What are the New York Giants one-fourth of the way through the 2014 NFL season? Are they the team that couldn't get out of its own way in season-opening losses to the Detroit Lions and Arizona Cardinals? Are they the offensive juggernaut that steamrolled the Houston Texans and Washington Redskins to even their record at 2-2? Are they somewhere in between?

"I see us 2-2," head coach Tom Coughlin said following the 45-14 victory over Washington.


"I don’t enter into all of that. As a matter of fact, I guard our team against that. For a couple of weeks we’re told that we’re not very good, etcetera, etcetera and we don’t believe that. We’ve battled our way, at least right now, into a 2-2 season and we’ve got to continue that attitude about having a chip on our shoulder and having a lot to prove. ... I do know this, in order to accomplish what we would like to, the improvement meter has got to go up weekly and hopefully we can continue to do that."

The Giants have given themselves a chance in the suddenly more competitive than predicted NFC East. With four games in the books, let's grade the Giants and see if they are contenders or pretenders in 2014.

Offense

The Giants' starting offense looked helpless in the preseason. The Giants couldn't pass. They couldn't block. Over and over analysts wondered if Eli Manning, in his 11th year, could master the new footwork required in the Giants' new West Coast-based scheme. Then, Manning threw four interceptions and the Giants lost their first two games.

Fast-forward a couple of weeks and the story is much different. The Giants have scored 75 points the past two weeks and gained 868 yards. Manning is soaring with a completion percentage of 66.9 and a passer rating of 93.6, both of which would be career highs. The Giants are running the football when they want to, the offensive line is protecting Manning in the pocket, and the veteran quarterback is throwing the ball as well or better than he ever has. Larry Donnell has emerged as a weapon at tight end.The Giants are, amazingly, fifth in the league in scoring at 25.8 points per game.

Grade: B

Defense

The Giants began the season hoping their defense would give them a chance while the work-in-progress offense developed. Then the Giants gave up 45 points in their season opener, getting torched by Matthew Stafford, Calvin Johnson and the Detroit Lions. That undoubtedly shook the Giants, but things have improved steadily.

Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and Prince Amukamara are playing extremely well at the corners. Trumaine McBride has stepped in admirably for the out-for-the-season Walter Thurmond in the slot. 

The defensive line has proven deep and talented, and has been stout against the run and able to put pressure on opposing quarterbacks. 

The Giants have forced nine takeaways -- seven interceptions, two fumble recoveries -- in the past two games after getting none in their pair of losses.

Grade: B

Special Teams

The Giants have been an adventure on special teams. The Giants had a punt blocked in their season-opener, and punter Steve Weatherford suffered four torn ligaments when his blocking broke down on a second punt against Detroit and he was roughed. They have given up a 71-yard punt return for a touchdown. Zak DeOssie messed up a snap on a field goal attempt. Quintin Demps on kickoff returns and Preston Parker on punt returns have yet to break big returns.

Damontre Moore, who blocked a punt against the Texans has been a bright spot. Weatherford deserves credit for continuing to punt despite his injury. This group, though, needs to be more consistent.

Grade: C-

Coaching

The Giants underwent massive change after a disappointing 2013 season. They said goodbye to a number of long-time veterans from their 2011 championship team. They completely revamped the offensive coaching staff, and went to a different system than the one used for the past decade. They brought in 14 free agents. They have nine rookies on the roster. 

Putting all of this together was always going to take one of the best coaching jobs of 68-year-old Tom Coughlin's career, and thus far he has delivered. The Giants were terrible in a Week 1 loss to Detroit, better in a Week 2 loss to Arizona, good enough in a Week 3 victory over Houston and scary-good in a Week 4 rout of Washington. Coughlin deserves credit for putting Humpty Dumpty together again. Now, can he keep it together?

The new offensive coordinator, Ben McAdoo, brought with him a West-Coast style of offense featuring short drops, quick throws, a faster pace including a lot of no-huddle and three-receiver sets. It took time, but Manning and Co. are now flourishing in modernized system. 

Defensive coordinator Perry Fewell has tremendous cornerbacks in Prince Amukamara and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, and has recognized that by allowing his team to play more man-to-man than in the past. He has also found creative ways to use the plethora of talented defensive linemen at his disposal.

Coaching Grade: A