The Giants defense lost some players in the offseason, sure, but the team is not so shredded that the defensive scheme has been lost. This the NFL. Key players are replaced every year on every team. The Giants, the defending Super Bowl champions, have done an excellent maintaining that defense. Experts and diehard football fans can doubt the ability to return to the Super Bowl or the ability to win the ultra-competitive NFC East, but please at least give the reigning champs the benefit of the doubt for the playoffs.