Eastern Conference

NEW YORK
Giants

RATING: First.
1956: W 8, L 3, T 1. First Playoff: beat Bears 47-7.
EXHIBITIONS: W 3, L 2.
COACHES: Head, Jim Lee Howell ; assistants, Vince Lombardi , Ken Kavanaugh, Tom Landry , John Dell Isola.

WATCH FOR: Thunderous running attack by Frank Gilford, Mel Triplett and Alex Webster , plus better deep passing to improved End Ken McAfee; the rushing of All-Pro End Andy Robustelli .

OFFENSE: The Giants, possessed of the most consistent running game in the National Football League last year, should be even better in 1957. Addition of 240-pound Jack Spinks at offensive guard gives the champions a most awesome convoy for its great trio of running backs. Chuck Conerly and Don Heinrich can send 500 pounds of fleet blocking ahead of the runners on sweeps with Spinks and Jack Stroud. Ken McAfee, a good receiver last year, is much better this year. Gene Filipski, who relieves either Gifford or Webster , spent 1956 acclimating himself and is a very capable replacement.

DEFENSE: The only loss the Giant defense suffered last year was All-Pro Tackle Roosevelt Grier to the Army. Jim Katcavage, a second-year man, has plugged the hole Grier left very well. The Giant linebackers, Sam Huff , Harland Svare and Bill Svoboda, are the best trio in football and the secondary defenders, led by Emlen Tunnell , are experienced, battle-hardened and wise.

1957 SCHEDULE (1956 score):

SEPT. 29 at Cleveland (21-9)
OCT. 5 at Philadelphia , N (21-7)
OCT. 13 at Washington (7-33)
OCT. 20 Pittsburgh (38-10)
OCT. 27 Washington (28-14)
NOV. 3 at Green Bay (no game)
NOV. 10 Chicago Cardinals (23-10)
NOV. 17 Philadelphia (20-3)
NOV. 24 at Chicago Cardinals (27-35)
DEC. 1 San Francisco (no game)
DEC. 7 at Pittsburgh (17-14)
DEC. 15 Cleveland (7-24)

CLEVELAND
Browns

RATING: Second.
1956 RECORD: W 5, L 7, finished fourth.
EXHIBITIONS: W 2, L 4.
COACHES: Head, Paul Brown ; assistants, Paul Bixler, Howard Brinker, Dick Gallagher, Fritz Heisler, Ed Ulinski.

WATCH FOR: Quick, hard runs of rookie Fullback Jim Brown , who may be another Marion Motley ; platooning quarterbacks, with Tommy O'Connell and rookie Milt Plum trading.