Giants Not Giving Up On Slim Playoff Hopes
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (CBSNewYork/AP) — Despite throwing away control of their playoff destiny with lopsided losses over the past two weeks, the New York Giants aren't ready to give up.
While perplexed after seeing the defending Super Bowl champions outscored 67-14 by Atlanta and Baltimore, coach Tom Coughlin insists the Giants (8-7) will play hard in their season finale at home against the Philadelphia Eagles.
"We'll just keep hanging in there and working hard and this certainly is adversity," Coughlin said Monday. "This certainly is a difficult time for us, but we're going to fight and we're going to do everything in our power to prepare ourselves for Philadelphia, who played very well against Washington."
The Giants need a ton of help to avoid missing the playoffs for the third time in four years. They have to beat Philadelphia, have Minnesota and Chicago (both 9-6) lose and have Dallas (8-7) tie or lose to Washington.
While the chances of it all happening seem remote, Coughlin is hoping his team plays well after stumbling down the stretch with losses in five of the last seven games.
Neither Coughlin nor quarterback Eli Manning nor defensive end Osi Umenyiora could explain the collapse, although injuries have played a big part, especially in the second half of the season.
Halfback Ahmad Bradshaw (foot, knee), receiver Hakeem Nicks (foot, knee), defensive tackle Chris Canty (knee), safety Kenny Phillips (knee), offensive linemen David Diehl (knee), Chris Snee (hip) and David Baas (shoulder) all have played with nagging injuries.
Manning blamed some of the offensive woes lately on players not being able to practice much of the week and then showing up for games. Coughlin said the team isn't making many big plays on either side of the ball.
Manning believes this team wants to finish the season on a high note, even if that doesn't get the Giants in the postseason.
"We want to have something we can be proud about, and see how the other games (end up) " Manning said. "I can guarantee you that the worst feeling we can have is if we go out there and don't play at a high level, and all those teams lose that we need to and we don't handle our own end. All we can worry about is improving our performance and getting back to playing quality football."
The Giants certainly haven't done that lately. A week after being embarrassed 34-0 by the Falcons, New York dropped a 33-14 decision to the Ravens.
The combined 14 points is their lowest total in back-to-back games since Nov. 28 and Dec. 5, 2004, when they lost to Philadelphia 27-6, and to Washington, 31-7.
The offense was pathetic against a Ravens defense missing Ray Lewis. It gained 186 total yards with just 67 on the ground, was 2 of 10 on third down and held the ball for 20:29.
Baltimore gained 533 yards, the second-highest total in Coughlin's nine years as head coach.
"I'm sure it will be an incredible investigation and study," Coughlin said when asked if that was something the team would be looking at in the offseason.
Umenyiora said the ball just hasn't bounced the right way this season. They have been close to making plays and just missed or had breakdowns, something which didn't happen in their late-season six-game winning streak that carried them to a title last season.
It has led to a fair amount of frustration, but not anger, Umenyiora said, adding only one team walks away happy at the end of the season.
"Did this year play out the way out any of us wanted it to?" Umenyiora said rhetorically. "No, but at the end of the day we still have a chance to go out there and give one last good impression or one good showing of ourselves and I think we're going to do that."
Umenyiora agreed with Coughlin that the Giants aren't a very confident team right now.
"The pedigree of this group is very, very good and for us to be getting beat the way we've been getting beat these last two weeks, obviously there's something lacking. Is it physical talent?" Umenyiora said. "You can't say it's physical talent because we have the ability, but obviously it has to be something, and so the only thing I think you can point to is confidence. It just doesn't seem like we're playing with a lot of confidence and it's showing out there on the football field."
There is a good chance this will be Umenyiora's final season with the Giants. He said he would like to finish his career with the franchise, but he knows changes are coming if New York's season ends Sunday, and there is a "high probability" he would be a casualty.
Manning said the Giants' failure to make another late-season push was disappointing but not really a surprise because every season is different.
"You have to play your best football at the end of the season, especially for those in playoff contention, for playoff chances, you have to put yourself in the best possible position to be playing great football," Manning said. "We haven't done that."
Giants fans, Would you be satisfied if Big Blue finishes on a high note -- playoff berth or not? Let's hear your thoughts...
(TM and Copyright 2012 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2011 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
