Dan Benton from AOL/MVN fame took the time to answer some questions for me as an “enemy blogger” on the Giants. You can check out my answers for Dan about the Jets on Giants’ AOL Fanhouse.

1) So where did this defense come from? Three weeks ago Giants’ players were using an airhorn to bother reporters who asked questions about it because it was so atrocious.

I wish I could answer that for you. Something happened during halftime of the Redskins game that dramatically altered the course of their defense. Whether it was a series of adjustments that helped realize what certain players were capable of, or a speech that put them over the edge, Big Blue has been playing a whole new ball game ever since.

2) How were the Giants able to get after the quarterback so effectively last week? Was it the coverage? The pressure? Both?

There were a few different reasons the Giants were able to pound Donovan McNabb into oblivion last week. It began, obviously, with Osi Umenyiora just going into the game like a madman. He’s more than capable of dominating any game, and that was never more evident than last Sunday.

It also had a lot to do with the blitz packages and the coverages. On quite a few of the sacks, McNabb had plenty of time to throw the ball, but no one was open. That can be attributed to the great job(s) being done by Sam Madison, who has really turned it on of late, and rookie Aaron Ross. Additionally, the constant linebacker and corner blitzes confused the hell out of the Eagles offense — which was blatantly obvious on McNabb’s false start.

3) Derrick Ward has done a respectable job in coming in for the injured Brandon Jacobs … when will the team get Jacobs back and would they continue to use Ward with him?

Brandon Jacobs will return this weekend against your Jets, and you can bet he’s dying to run someone into the ground. Whether or not that’s a good thing for the Giants remains to be seen. Meanwhile, Derrick Ward is currently on pace for over 1,400 yards rushing and almost 2,000 total yards — that’s some serious productivity.

My guess is that the Giants will split carries, which is probably better for Jacobs anyway. It will keep him fresh, while Ward will continue to get the opportunities to create a big play — something he’s done in every game this season.

4) Where does Tom Coughlin stand with this team? What would be considered a successful year for him? There had been some concern about him keeping his job last season and his relationship with his players …

The constant trash talk by Tiki Barber made it seem like the players hated Coughlin. However, as we’ve seen and heard this year, that’s not the case. In fact, most of the players seem to take well to Coughlin and buy into his method of winning. And how can they not? Although they backed in last season, he’s brought them to the playoffs in consecutive years for the first time since the early 90’s.

I think a successful year for him is another playoff run with at least one victory. If he fails to reach that goal, it will just be more of the same. Will that cost him his job? I certainly hope not. Coughlin has done a great job in my opinion, and can only hope he continues to lead this team as they mature and improve.

5) Prediction time! What’s the final score, and how many times will Eli look at the camera with that “aw golly” face?

I’m going Giants here, and it’s not because I’m a homer. The G-Men have completely turned a corner, and I don’t see that changing at all this week.

As for Eli, that’s a face we haven’t seen much this year — if at all. However, I think he’ll give that look quite a few times on Sunday. “Aw golly, I wish it was this easy all along!”

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