I am typically a self-aware person.  I am not usually deluded.  Or, to be more correct, I know when I am deluding myself, but will move forward anyway.  For example: I know that exactly 5 people will read this article, but I will move forward with the writing anyway as if this were a widely-circulated newspaper column.  And, no, I don't think I had any delusions about how this postseason would actually play out, as I proved here:

"That is, unless the Giants lose to the Eagles in round 2."

That prediction was made before the Eagles had even gotten past the Vikings.  Sometimes, this whole football business can be so painfully predictable, as the Baltimore Ravens victory on February 1 over these same Eagles will prove.

But, when it comes to the Giants, there was one place where I totally and completely deluded myself.  I thought the Giants could win without Plaxico Burress.

I truly believed that.  Plaxico shot his own damn self on November 28th.  On that day the Giants were 11-1, and averaged over 29 points per game.  Since then they are 1-4, averaging only 17 points per game. 

I rationalized.  The only game they really needed to win the rest of the year was the game against Carolina (which they won, further reinforcing my delusions).  Brandon Jacobs was hurt, and that was the real reason that scoring was down.  Blah blah blah. 

Make no mistake: the Curse of Luis' Deli was in full effect yesterday.  It was in full effect on November 28th when Plax put on those fateful sweatpants.  I think Luis might have dressed Plax that night, and then made sure the gun was loaded before sticking it in Burress' waistband.

If I may make some further bold predictions:

• The Giants will do everything they can to bring Burress back next season unless he is actually in prison.
• If they can't get him, they will go hard in the off-season after any available wide receiver over 6'3" tall.
• If they fail at both of those tasks, the Giants will not make the playoffs next year

Last prediction: after the awful job he did yesterday, Kevin Gilbride, the Giants' offensive coordinator, should be shown the door.  Whenever the Giants' ran the ball, good things happened.  Whenever they threw the ball, bad things happened.  They should have continued running the ball until the Eagles proved they could stop them.  Instead they let Eli throw helicopters into the wind until the drives ended or the ball was picked off.  Incredibly frustrating.