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Dec 3 There are only three active coaches with multiple Super Bowl wins. Two of them, Tom Coughlin and Mike Shanahan, will be on opposing sidelines for the second time this season tonight when the Giants and Redskins face off at FedEx Field.

Giants attack hasn't earned Kevin Gilbride another head-coaching shot. Gilbride has done his part for the Giants ever since Coughlin came aboard in 2004, ever since the draft-day trade for Manning, ever since a franchise historically known for punishing defense and often "we'll get by" offense turned into a scoring machine.

Robert Griffin III and David Wilson, two former track stars, meet at FedEx Field. Their college track and field coaches believe Wilson and Griffin had the potential to blossom into Olympians - Wilson in the triple jump, and Griffin in the 400-meter hurdles - had they committed themselves to the sport full-time.
Is rookie David Wilson ready to step into that complementary role? And, is Tom Coughlin ready to give it to him? Coughlin's biggest concern: Will Wilson be able to help protect Eli Manning when the pass rush is bearing down on him? Can he pick up the blitz?

If ever there is a reason for the Giants not to suddenly forget how to play like champions, it is Robert Griffin III. This is the time of the year when you can't just dominate Aaron Rodgers one week and show up the next week fully expecting to be Supermen again. This is the time of year when you refuse to let this or any precocious phenom quarterback speed 100 mph on the bridge you are building to New Orleans.

If there is a move to be made, this is the month that Big Blue typically puts it all together and starts to shift into overdrive. There is no better time than Monday night against the Redskins for the Giants to solidify their hold on the NFC East and certify their championship credentials.
The last time the Giants saw Robert Griffin III, they were a minute and 32 seconds away from losing to the Washington Redskins. But Eli Manning put his Rocket Scientist hat on and hit Victor Cruz on a 77-yard game-winning touchdown, to DeAngelo Hall's dismay.

Lawrence Tynes, who has missed only 3 of 32 field-goal attempts this season (one of which was blocked), concedes that his forays into amateur cobbling might seem odd but maintains that they are also necessary.

NFC East News
Eagles - If the 2012 Eagles are afforded enough time, they will find a way to lose. Even in a game in which they took their biggest lead of the season, they collapsed Sunday night in the fourth quarter of a 38-33 loss to the Dallas Cowboys.
Cowboys - Tony Romo had three touchdown passes and broke Troy Aikman's career franchise record. The Dallas Cowboys needed all of them to stay alive for what really made the three-time Super Bowl winner famous: the playoffs.

Dec 2 For one split moment, on every single Redskins offensive play on Monday, every Giants defender will freeze. The momentary paralysis will be nearly imperceptible, but it will happen. It will not be a moment that Osi Umenyiora - or any other Giant - will enjoy. But it's the only way to solve the riddle of Robert Griffin III and the Redskins offense.
The Giants defense's discipline will be tested, and the back seven's temptation to peek into the backfield and bite on a slew of run fakes and misdirections will need resistance. A basic misstep and Griffin could be sprinting past or throwing over the last line of defense.

Facing Robert Griffin III and the Redskins without safety Kenny Phillips and defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul? It could happen. The Giants almost definitely will be without Phillips for tomorrow night's game, as he's listed as doubtful. Pierre-Paul, dealing with back spasms, did not practice for a second straight day, raising speculation that he too might not be available.

As Robert Griffin III's efforts draw widespread attention each week, Alfred Morris quietly gathers yards and touchdowns. Morris, a sixth-round pick from Florida Atlantic, may not stay in Griffin's shadow for long. Morris has 982 yards and 6 touchdowns in his first 11 games.

Running back Ahmad Bradshaw, who's been dealing with a painful foot injury for the better part of the season, knows that as much as he'd like to be able to shoulder the load for his team at running back, he can't do it all by himself. Right now, the biggest form of help to Bradshaw is David Wilson, the Giants' first round draft pick who, to the disappointment of many fans, hasn't seen more touches yet.

Dec 1 The Giants have no intentions of playing with fire and fighting for their playoff lives again at the end of this season. They have decided that the time to burn down the division is now. Especially before RG3 figures it all out.
The second time around should be much different, the Giants figure, because the Redskins run such an unconventional attack and in Griffin have such a physical marvel that they needed to see it and feel it to believe it.

The Giants will make their only Monday night appearance of the season this week when they visit their NFC East rivals, the Washington Redskins.
The Redskins are putting all their eggs in their season's basket this week, and could be setting themselves up for a big fall. The effort they expanded in their difficult, emotional win on Thanksgiving in Dallas will be hard to duplicate.

The Giants have a two-game cushion in the NFC East heading into Monday night's clash with the second-place Redskins. But defensive end Osi Umenyiora spoke Friday about a sense of urgency regarding this game, despite the disparity in the standings.
The Giants barely got past the Redskins in their first meeting on Oct. 21. And they didn't have to deal with Pierre Garcon back then. But the talented wide receiver is expected to be in the lineup for Washington on Monday night.

Former Giants
Michael Strahan is among the 27 semifinalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2013. Strahan is one of six semifinalists who made the cut in their first year of eligibility. The other five are offensive lineman Larry Allen, kicker Morten Andersen (who also spent a season with the Giants), safety John Lynch, offensive tackle Jonathan Ogden, and defensive tackle Warren Sapp. Former Giants coach Bill Parcells and former Giants general manager George Young are also among the 27 semifinalists.

Nov 30 Monday night's game in Washington won't be just another divisional matchup for the Giants. Head coach Tom Coughlin said. "Every game is extremely important. This is the most important game we've played all year long this Monday night."
Giants should realize Robert Griffin III and Washington now their top rival in NFC East, not Philadelphia Eagles or Dallas Cowboys.
When Victor Cruz takes a look at the Redskins he sees a team that is "definitely on the rise, for sure." But Cruz doesn't see a team on the level of his Giants.

The accolades keep on coming for Robert Griffin III. The Redskins' rookie sensation was named the NFL's Offensive Rookie of the Month for the second time this season. He also received the honor for September. Buccaneers running back Doug Martin was October's recipient.
The Giants get another crack at Griffin Monday night, becoming the first NFL team to face him twice. They hope to show the Redskins' seventh-ranked offense, with its option wrinkles and play-action proficiency, can be more effectively suffocated the second time around.

Mike Shanahan surprised many when he named Alfred Morris, a sixth-round pick out of Florida Atlantic, his starting running back out of the preseason and Morris has shined.
Lost in the Giants' 27-23 comeback win over the Redskins last month at MetLife Stadium were the 120 rushing yards Morris, the 173rd pick in the draft, stamped on their defense.

Newcomers Kregg Lumpkin and Ryan Torain, the two running backs the Giants signed on Tuesday, took the practice field for the first time with their new teammates on Thursday and are hoping to be up to speed on the Giants' playbook in time for Monday night's game against the Washington Redskins.
Like college studying for final exams, Torain and Lumpkin have been cramming all week to learn the philosophy, plays, blocking schemes and terminology of the Giants' offense. They've spent many hours with Ahmad Bradshaw, David Wilson, Hynoski and running backs coach Jerald Ingram, trying to learn enough so they can play if needed Monday night.
For Torain, there's extra motivation in making sure he's ready to contribute by Monday night: the Redskins released Torain last December.

Tom Coughlin was noncommittal when asked how involved Torain or Lumpkin would be in the offense Monday night against Washington, but both players expressed confidence that they would be ready.
Tom Coughlin didn't say much about what was said, but the Giants coach did say he and first-round pick David Wilson "have talked" as the rookie prepares to take on a larger role in the Giants' backfield.
With the addition of the new running backs, Wilson said it's helped him because he's having to answer questions from them about the offense which reinforces his knowledge. Late in last week's blowout of Green Bay, Wilson had six carries for 13 yards and caught one pass for five yards.

Nov 29 Special Report - It was on April 26 when the Giants made the decision. Now, almost exactly seven months later, they are about to find out if all the things they said about that decision will prove to be accurate. That was the day when they drafted running back David Wilson with the final choice in the first round. General Manager Jerry Reese indicated repeatedly that Wilson was their second-rated running back and that they were pleased to still find him available.

The Redskins are two games behind the Giants in the NFC East standings with five games to play, and they have a chance to narrow that gap at home Monday night.
Coming off two straight wins over NFC East foes the Redskins find themselves right in the thick of a playoff race. "We control our own destiny, so it's up to us," rookie quarterback Robert Griffin III said on NFL Network's NFL AM, via profootballtalk.com.

The Redskins, considered out of contention at 3-6, are now 5-6 and if they beat the Giants on Monday night can rightfully start thinking playoffs.
Mike Shanahan admits this rematch is like a last stand for the Redskins. At 5-6, the Redskins have to beat the Giants (7-4) to keep hopes of winning the division alive.

DeAngelo Hall's last impression of the Giants is of the team that shredded the Green Bay Packers on Sunday night. The Washington Redskins defensive back was impressed. But Hall steadfastly believes the Redskins are equipped to beat the defending Super Bowl champions.
The bye week seemed to change the Washington Redskins. A team that was declining steadily after a fast start and had lost three in a row has come back from the bye with back-to-back intra-divisional victories.

When he was selected in the first round of the 2006 draft, Mathias Kiwanuka probably never imagined that he would ever become one of those "slash" type of players. Yet that's the position he finds himself in today as the versatile Kiwanuka lines up as both the strong side linebacker and as a defensive end.
Even though defensive end is Kiwanuka's "natural position," he said he doesn't mind where he plays as long as he is prepared for the game. On weeks when he swings between both positions, he splits his time in practice and in the meeting room.

Former Giants
Kareem McKenzie, who won two Super Bowls with the Giants and retired after the 2011 season, has a new perspective on the game he spent 11 years playing professionally, first for the Jets and then for the Giants.

Nov 28 In their Week 7 matchup at MetLife Stadium, the Redskins were dominant on the ground. Led by rookie running back Alfred Morris and fellow rookie sensation Robert Griffin III, Washington confused the Giants with a unique option attack and slashed through the defense to the tune of 248 rushing yards.
Only late heroics from Eli Manning and Victor Cruz enabled the Giants to survive Griffin (20-28, 258 yards, two touchdowns, one interception, one fumble, 89 rushing yards). Tuck spent part of his Thanksgiving Day watching RG3 carve up Rob Ryan's Cowboys defense. "He is one of the best dual threats in our game today, and we're gonna have our hands full trying to stop that guy."

The Giants added not one, but two running backs to their roster, bolstering their backfield depth after losing Andre Brown to a broken fibula. Kregg Lumpkin and Ryan Torain signed after a handful of veterans came to team headquarters for a workout.
Torain, 6-1 and 220 pounds, played one season with Denver and two with the Washington Redskins, who the Giants will face Monday night in FedEx Field. Lumpkin also entered the league in 2008, when he signed with the Packers as a free agent out of Georgia. He played in two games for Green Bay that year and spent the 2009 season on the Packers' practice squad.

Safety Kenny Phillips said he tweaked his knee but will be ready to play on Monday night against the Washington Redskins. With Phillips back on the field, the Giants went primarily to their three-safety look again and had success keeping Aaron Rodgers and the Packers in check.
A healthy Kenny Phillips likely means Antrel Rolle will continue to move around. Against Green Bay, while Stevie Brown and Phillips handled deep responsibilities, Rolle routinely covered the dangerous Randall Cobb. After entering the game with six TDs in four games, Cobb was held to four catches.

All you need to know about the mindset of the Giants in their game against the Packers can be summed up in one first-quarter play. After being called for a false start that put his team in third and seven on the Packers 34, quarterback Eli Manning took the handoff and with nowhere to go with the ball, ran up the gut for 13 big yards and the first down.

Nov 27 The NFL announced that the Week 14 Lions-Packers game and the Week 15 49ers-Patriots game will stay in their previously scheduled spot on NBC's Sunday Night Football. The Giants are scheduled to play the Saints at home at 4:25 p.m. in Week 14, and the Falcons announced their Week 15 game against the Giants will stay at 1 p.m.

The Packers rushed for 116 yards on 26 carries but really it felt like they ran that much in an effort to keep the Giants off Aaron Rodgers' back. The Giants' rushing attack was back. They ran for 147 yards on 31 carries. Ahmad Bradshaw looked fresh and ran hard off the bye with 58 yards on 10 carries and had a touchdown.
Bradshaw is now the Giants' No. 1 back. And with Brown out, they have another rookie to fill the void, first-round draft choice David Wilson. Given the circumstance, no one can better prepare Wilson for his increased role than Bradshaw.

David Wilson has also been taking private lessons from fullback Henry Hynoski on the pass blocking assignments, a practice that Hynoski said started about two weeks ago. "Rookie year is all about learning about the NFL," said Hynoski.
David Wilson has to laugh when friends ask him how he is holding up. He knows what he has been through in his rookie season with the Giants, knows what he's done and - more specifically - knows what he hasn't done. How is he holding up? "I don't need an oil change yet," Wilson said yesterday, cracking himself up..

Running back Andre Brown had broken his fibula. The Giants will place Brown on injured reserve, but they have given him the designation to return, coach Tom Coughlin said. This is the last week when the one-time designation can be applied, so the Giants might as well use it on Brown. This would give Brown the potential to return for the Super Bowl, should the Giants make it back this year.
Giants will turn to rookie running back David Wilson now, with Andre Brown out. Another possible option? Former Don Bosco Prep standout Ryan Grant, who began his career with the Giants before being traded to the Packers in 2007, and played a brief stint with the Redskins last year.

Safety Kenny Phillips aggravated his right MCL knee injury that kept him out of six games during the Giants' 38-10 win over Green Bay. Phillips suffered the injury in the second half and did not return to the game. Phillips said he was held out for precautionary reasons and felt he could have come back if needed.

With a game against the rejuvenated Washington Redskins on tap in Week 13, the Giants' Sunday night matchup with the Green Bay Packers was quietly a huge game. According to Advanced NFL Stats' Win Probability graph, Green Bay never had greater than a 17 percent chance of winning the game by the end of the first quarter.

After destroying the Green Bay Packers, 38-10, and reasserting their role in a still-murky NFC playoff picture, the Giants players reveled in the review of what could only be categorized as a complete effort. Everything - offense, defense and special teams - seemed to go right for the Giants.
Entering Sunday night's game against the Green Bay Packers, 10 of the Giants' 15 longest runs this season had come on runs into the middle of the line, including the team's biggest rushing play, a 40-yard touchdown scamper by David Wilson against the Cleveland Browns on Oct. 7.

Young Adam Merchant, teenager fighting cancer, gives NY Giants inspired pep talk before rout of Green Bay Packers. Adam Merchant says he was "a little bit" fatigued Monday afternoon, which was understandable given the dizzying schedule the 15-year-old native of tiny Barre, Vt., has kept.
Experience 'made a dream come true'. It started with a brotherly feud and evolved into an inspirational speech that very well could have turned the Giants' season around. Adam Merchant Jr. is a 15-year-old from Barre, Vt., battling with Burkitt lymphoma, a fast-growing form of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

On a video now circulating widely on the Internet, Giants wide receiver Victor Cruz is seen catching a football allegedly tossed from a low-flying Cessna overhead. He makes it look easy, as the ball comes into view from overhead, barely moving before pulling it in. There is the matter of the FAA, which frowns on dropping objects out of planes in congested areas. "The FAA is reviewing the video," said a spokesperson for the agency.

Nov 26 Giants win over the Packers, 38-10  | Photos  | Photos | Photos | Videos

On The Game: Game 11
Gamegirl "..In the process Eli Manning threw three touchdowns and that broke Phil Simms' career record for touchdown passes. Remind someone to ask Simms if breaking his record is the criteria for being called 'elite'..."
Mikefan. "...Corey Webster was the victim of a 61 yard pass that went for a touchdown. Webster didn't sulk about it and when he got his chance he made things right by pulling in an interception and that led to a field goal to increase the Giants lead to 17-7..."

ESPN - Eli Manning, Giants end slide by sacking Aaron Rodgers, Packers.
ESPN - Rapid Reaction: Giants 38, Packers 10.
ESPN - How Eli Manning won.
ESPN - Pass rush comes alive against Packers.
ESPN - Bennett makes clutch catch after game.
ESPN - Nicks doesn't miss a step in return vs. Pack.
ESPN - Phillips says knee 'feels pretty good'.
Giants.com - Giants defeat Packers, 38-10.
Giants.com - WR Rueben Randle catches first TD.
Giants.com - Eli Manning breaks all-time Giants record.
Giants.com - Safety Rolle shows off skillset vs. Packers.
Giants.com - LB Mathias Kiwanuka sparks Giants D-Line.
Giants.com - Postgame Quotes: Coaches-Players.
InsideFootball - Giants Grant Child's Wish, Dominate Packers, 38-10.
NYDailyNews - Eli, Giants Pack punch after bye in 38-10 rout.
NYDailyNews -Manning proves Giants can't live without him by outplaying Rodgers.
NYDailyNews - Ahmad Bradshaw benefits big time from bye week, looks impressive in blowout.
NYDailyNews - Andre Brown has broken fibula, the only down part of a good night for Big Blue.
NYPost - Manning's three TDs, defensive pressure carry Giants to blowout win.
NYPost - Brown out for season with broken leg.
NYPost - Rodgers feels Giants heat.
NYPost - Corey continues to battle inconsistency.
NYPost - Giants let Packers know who's still the boss.
NYPost - Pack of lies: No retribution for Rodgers & Co.
NYPost - Blackburn leads 'D' Chase to win over Pack.
NYPost - Eli bests Rodgers to cap amazing weekend for boy with a dream.
NYTimes- Giants Silence the Questions With an Exclamation Point.
NYTimes- Finding Victory Just on the Other Side of a Porous Offensive Line.
StarLedger - Giants thrash Green Bay Packers 38-10, reinforce themselves as contenders.
StarLedger - Giants inspired by speech of 15-year-old Adam Merchant in rout over Packers.
StarLedger - Giants Andre Brown suffers broken fibula.
StarLedger - Giants pass rush throws 'sack party' against Packers.
PackersNews.com - It's another Giant debacle.
JSonline - Packers take a giant beating.
JSonline - This Packers' offensive line isn't very good.

Game 11 Preview - Giants (6-4) vs Packers (7-3)
Last Sunday the Green Bay Packers extended their win streak to five games by beating their division rivals, the Detroit Lions, on the road with a 24-20 score. The Giants were off on a bye week resting up from playing a long stretch of games and trying to recover from two straight losses and whatever lingering effects they may have felt from experiencing hurricane Sandy.

Nov 25 A few weeks ago, Eli Manning was on top of the football world and Aaron Rodgers was struggling. But when the two meet on Sunday night, they'll enter heading in directions opposite how their seasons started.

The Giants have heard enough. Over the past two weeks, they've listened to a barrage of questions. They've watched as their two-game losing streak has been dissected from every angle, listened as their two-time Super Bowl MVP quarterback has been questioned, and heard the phrase "November swoon" uttered more times than they can count.

A late bye this season meant the Giants coaching staff had 10 weeks worth of games to fork through and examine. The coaches looked at their six victories and four defeats, but their study sessions also looked at others, focusing on teams that excelled in areas they have faltered in. One such facet was red zone offense.

The Giants have given up 39 pass plays of 20 yards or more, tied for fifth-most in the league, but also rank third with 27 takeaways. They haven't applied regular pressure to opposing quarterbacks, recording a total of 25 sacks, fewer than a dozen other teams.

Most times when defensive linemen prepare to face the most-sacked quarterback in the league, they're licking their chops, salivating at the opportunity to add some more to their total. That's not the case for Osi Umenyiora as the Giants prepare to face Aaron Rodgers and the Packers.

Every Saturday morning before every Sunday game, the Giants gather at the team's training center and take part in a walk-through. They do not wear pads, just team sweats, but the walk-through is designed to simulate situations the players may encounter and to reinforce exactly where each player should be.

Wide receiver Rueben Randle freely admits that he never did understand why he was described as being an "NFL ready" receiver shortly after he was drafted. "I had a lot of things I needed to learn," he said. "It was going to take some time."

Nov 24 Aaron Rodgers has been sacked 32 times this season, more than any other quarterback in the NFL. But that doesn't mean the Giants are banking a sack explosion against the Packers Sunday night.
The Packers' offense is not a good match-up for the Giants, as quarterback Aaron Rodgers and his offense can hit big plays from anywhere on the field. There are opportunities on film to make plays against this Giants' secondary and Green Bay has the people to do it.

The Giants' meeting with the Green Bay Packers Sunday in MetLife Stadium encompasses every meaning of the phrase, "big game." This season, the Packers were 2-3 after five games, but have rallied to win their last five games, tying them with Denver and New England for the league's longest active winning streaks.
The teams have combined to win three of the past five Super Bowl titles. They have met twice in the postseason in that time - with the Giants winning both meetings and going on to win the title. And they have played three rather important regular-season games, all Packers victories. On Sunday night, they will meet again at MetLife Stadium.

The Giants are again seeking a spark from Kenny Phillips, who has missed the last six games with a sprained medial collateral ligament in his right knee. Although he is listed as questionable, he said he expected to play against the visiting Green Bay Packers on Sunday night, with the hope of giving the defense a lift.
His return would allow Giants to use the three-safety package they grew fond of last season and that would be just in time to deal with the Packers' gluttony of weapons on offense. "I definitely try to be as physical as possible when I get the opportunity because you don't get (many)," Phillips said. "I definitely try to take advantage of that."

Washington's win Sunday changed the complexion of the NFC East in some good and some bad ways for the Giants. On the bright side, the Giants will still be in sole possession of first place in the division no matter what happens Sunday night. Had Dallas won, and the Giants lost Sunday, the teams would be tied atop the division.
The Giants haven't always been a team that's seized every opportunity presented to them as far as the playoff race, but this weekend, they're hoping to turn things around and create more space between them and the Washington Redskins in the NFC East.
The Giants, at 6-4, control their own destiny. The Cowboys and Redskins are behind them, both with 5-6 records. The Cowboys would have improved to 6-5 with a win, but on the other hand, quarterback Robert Griffin III and the Redskins looked like a very dangerous team, and they'll play the Giants next.

Nov 23 TheGiants will face the Packers Sunday night for the first time since the Giants upset the top-seeded Packers in the NFC Divisional Round last year en route to their second Super Bowl win in five seasons.
Green Bay wide receiver Randall Cobb has shredded defenses this season in a variety of ways. The Giants prepare to defend Cobb and the Packers Sunday.

Whatever Eli Manning did during the bye week - whatever he ate or drank, whether he worked out or lounged around, whether he watched football, movies, soap operas or no TV at all - the Giants hope it is the exact formula he has followed the last four years during the bye week. Because Manning has become a master of the big-time performance the week after a bye.

Two Sundays ago in Cincinnati, Hakeem Nicks caught nine passes for 75 yards, showing his uncanny ability to pluck the ball out of the air, but none of the yards-after-catch magic that separates him from the pack. The bye week allowed Nicks to take stock. He knows he needs to start turning short and moderate receptions into bigger plays down the field.

Lawrence Tynes leads the NFL with 28 field goals and 109 points - the most points by a Giants' kicker through 10 games and the highest total since Denver's Jim Turner compiled 111 in 1968. Tynes, 34, likely will add to his NFL record-setting pace Sunday night against the Green Bay Packers (7-3). He also could give the Giants a decided advantage with Packers' kicker Mason Crosby struggling mightily.

Former Giants
Howard Cross ran through a litany of concerns about the way the Giants had been playing before their bye week, but he concluded the interview with one major caveat. "After saying all that, don't be surprised if they win the Super Bowl."

NFC East News
Washington 38 Dallas 31 - Robert Griffin III made the Cowboys look like an overmatched college team in the second quarter, throwing for three scores in Washington's first 28-point quarter in 13 years as the Redskins built a 28-3 halftime lead.

Nov 22 The only way for the Giants to remind the invading Packers who the real champions are is to prove it on the field, again. "We know they're going to come in [ticked] off about last year and we have to be ready for that intensity," guard Chris Snee said."
Tom Coughlin did not pull any punches, describing Sunday's game against the Packers as "a huge game for them" and also "a huge game for us." That about sums up what's at stake as the Giants (6-4) look to retain their one-game lead on first place in the NFC East and the Packers (7-3) look to break a tie with the Bears (7-3) for first place in the NFC North.

Aaron Rodgers is so tough to prepare for and deal with that Justin Tuck is making up words when talking about it. "I don't think he's rattleable, if that's a word," Tuck said on Wednesday. It's not a word, but we get it.
Packers do-it-all receiver Randall Cobb, who has become a threat as a receiver, runner and returner, has caught the Giants eyes as they prepare for Sunday's showdown. While the Packers have plenty of veteran play makers, the Giants all complimented and spoke highly of the second-year receiver.

Kenny Phillips had a limited practice and is still optimistic that he will be able to return Sunday against Green Bay. The veteran is one of the team's most steady players on defense, with his ability to break up plays down the field and also cover athletic tight ends. His return will also allow the Giants to bring back their three-safety look.
If Phillips returns, he will team with Antrel Rolle and Stevie Brown to give opponents an alignment they've seldom had to deal with this year. Defensive end Justin Tuck said Phillips' return would provide a big boost to the Giants defense against Green Bay's high-scoring offense.

NFC East News.
The Cowboys remain as enigmatic as ever while again straddling mediocrity heading into their Thanksgiving Day game with the Washington Redskins. Dallas remains in the playoff picture, too, and by late Sunday could find itself tied with the Giants for first place in the N.F.C. East.
The Redskins have won only once since Oct. 14. That was last Sunday's 31-6 triumph at home over the reeling Philadelphia Eagles. The Cowboys barely scraped by against the two-win Cleveland Browns last Sunday at Cowboys Stadium, winning on a field goal in overtime, and they're on their first two-game winning streak of the season.
The Philadelphia Eagles backfield will look significantly different come Monday. With quarterback Michael Vick still out with a concussion and running back LeSean McCoy sidelined with a concussion as well, the Eagles will rely on QB Nick Foles and rookie RB Bryce Brown against Carolina.

Nov 21 Forget about the 6-2 start, the two-game losing streak before the bye week, or any of the attempts to build a bridge from September through two weeks ago. That's all in the past; for the Giants, the time is all about the future, specifically their upcoming six-game schedule against a slate of teams that are a combined 36-24 and of which four have .500 records or better.
No team has a more difficult final six weeks than the Giants, who look forward to meeting that challenge head on. "That's what it's all about," coach Tom Coughlin said. "You've got it to this point. It's certainly in our hands, in our own control."

The Giants did some self-evaluating last week during the bye week. The coaching staff not only took a long hard look at themselves and their players, but they also studied what other teams are doing around the league to see if they can incorporate anything or alter anything schematically.
Coach Tom Coughlin acknowledged the superstorm and its aftermath did affect his football team, despite the team's best efforts to stay on schedule and focused on their jobs on the football field. "For the most part, when we were here, I think the focus was here. But to say that we weren't affected, no, that would be foolish; that'd be naïve on my part."

Monday morning, the Giants returned to work from their much-needed bye week with an addition to their daily schedule: a players-only caucus in the team meeting room, multiple players said. The floor was open. "Anybody that had anything to say about what's going on," tackle Sean Locklear said. "Good, bad, indifferent," added middle linebacker Chase Blackburn.

Antrel Rolle hopes Giants can sweep last six games, achieve 12-4 record. "I want to win six out of six," Rolle said in his weekly appearance on WFAN. "That's the way I look at it, that's the way I play the game, that's my attitude about it. Four out of six, it may get us in, it may not get us in, it all depends. I don't want to bank ourselves on an 10-6 season. So definitely going to go for a 12-4 season, and just hope for the best, and wish for the best."

Victor Cruz says the Packers defense is playing 'inspired' and rookies will be targets Sunday. Rookies usually tend to be weak points. And the Packers defense has plenty. Green Bay used the first six of their eight picks in April's draft on defensive players and at various points in Sunday's win over the Lions they had six rookies in on defense. Three members of the the secondary are rookies and a fourth is in his second year.

David Wilson is a bit confused, more than a bit frustrated and growing increasingly anxious about his non-existent role in the Giants' offense. It has been a waiting game for Wilson, the Giants' first-round draft pick out of Virginia Tech. He lost the ball on a fumble in his NFL debut in the regular-season opener and ever since then he has been a fixture on kickoff returns, but a stranger on offense. After 10 games, he has 18 rushing attempts.

The Giants begin their six-game finishing kick this week with Lawrence Tynes poised to complete the greatest season in history by a Giants - and perhaps an NFL - kicker. Tynes leads the NFL with 109 points.

Former Giants
Plaxico Burress is getting another shot - at the NFL. The Giants' Super Bowl hero who last played for Jets in 2011, was signed Tuesday by the depleted Pittsburgh Steelers, his first NFL team.
Plaxico Burress is back where he once belonged. The Steelers brought back the veteran wide receiver to provide depth at a position decimated by injuries while hoping there's enough gas left in the 35-year-old's tank to give the offense an added dimension near the goal line.

Nov 20 Special Report - I think the fans (and the media) needed this bye week as much as the players and coaches of the New York Giants. It's time to step back, breathe and analyze before the final six-game push to the playoffs. The players were busy relaxing and staying away from football these last few days following an embarrassing loss to Cincinnati a week ago Sunday. Gee, aren't these Giants good for one embarrassing loss or two a season, Super Bowl or not? Meanwhile, the coaches must take a hard look at the playbook, the game film and in the mirror and try to answer many questions, not the least of which is this: Why has the team fallen into a rut?

David Wilson has just 18 carries for 89 yards on the year, with team personnel saying he doesn't give the team enough as a pass protector. Wilson believes he hasn't missed on any blocks in practice since training camp, and said he's not far from the level the team wants him to be as a blocker. "When you say show us more, do more, you wonder, 'Where?'" Wilson said. "I work hard in practice and do my plays when I'm in."

Coming off back-to-back losses hasn't affected the confidence of the defending Super Bowl champions, defensive captain Justin Tuck said. "I think everybody on this team feels that we can be the best team in the league when we're playing our style of football," Tuck said. "It's just unfortunate that we haven't played our style of football the last couple of weeks. We have to find a way to get back to playing that, because it's going to be needed leading up to these next weeks."

The Giants, who lead the NFC East by one game, know they have a tough slate of opponents on the horizon, starting this weekend with a red-hot Green Bay Packer team that has won its last five games and which is 7-3 on the season.
The Giants have seen their division lead over the Cowboys shrink to one game, behind a slumping offense and a pass rush that is 13th in NFL with 25 sacks, after finishing tied for third last season, and Justin Tuck is aware that things could be much worse. "We're 6-4, but we're kind of blessed to be 6-4. We realize that," Tuck said.
The good news for the Giants is that owning a lead puts them in control of their own destiny. "That's the way we like it," wide receiver Hakeem Nicks said. Like millions of Giants fans, Tom Coughlin spent most of Sunday in front of a television. "Watched a lot of football yesterday, as you all did, I'm sure," Coughlin told reporters after leading the Giants through practice.

Before the bye, Eli Manning denied rumors that his arm was tired. Today, he was among a chorus of Giants who said he threw the ball well. "Usually after the bye, you kind of have a little more pep in your step and the arm is a little bit more live," Manning said.
Manning said he made good on his prediction what he would completely get away from football for the week. He went home to Mississippi, where his wife and daughter have been since the hurricane compromised their Hoboken, N.J. apartment. Manning said he didn't even bring his laptop with him on the trip, a sign that he was able to put his job away.

Chris Snee expects a (ticked) off Packers team to take the field against the Giants Sunday night. The Giants, after all, were the ones to ruin what was supposed to be a Super Bowl run after a 15-1 regular season. Instead, Green Bay was knocked out of the postseason in the divisional round at Lambeau Field.

Hakeem Nicks has been bothered by foot and knee injuries much of the season and has not scored a touchdown since Sept. 16 vs. Tampa Bay. He rested during the bye week and said he feels better than he has at any point during the season.

Safety Kenny Phillips returned to the practice field and hopes to be ready for this Sunday's game against the Packers. Phillips has been sidelined since spraining his MCL in Week 4 against the Eagles. Phillips said he felt "pretty good" doing a moderated workload, which included position drills and some running on his own.

Linebacker Keith Rivers was involved in an automobile accident last week in California during the New York Giants' bye week. Tom Coughlin said the Giants are hopeful that Rivers has nothing more than a bruised knee. "He had a car accident last week," Coughlin said. "He is being evaluated. He bruised a knee. We hope that is all it is."

Nov 19 When Giants defensive coordinator Perry Fewell talks about the breakdowns that frustrate him, he is not short on examples. The most recent: A.J. Green's 56-yard touchdown catch that set the tone for the Giants' 31-13 loss at Cincinnati last Sunday. Fewell had a call that could have stopped the play, just the Bengals' fifth from scrimmage that afternoon.

Nov 18 Speed is not enough for rookie running back David Wilson to crack into Big Blue's backfield. The Giants are wrestling with how to deploy Wilson, the 5-9, 205-pound dynamo they drafted 32nd overall out of Virginia Tech, who had 1,709 yards on 5.9 yards per carry as a junior in 2011.

Rueben Randle may have had an NFL-level playing skills when the Giants selected him the second round of this year's draft. But he wasn't ready to be a professional in the NFL. The wide receiver's work ethic was questioned on a national broadcast earlier in the year, and even Giants wide receivers coach Kevin M. Gilbride acknowledged Monday that the former LSU star needed some work in adapting to life in the NFL.

Former Giants
Jim Fassel's son John has a motor that won't quit and NFL career on the rise John Fassel, best known as 'Bones' for his slim frame, has finished almost 50 triathlons, enjoying endurance tests as a release from the high-pressure hours as special teams coordinator for the St. Louis Rams.

Nov 17 Tom Coughlin said part of the Giants' plan against Cincinnati last Sunday was to get rookie David Wilson more involved. But the game got out of hand and Wilson ended up seeing just one carry. Both running backs coach Jerald Ingram and offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride explained that Wilson didn't have to do much at Virginia Tech other than run and make plays. But with the Giants, Wilson has to handle more responsibilities including how to protect Eli Manning.

Rookie WR Rueben Randle has been impressing wide receivers coach Kevin M. Gilbride. Randle is beginning to show his second-round talent both in practice and on the field. The rookie has notched big plays of 56 and 36 yards this season while averaging 14.4 yards per catch. Gilbride talked about his progression from the offseason and what he needs to do in the final six weeks of the season.

Lucky Crumb Cake Secret Weapon - Cake from Ramsey deli has played a role in both the NY Giants' Super Bowl win and the Mahwah High football team's success this season. Giants' season turned around last year after boy with pulmonary disease brought cake to team practice.

Nov 16 One week, the Giants shut down the 49ers. The following week, the Redskins are tallying near 500 yards on them. It's the inability to stretch together solid outings that's keeping the Giants from being a top defense.

Eli Manning's "Foolish" Interceptions Come From the Same Mentality That Produced Winning Plays. The same mentality which led to those throws Sunday when trailing and under pressure, and to trying a left handed pass, also resulted in one of the greatest plays in Super Bowl History.

Giants's former center Shaun O'Hara offered this explanation for the November swoons that have become commonplace. "November is a tough month for everyone in the NFL," O'Hara, now an analyst for the NFL Network, told The Post.

Doug Martin was the second running back taken in the 2012 NFL Draft, selected 31st overall by the Buccaneers. Less than 10 minutes later, the Giants took David Wilson as the first round concluded, inextricably linking the two tailbacks' careers. Through 10 weeks of their rookie seasons, the two backs hardly belong in the same conversation.

A suitcase filled with clothes is all David Douglas brought with him. The furniture in his Clifton apartment does not belong to him. Almost nothing in the furnished space does. It all feels temporary to the Giants rookie receiver, who has no idea how long his stay will last. But that's life in football purgatory. The NFL calls it the practice squad.

Nov 15 Giants need to sever ties with 2011. Just because they previously fought back doesn't mean a repeat performance is destined. "You can't just think it's automatically going to happen," Eli Manning said as he walked out of the locker room and into the bye week Monday afternoon.

Martellus Bennett says he needs to do more. The season couldn't have started better for the first-year starter, after four seasons in Dallas. Bennett had three touchdowns and 185 yards in the first three games, but has 226 yards and no touchdowns in the past seven.

With six brutal games remaining, offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride has some issues to resolve with his unit. The offense has often stalled out in the red zone. The line has been shaky as of late and, most important, his star quarterback is in a bit of a funk.

Defensive coordinator Perry Fewell said he'll continue to look at combinations and tactics to help the Giants get the consistent pressure on opposing passers that makes their defense work. Fewell said. "As more guys get healthier and start to come into the fold, we'll do more things. Whatever we have to do to be successful."

Tom Coughlin said he saw some good and bad while watching film of the carnage from Sunday's 31-13 loss at Cincinnati. It's hard to imagine seeing any good out of a game in which the Giants looked like they already were in bye mode before their bye week had even begun.

There was hope Kenny Phillips could have returned for the Steelers game, but he was shut down until after the bye. Now, if all goes according to plan, Phillips will return after the bye. That means the Giants will have a good problem on their hands with the return of Will Hill, which could lead to three-safety looks. And that's not even mentioning Stevie Brown, who filled in for Phillips and is currently second in the NFL with five interceptions.

Phil Simms stands by comments about Eli Manning, says it wasn't meant to be a shot. The CBS analyst and ex-Giants QB still thinks Manning will be in Pro Football Hall of Fame, adding that the difference between a great quarterback and an "elite" one is really "splitting hairs."

Nov 14 Eli Manning elite? Not according to former Giants quarterback Phil Simms, who questioned just how good the two-time Super Bowl MVP winner is Monday on "NFL Monday Quarterback" on CBS Sports Network. "No, he is not one of the elites."
"When I hear the word elite, I'm thinking about guys that can make unbelievable plays on the field by themselves," Simms went on to say. "There are very few quarterbacks in that category. So yes, Eli has been a tremendous team player. He has been MVP of the Super Bowl twice. I know that. But the way I look at it, the answer is no."
Check this out out from last year - 'Eli Manning Is Already the Best QB in New York History'

Even with the recent lack of production, the Giants' numbers after 10 games in many instances are better than they were last year at this time. Here's a comparison of some statistics and rankings after 10 games in both 2011 and 2012.

Cris Carter was on ESPN radio Tuesday morning offering his opinion as to why the Giants always seem to swoon this time of year. Carter, the former standout NFL receiver and currently an ESPN analyst, says it has a lot to do with coach Tom Coughlin's tough system..

Antrel Rolle on loss to Bengals: "We gave them at least 21 of those points, easily." After watching the film Monday, Rolle said the defensive miscues, including A.J. Green's 56-yard touchdown catch on the fifth play of the game, are correctable. Rolle, who blitzed Andy Dalton on the play, admitted it was blown coverage, though he didn't specify the culprit.

While he's technically a third-year player, Andre Brown, the Giants' fourth-round draft choice in 2009, had played in just four games with minus-one rushing yard heading into the season. Through 10 weeks this season, Brown has 60 carries for 321 yards (5.4) and 12 receptions for another 86.

Former Giants
Tiki Barber charges $1950 for fans to play football. Or if flag football isn't your game: feel free to suggest a different activity. Tiki also excels at badminton and dodgeball. (But you probably don't want to face him in dodgeball.)

Nov 13 Frustrated Tom Coughlin calls Eli Manning 'terrible' and 'foolish'. Manning kept saying that what has happened the first 10 weeks no longer matters and that it's now a six-game season.
Coughlin admits that he did not like what he saw from Manning's two interceptions deep in the Giants' territory with a Bengals defender clutching onto him. But he said his quarterback was simply trying to make something happen.

Coaches began self-scouting Monday, and offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride said they would also study some of the hot offenses around the league for ideas to "galvanize" their unit.
While Tom Coughlin is searching for answers to get his offense and his team back on track, he said he saw encouraging signs from Manning Sunday despite the 31-13 loss to the Bengals.

If you include their current 0-2 slide after they compiled a 6-2 record in the first half, the Giants have a 27-39 record in the second half of seasons under Coughlin as they enter their bye this week. In the first half of those seasons, the Giants are 53-19.
The Cowboys play twice before the Giants will next take the field on Nov. 25 in a prime time home game vs. Green Bay. Even if Dallas defeats Cleveland and Washington, the Giants will still be in the lead when they take the field against the Packers.

Heading out of town for a few days with his family, Eli Manning said Monday he would not be bringing any game tape with him and he wouldn't throw a football again until the team returns to practice Monday.
"If you said after 10 games at our bye week we've be winning our division, you'd take that every time," Eli Manning said. "That's where we stand. We got a six-game season. It's all going to come down to those last six games."

While Martellus Bennett hasn't been 100 percent since hyper extending his knee against Cleveland on Oct. 7, tight end coach Mike Pope said a high portion of the decline in production is opposing defenses making sure they don't allow Bennett to beat them.

Offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride is aware of the fans' desire to see the team unleash rookie running back David Wilson, the teams first round draft pick, in more plays with the offense.
Giants coaches rave about David Wilson's explosive running ability; they've seen what he can do at practice and on Sundays during kickoff returns. But that isn't the issue.

While Hakeem Nicks has played at less than 100 percent for the entire year, gutting his way through injuries, the wide receiver hasn't been able to play like he has in the past. Sunday, Nicks finally got into the groove, with the team targeting him frequently and using him in the game plan..

It hasn't been the easiest of seasons for David Diehl. The veteran right tackle has missed time with a sprained MCL, and when he has played, Diehl has struggled as he's allowed a handful of sacks. As the team enters the bye, Giants offensive line coach Pat Flaherty believes Diehl will be able to sort it all out and pick up his play.

Markus Kuhn's season is over. The rookie defensive tackle tore his ACL in Sunday's 31-13 loss to the Bengals and will need season-ending surgery. Tom Coughlin first revealed the news and Kuhn confirmed it with reporters.
Kuhn, 26, said he felt something pop during the second half and didn't believe it was as bad an injury as it turned out to be. Kuhn is hopeful he impressed the team enough to be brought back next season.
Tom Coughlin saw the poor kid coming his way, a rookie defensive tackle named Markus Kuhn, and the coach of the New York Giants stepped up to console him. "Sorry, big guy," Coughlin said as the two embraced, as the coach gave the seventh-round pick two hard pats on the back. "I'll be all right," Kuhn told him.

Nov 12 Giants lose to the Bengals, 31-13  | Photos  | Photos | Videos
On The Game: Game 10
Gamegirl "..When I saw the actual win loss record for the Giants when they play in November, I was glad to see where our bye week falls this season. The Giants lived up to their bad November stats as they went down to the Bengals today. They are now 13-21 in November.."
Mikefan. ".Last week before the Pittsburgh game we were all making comparisons between Eli Manning and Ben Roethlisberger. Now two games later Super Bowl MVP Eli Manning pales in comparison to the Bengals second-year quarterback Andy Dalton. Manning has thrown six interceptions and just one touchdown in the past four games.."

ESPN - Andy Dalton throws career-high 4 TDs as Bengals blow out Giants.
ESPN - Rapid Reaction: Bengals 31, Giants 13.
ESPN - What's wrong with Eli Manning?
ESPN - Eli Manning pressured in loss to Bengals
ESPN - Cruz taken out of the game plan.
ESPN - Dalton, Green exploit G-Men's holes on D.
ESPN - Running game struggles against Bengalsr
Giants.com - Giants fall to the Bengals, 31-13.
Giants.com - O-line gives up four sacks in loss.
Giants.com - Giants head into bye week at 6-4.
Giants.com - Safety Will Hill makes play in return.
InsideFootball - Giants Limp into Bye Week with 31-13 Loss to Bengals.
NYDailyNews - Big Blue is big bust in Cincinnati.
NYDailyNews - Victor Cruz says team will bounce back from loss.
NYPost - Manning & Co. swooning again as they tumble into bye week.
NYPost - Opening drive sets tone for torching.
NYPost - Bradshaw: Run left out of the gameplan.
NYPost - Elite QB nowhere to be found.
NYPost - Eli awful against Bengals as Giants drop second straight.
NYTimes- Looking Forward to Resting, The Giants Get an Early Start.
StarLedger - Alarm bells sounding after Giants' 31-13 loss to Bengals.
StarLedger - Victor Cruz drops sure touchdown pass in Giants loss.
StarLedger - Bengals' A.J. Green exploits the holes in the Giants' defense.
StarLedger - Giants Eli Manning says he doesn't have a 'tired arm'.
Cincinnati.com - Bengals thump Giants to end losing skid.
Cincinnati.com - Bengals hold Giants defensive line in check

Game 10 Preview - Giants (6-3) vs Bengals (3-5)
Last Sunday the Giants were hoping to cheer up the home fans coming off the heels of hurricane Sandy. Like the superstorm, the Steelers blew into town and left their damage behind. The Giants offense and special teams unit played poorly blowing a ten point lead and they lost the game to Pittsburgh 24-20.
Last week two second-half interceptions had Cincinnati up in the fourth quarter against the Denver Broncos. The Bengals couldn't stop Peyton Manning from redeeming his earlier mistakes. In the end the score was 31-23 in favor of the Broncos.

Nov 11 It didn't take long for the panic to begin swirling. The truth is, it never does. One loss by the Giants last Sunday set off alarm bells inside and outside of their practice facility. It didn't even matter that the loss followed four wins in a row.
The loss to the Steelers can partially be written off to the players struggling with the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy. Manning and Mathias Kiwanuka were forced to evacuate their homes, and the players all dealt with their own issues after losing power. Their lives, along with so many others, were disrupted.

The physical, grind-it-out Bengals bear a striking resemblance to the Steeler team that ripped through the Giants just last week. Cincinnati averages just 95.9 rushing yards per game, but like Pittsburgh, the Bengals rely on a powerful offensive line. They hail from same division as the Steelers - the AFC North - and Linval Joseph said both teams share several key run plays.

Due to injuries to Will Beatty and David Diehl, Sean Locklear, 31, started each of the team's first eight games. Last week, Locklear played just five of the team's 51 snaps as the swing tackle, with the Giants' struggling offense not running many plays. He's slated to be the backup once again this week, but could be back in the starting lineup if right guard Chris Snee can't go.

Jayron Hosley has been asked to take on an integral role in the secondary, which will be without safety Kenny Phillips (knee) until after the Giants' Week 11 bye. Safety Will Hill was activated from the suspended list and added to the 53-man roster Saturday at the expense of cornerback Michael Coe, who was placed on season-ending injured reserve with a hamstring injury..

David Wilson, who has 88 rushing yards this year, said he doesn't keep tabs on Doug Martin, or link their careers together, but he notices when a running back has the type of performance Martin did last week. His 251-yard game against Oakland is one of the best rushing performances in NFL history.

Nov 10 With a bye week looming and the memory of last year's 6-2 record turning to 7-7, the Giants are looking at the Bengals game as a must win to maintain their confidence for the stretch run."We need to win a game," Coughlin said. "It's important to win and focus and play. That's what our point has been all week." The urgency in his voice didn't sound like a coach with the cushion of a 2 1/2-game lead in the NFC East.

The Giants are facing a Bengals team that has lost its last four games and given up an average of 26.5 points per game during that stretch. Despite Cincinnati's recent struggles, the Giants will need to contain one of the league's best young receivers in A.J. Green.
Different people have different interpretations of a defense ranked 26th against the pass, 19th against the run, but top 10 in points allowed and second with 26 takeaways. Cincinnati's standout wide receiver A.J. Green made his own analysis known, saying it means there are holes in the defense. He'll find out Sunday.

The Giants head into Sunday's game significantly healthier than last week against the Steelers. Guard Chris Snee (ankle), running back Ahmad Bradshaw (foot), and linebacker Keith Rivers (calf) are questionable for Sunday, but each is confident that they will play in Cincinnati.
The Giants have not yet made a decision on whether they will bring Will Hill onto the roster for Sunday's game against Cincinnati, but the safety said he's starting on the team's special teams depth chart. While it seems like a virtual certainty the Giants will bring back Hill, they will have to choose someone on the roster for him to replace.

Keith Rivers, a weak-side linebacker, has played in five of nine games this season. When he's on the field, he has been effective and has shown flashes of the speed and athleticism that made him the No. 9 overall pick out of Southern California in 2008.
Rivers looks back on his time with Cincinnati with good memories. The linebacker said the move to trade him to the Giants for a fifth-round pick was a mutual decision and he said there were a lot of moving parts to the deal.

The hard-hit city of Hoboken got a lift from its most famous resident today when New York Giant Eli Manning toured areas affected by Hurricane Sandy. Manning was shown around by Mayor Dawn Zimmer as an NFL camera rolled to to help raise awareness for rebuildhoboken.org, the Rebuild Hoboken Relief Fund.

Former Giants
Bill Parcells believes the Giants' struggles to score touchdowns in the red zone stems from an inability to consistently run the ball. "When you can't run the ball down in the red zone, usually your efficiency down there isn't very good. Running the ball in the red zone is a very key element to being a good red zone team."
Ernie Accorsi has been hired by the Carolina Panthers to serve as a consultant in the team's search for a new general manager. Accorsi, 71, has known Panthers owner Jerry Richardson for a long time.

Nov 9 Can you imagine the hysteria in Big Blue Nation if the Giants lose to the Bengals after losing to the Steelers after beating the Redskins and Cowboys but not looking great doing it? If 6-2 becomes 6-4 with two weeks before the next game, that won't be good thing.
The Giants' game against the Bengals Sunday became more buzz-worthy today, thanks to a comment by Cincinnati wide receiver A.J. Green. In an interview with New York sports radio station WFAN, Green said, "I feel like they've got a lot of holes in their defense."
Antrel Rolle, upon hearing that slight, put Green on notice when the Giants on Sunday face the Bengals in Cincinnati. "I'll talk with my pads come Sunday," Rolle said. "That's how I approach the game. That's how we always approach the game. If he sees me, he better duck. That's it."
AntrelRolle on WFAN - See above.

Kevin Gilbride is not a happy camper. Not after the way his unit performed in the last two games, a victory in Dallas and a loss at home to Pittsburgh. Put it this way: the Giants' defense scored as many touchdowns as the offense - two - in those games. The offense crossed the goal line only on a pair of Andre Brown one-yard touchdown runs.
The Giants offense has struggled in recent weeks, putting up back-to-back underwhelming efforts against the Cowboys and Steelers. The offensive coordinator acknowledged that not having wide receiver Hakeem Nicks and running back Ahmad Bradshaw healthy has affected the offense.

The Giants' "terrible" and "awful" kick and punt coverage against the Steelers drew the ire of coach Tom Coughlin Sunday night. Four days later, special teams cordinator Tom Quinn had strong words of his own. "Oh yeah, we're (ticked) about that," Quinn said.
Part of the problem on special teams has been that the unit is missing several key pieces, such as linebackers Jacquian Williams and Keith Rivers, and safety Will Hill. Hill is expected to be activated for Sunday's game after serving a four-game suspension for having violated the league's policy on PEDs "He's got speed, quickness and good power for the position," Quinn said of Hill.

Everyone knows about Tom Coughlin's intensity. Everyone knows about Eli Manning's arm. But, several Giants players say, a little-known key to the team's success in recent years stands about two feet high. It is covered in fur, pleasant but not precocious, and goes by the endearingly simple name Little Bear.
When the Giants visit the Bengals on Sunday, they'll see a familiar face on defense in cornerback Terence Newman. Newman, you might remember, is the former Dallas Cowboy who last year was victimized not once but twice by fullback Henry Hynoski and tight end Bear Pascoe, both of whom managed to leap over Newman when he attempted to tackle them.

Hakeem Nicks is not worried about his numbers, says stats 'are for girls, man'. Knee and foot injuries have clearly affected Nicks, but he insisted Thursday that he's still gradually improving. After sitting out Wednesday's practice, he returned to action on Thursday, going through a limited workout.
Middle linebacker Chase Blackburn had a limited practiced Thursday and believes he has a realistic shot of playing Sunday. Blackburn is battling a hamstring injury that forced him to miss last week's loss to Pittsburgh.

Nov 8 Safety Kenny Phillips is not expected to return until after the Giants' Week 11 bye, coach Tom Coughlin said. Phillips has been sidelined since suffering a right knee sprain against the Eagles in Week 4. He practiced each day last week, twice in a limited capacity, and said he would play against the Steelers, but wound up being inactive.

This past Sunday was the last day of Will Hill's four-game NFL suspension, and with the Steelers delivering three huge special teams returns that afternoon, the Giants safety took some flak. "You're just like, 'Aggghhh!' And then the people who were at my household, looking at me like, 'Yeah, you know you're supposed to be right there, right?'".

Eli Manning said he called his brother Peyton to see if he could pick up any tips on the Bengals. The Broncos defeated the Bengals 31-23 last Sunday. "I talked to him yesterday about their game," Manning said Wednesday. "Just seeing if there are any tips on certain things. We talked a little bit."
They may be brothers, but when it comes to the styles of offense that Peyton and Eli Manning direct, there are a lot of differences. After seeing the up-tempo style that Peyton and the Broncos run last week, the Bengals defense has to prepare for Eli and a Giants scheme Sunday that likes to take more vertical shots down the field.

It is not going to be any easier to reach the end zone without Hakeem Nicks, who has suffered a setback with his knee. No one has declared the wide receiver out for Sunday's game but, given the way he's struggled with his foot and knee issues, it doesn't look promising.

Justin Tuck and Tom Coughlin have stressed the importance of winning this game with the acknowledgement of going into their bye at 7-3 being a whole lot different than if they do so at 6-4. The Giants have struggled in all three phases, the most worrisome issues stemming from a slumping Eli Manning and a passing attack that has produced just one touchdown in the last 14 quarters.

The Giants are looking for WR Victor Cruz to make more big plays against the Bengals. Tom Coughlin popped into the quarterbacks' meeting room yesterday to chat with Eli Manning. Nothing extraordinary about that. Coughlin stops by every Tuesday, the day Manning spends several hours in the small, windowless room getting a head start on studying the Giants' next opponent.

Victor Cruz was busy on Tuesday, even though it was the New York Giants' day off. The wide receiver was doing some last-minute campaigning for President Barack Obama on election day by doing phone interviews around the country. Back during the spring, Obama called the Giants' facility to personally ask Cruz for his help in trying to rally the Latino community.

With a four-game losing streak, a lot of people are starting to focus on the Bengals attitude. Left tackle Andrew Whitworth, who has been one of the team's leaders, wants less finger pointing and more attention on trying to win.

Nov 7 There will be a lot of discussion and analysis form the various media outlets, fans, etc. as to what has gone wrong for this Giants team, which despite winning two of its last three games, really hasn't been as sharp since the second half of the 49ers game.
It's never entirely the quarterback's fault, even if the easy commentary is to blame the guy throwing the ball. Pressure, coverages and route-running are outside of his control. But Eli Manning hasn't been sharp. He looks hesitant and doesn't have the confidence in his throws these past few weeks.

Tom Coughlin calls his defense 'soft'. In a sport predicated on physicality, it is a word no football player, unit or team ever wants to become associated with. But that was how coach Tom Coughlin described the middle of the Giants' defense for portions of their 24-20 loss to the Steelers Sunday at MetLife Stadium.
There is nothing close to a rousing postseason run last year if not for a dominant pass rush and a lethal run-stopping defense that made each possession a chore for the likes of Matt Ryan, Aaron Rodgers, Alex Smith and Tom Brady. The talent is in place for another dose of dominance and, in fact, the depth chart has more talent this time around.

The Giants history of bad regular season second half play is in their heads and there's no hiding from it. Justin Tuck admitted to thinking about it moments after the Giants lost on Sunday to the Pittsburgh Steelers and he surely wasn't alone.

Next up on the Giants schedule is a trip to Cincinnati where they will take on another AFC North member, the 3-5 Bengals, before finally enjoying their bye week. The Giants' loss to the Steelers dropped them to 6-3, and as Justin Tuck said Monday, 7-3 instead of 6-4 going into the bye is a significant difference.

The Giants couldn't deliver a win for the region on Sunday, but will make a more significant impact with a $500,000 to aid victims of Hurricane Sandy. The contribution will be divided evenly between the Hurricane Sandy New Jersey Relief Fund and the Mayor's Fund to Advance New York City.
Tuesday is traditionally a day off for NFL players, but that didn't stop many of the Giants yesterday from going out to help in the relief efforts following Hurricane Sandy. Players headed to the Jersey Shore, Staten Island and New Jersey food banks to help and assist those suffering from the after-effects of the super storm that devastated parts of the region.

Nov 6 Eli Manning: 'Whatever you want to call it, we are not playing good football'. Eli Manning's numbers could have spoken for themselves. The reigning Super Bowl MVP's season has hit a speed bump the past few weeks, with lows in the passing game he hasn't met in quite some time.
Eli Manning needs to snap out of it if the Giants intend to repeat as Super Bowl champs. The NFL is all about quarterbacks and the Giants are all about Eli, and Eli right now is not about getting the Giants into the end zone.

His credentials as a contender for NFL MVP honors were being debated last month. Now the question so many want answered: What is wrong with Eli Manning and the Giants' offense, specifically his connections with one of the league's most talented receiving tandems in Paterson native Victor Cruz and Hakeem Nicks?
As Eli goes, the Giants go, and Justin Tuck was all but wearing an Eli for President button when he addressed that reality. "He's got to be 'The Guy' that he's always been," Tuck said. "I think this team kind of feeds off the electricity that comes out of that offense and the big plays that they do."

Justin Tuck was ready for the barrage of questions. It was inevitable. And he understood why. The defensive end is well-aware of the Giants' recent second-half history, of the perennial struggles that seemingly strike as soon as trick-or-treating concludes and November hits.
"We played hard, we had our shots, but hopefully we can rectify all that next week. We've got a huge game out in Cincinnati, and I think we'll be up for it, and hopefully we'll end this November curse."

The Giants just played three games they easily could have lost, and they won two of them. They're playing poorly right now, despite their 6-3 record. This isn't out of character for them: The Giants of recent vintage have been talented enough to be great when all their parts are working. What they haven't been is particularly consistent in getting those parts working in unison.

Tom Coughlin said the Giants weren't comfortable playing safety Kenny Phillips just yet on Sunday. Phillips had said last week that he was ready to play but the Giants kept him inactive on Sunday. Coughlin was asked if Phillips suffered a setback.
Tom Coughlin made a lineup change to his offensive line by starting David Diehl back in his spot at right tackle and replacing Sean Locklear. After losing 24-20 to the Steelers, Coughlin was asked how he thought Diehl looked in his first start since Week 2 when he injured his MCL. "He did O.K,." Coughlin said.

Nov 5 Giants lose to the Steelers, 24-20  | Photos  | Photos | Videos
On The Game: Game 9
Gamegirl "...While it was a great distraction to get out and forget, at least for a little while, the hardship caused by Superstorm Sandy, it was still a little disappointing to see the Giants falter and lose to the Pittsburgh Steelers...."
Mikefan. "..Years from now when they draw quarterback comparisons between Ben Roethlisberger and Eli Manning, this will be one game Giant fans will not be submitting...."

ESPN - Isaac Redman has 147 yards, late TD as Steelers end Giants' streak.
ESPN - Rapid Reaction: Steelers 24, Giants 20.
ESPN - Hosley's rookie mistake a big game changer.
ESPN - Special teams exposed in loss to Steelers.
ESPN - Cruz 'OK' after big hit; pass game falls flat.
ESPN - Bradshaw, Giants run game fail to catch fire.
ESPN - Redman runs wild vs. G-Men's struggling 'D'.
Giants.com - Giants fall to the Steelers, 24-20.
Giants.com - Passing attack out of sync vs. Steelers.
Giants.com - LB Herzlich steps up to starting role.
Giants.com - Postgame Quotes.
InsideFootball - Giants Stumble Against Steelers, 24-20.
NYDailyNews - Giants let one slip away against Steelers.
NYDailyNews - Michael Boley 'Poor tackling' on Steel running back.
NYPost - Giants cough up 10-point fourth-quarter lead.
NYPost - Manning vanishes as Steelers end Giants 4-game win streak.
NYPost - Cruz, Nicks no factor in Giant loss.
NYPost - Manning's 'off' when needed to be electric.
NYPost - Steelers RB runs roughshod over Giants.
NYPost - Hearts in right place, but Giants just blue it.
NYPost - Coughlin: Nothing special.
StarLedger - What happened to Eli Manning and the Giants' passing game?
StarLedger - Giants' kick and punt coverage was simply not good enough.
StarLedger - Giants' defense unable to control Steelers running back Isaac Redman.
StarLedger - Giants' special teams struggle with Steelers return game.
PittsPostGazette - Steelers rally past Giants, 24-20
PittsPostGazette - Steelers Notebook: Same-day road trip no problem.

Game 9 Preview - Giants (6-2) vs Steelers (4-3)
The Steelers had no problems dealing with Robert Griffin III and the Redskins last week. Ben Roethlisberger led the offense to scores on each of their first four possessions. He threw for 3 touchdowns and their defense held the NFL's top rushing team to a season low 86 yards giving the home fans a 27-12 victory to enjoy.
It was a wild game for the Giants last Sunday. They blew a 23-0 early lead in the second quarter and fell behind 24-23 late in the third quarter to the Cowboys. Lawrence Tynes fourth and fifth field goals put them up 29-24 in the fourth quarter. That became the final score when Tony Romo's touchdown pass to Dez Bryant was overturned with seconds left.

Nov 4 Tom Coughlin all but said the Giants are re-inserting Diehl back into the lineup because a starter can't lose his job due to an injury. Diehl has played as the team's extra tight end in jumbo packages the past three weeks, playing 25 snaps.

Hakeem Nicks says Steelers' defensive backs guilty of grabbing 'a lot'. Just to be clear, Nicks doesn't mean contact within the league's rules. "I'm sure you'll see on Sunday," he said coyly. Veteran cornerback Ike Taylor, in Nicks' opinion, is the "main one" who holds.

Safety Antrel Rolle has lived the flip side of the NFL's rule protecting defenseless receivers. Rolle sustained a head injury last week while trying to avoid a collision with Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant, who became defenseless when a pass glanced off his hand.

Nov 3 The Giants will offer free parking and free shuttle service to and from two locations on Sunday, the team announced Friday. The two locations for the shuttle service are the Secaucus train station and 20 Murray Hill Parkway in Rutherford.
To obtain the latest parking and transportation information for Sunday's game, go to Giants.com.

Though NFL teams and players are notorious creatures of habit, several Steelers shrugged at the idea that traveling to New Jersey on game day - an alteration necessary in the aftermath of superstorm Sandy - would be a distraction. The Steelers changed travel plans because the hotel they booked in New Jersey did not have power. The team will fly in Sunday morning and leave after the game.

Sunday's game at the Meadowlands between the Giants and Pittsburgh Steelers will go on as planned despite concerns about the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy.
The Giants will attempt to stretch their winning streak to five games and their regular-season streak vs. AFC teams to eight games when they host the Pittsburgh Steelers Sunday in MetLife Stadium.

After winning successive division games, and sitting pretty now at 6-2, you'd expect the Giants to have a huge letdown. Human nature is tough to fight. However, if you don't show up against the Steelers, one of the most physical teams in the league, you'll get your collective heads handed to you.

Antrel Rolle said there is a good chance the Steelers' wide receivers are faster than any the Giants have faced this season. Prince Amukamara agrees. "For sure. On film, yeah," Amukamara said. "I'm sure they're going to be in person too."

It's a balancing act for Jayron Hosley when it comes to his aggressiveness matching up against receivers. He needs to be firm, but at the same time, he can't cost his team three defensive penalties like he did in last week's 29-24 win against the Cowboys.

This weekend, with much of the tri-state area continuing to recover from the effects of Hurricane Sandy, the Giants are hoping to put an added smile on the faces of those who are able to watch them host the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Mathias Kiwanuka was in his Hoboken townhouse with his wife, little girl and mother-in-law Monday night when rain water, Hudson River water and really smelly sewage started pouring into the first floor garage of his three-story home eight blocks from where Eli Manning lives.

Giants kicker Lawrence Tynes is on pace to score more points than anyone in NFL history ever has in one season. That's any player - not just kickers. Tynes, named NFC Special Teams Player of the Month, has 94 points in eight games, the season's halfway point.

Nov 2 Giants may play a three-safety allignment vs. Steelers. The Giants utilized a three-safety package last season with veteran Deon Grant playing with Antrel Rolle and Kenny Phillips, and that combination worked very well, all the way to a Super Bowl XLVI victory over New England.
It will be unveiled Sunday, when the 6-2 Giants host the Pittsburgh 4-3 Steelers in MetLife Stadium. Defensive coordinator Perry Fewell did not say if Phillips or Brown - or both - will start next to Rolle. Phillips expects to get his job back, but concedes Brown has been impressive.

Eli, Ben make Class of 2004 super. They are infrequent opponents and the most casual of acquaintances, yet frequently linked. And with two Super Bowl titles apiece, Eli Manning and Ben Roethlisberger could be considered part of the best quarterback draft class.

When the storm hit, the quarterback with the $100 million contract was no different from any of us. Eli Manning was ready with flashlights and extra batteries and an AM/FM radio, just in case. He moved his year-and-a-half-old daughter Eva away from the windows in his Hoboken apartment, just in case.

With much of the attention focused on Victor Cruz these days, both on the field and off it in regard to his contract situation, Hakeem Nicks' season has been a bit quiet. A major reason is because he's still recovering from a broken foot suffered in the spring.

Giants Mid-season Report Card. With the Giants at 6-2 at the mid-year point for a third straight year under head coach Tom Coughlin, let's take a look back at how things have fared.

Oct 29 Giants win over Cowboys, 29-24  | Photos  | Photos | Photos | Videos
On The Game: Game 8
Gamegirl "...Romo even succeeds in this task with a 37 yard go-ahead touchdown pass to Dez Bryant and truly all seemed to be lost, but Bryant's hand had touched down on some evil white line soil. The 'watchers in the upper regions' were displeased and that touchdown was negated by all. We happily turned the page, but alas there were still ten seconds left!..."
Mikefan. "..Jones wasn't able to watch his team "beat the Giants' asses", as he had stated but he did work them hard. Overall the Cowboys ran 83 plays against the Giants defense for 434 total yards.... One thing is for sure, the Giants better watch their behinds when an eager Ben Roethlisberger shows up next week..."

ESPN - Giants lose 23-point lead, then escape Cowboys.
ESPN - Rapid Reaction: Giants 29, Cowboys 24.
ESPN - What Brown did for Blue.
ESPN - Pierre-Paul shows off 'basketball skills'.
ESPN - Cowboys can't survive Romo's bad game.
ESPN - Prince flashes 'puppy dog face' to get call reversed.
ESPN - Cowboys' character out of bounds.
ESPN - Pass-happy Cowboys can't pick up critical yard.
ESPN - Giants rush to airport to beat Sandy.
Giants.com - Giants defeat Cowboys, 29-24.
Giants.com - Safety Brown continues to find the ball.
Giants.com - Giants still unbeaten in Cowboys Stadium.
Giants.com - Coughlin, players speak to the media.
Giants.com - JPP scores on first career INT.
NYDailyNews - Giants hold off late 'Boys rally by inches
NYDailyNews - Cruz limited to just two catches, 23 yards in Giants' 29-24 win over Cowboys.
NYPost - Close call favors Giants as they beat Cowboys, take NFC East control.
NYPost - Bryant's go-ahead TD for Cowboys revoked after review.
NYPost - Bryant's overturned TD helps Giants hold off Cowboys, earn crazy victory.
NYPost - Cowboys coach defends Romo after QB throws four interceptions.
NYPost - Cruz has tough day vs. Cowboys.
NYPost - Giants pull off great escape against Cowboys.
StarLedger - Giants survive wild game with Cowboys, win 29-24, to raise record to 6-2.
StarLedger - Giants lose Antrel Rolle to possible concussion, Chase Blackburn to hamstring injury.
StarLedger - Giants' fill-in safety Stevie Brown has two interceptions and a fumble recovery.
Star Ledger - Giants see the best and worst of Dallas quarterback Tony Romo.
InsideFootball - Giants Survive Late-game Scare, Top Cowboys 29-24.
TheRecord - Giants hold on for thrilling 29-24 win over Cowboys.
NYTimes - Giants Hang On to Victory, by a Finger.
SportsOnEarth - Mandatory Monday: Keep it Simple.
DallasNews - Despite career high from Tony Romo and a 24-0 run, Cowboys still lose.
Star-Telegram - Cowboys rally not enough to overcome turnovers, Giants.

Game 8 Preview - Giants (5-2) vs Cowboys (3-3)
The Cowboys had dropped two straight games and were down at halftime on the road in Carolina last week. They came from behind with Tony Romo throwing for 227 yards and a touchdown and a with strong defense to defeat the Panthers for the ninth straight time in the regular season with a winning score of 19-14.
The Giants notched their first division win by beating the Redskins 27-23. It wasn't easy, as it came down to an Eli Manning 77-yard touchdown strike to Victor Cruz with 1:13 left in the game. It was the longest game-winning touchdown in the final two minutes of a fourth quarter in Giants history.

Oct 28 After signing with the Giants early in free agency, Martellus Bennett said one of the first things he did was ask for several full seasons of film of one of the most talented tight ends ever to play for the Giants: Jeremy Shockey.

Jason Pierre-Paul always seems to play well against the Cowboys. Last year, he stunned the Cowboys when he blocked Dan Bailey's potential game-tying, last-second field goal attempt from 47 yards out, preserving the Giants' 37-34 victory.

David Wilson as the rookie has established himself as one of the premier returners in the league. He's averaging 28.1 yards per return, and has at least one 40-yard return in three of the team's seven games to date. He's second in the league in return yards for returners with at least 20 attempts.

It has been seven long weeks since the Cowboys spoiled the Giants' opening night party by beating the defending Super Bowl champions 24-17, and when the Giants looked back at that film this week they hardly recognized what they were seeing.

For many NFL. players, preparing for a division opponent is like studying for a driver's license test in a new state. Yes, a few tweaks or changes have been made since the last time they took the exam (no texting behind the wheel, please), but driving will always be driving and, for the Giants at least, the Dallas Cowboys will always be the Dallas Cowboys.

Ernie Accorsi was prepared to take Ben Roethlisberger with the fourth pick in the 2004 draft until Chargers general manager A.J. Smith finally called one hour after San Diego had selected Eli Manning first overall, and then, after weeks of speculation, traded him to the Giants. So, 8 1/2 years into their careers, who would you rather have: Eli or Big Ben?

Roger Staubach's skill at bringing the Cowboys from behind in the fourth quarter has been inherited over the years by Joe Montana, John Elway, Dan Marino, Peyton Manning and Tom Brady. Now, it's Eli Manning. "He's done it not only in the regular season, but he's done it in two Super Bowl games," Staubach said.

Oct 27 The Giants' defensive line left MetLife Stadium on Sept. 5 a frustrated group. The defense had registered just two sacks on quarterback Tony Romo, unable to solve the Cowboys' plan of having Romo get rid of the football as quickly as possible.
"Anybody can neutralize us if they execute that game plan. It's easy if you're going to throw the ball in one second, nobody is going to get there. That's just the way it is," Osi Umenyiora said.

Dallas has struggled since their fine showing on Opening Night. Despite their spotty record they remain dangerous because their defense is solid and their offense still has plenty of weapons, albeit inconsistent ones. Injuries to RB DeMarco Murray and MLB Sean Lee really hurt.

Rob Ryan is still smarting from the whopping 510 total yards (including 400 passing yards) the Giants piled up last December at Cowboys Stadium on the way to a crushing 37-34 defeat for Dallas.

Eli Manning saves some of his best games for the Cowboys, especially in Dallas. He has won four of his last five games in Dallas, and has six 300-yard games in his career against the Cowboys - more than he has against any other team.

Henry Hynoski's blocking has been exceptional and the Giants believe his role in terms of running and receiving has the potential to increase depending on defensive schemes against them.

The Giants struck gold when they re-signed Chase Blackburn off his couch after Week 12 of the 2011 season, and he went on to become a Super Bowl hero.
Chase Blackburn has taken nearly every defensive snap this season while Mark Herzlich has hardly seen the field.

Stevie Brown likely will start his fourth straight game at strong safety for the Giants tomorrow, and he will be looking to stay perfect - the Giants are 3-0 in Brown's three starts.
Stevie Brown has been a pleasant surprise for the Giants, playing quite well since taking over for the injured Kenny Phillips the past three weeks.

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