The winless NY (Football) Giants are in trouble after Week 5. In order to qualify as a football team, they need to have enough players able to take the field.

In Week 5’s game against the Los Angeles Chargers, the Giants lost the top four of their five wide receivers: Odell Beckham, Jr. (broken ankle, out for season); Brandon Marshall (season-ending ankle surgery); Sterling Shepard (sprained ankle, likely to miss at least a week or two); and Dwayne Harris (broken foot, out for season). Running back-wise, the situation is even worse. Giant’s star running back Paul Perkins could not even play Week 5 due to bruised ribs; Orleans Darkwa, who already has been dealing with a back injury, injured his calf during the game and was unable to return to play, leaving the Giants with only rookie running back Wayne Gallman.

Quarterback Eli Manning got battered so much that he had to get an X-ray after the game, especially after taking a knee to the neck. He is however expected to start next week against the formidable Broncos. Of course, Manning can rely on his remaining wide receiver Roger Lewis (5th ranked on the roster, now top receiver) and the Giant’s newest wide receiver Travis Rudolph, just promoted up from the team’s Practice Squad, and the just re-signed Tavarres King, a former receiver. Even with all these injuries, the Giants are not expected to re-sign Victor Cruz.

Fortunately, the Giant’s tight ends are still intact, so our short game should still be there, if the Giant’s offensive line can hold for more than a second.

After Denver will be Seattle, another team with a top defense in both pass and run protection, before the Giants have the dubious reprieve of their bye week.

The Giants will likely compete with the as-yet winless Cleveland Browns  for the first round pick of next season’s NFL Draft, awarded to the team with the worst regular season record. Only one can be first.