Power Rankings: Giants take care of ball, it takes care of them

Updated Dec. 2

Remember this phrase: Callous disregard for the ball.

That's Tom Coughlin-speak for turnovers.

He used that sentence a few years back as coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars after his team lost a game because of turnovers.

The man's already-red face turns apple red when the ball is lost.

He preaches the importance of taking care of the ball more than any other coach in the league. They all do it, but he just does it more. He's maniacal about it.

I bring this up because Coughlin's New York Giants are the best team in the league. A big reason is they take care of the football.

In 12 games, the Giants have turned it over just 11 times. That's eight interceptions for Eli Manning and three fumbles lost.

That's the second-best turnover number in the NFL, second to the Dolphins and their 10 giveaways.

That ability to hold on to the ball is a big reason why the Giants are 11-1 and sitting atop our CBSSports.com Power Rankings.

The Giants are a plus-10 in takeaway ratio, which ties them for second in the league with the Dolphins behind the Titans, who are a plus-13. The Giants' fumbles-lost total is second best to the Colts, who have lost just two.

That's holding on to the football.

Which team is the best in the NFL? Giants 54% Titans 7% Cowboys 8% Steelers 17% Buccaneers 3% They aren't the best 10% Total Votes: 49,047

Without the turnovers, the Giants are able to lead the league in rushing offense and lead the league in scoring offense. They control the football and they rarely play from behind, which is why they can run the ball the way they do.

In their only loss, at Cleveland on Oct. 13, they turned it over three times. That means in their 11 victories, they've turned it over eight times. That's incredible.

The Giants won the Super Bowl last season but they did so without taking care of the football. They were the first team in 20 years to win a Super Bowl with a negative turnover ratio. They were a minus-9.

This Giants team is significantly better than the 2007 version because these players don't turn it over.

There is no callous disregard for the ball, which is just the way Coughlin likes it.

The Power Rankings through Week 13:

RANK	TEAM		MOVE (LW)