Keidel: Giants Not Always Pretty But Still In Good Position For Playoff Run

By Jason Keidel
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When Americans travel to London, they often feel a heightened sense of sophistication.

A shame it doesn't reach our NFL clubs.

The Giants and Rams traveled to the U.K. and played football, with the glacial scoring pace of futbol. The football Giants won, of course, 17-10. But if this were an audition to bring our most popular sport to Europe, it might be wise to find a new demo reel.

Neither team threw or ran the ball particularly well. (Each offense generated 10 points.) And like most games of attrition, the team that made the fewest mistakes won. That's about the best the Giants can assert.

MORE: Giants Team Grades: NY Defense Carries The Day As Big Blue Defeats Rams 17-10

The Giants were last in the NFL in takeaways, but got ample help Sunday from Case Keenum (four interceptions), including a pick by Landon Collins with a subsequent Keystone Cops return for a touchdown.

Keenum threw an interception to seal the contest, which was fitting, as the Rams' QB has now thrown a pick on his team's final drive in three straight games.

The Rams are among the moodiest teams in the sport. They've won three straight, including one against the Seahawks, and have now lost three straight. Adding to the quirky nature of the weekend, Eli Manning is 5-0 against the Rams, no matter where they play the games. He pulled out this latest win sans a TD pass, which would have been quite unlikely last year.

No doubt the Giants will take some credit for the Rams' poor performance. And just as you don't control whom you play, you don't apologize for winning an NFL game, at home, on the road or in England. The cliche ugly win is the ultimate oxymoron in pro football.

MORE: Palladino: Giants Won't Keep Winning Without A Consistent Offense

So if you can put Sunday's gridiron aesthetics out of view, Big Blue is now 4-3, which keeps them competitive -- a little more than a stone's throw from the top spot in the NFC East, but in the vortex of the playoff picture.

Sure, coach Ben McAdoo was hired for his offensive wares. But the club spent over $100 million on defense in the offseason, so there's no shame in letting them earn it. Last year's defense gave up historic passing yards; this year it's 22nd in the NFL (266.8 YPG). And the run defense is robust, yielding just 96.8 yards per game (12th in the league).

Maybe Manning and the offense still need some synergy. The Giants' offense has been bipolar, ranking third in passing (288.2 YPG) while dwelling near the bottom in rushing, at just 76 yards per game (30th). But perhaps this is the kind of win that will buy the offense time to post its more pyrotechnic 2015 numbers.

Odell Beckham Jr. was not his normal, splendid self. Nor was he especially demonstrative. Some see those two facts cosmically connected. But there could be no doubt that his histrionics and the need for his teammates to answer for them were becoming a problem. This more muted performance would be a lovely way to take Beckham off the back page for the right reasons. And surely the electric, eccentric wideout will take the win, no matter his contribution to it.

As will Giants fans. Two weeks ago, the team had just lost its third straight game, with blame spreading like butter across the roster, if not the coaching staff.

And remember, the final moments of tight games were the Giants' bugaboo last year. At least they win them now, if the last two contests are any indication.

After a bye week, Big Blue plays a big rival, the Philadelphia Eagles. That game can be a statement on whether the Giants plan to live near the top of the division or tank, like last year. We won't know their statement for two weeks. But at least they're in a position to make one.

Follow Jason on Twitter at @JasonKeidel