Â
Inside slant · Strategy and personnel · Notes, quotes
Â
For the Giants, coming back from a two-game losing streak is nothing new, as twice before they have rebounded back from adversity with winning streaks.
However, with the Giants now stuck in their third two-game losing streak this season, the marathon is fast ending, and the window is fast closing on their playoff hopes.
New York, which concludes the regular season against the Redskins on Sunday, is no longer in control of its playoff destiny, having dropped games to Philadelphia and Green Bay in their latest skid.
However, if they win their game against Washington, the Giants will need Chicago to beat Green Bay on Sunday, which would give New York the sixth and final NFC playoff seed.
Although the Giants don’t have destiny in their own hands, coach Tom Coughlin is advising his players to not worry about what they can’t control and instead focus on what’s in front of them.
For starters, he’s advising them to not worry about the playoffs.
“Really, to be honest with you, we’ll coach our guys to just play the game,” Coughlin said. “Play this game, the game that we’re in,
(and) pay no attention to anything else. All you can do is take care of your own business.”
Coughlin believes that if the Giants focus on sharpening their fundamentals and playing strategically sound football, the other factors will fall into place.
“We’ll play the game, be focused on the Washington Redskins, be focused on a divisional game on the road, and whatever transpires will transpire.”
Although the Giants have had the Redskins’ number in the past five meetings, Coughlin stressed that Washington won’t be any pushover.
“Washington is a much improved team. They actually should be 7-8 — anyone who follows them knows that,” said Coughlin.
“Since (QB Rex) Grossman has started, they’ve played well, and defensively they’ve played well — they’ve increased their pressure, they come after the quarterback more, (and) they make more things happen.”
To add to the Giants’ challenge this week, New York probably will be without some key starters. The most likely of the injured to miss the game is receiver Hakeem Nicks, who suffered a broken big toe on his left foot in Sunday’s loss to Green Bay.
The absence of Nicks, who would join Steve Smith on the sideline, means that the onus will be on the running game to carry the load, just as it was the first time the two teams met. However, running back Ahmad Bradshaw is also nursing an ankle injury, and his status for Sunday is a question mark.
Coughlin believes that if the Giants can duplicate the effort they put forth in their last meeting against Washington, when they rushed for 197 yards, were plus-5 in the turnover ratio and held the ball for more than 35 minutes, the Giants will be able to take care of their business.
Even if the Giants don’t come close to duplicating those numbers, Coughlin sounded like a man who would just be happy to come away with a win, because, as he said, “Quite frankly we’d like to have some other memory of how we play than last weekend.”
SERIES HISTORY
156th regular-season meeting. Giants lead series, 90-61-4. The two teams have also met each other twice in the postseason, having split those two games. On Dec. 5, the Giants beat the Redskins 31-7 at New Meadowlands Stadium. Ahmad Bradshaw and Brandon Jacobs ran for a combined 200 yards and scored two touchdowns apiece.
Copyright (C) 2010 The Sports Xchange. All Rights Reserved.
Comment Below!.