The NY Giants won their third straight game on Sunday with a win against the Rams and that could be enough to save Tom Coughlin from getting fired after the season and this comes as Odell Beckham Jr. has emerged as one of the best playmakers in the league and he now is the favorite for the offensive rookie of the year award.
Coming into Week 16 the Giants had won two games against subpar opponents and it looked like Coughlin's job was safe, but losses over the final two weeks could have changed that. Coughlin has been on the hot seat this season, as it's the third year in a row that the Giants will miss the playoffs after winning the Super Bowl. Last week Steve Serby at the New York Post reported that it was "99 percent" that Coughlin would be returning and now that the Giants have improved to 6-9 with the win Sunday, it's likely that holds up.
One reason Coughlin and the Giants have been able to succeed in recent weeks is the play of rookie wide receiver Odell Beckham. The offense has put up some solid numbers with Beckham coming in and he has been able to replace Victor Cruz since he went down with an injury. Beckham has eight straight games of at least 90 yards and has the rookie record for the team in receiving yards. Beckham had another great game on Sunday, putting up eight catches for 148 yards and two touchdowns and he has emerged as one of the best young players in the league.
Beckham now has the inside track to the rookie of the year award, as he leads rookie WRs with 79 catches for 1,120 yards and 11 touchdowns this season. Beckham has been impressive since coming in after dealing with a hamstring injury and he broke out big with his "seen round the world" catch against the Cowboys. Coughlin now likely is safe into next season, as the Giants have shown some major fight down the stretch and it appears that John Mara will keep him for 2015.
The Giants have had Coughlin for about a decade and while they could make a change, many have pointed out: who will they bring in that's better? Jim Harbaugh is a big name, but that is no guarantee, as there are other teams that should have openings and beyond that, there simply isn't much out there. Coughlin has been the steward of the franchise for years and has two Super Bowl rings and after bringing in over 20 new players and new offensive scheme, it wouldn't make much sense to change coaches now.
The Giants lost seven games in a row during the middle of the season, but they are now 6-9 and will finish ahead of the Redskins in the division standings. The team may make some moves like getting rid of Perry Fewell at defensive coordinator, but losing Coughlin would be misguided. The team went through some major changes and they have a plan and should stick to it. Andre Williams and Beckham look like real pros and getting Victor Cruz back will be a major boost for the team as well.
