Because they’ve done it in the past, there’s a sense among the Giants that late-season runs are coming.
But heading into today’s game against the Saints, they’re also working to make sure they don’t take it for granted.
“I think guys know each year is different,” Giants quarterback Eli Manning told Alex Marvez of FOXSports.com. “We’ve got to handle our business right now in this year. We’ve got to make sure we have a great understanding of what we need to do and how we have to execute it to put ourselves in a situation to win games.”
Last week’s loss to the Redskins was a bit deflating, and left the Giants just a game up in the NFC East. But more disappointing was the way they played, as the game featured nine penalties, no sacks and just one touchdown, while allowing the Redskins 207 rushing yards.
Coach Tom Coughlin said he sensed his team was “very disappointed and down from the loss the other night.
“The first thing I had to do was try to pick them back up,” he said, and he did so in part by easing back on practice. Coupled with the fact they’ve been thrashed by the Saints the last two times they saw them, there’s no way he doesn’t have his team’s attention.
“We had a great opportunity in front of us and didn’t come away with a win,” right tackle Dave Diehl said. “This league is all about consistency – playing your best week in and week out. People say, ‘Oh, this is something that happens here. Are you guys used to this?’ You never get used to this. You never want to be with your backs against the wall with four games left thinking you need to win out. But that’s the situation we feel we’re in.
“We need to take care of our own business. In the NFL, you can’t rely on other guys to do your job for you.”
They’ve proven before they can.