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Only seven times has the NFL seen back-to-back champions. This year, the New York Giants will be looking to make it eight.

After an amazing playoff run that ended with defeating the perfect New England Patriots and a Super Bowl title, Eli Manning and his team look poised to make it to the playoffs for the fourth straight year in a row. AccuScore gives the Giants a strong 47.5 percent chance of making to the playoffs, but they are well behind the Cowboys (over 80 percent) and are not in the Top 6 in the NFC.

Manning and his offense were a big question throughout the season last year, being blasted on the back pages of New York newspapers nearly every week. But great management by Archie’s youngest son proved to be the difference as the Giants went on the road and beat Tampa Bay, Dallas and Green Bay to get to the Super Bowl. This year in AccuScore simulations, the Giants are averaging more than 1 point more per game than they did in 2007.

The key to the Giants is Manning limiting turnovers. In their Week 1 match-up versus the Redskins, the Giants win 57.8 percent of simulations when Eli Manning throws 1 or more interception. In simulations where he tosses zero interceptions the Giants win 78.1 percent. Manning had 4 multiple interception games last season and 20 total interceptions. If Manning can cut this down to 14 the Giants win an average of 1 more game per season in simulations and this is the key for the team to get back into the playoffs where anything, including repeating, is possible. The Ole Miss alum is forecasted to finish the season with over 3400 yards and 24 touchdowns. Both would be career highs for the Super Bowl champion quarterback.

Brandon Jacobs should help Manning and his receivers, giving the Giants a balanced offense in 2008. AccuScore projects the Southern Illinois alum to finish the season with over 1400 yards and ten touchdowns in his first full year as a starter.

The defense was a huge reason the Giants were able to win the Super Bowl, keeping the top three offenses of last year under its regular season average in yards per game, and well under its points per game average. Michael Strahan’s leadership and stats (9 sacks and 46 tackles) will be missed, and other losses in free agency have caused the Giants defense to lose an average of one point per game from last year in the AccuScore simulations.

A tough NFC East schedule along with games against Pittsburgh and Minnesota means that AccuScore projects the Giants to finish with a record of 9-7.

For more information on the New York Giants, click here to see how the Super Bowl Champions will fair in its first week battle against the division rival Washington Redskins.