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It seems like ages, but it was only just a couple months ago when the New York Giants were coming off what felt like the worst preseason of any team in the NFL.

They lost Kevin Boss and Steve Smith while opting not to make any major moves in free agency. Terrell Thomas, Jonathan Goff and Clint Sintim were among a host of players who had suffered season-ending injuries. Osi Umenyiora wanted a new contract and there was uncertainty surrounding the Giants when they dropped the season-opener to Washington and Rex Grossman.

But the Giants have won six of seven since, and storm into the second half of their schedule feeling as if they are inching closer toward being an elite team in the NFC after a stirring 24-20 win over the Patriots.

Eli Manning is playing his best football and the Giants have been clutch, pulling out one heart-pounding win after another. The defense appears to be rounding into shape and the special teams has improved since last year.

The Giants still have to do a better job of running the ball and stopping the run, but Coughlin has his team at 6-2 coming off a momentous road victory. Young players like Jason Pierre-Paul, Victor Cruz and Jake Ballard have emerged into big-time contributors. Coughlin has preached finishing to the team all year long and he'll find out what kind of finishers he has with a treacherous second-half of the schedule that could send the Giants into yet another tail spin.

Since 2004, the Giants have started every season under Coughlin 5-2 or better only to go a collective 29-34 in games from November on. The Giants hope their losses to Washington and Seattle won't come back to haunt them.

"We will have an opportunity to answer that," Justin Tuck said of whether the Giants are an elite team. "I think we are close. It doesn't matter what you do in November. Nobody will remember what we did in November and December. It is all about getting back to the Super Bowl. If you are not holding up that trophy at the end of the year, you are not elite, that's my opinion."