MetLife Stadium was left lifeless Sunday afternoon once Washington Redskins linebacker Ryan Kerrigan sacked New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning on fourth down with roughly 9 minutes remaining in the fourth quarter. New York (7-7) was down 23-3 at the time and eventually lost 23-10, falling to second place in the NFC East behind the Dallas Cowboys (8-6).

There were hardly any fans in the building when time expired, most having departed after Kerrigan’s sack of Manning earlier in the quarter. The Giants have witnessed this kind of scene at home quite often this season, previously coming up short vs. the Seattle Seahawks and Philadelphia Eagles.

“It’s a huge letdown,” Giants linebacker Mathias Kiwanuka told Yahoo! Contributor Network following New York’s fifth loss in six games. “It’s disappointing, it’s shocking. … We’ll give them credit; they came out, they played, they did what they were supposed to do. But we … we’re not supposed to play like that.

“It’s games in the division,” he continued. “It’s an important game. It’s man on man; you got to be able to go out there and hit them harder than they hit you. There’s not going to be a whole lot of surprises. You just got to be able to play and outplay the man in front of you.”

From Manning throwing three interceptions, rookie cornerback Prince Amukamara getting beaten for a touchdown by Santana Moss and receiver Hakeem Nicks dropping a first-quarter pass that should have resulted in six points, the signs of Big Blue’s inevitable defeat were present throughout. Cornerback Corey Webster and safety Kenny Phillips each had an interception in the first quarter, but the Giants failed to turn either turnover into points. This was mainly because Washington (5-9) had a 7-minute, 4-second edge in time of possession in the first quarter.

Kicker Lawrence Tynes’ 40-yard field goal late in the second quarter would account for New York’s offense in the first half—and that came only after Washington had jumped out to a 17-0 lead.

“I don’t want to say too much, but it’s definitely frustrating,” safety Antrel Rolle, speaking to YCN, said. “It’s definitely frustrating, and I feel that we are the better team. They (Washington) beat us twice [this season], so clearly they’re the better team … at this moment. We gotta get better.”

“It’s definitely a bad one to digest,” Amukamara said of the loss. “But, like coach (Tom Coughlin) said, we just have to worry about these next two games and just take it one step at a time. Our goal is still there to be division champs, so we just got to take one game at a time.”

The Giants must beat the New York Jets (8-6) this Saturday to assure themselves a chance to win the division in Week 17, which is when they face Dallas at home.

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EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – After watching Eli Manning carry the offence with his arm for the first three quarters of the season, the New York Giants are finally showing signs of life in the run game.

For only the second time this season, the Giants (7-6) head into Sunday’s game against Washington (4-9) coming off consecutive 100-yard rushing efforts as a team.

“I thought we started to run a little bit better against Green Bay and I thought it was continued improvement in this game,” offensive co-ordinator Kevin Gilbride said of Sunday’s 110 yards on the ground in the Giants’ remarkable 37-34 win over the Cowboys. “We don’t have huge stats, but I’m looking for consistency. I thought for the most part we got that.”

Brandon Jacobs was outstanding in the game, rushing 19 times for 101 yards and two touchdowns in the comeback win that vaulted the Giants into first-place in the NFC East.

New York — still ranked last in the league in rushing offence, averaging 85.8 yards — had gained 100 yards rushing against Green Bay, after failing to hit the century mark in the three previous games.

The big difference seems to be new line, the fifth starting combination used this season.

David Diehl was moved from left guard to left tackle three games ago after Will Beatty suffered a detached retina. And then, the left guard and centre positions were switched the following week when David Baas suffered from severe headaches and continuing neck problems.

That forced offensive line coach Pat Flaherty to move Kevin Boothe from left guard to centre, with second-year pro Mitch Petrus taking over the guard spot. Chris Snee and Kareem McKenzie remain at the right guard and tackle spots, respectively.

The line opened a couple of excellent holes that allowed Jacobs to get through the first level with some speed and forced the Cowboys defensive backs to come up and stop the 260-pound back.

“I think we have guys in the right place,” Jacobs said. “I think guys are working hard and doing everything they can to make the run game work. I think the offensive line is doing a fabulous job of moving people out of the way and I think E (Eli) is doing a great job of getting us in things that we need to be in. Our coaches are confident in what we are doing and I am confident in what we are doing.

“We just have to keep going.”

Jacobs also ran as hard as he has all season in getting most of the carries with Ahmad Bradshaw sitting in the first half because of disciplinary reasons. There were no signs of the hamstring injury that bothered him for a couple of weeks.

Redskins defensive tackle Barry Cofield, a former Giant, said watching New York’s run game is a shocking, considering Tom Coughlin’s team always was among the league leaders.

“It’s just not like them,” Cofield said. “They’re not the team that they used to be. They used to pound the ball, and I’m sure they would love to get back to that. … I wouldn’t be surprised to see them come out and see them pound the ball.”

Gilbride and Jacobs feel the running game has only taken baby steps. It still has to improve, especially with the Giants next three games being at MetLife Stadium where the wind can make it tough to throw.

“It can be a factor here, weather wise,” Gilbride said. “That’s where you would like to be able to run the ball, but regardless of that, you always would like to have the ability to force people to play honestly. To do that, you have to be able to run the ball a little bit. I think the fact that we did it a little bit better (against) Green Bay, did it even a little bit better last game is a good sign. We’re headed in the right direction.

“We’re not where we want to be, but we’re headed in the right direction and I think that just makes us more difficult to defend.”

Having a run game will make Manning twice as dangerous in a season in which he has already thrown for 4,105 yards and 25 touchdowns.

“It’s a different team. It’s just a completely different look. They’re playing differently,” Cofield said. “They’ve got a lot of different faces in there because of injuries and things like that, and it seems like Eli’s matured, a couple of seasons’ worth of maturity in one year, with how well he’s playing down the stretch this year.”

NOTES: DE Osi Umenyiora probably will not play this weekend because of a high ankle sprain and Baas also seems unlikely the way he talked after missing practice on Thursday. … DE Justin Tuck is nursing a sore toe and probably will be a gametime decision on Sunday. … A subdued Perry Fewell, the defensive co-ordinator, says his unit has not played a complete game this season. … S Kenny Phillips (left knee) hopes to play Sunday after missing the Cowboys’ game.

Read More: Derrick Martin (S – NYG), David Baas (C – NYG), Justin Tuck (DE – NYG), Osi Umenyiora (DE – NYG), Ahmad Bradshaw (RB – NYG), Kenny Phillips (S – NYG), Travis Beckum (TE – NYG), Mark Herzlich (LB – NYG), Spencer Paysinger (LB – NYG), New York Giants, Washington Redskins

The New York Giants hit the practice field today rather banged up, in preparation to take on NFC East rival the Washington Redskins. On the practice field, the Giants were missing seven players, including defensive ends Justin Tuck (toe) and Osi Umenyiora (ankle/knee). Here are the other players who missed practice:

C David Baas (neck), TE Travis Beckum (knee), RB Ahmad Bradshaw (foot), LB Mark Herzlich (ankle), S Derrick Martin (back)

The status for all seven of these players is still up in the air right now, but it is still early in the week. The Giants also had two other players limited in practice today in linebacker Spencer Paysinger (hamstring) and safety Kenny Phillips (knee). Like the rest, their status for the game is uncertain at this time. 

For more on this game, stay tuned to this StoryStream. For more info on the Giants head over to Big Blue View, and for more on the Redskins check out Hogs Haven.

Read More: Michael Boley (LB – NYG), Dave Tollefson (DE – NYG), David Baas (C – NYG), Brandon Jacobs (RB – NYG), Osi Umenyiora (DE – NYG), Ahmad Bradshaw (RB – NYG), Mario Manningham (WR – NYG), Kenny Phillips (S – NYG), Mark Herzlich (LB – NYG), Spencer Paysinger (LB – NYG), Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants

New York Giants running backs Ahmad Bradshaw and Brandon Jacobs both missed their second straight practice. Bradshaw has missed the previous four weeks due to a fractured bone in his foot, but he did return to play last week against the Green Bay Packers. Bradshaw is expected to play against the Dallas Cowboys Sunday night. Jacobs was held out due to a hamstring injury and is also expected to suit up against the Cowboys, both players were held out for precautionary reasons.

Here is the Giants injury report for Thursday.

For more on the New York Giants, check out SB Nation blog Big Blue View.