Is 16-1 an Overly Optimistic Prediction for the New York Giants???

E from New York City called in to do the Giants win-loss game, and he did not come to be reasonable.

Opening night against the Cowboys at home? "You already know." Win. Monday night at the Rams? Win. Home for the Titans, Cardinals at home, at the Commanders, Saints visiting. Win, win, win, win.

Six and zero before Rich could get a word in.

"Commit to the bit," someone on the set said, and E did.

The one crack in the armor came at Houston, and E delivered it with the conviction of a man who had actually studied the schedule. That is a loss. Rich immediately came to his defense, pointing out that E was trying to be reasonable and asking everybody to back off his friend.

Then E got right back to it.

At the Eagles, a big W, because in E's estimation the Eagles are falling apart. Commanders at home on a Thursday night for the season sweep. Jaguars, Colts, 49ers, Seahawks, Browns, Lions. All wins.

He picked the Giants to beat the defending Super Bowl champions in Seattle. He picked them to win at Detroit on a Monday night, with a quick apology to the city on the way out. He picked them to sweep Dallas, invoking the Knicks sweeping the 76ers and the Cavs as precedent.

Final tally: 16 and 1.

"E stands for ecstasy, as well," Rich said.

The reality check that followed was gentle but firm. Rich made clear he is very excited for Giants fans and for the Giants, and then delivered the verdict anyway.

"One thing that's not going to happen is a 16 and one," he said.

The set immediately told him not to take away E's shine, and Rich's only concession was to note the location of the single loss. At the Texans.

The actual news buried inside the bit is worth pulling out. The Giants currently have the second longest odds to make the playoffs in the NFC. Only the Cardinals are behind them.

Rich did not like that at all.

"That's not fair. I don't think that's fair. I think the Giants have improved their roster," he said.

His specific optimism landed on the defense, where he expects Arvell Reese and the rest of New York's young additions to be players. Rich also could not resist relitigating the draft. He wanted the Giants to pair Reese with Caleb Downs, two Ohio State defenders, and bring the legacy.

He said it twice, in fact, in case anybody missed it. Bring the legacy.

Nobody on the set told him no.

The Colts game gave the room its other favorite moment, with Rich getting a shot in at Daniel Jones as E stacked another win onto the pile.

For a July segment built entirely on a caller's imagination, it did the job. E got his broom in Dallas, his sweep of Washington, and a 16 and 1 season that exists nowhere but a Tuesday radio show.

Rich, for his part, was happy to let him have it. Then he pointed out where the actual odds sit and moved on.