The Giants (5-5) were idle this past week, but they enjoyed the bye nonetheless, thanks to wins by Tampa Bay (5-5) and Carolina (10-0). The Bucs, who the Giants defeated in Tampa two weeks ago, went to Philadelphia (4-6) on Sunday, and blew out the Eagles, 45-17. Meanwhile, the Panthers stayed undefeated with a blowout win of their own, 44-16 over Washington (4-6).
Those two losses mean the Giants come off the bye with a full game lead over Philly and Washington in the NFC East. Big Blue visits the Redskins on Sunday in a pivotal division matchup. Meanwhile, the Eagles have a short week as they visit the Lions (3-7) on Thanksgiving. The Cowboys (3-7) also play in their annual Thanksgiving contest. Dallas hosts Carolina in the afternoon game.
With Week 11 of the NFL regular season in the books, Giants.com takes a look at power rankings coming in from outlets across the country:
NYG: 9
Movement: Up 1
NFC East: No. 9 Giants, No. 20 Cowboys, No. 22 Washington, No. 24 Eagles
NFL Top 5: Patriots, Panthers, Cardinals, Bengals, Broncos
Comments: Week 11 was an off week for the Giants, who are in first place in the sad-sack NFC East, for now. The key to New York being there (and staying there): the contributions of many bit parts, like the oft-forgotten Rueben Randle, Orleans Darkwa, Uani 'Unga, Damontre Moore and someone of the slightly bigger name variety, Shane Vereen. Next up: a big one, at Washington, which brings a chance to create space in the division.
NYG: 11
Movement: None
NFC East: No. 11 Giants, No. 20 Cowboys, No. 22 Washington, No. 23 Eagles
NFL Top 5: Patriots, Panthers, Cardinals, Broncos, Packers
Comments: The NFC East is there for the taking as the Giants return from their bye, having had extra time to recover from their near-miss loss to the Patriots that probably should have been an unlikely victory. They'll need Jason Pierre-Paul to be a pass-rushing difference-maker on defense for the rest of the season.
NYG: 14
Movement: Up 1
NFC East: No. 14 Giants, No. 16 Cowboys, No. 21 Eagles, No. 24 Washington
NFL Top 5: Patriots, Panthers, Cardinals, Bengals, Broncos
Comments: The Giants schedule is not easy down the stretch. They probably can't afford to drop Sunday's game at Washington, especially with the Cowboys becoming a factor again.
NYG: 10
Movement: Up 2
NFC East: No. 10 Giants, No. 19 Cowboys, No. 22 Washington, No. 23 Eagles
NFL Top 5: Patriots, Panthers, Cardinals, Bengals, Broncos
Comments: They've only failed to score at least 24 points twice. That's not likely to change in Washington Sunday.
PRO FOOTBALL TALK
NYG: 11
Movement: Up 4
NFC East: No. 11 Giants, No. 19 Cowboys, No. 25 Washington, No. 26 Eagles
NFL Top 5: Patriots, Panthers, Cardinals, Bengals, Packers
Comments: The Week One debacle could end up haunting Tom Coughlin after Week 17.
NYG: 15
Movement: Down 5
NFC East: No. 15 Giants, No. 20 Washington, No. 21 Cowboys, No. 25 Eagles
NFL Top 5: Patriots, Panthers, Broncos, Cardinals, Bengals
Comments: At 5-5, the Giants still lead the NFC East. But because of blown fourth-quarter leads in four of five losses, their lead is a lot slimmer than what it could be.
NYG: 10
Movement: None
NFC East: No. 10 Giants, No. 18 Cowboys, No. 19 Washington, No. 26 Eagles
NFL Top 5: Patriots, Panthers, Cardinals, Bengals, Steelers
Comments: Coming out of the bye week, the Giants need to establish a running game to avoid becoming one dimensional when the weather turns cold.
NYG: 12
Movement: Up 2
NFC East: No. 12 Giants, No. 17 Cowboys, No. 23 Eagles, No. 24 Washington
NFL Top 5: Patriots, Panthers, Cardinals, Bengals, Broncos
Comments: They come off their bye with a division road game at Washington. They are in first place, but the schedule gets tough down the stretch.
Photos from Monday's Giants Practice
![CB DOMINIQUE RODGERS-CROMARTIE](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/giants/hpjnecmv6kifvugre4ai.jpg)
CB DOMINIQUE RODGERS-CROMARTIE
![WR DWAYNE HARRIS](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/giants/z1flrpucz2xtgvioazqv.jpg)
WR DWAYNE HARRIS
![WR DWAYNE HARRIS](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/giants/rd5melwk52s3haxqsjrn.jpg)
WR DWAYNE HARRIS
![WR GEREMY DAVIS](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/giants/ikpnd8cf3tkin2d7cs5c.jpg)
WR GEREMY DAVIS
![WR ODELL BECKHAM](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/giants/k54anbfbbw6h9j9gux6m.jpg)
WR ODELL BECKHAM
![WR MYLES WHITE, CB TREVIN WADE](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/giants/yipedif3dwmpdyhqkqkn.jpg)
WR MYLES WHITE, CB TREVIN WADE
![No Title](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/giants/emq4soxz0cznwy1acljh.jpg)
![QB ELI MANNING, QB RYAN NASSIB](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/giants/gzb87lcpdn5hfwt7mnl4.jpg)
QB ELI MANNING, QB RYAN NASSIB
![No Title](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/giants/zdliw1pkswqi2rvnxrfq.jpg)
![WR HAKEEM NICKS](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/giants/sk0jprlf0g8ovvh1te8o.jpg)
WR HAKEEM NICKS
![QB ELI MANNING](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/giants/bjr8e2q95tpvhlywyzpy.jpg)
QB ELI MANNING
![TACKLE EMMETT CLEARY, TACKLE MARSHALL NEWHOUSE](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/giants/hwu6xmthrtupwtpyq0ke.jpg)
TACKLE EMMETT CLEARY, TACKLE MARSHALL NEWHOUSE
![No Title](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/giants/wigb4deekwdadwumad9h.jpg)
![No Title](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/giants/n7gwzgwuspvrr9g2inps.jpg)
![No Title](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/giants/afc5k9fv7aqyjhl64jti.jpg)
![No Title](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/giants/ywh0k2febuz3bn96tt78.jpg)
![TACKLE EMMETT CLEARY, TACKLE MARSHALL NEWHOUSE](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/giants/tsfe4y1jpomo4xjff6ke.jpg)
TACKLE EMMETT CLEARY, TACKLE MARSHALL NEWHOUSE
![WR GEREMY DAVIS, CB JAYRON HOSLEY](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/giants/rszzraxdge3i6dzxywir.jpg)
WR GEREMY DAVIS, CB JAYRON HOSLEY