Nov 7 There were doubts. Of course there were. How could there not be, after the way Eli Manning played last season? The 27 interceptions weren't just a downturn, they looked like a plunge off a cliff. Now, after what he's done this season, there shouldn't be any doubt at all.
It was noticeable that Eli Manning attempted to throw the ball down the field more often against the Colts than he has in any game this season. Manning did not connect on any of the long attempts - he was 0-for-6 on passes that traveled 21 or more yards from the line of scrimmage - and now he faces the Seahawks and their renowned Legion of Boom secondary.

Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie is not 100 percent physically, but he has no intention of sitting out games. Cromartie is something close to the last man standing among the Giants' group of cornerbacks right now. They have suffered season-ending injuries to Prince Amukamara, Walter Thurmond and Trumaine McBride, and Zack Bowman missed Thursday's practice while being treated in the hospital for an abdominal issue.
With all the injuries and inexperience in the Giants' system, Fewell will have to adjust his game plan for the defending champion Seahawks. "We have to simplify our package," Fewell said. "Obviously, when you have new faces, you can't, you will not, do as much as you have done in the past, and you have to quickly find out what the strengths of the new faces are, and how much terminology they can digest in a short amount of time."

Some things never change. The Giants' strange lack of emotion ever since 2012, apparently, is one of them. Another day in this 3-5 season, another Giant calling out his teammates for a lack of fire. On Thursday, it was Jason Pierre-Paul's turn. "There is a lot of talking going on, but at the end of the day, it is all about heart," Pierre-Paul said. Then, the crushing statement. "It (heart) is definitely missing out of a lot of guys," he said.
Other than quarterback Eli Manning - Pierre-Paul is the one player who can actually take over a game with a superior performance. We saw evidence of that in 2011, his second NFL season, during which he recorded 16 ½ sacks, two forced fumbles, 88 tackles and was one of the most disruptive defensive forces in the league. Since then? Not a lot of the same.

Part of the reason the Giants offense has been so stagnant over the past month is the lack of production from their running backs. So with the Giants' season on the brink of collapse, is it time to look further down the depth chart and give Michael Cox some snaps?
Giants offensive coordinator Ben McAdoo said wide receiver Corey Washington was impressive late in the Colts game but didn't promise more playing time for the exciting rookie. Washington, who caught his first NFL pass and first NFL touchdown after a breakout preseason, has the ball, too. In his apartment. He kept the memento from his first catch and first touchdown (they were on the same drive so it was the same football).

Nov 6 In wild NFL, win over Seattle could spur a Giants run. As implausible as it sounds right now, a victory Sunday in Seattle can change everything for the beleaguered Giants.
While the Giants are struggling through a three-game losing streak, Seattle is starting to look like the team that won Super Bowl XLVIII, particularly the defense that dominated the Broncos in that one.

In a few days, Odell Beckham Jr. will represent the Giants' best hope of putting a dent into the Seahawks' defense, the best option for amassing any significant receiving yards against Sherman, one of the finest and unquestionably one of the most talkative cornerbacks in the league.

Whatever is wrong with the Giants, it's not Eli Manning's fault. That's what Tom Coughlin said yesterday, noting that he's been pleased with the play of his quarterback who has not thrown an interception in his last 145 pass attempts, a career high, but has also lost three straight games.

The only cure for what ails the Giants right now is time. Some things are going to take a lot of time, as in next offseason and maybe part of next season. Some others could take less time, as in the remainder of the current season.

The Giants made a roster move on Wednesday to improve their cornerback depth, adding Chykie Brown off waivers from the Baltimore Ravens and placing injured cornerback Prince Amukamara on injured reserve.

Antrel Rolle caused a stir Tuesday with some comments he made during his weekly radio spot on WFAN. "I just think [passion's] something we're missing a lot," Rolle said. "On our sideline it's very dead. Throughout the course of the game it's dead. We need a pulse."
While teammates like Robert Ayers and Jameel McClain agreed with Antrel Rolle that the 3-5 Giants played without passion and fire during Monday's loss to the Colts, head coach Coughlin disagreed with that assessment

Nov 5 Antrel Rolle is a 10-year veteran and a team captain, but even he isn't certain what the Giants will deliver from one week to the next. "There's times where I've felt like we can play as good as any team in this league," Rolle said. "And there's times where I think we can play as bad as any team in this league."
Antrel Rolle said he looked into the eyes of Odell Beckham Jr. after Monday night's 40-24 loss to the Colts and saw that they were "bloodshot red" because he wanted the ball so much. The rest of the eyes on the Giants? Rolle didn't sound too excited about what he sees in those."

After the game, and again on Tuesday when Tom Coughlin was questioned by reporters, there was a persistent focus on Coughlin's delay in finding and throwing the little red flag that signals to the officials he wanted an instant-replay challenge.
Tom Coughlin on Coby Fleener's wide open touchdown catch: 'Put it on me." Coughlin laments not calling a timeout after this controversial catch by Colts tight end Coby Fleener.

Time running out for Coughlin era with Big Blue. The Giants are essentially in more of a battle against woeful Washington (3-6) to stay out of last place in the NFC East than they are in a chase for the division title.

Nov 4 Giants lose to the Colts 40-24  | Photos  | Video  |  Video

On The Game: Game 8 Gamegirl - "It was a great day to be at the stadium except for the results of the game, but first there was a great tribute dedicated to Michael Strahan getting his Pro Football Hall of Fame ring." Mikefan. - "The injuries keep cutting into the Giants and it's becoming obvious that Eli Manning has no tools to work with. It doesn't get any easier for them from now on."

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ESPN - Rapid Reaction: Colts 40, Giants 24.
ESPN - Giants' secondary suddenly looks weak.
ESPN - For Giants, rest of 2014 is about 2015 and beyond.
ESPN - Odell Beckham Jr. steps up on bleak night for Giants.
ESPN - Luck channels inner Peyton Manning.
Giants.com - Instant Analysis: Colts 40, Giants 24.
NYDailyNews - Giants embarrassed by Andrew Luck's Colts in 40-24 rout Monday night.
NYDailyNews - Giants fall to Indianapolis Colts, 40-24: Instant analysis.
NYDailyNews - This Socks! Tom Coughlin can't fish out challenge flag as team stomped by Colts.
NYDailyNews - Indecision from Tom Coughlin sums up NY Giants loss to Colts.
NYPost - Dismal Giants are lit up by Colts in utter embarrassment.
NYPost - The biggest loss: Prince Amukamara is done for the year.
NYPost - Giants had playoff hopes - then Andrew Luck came along.
NYPost - The once-promising Giants look frighteningly like the Jets.
NYPost - Giants' DBs get ripped apart, and it may only get worse.
NYPost - Bradshaw and Nicks enjoy tormenting the Giants.
StarLedger - Giants, like the Jets, are dead after Colts blowout.
StarLedger - Rapid Reaction: Giants get blown out at home against the Colts on Monday Night Football.
StarLedger - The good, bad, ugly, uglier and ugliest (the defense!) from Giants' loss to the Colts.
StarLedger - Giants studs and duds include defensive coordinator Perry Fewell and Odell Beckham Jr.
StarLedger - Prince Amukamara likely out for the season with a torn biceps.
StarLedger - Antrel Rolle rips his teammates (and maybe the coaches) after Giants' 40-24 loss to Colts.
Newsday - Giants don't show up in game they had to have.
Newsday - Colts dominate Giants as Andrew Luck throws 4 TDs.
Newsday - Michael Strahan's 'Hall of Fame Ring of Excellence' highlight of night for Giants fans.
TheRecord - Giants crushed by Colts, 40-24.
NYTimes - Woebegone Giants Fall to the Colts in a Rout.
IndyStar - Colts' ugly effectiveness blows out Giants, 40-24.

Giants (3-4) vs Colts (5-3)
The Colts five game win streak came to a sudden end in Pittsburgh last Sunday when their defense let the Steelers score six touchdowns and their offense gave up a safety. The final score was 51-34.
The Giants lost to the Eagles and then the Cowboys 31-21 before heading into their bye week. During their break they did at least get to see both of those leading division teams take losses.
Giants - Cowboys Wrap-Up

Nov 3 Special Report - Defensive end Michael Strahan, the last member of the Giants to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, will receive his ring at halftime Monday night - on national television (ESPN) - when the only team he ever played for takes on the Indianapolis Colts.
The halftime ceremony will include the actual bronze bust of Strahan, which has been shipped in from Ohio for the presentation. Strahan will also preside as the Giants' honorary captain for the coin toss prior to the game. In addition, more than 100 former players will be present for this so-called "Homecoming Weekend." A short list includes Ottis Anderson, Carl Banks, Mark Bavaro, Tucker Frederickson, George Martin, Joe Morris, Gary Reasons and Bob Tucker.

Giants need to pull off upset in order to stay relevant. It has been 15 days since the Giants played a game and it's been 29 days since they've won a game. These are long stretches.

There is nothing like coming into the office on Monday and hearing that your boss put you on notice. That was the reality facing Eli Manning, and by extension, offensive coordinator Ben McAdoo, after general manager Jerry Reese pointedly said that the offense needs "to be more aggressive."

Damontre Moore has been a bit player in his season-and-a-half with the Giants, showing occasional flashes of talent while desperately trying to prove he deserves more playing time. Then, just as he was leaving for the bye week, the general manager of the Giants took up his cause.

NFC East News
Cowboys - Carson Palmer throws 3 TDs as Cardinals beat Cowboys 28-17. - More.
Redskins - Vikings beat Redskins 29-26 in Robert Griffin III's return. - More.
Eagles - Mark Sanchez replaces injured Nick Foles, leads Eagles to 31-21 win. - More.

Nov 2 Andrew Luck says he tried not to think about the pressure. Two and a half years later, even with Peyton Manning still playing like the best quarterback in football for the Denver Broncos, there aren't many second-guessing the decision to move on from the future Hall of Famer. it's not easy to fill Peyton Manning's shoes. "Yeah," Eli Manning says. "No doubt."

The NFL playoffs don't begin until Jan. 3, but a postseason mentality has already set in with the Giants. They're not in single-elimination yet, but with a 3-4 record and several elite teams remaining on their schedule, the Giants can't afford many more slipups. Despite losing some of their best players to injury, they remain confident of reaching their goals.

Nov 1 In response to Giants general manager Jerry Reese's comments that he wants to see more "aggression," offensive coordinator Ben McAdoo indicated that he is looking to increase the number of explosive play calls to jumpstart the team's flagging offense.
What constitutes an explosive play can be subjective to those watching, but it's actually something McAdoo charts, saying 10.3 percent of the Giants plays thus far would qualify as being "explosive." The goal is 13 percent, which would rank among the top five teams in the league, he said.
Just don't expect the Giants to force the issue too much, considering that is what's gotten Eli Manning in trouble in the past. "I think you've got to be careful with wanting to get a guy a ball. That could be dangerous," Manning said.

In Larry Donnell's mind, he cost the Giants that game two weeks ago, when he caught a third-and-8 pass for a first down, tried desperately to battle for a few extra yards, and was ultimately stripped, a turnover that essentially ended the Giants' chances in what was a close game. And on Monday night the tight end wants a chance to atone.

Wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. isn't the only one in his family who can run. The Giants rookie speedster's mother, Heather Van Norman, will compete in Sunday's New York City Marathon. It's the first marathon for the 45-year-old Van Norman, who is the track and field and cross country coach at Nicholls State University and was a six-time All-American at LSU.

Oct 31 Rashad Jennings ruled out for Monday night's game vs. the Colts Jennings has missed the last two games with a sprained MCL in his left knee.
The Giants have not run the ball effectively with Jennings out of the lineup. Rookie Andre Williams has 110 yards rushing in his two starts combined, and has averaged 3.1 yards per carry.
The coaching staff doesn't yet trust Williams as a receiver or a blocker in passing situations, so there's more juggling going on in terms of substitution and play-calling.

Damontre Moore believes he is destined to be an impact player, but he doesn't know when he'll get the chance. The Giants' second-year defensive end has played relatively few snaps.
Once the Giants feel they can put Moore into a key spot and trust him not to jump offside or overpursue a running back or make any number of mistakes you'd expect a high-energy 22-year-old to make, they'll play him more.
Nearly halfway through his second year, it's time for him to step up. Time for him to establish himself as a force in a pass rush that has been anemic.

Please make plays, Coach Tom Coughlin said Thursday, waving his arms in the air, allowing a smile to momentarily brighten his face. He was as animated as ever.
Jerry Reese wants more big plays, Eli Manning understands the need for them, and now, Tom Coughlin is pushing for them.

Former Giants
Michael Strahan to receive Hall of Fame ring during Giants vs. Colts on Monday night. The halftime ceremony will include 40 of Strahan's old teammates.

Oct 30 The Giants have no interest in engaging in a shootout with the Colts, who average 31 points a game, and Manning knows the best chance for success do not hinge on out-dueling Andrew Luck, at least not from a sheer production standpoint.

Jerry Reese would like to see a more explosive offense, but now is not the time for wholesale changes. To tell such a group of players after only seven games, "OK, forget all that stuff we've been preaching about taking care of the ball; we're going to start chucking it downfield" would be a rash overreaction to a disappointing two-game stretch.

The Giants let Ahmad Bradshaw walk after the 2012 season because they couldn't trust him to stay healthy and because they felt they had running back covered with younger, cheaper options in Andre Brown and David Wilson.
Bradshaw had played through a painful succession of injuries for the Giants, enduring foot and ankle surgeries to remain in uniform. He can now acknowledge that he was wounded when he was cut.
For the most part, Bradshaw was able to ignore those physical pains. The emotional ones that came when the Giants released him after the 2012 season? Those were hard to push through.
Bradshaw underwent neck surgery last year. He played in just three games. But now he's healthy and has played an integral role in Indianapolis' early-season success. Bradshaw leads all running backs with six receiving touchdowns. He's averaging a healthy 4.9 yards per carry.
Bradshaw, who was not brought back after the 2012 season, and Hakeem Nicks, who was not re-signed after last season, will surely be determined to show their former team they made a mistake not keeping them. Because neither, particularly Bradshaw, ever wanted to leave.

Oct 29 At least it beats 0-6. And at least they still have a chance. But what the Giants have done through seven games is not good enough and they know it.
Tom Coughlin's message to his players is the inconsistency around the league offers opportunity for a team in the Giants' position to get hot and take advantage.

Mathias Kiwanuka was a teammate of Ahmad Bradshaw's for six seasons, and he often spoke about the running back's toughness and junkyard dog mentality. On Monday night, he'll be tasked with stopping it instead of admiring it. Which, he said, is fine with him.

As Andre Williams prepares for what likely will be his third start -- Rashad Jennings is making progress with a sprained MCL but does not seem to be a sure thing to play Monday night against the Colts -- he and the people around him are focusing on a word that was never in his football vocabulary until now. Patience.

Former Giants
Justin Tuck signed as a free agent with the Raiders in March. Seven months later, before his first year in Oakland is in the books, he's reportedly on the trading block.

Oct 28 Don't think the Giants are taking enough shots downfield in their new offense? Well, you have some high-profile company. Giants general manager Jerry Reese agrees with you.
The Giants have had only 18 pass plays of more than 20 yards, which ranks them 27th among the 32 N.F.L. teams. They have had just two pass plays of more than 40 yards.
Reese said, "I think Eli can play better than he's playing," Manning's vastly improved numbers look good on the stat sheet, but they have not translated to a winning record.
Reese conceded that as general manager his job is to get the players on the roster, not determine how they are utilized after that. "I'm just giving you what my opinion is," he said of his critical remarks about the offense and the quarterback's place in it.
As one former NFL head coach explained: You play to win the game. It's a fine line to walk. One might suggest that the Giants threw away more than a few games last year.

Running back Rashad Jennings is still far from being ready for Monday night vs. Colts. The Giants need a healthy Jennings on the field. He was averaging 4.4 yards per carry before the injury.
Jennings remains sidelined with a strained medial collateral ligament in his left knee and wasn't on the field as the Giants returned from their bye week for a light practice.

Jon Beason's season is over. Of course, it never really began. The Giants' middle linebacker will have season-ending surgery to repair an injury to his right foot that first was suffered in the spring.
Last year, he finished second on the team in tackles, despite playing in only 11 games on defense. Prior to this season, Beason was elected a team captain, a significant honor for a player who had been here less than a year.
How well backup Jameel McClain can fill Beason's shoes may determine how their struggling defense bounces back. McClain is now the Mike, making the defensive calls.

NFC East News
Redskins end Cowboys' 6-game streak, 20-17 in OT. - More.

Oct 27 The Giants have their work cut out for them to make the playoffs this season. At 3-4 during their bye week, they're likely going to need to win seven of their final nine games to reach the postseason. That will be made even more difficult by their upcoming schedule. The Giants next four games are against Indianapolis, Seattle, San Francisco and Dallas.

Jason Pierre-Paul has just 3.5 sacks, a far cry from the 16.5 in 2011 that put him on the map, but the Giants have enjoyed a mature, disciplined JPP this year, a player making an impact on the field as well as off it. While the sack totals haven't come, consistency finally has.

As it's turned out, Eli's all right. Do you recall the hysteria this summer and at the start of the regular season regarding Eli Manning and Ben McAdoo's West Coast offense? The conventional belief was the Giants quarterback was about as good a fit with their new offensive coordinator's system as head coach Tom Coughlin at a toga party. Well, forget about all that.

NFC East News
Eagles fall to Arizona Cardinals 24-20 on 75-yard TD. - More.

Oct 26 Eli Manning has reduced risk and picks, but Giants need to let him take more chances. This is a quarterback who used to do anything he could to make a play, including throwing more than a few lefthanded passes. It's also a quarterback whose two most important throws ever probably were ill-advised: one in which he blindly chucked it down the middle to David Tyree and one in which he threaded it away from coverage for Mario Manningham down the sideline.

The way it works these days, Giants quarterback Eli Manning gets to the line of scrimmage with 20 or so seconds on the play clock. He assesses the scene, reads the defense, yells a few worthless Omahas (remember, he invented that), goes though some gyrations and adjusts depending on the defense he's facing. More than ever, Eli looks like big brother Peyton before the football is snapped. The results more like Peyton's in the regular season than every before.

The best and (absolute) worst of the Giants' season so far. The Giants were terrible in Detroit and Philadelphia, scintillating in Washington, more good than bad against the Texans and Falcons, and competitively ordinary against the Cardinals and in Dallas. It adds up to a 3-4 record.
They aren't out of this yet. Oh, the 3-4 Giants are close to done, well behind the streaking Cowboys and Eagles in the NFC East. But as bleak as things may seem, they headed off into the bye week just two games out of a wild-card berth, and a lot can change in nine games.

Oct 25 Going into every football season, there are always a few players who fly under the radar during OTAs and training camp, but later emerge as big contributors during the season. Mostly, due to a slew of injuries at key positions, the Giants have been forced to throw some untested players into the fire, and several have not only filled in ably, but exceeded expectations.

Jason Pierre-Paul didn't have his best game two weeks ago against the Philadelphia Eagles and star left tackle Jason Peters, but he rebounded well enough Sunday against the Dallas Cowboys and star left tackle Tyron Smith that Tom Coughlin singled him out in a team meeting Monday morning.

Injuries could force the Giants' defense to look a little bit different in the weeks that follow this week's bye. Injuries at cornerback could lead the Giants to bring back the three-safety look they used on their way to their most recent Super Bowl title three seasons ago.

Stadium News
MetLife Stadium security a trendsetter. A shoving match breaks out in a section of the MetLife Stadium stands. While security officers hustle to the scene, a beyond state-of-the-art surveillance system is recording every detail. No more conflicting accusations and complaints. The cameras show all.

Oct 24 Odell Beckham Jr. has started making believers out of many. The Giants spent the No. 12 overall pick on him, and despite hamstring woes that cost him the preseason and the first four games, he quickly has blossomed into an impact player.
Just three games into his NFL career, Beckham has quickly emerged as one of the players the Giants must count on if they are to get back in the race. Beckham has 10 catches for 105 yards and those three touchdowns.

Rookie running back Andre Williams looked so natural running the football in the preseason, averaging 5.1 yards per carry, and doing it with impressive speed and power. For whatever reason, the success hasn't translsated to the regular season. With starter Rashad Jennings (knee) sidelined, Williams has struggled running the football, the one area the Giants thought he would prosper.
There were questions about Williams' abilities as a pass blocker and especially as a pass receiver, but in terms of actually running the ball, it was believed he would do fine filling in for Jennings for at least a couple of weeks. Williams Jennings He has not been fine.

Former Giants
George Young did his job too well. Because the only reasonable explanation why George Young wasn't nominated for the Hall of Fame on Wednesday can only be this: Everyone assumed he was already in.

Oct 23 If you feel like the Giants have been running the ball a lot, you're not crazy. So far this season, the Giants are running the ball more than almost any other team in the NFL. The Giants run and run and run and run. They run when they're ahead in the game and they run when they're behind. They run whether it's working or not.

Stingy against the run all season, Jason Pierre-Paul got things going in the pass rush department last week against Dallas for one of his best performances in recent memory. Pierre-Paul had six solo tackles, two sacks, three tackles for losses and three quarterback hits.

Larry Donnell was on the team last year in a reserve role -- a special-teams player who was working to develop as an offensive asset at tight end. He was a basketball player early in life and a quarterback when he arrived at Grambling for college, so tight end was new to him and he had to learn it. He's still learning it.

After a $116 million offseason spending spree the Giants thought they had a pretty solid foundation. But maybe what they were really looking at was a longer rebuilding project, and they've been fooling themselves into thinking they were close to a Super Bowl all along.

Oct 22 Giants tight end Larry Donnell has had something of a breakout season so far, emerging as a solid red zone and third down target. But judging by his two fumbles on Sunday against the Dallas Cowboys, there are clearly still some areas that he needs to work on, according to his tight ends coach Kevin M. Gilbride. "[Ball security] is one of those things we preach on a daily basis."

After showing flashes as Rashad Jennings' backup in limited touches, Andre Williams has struggled as the primary ball carrier as Jennings recovers from a knee injury, running hard and packing a punch, but often failing to let his blocks materialize before finding a crease. Williams is averaging only 3.1 yards per carry over the past two weeks.

Introducing the new, much more careful Eli Manning. Eli Manning threw 27 interceptions last season, as you may have read in this space and a few others. So far this season, he has thrown five. Four of those came in the first two games. He's thrown only one interception in his last five games and none in his last three. This is not a coincidence.

Rookie Odell Beckham Jr. has caught six passes -- on 11 targets -- for 62 yards and two touchdowns in the past two games for the Giants. It's clear the Giants are excited about Beckham's ability and look forward to helping and seeing him develop so that they can find new and creative ways to use him in the offense.

Jason Pierre-Paul has a message for anyone ready to give up on the Giants as they head into a bye week off disappointing losses to the Eagles and Cowboys. It's simple: Don't write off the Giants (3-4). Pierre-Paul believes the Giants can win their final nine games if they stop making mistakes.
If the Giants don't do it with Jason Pierre-Paul some other team out there will, and then the Giants need to trigger a search to find, well, another JPP.

Giants middle linebacker Jon Beason said that he hopes to play after the bye week against the Indianapolis Colts on Monday night, but that he will have to first get clearance from his foot specialist Dr. Robert Anderson and that surgery might be his best long-term option. Beason called it 50-50 right now whether he returns this year.
It does not look promising. As the Giants hit their bye week, Beason traveled to Charlotte, N.C. to again consult with Dr. Robert Anderson, a foot and ankle specialist. It sounds as if Beason is resigned he will have to shut it down, have surgery and get ready for 2015.

Oct 21 Tom Coughlin's message to the Giants: Get ready, we're going to make a run. The Giants (3-4) have their work cut out for them to make that happen. Their next four games are against Indianapolis, Seattle, San Francisco and Dallas. The defending champion Seahawks (3-3) have the worst record of the group. Winning in Seattle still remains one of the most difficult tasks in the NFL.

The view from the outside is that the New York Giants are basically what their 3-4 record says they are, an inconsistent team that might not be good enough to be a contender. Jason Pierre-Paul isn't buying it. He looks at the Giants, and sees a team ready to go on a roll.

The Giants have several issues to address before returning to the field. Their rushing attack totaled 190 yards in the last two games, their first without injured starting running back Rashad Jennings. Penalties continue to hold back the offense and Sunday, tight end Larry Donnell lost a crucial fourth-quarter fumble.

The Giants played a whole lot better than they did against the Eagles, but it still wasn't enough to win. Instead, the 31-21 loss, the second straight in the NFC East, sends them into the bye week still trying to figure out what's gone wrong, still trying to find answers they thought were emerging in the three straight wins before the Philly game.

The Giants trail white-hot Dallas (6-1) by three games in the division, but are only one game off the pace for a wild-card berth. Their erratic play, however, leaves it unclear if they are capable of a significant advance in the standings.

Larry Donnell won't fumble his wife's coaching advice. "I told my wife I'm just trying to figure out what happened, and she said, 'You know, it's simple. Just hold the ball like you're holding Z,' which is my daughter," Donnell said, referring to 4-year-old Zarri. "I thought, that's some pretty good advice."

Former Giants
Mike Pope was singled out before a herd of media infiltrated the home locker room at AT&T Stadium. A long-time Giants assistant who was not retained after the 2013 season, Pope was given a game ball after beating his old team. Pope's two tight ends came up big on Sunday.

Oct 20 Giants lose to the Cowboys 31-21  | Photos  | Video

On The Game: Game 7 Gamegirl - ""The Giants couldn't do it tonight, but they sure looked like a lot better team than they were last week. I'd say that the Cowboys had to earn this one." Mikefan. - "Larry Donnell is a mystery man at this point. He was the Giants leading receiver in this game catching all 7 passes thrown his way for 90 yards, but he also fumbled 2 away to the opposition."

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ESPN - Rapid Reaction: Cowboys 31, Giants 21.
ESPN - These Giants are clearly not contenders.
Giants.com - Instant Analysis: Cowboys 31, Giants 21.
NYDailyNews - Giants' Jameel McClain yells he's 'not the Mike' LB at Tony Romo.
NYDailyNews - Banged-up Giants can't rise to the occasion in Dallas, fall to Cowboys for 31-21 loss.
NYDailyNews - Giants fall to Dallas Cowboys, 31-21: Instant Analysis.
NYPost - The most important 9 seconds of the Giants' season - wasted.
NYPost - Free-falling Giants can't stop Romo, Murray in loss to Cowboys.
NYPost - The rise and sudden, abrupt fall of Larry Donnell.
NYPost - Kiss the division goodbye: These Giants are just pretenders.
StarLedger - Giants' pass rush to blame for 31-21 loss to Cowboys.
StarLedger - Rapid Reaction: Giants (3-4) already in big trouble and season's not half over.
StarLedger - Tony Romo's revenge: Cowboys quarterback pushes the Giants to the brink.
StarLedger - Tony Romo didn't throw an incompletion in second half? 'No [bleeping] way,' says Giants CB.'
StarLedger - Will Beatty: Giants still have to find their offensive identity.
StarLedger - Giants castaway Mike Pope gets game ball for coaching Cowboys tight ends to big day.
StarLedger - Giants' pass rush to blame for 31-21 loss to Cowboys.
Newsday - Giants can't stop Murray, Bryant in loss to Cowboys.
Newsday - Giants grades: Offense, defense, coaching get big 'D' in loss at Dallas.
Newsday - Giants Q&A: Was DRC hurting?
TheRecord - Injuries Catch Up to Giants as the Cowboys Break Away.
NYTimes - Injuries Catch Up to Giants as the Cowboys Break Away.
DallasNews - Giants praise Cowboys' revamped offense: "Their scheme is a lot better".
DallasNews - Dallas Cowboys should run DeMarco Murray right to a division title'.
DallasNews - Invisible man Gavin Escobar finally shows his worth for Cowboys.

NFC East News
Redskins - Colt McCoy replaces Kirk Cousins, rallies Redskins 19-17 over Titans. - More.

Giants (3-3) vs Cowboys (5-1)
Last Sunday the Cowboys surprised a lot of people with their 30-23 win over the Seattle Seahawks. The defending Super Bowl champs don't lose at home. They just don't, but they did and now the Cowboys are being talked up as a team that's putting it all together at the right time.
The Giants surprised a lot of people too, but not in a good way. The Eagles handed them a sounding 27-0 beating on Sunday night in front of a national audience. It killed the Giants encouraging three game win streak and makes them look like easy pickings as they head off to Dallas this week.
Giants - Eagles Wrap-Up

Oct 19 With Victor Cruz and Rashad Jennings out, giving Eli Manning more time is the Giants priority. If he's lost faith in his line, Manning won't say it. Nor should he, considering how good the line had been during the Giants' three-game win streak. . Remember how it manhandled J.J. Watt four weeks ago? Same line, same scheme. Just a much better game.

If the Giants can beat the Cowboys -- a difficult task considering they are without their best running back (Rashad Jennings) and best wide receiver (Victor Cruz) and their best cornerback (Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie) might be limited in both his snaps and his performance -- they will head into their bye week still in the thick of the NFC East race.

Victor Cruz is out for the season, leaving five Giants wide receivers with wholly disparate backgrounds to fill the void. Preston Parker barely played football in 2012 and 2013. Asked what he was doing during that time, he said, "Begging for money." Rookie Corey Washington, attended a little-known college of about 1,000 students. He has yet to catch an NFL pass.

Oct 18 Tom Coughlin has no use for trash talk, and even less use for 27-0 losses. So it's probably no surprise the New York Giants coach made the connection with how the Giants acted last week and how they played Sunday night in Philadelphia.
Exchanging barbs with the Eagles before Sunday night's 27-0 blowout loss in Philadelphia didn't exactly work, so a change of tactics was in order in preparation for Sunday's game at Dallas.

Victor Cruz said he has "no doubt" he will return to the Giants in top physical condition and vowed to remain an integral part of the current team despite being sidelined for the season.
Less than a week after tearing his patellar tendon and being placed on season-ending injured reserve, the star wide receiver has a "small video" prepared for his teammates. "I haven't spoken to them as a group but I will in kind of a special way on Saturday night."
Victor Cruz can't play for the Giants anymore this season, but he still has duties to perform as one of the team's captains. Cruz said he and Ed Triggs of the team's video production department produced a short video of his speech.
Victor Cruz said. "Chip Kelly came to visit me in the hospital in Philadelphia after the game and whatnot." It's not exactly common practice for the opposing coach to visit players in the hospital. Kelly met with the media and did a radio interview after the hospital visit with Cruz on Monday morning. He never mentioned anything about it.

Oct 17 The offensive line, a seeming strength up until Sunday, must prove itself all over again. And the defense, gashed by Philly's LeSean McCoy for 149 rushing yards, must now contend with the NFL's most productive running back, DeMarco Murray.
In order for the Giants to fill the rather large shoes of Victor Cruz, somebody will have to step in as the slot wide receiver. That job looks likely to handled primarily by Preston Parker with some help from newly-signed Kevin Ogletree.

Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie missed practice for the second day in a row but is hopeful of participating tomorrow and playing Sunday, when the Giants face the first-place Cowboys in Dallas.
Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie said he is playing at only "60 percent'' of his abilities because of a nagging injury affecting the entire right side of his body.
Rodgers-Cromartie's battled right leg issues for several weeks. The right leg injury in particular, which he said runs "down my leg on the entire right side," has left him a shell of his former self.

Left tackle Tyron Smith of the Dallas Cowboys just became the first offensive lineman in 10 years to win an Offensive Player of the Week award. New York Giants defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul is not among those who might be surprised by that.
For the Giants to pull out a victory against the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday, they will likely have to hold their own in the trenches One of the keys to Dallas' offensive dominance has been the play of Zack Martin, a first round pick from Notre Dame who starts at right guard.

Oct 16 Victor Cruz spent about 30 minutes at the Quest Diagnostics Training Center Wednesday, his first visit to the Giants' facility since tearing his right patellar tendon and requiring season-ending surgery. He was released earlier in the day from the Hospital for Special Surgery in Manhattan.
His only stop was to the Giants' trainers' room, according to a team official, and he wasn't up to talking to the media either. He is expected to possibly do that later this week, or perhaps next week during the Giants' bye.
When Cruz was injured, his teammates immediatley knew it was serious. The shrieks tipped them off. Rookie wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. admitted it sapped any energy they had out of them. "It was hard to [go out and play] because once that happened to him, our sideline was like we saw a ghost, with kind of our leader, our captain go down like that," Beckham said.

The Giants are traveling to Dallas this weekend, and are preparing for more than just the division-leading Cowboys. According to the Giants' Senior VP of communications, Pat Hanlon, the team was briefed about the Ebola virus in preparation for Sunday's game in Dallas,
It has some thinking twice about making the trip to Texas. Giants center J.D. Walton, a native of Allen, Texas, about 40 minutes north of Dallas, has a large contingent of family and friends expected to attend Sunday's game at A&T Stadium. His wife and 1-year-old child might not make the trip.

After getting destroyed by Eagles, Giants need a fiery Eli Manning. Late on Sunday night, he made a point to say that the game should serve as a lesson for the Giants. And on Monday, he spoke about the team needing to "grow up" and "keep growing" now that Cruz is gone."They're powerful words," said linebacker Jameel McClain. "And you gotta take heed in everything that he says.

Oct 15 Tom Coughlin told the Giants they must move forward from the devastating injury Victor Cruz suffered on Sunday night. One of the team's leaders admitted that he's having a hard time with that.
Antrel Rolle went on to say that the Giants need to play with Cruz on their mind on Sunday against the Dallas Cowboys, when they try to get back into the NFC East race.
Rolle had nothing but praise for Philadelphia fans: He said the team and fans "showed great character" in their concern for Cruz.

A torn patellar tendon has ended the career of many NFL players, but the personal trainer for Victor Cruz, who underwent surgery Tuesday, insists the Giants wide receiver will be back.
The man who trains Victor Cruz in the offseason is certain he will be dancing again next season. "I expect him to attack the rehab just like he's attacked everything else," Sean Donellan said.
Joe Klecko's recovery offers Victor Cruz a blueprint. Klecko, who overcame a patella tendon tear in 1982, was asked what he would tell Cruz, if the fallen Giant called him today for advice after suffering the same injury.
Victor Cruz has 15.6 million reasons to be thankful after injury. Cruz could have - some agents/experts had said should have - gambled on his talents, played out his contract and tried his luck as a restricted free agent.

The Giants began the reshaping of their roster on Tuesday by placing wide receiver Victor Cruz on injured reserve. They finished it by signing veteran wide receiver Kevin Ogletree and placing cornerback Trumaine McBride on IR.
No one is expecting Ogletree, 27, to replace Cruz, but he does have NFL experience and he is comfortable working out of the slot, where Cruz excelled and where the Giants have a need.
With the Cowboys, Ogletree posted career highs in receptions (eight), receiving yards (114), and touchdowns (two) in a victory over his new team, the Giants, on Sept. 5, 2012 at MetLife Stadium.

Eli Manning has something to say. Finally. In the last few days, Manning has come out with some blunt observations and appraisals of his team.
Cullen Jenkins admits Giants weren't ready for Chip Kelly's offense Sunday night. "We thought we were prepared for it," Giants defensive tackle Cullen Jenkins said, "Obviously, we weren't."

Oct 14 No wasting any time. Giants wide receiver Victor Cruz had surgery on Monday to repair a torn patellar tendon in his right knee.
Cruz's injury, rare among NFL skill position players, is the kind that could rob him of what makes him truly dangerous: his explosive change-of-direction ability.
Statistics show Cruz almost certainly will be ready to play when the 2015 season begins, but expert anecdotal evidence says he will never be the same player again.
Now he's gone, and there's no possible replacement. The hurt and pain in the eyes of the Giants was visible as they exited Lincoln Financial Field.

The likely replacement for Cruz in the slot is Preston Parker, a veteran receiver who has played well for the Giants, except for a fumbling problem. Rookie Odell Beckham Jr. will certainly get additional playing time, but it is unlikely he will be moved to the slot until Parker has been tried there first.
If Beckham is able to move inside, the Giants can use Parker or rookie Corey Washington on the outside. Regardless of what they do on the field, neither Parker nor Beckham can fill Cruz's role as a leader in the wide receiver meeting room. They don't have that clout or experience.
They need a leader to emerge now because the Giants are clearly reeling -- far moreso than they were during their 0-2 start when their season was on an early brink. Their trip to Dallas is just a few days away. "Here we go," Coughlin said. "We can't lament too long. We don't have time."

Hear that silence as the Giants ready to face the Dallas Cowboys this week in another key NFC East matchup? Get used to it. The Giants should be awfully quiet this week after yapping way too much for their coach's liking heading into Sunday's 27-0 loss to the Eagles. Coach Tom Coughlin made his feelings know during team meetings on Monday.
The Giants better be ready next Sunday when they travel to Dallas to face a Cowboys team that has won five games in a row and just knocked off the defending champion Seahawks in Seattle. Playing without Cruz will make the challenge even tougher, but Mathias Kiwanuka said "there's no sense of desperation here."

Oct 13 Giants lose to the Eagles 27-0  | Photos  | Video

On The Game: Game 6 Gamegirl - "This is not one of those games you want to file a report on. The Giants held the Eagles to only 7 points in the entire second half. Unfortunately that's only half the story. The Eagles saw the Cowboys go ahead of them in the standings and they came out strong." Mikefan. - "It was a big weekend for all the division teams. With the Eagles winning tonight and the Giants taking a loss, coupled with the Cowboys winning their game in Seattle over the Seahawks, things couldn't be any worse."

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ESPN - Rapid Reaction: Eagles 27, Giants 0.
ESPN - Giants' Antrel Rolle: 'We took the day off'
ESPN - Giants' offensive line crumbles vs. Eagles.
ESPN - Still-developing Giants have no choice but to learn from ugly loss.
ESPN - Big Blue Morning: What now at wide receiver?
Giants.com - Instant Analysis: Eagles 27, Giants 0.
NYDailyNews - Philadelphia sports talk radio host celebrates Victor Cruz injury in tweet.
NYDailyNews - Giants lose Victor Cruz for season in 27-0 blowout loss to Eagles.
NYDailyNews - In loss to Eagles, NY Giants follow up trash talk with extended garbage time.
NYPost - Everything goes wrong for Giants in Philly humiliation.
NYPost - Giants report card is as bad as you can imagine.
NYPost - Eagles take some parting shots at Eli Manning and the Giants.
StarLedger - Justin Pugh: There isn't a good enough word to describe how bad I played.
StarLedger - Eagles secondary deserves credit in Sunday night sack party vs. Eli Manning, Giants.
StarLedger - Rapid Reaction: Giants get whipped by Eagles and (to make it worse) lose WR Victor Cruz to injury.
StarLedger - Victor Cruz torn patellar tendon: What his injury means to Giants.
StarLedger - Odell Beckham Jr tells injured Victor Cruz: 'I've got you'
StarLedger - Victor Cruz injury: What is a torn patellar tendon? How serious is it? What is the treatment?
StarLedger - Eagles RB LeSean McCoy makes Giants defense pay.
Newsday - Giants' rout in Philadelphia is hard to understand.
Newsday - Victor Cruz suffers serious right knee injury in Giants' loss to Eagles.
Newsday - Odell Beckham Jr.: 'I just have to play bigger'.
TheRecord - Victor Cruz lost for season with torn patellar tendon in Giants loss.
NYTimes - Giants' Momentum Crashes in Blowout Loss to Eagles.
Philly.com - Eagles make statement with resounding victory.

NFC East News
Cowboys DeMarco Murray's 6th straight 100-yard game lifts Cowboys in Seattle - 30-23. - More.
Redskins - Cardinals Carson Palmer returns, leads Arizona to 30-20 win over Redskins. - More.

Giants (3-2) vs Eagles (4-1)
Last Sunday the Eagles were up 34-7 in the third quarter and let that 27 point lead slip away. They hung on for a 34-28 win over the St. Louis Rams. The Giants staged another comeback victory when they shook off a third quarter 10 point deficit, and scored 20 points while holding the Falcons to none. 30-20. Giants - Falcons Wrap-Up

Oct 12 So far, all LeSean McCoy and Darren Sproles have been able to accomplish for the Eagles is to make them the league's 23rd-best rushing unit at 98.6 yards per game and 3.8 yards per attempt.

The Eagles have shown they can turn games in their favor with their special teams, and this sort of point-producing must have caught the eyes of the Giants as the head into Sunday night's game at Lincoln Financial Field. "Nope," said linebacker Mark Herzlich, one of the core special teamers.

Philadelphia fans seem more worried about LeSean McCoy than Nick Foles at this point. But Philly fans are not known for their patience with any of their players. That's why some were calling for former Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez to replace Foles after a 26-21 loss to San Francisco in Week 4 in which Foles threw two interceptions without a touchdown.

Linebacker Jacquian Williams has emerged as a key player for the Giants. He has been on the field for 322 of the 327 snaps on defense this season -- only Antrel Rolle (323) has more.

In an ideal world, Tom Coughlin would want a team filled with veteran players. But that's just not the way it works in this win-now, salary-capped era. It's a good thing for him, then, that it appears the Giants struck gold in the 2014 NFL draft, in what might turn out to be GM Jerry Reese's best and most immediately productive group since his vaunted Class of 2007.

The Giants have options with how they can use Jon Beason if he returns on Sunday, as expected. They don't necessarily need him to play every snap. Veteran linebacker Jameel McClain has performed well, especially as the nickel linebacker alongside Jacquian Williams.

When Rodgers-Cromartie first arrived in Philadelphia at the start of training camp in 2011. Immediately, he was part of what some Eagles players called the "Dream Team," a roster stacked with newly acquired talent on both sides of the ball. But Rodgers-Cromartie said he never fit in.

Justin Pugh will have friends and roommates rooting against the Giants on Sunday night in Philadelphia. "I don't give them tickets anymore," Pugh said on Friday, two days before his Giants face the Eagles in Philadelphia. "I got them tickets to the last Eagles game [in New Jesery] and they were cheering for the Eagles. So it's a wrap for them. Not just the Eagles game, for any game."

The birds have chirped. Chirped. And chirped some more. As the anticipation for the Sunday night NFC East showdown between the Giants and Eagles has increased, the trash talk has made its way up and down the New Jersey Turnpike all week.

Oct 11 It's been more than three years since Cruz first went to Philly on Sept. 25, 2011, for what was essentially his first NFL start, and out-classed their 'Dream Team' secondary for two touchdowns

The last few weeks defenses haven't been able to get to Manning quickly enough. The Giants are emphasizing the short passing game, so there isn't time for pass rushers to reach the quarterback.

As the anticipation for the Sunday night NFC East showdown between the Giants and Eagles has increased, the trash talk has made its way up and down the New Jersey Turnpike all week.
Yakety yak. With some media egging them on, the Giants and Philadelphia Eagles continued to talk back to each other Friday, apparently sticking with the old dehumanize-the-enemy approach.

Oct 10 The Eagles offense entered its second season under Chip Kelly with high expectations after returning most of a unit that finished fourth in the league last season in points per game (27.6). On the other hand, the Giants' season began with question marks. New offensive coordinator Ben McAdoo installed a new scheme designed to get the ball out quickly on short passes. Results have varied for both teams, but this Sunday night's divisional game sees the Giants as the offense currently clicking on all cylinders.

The only thing that matters is what happens on Sunday night down on the field in Philadelphia. Because if the Giants are so sure they should be taken seriously as division contenders -- and oh boy, are they ever -- then they better be ready to back that up.

In 20 career games against the Eagles, Eli Manning has 21 interceptions. Heading into this Sunday night's matchup, the Eagles defense think they know why. "He changes," linebacker Brandon Graham said, "when he gets hit." The truth is that can be said of many quarterbacks in the NFL, but the Eagles are confident that if they can get to Manning this weekend.

The thing Ben McAdoo seemed to like best about the Giants' offensive performance against the Falcons last week was that they took what was given to them and did not try to focus on any one aspect or player. What the Giants didn't do -- and pretty much haven't done at all this season -- is take advantage of down-the-field plays.

Jason Pierre-Paul has no love for the City of Brotherly Love. None. This disclosure came about just days before Pierre-Paul and the Giants travel to Philadelphia to face the Eagles in a key NFC East matchup on Sunday night. They're also likely to be playing with first place in the division on the line if the Dallas Cowboys lose earlier in the day (as expected) to the Seahawks.

As memories of his hamstring injury slowly fade, Odell Beckham's workload with the Giants will increase. That is both on offense and as a returner, where the team had big plans for him as recently as late August. The first-round pick could see an increase in both areas. Coach Tom Coughlin hinted it come as soon as Sunday.

Oct 9 Special Report - Come from behind victory. That may be the most important phrase to keep in mind in the aftermath of the Giants' victory over Atlanta, the one that vaulted the team to a 3-2 record with a pair of division games on the road up next. Here's another: Contain your excitement.

Who would have thought we'd all be praising the Giants' offense, as opposed to the Eagles' offense, leading into this Week 6 showdown in Philadelphia? Chip Kelly's up-tempo attack was the buzz of the league last year, but it's the Giants' revamped offense, under new coordinator Ben McAdoo, that has everyone talking right now -- including Kelly himself.

Andre Williams' first career start won't change his focus, preparation or effort, but it will enable him to get fully engaged sooner than he did in the first five games. Peyton Hillis and Michael Cox, signed yesterday off the practice squad, will be the backups. No one is helping Williams prepare more than Rashad Jennings, who is studying tape and offering advice to his protege.

Odell Beckham made his NFL debut last week and caught four passes for 44 yards, including his first career touchdown. Now he readies himself for his first NFL road game in Sunday night's showdown with the Eagles.
The rookie wideout from LSU, who has battled a hamstring injury since June, caught four passes on five targets for 44 yards and a touchdown in his NFL debut on Sunday. He also drew a 26-yard pass interference penalty on another target. Let's take an in-depth look at each time Beckham was targeted in Sunday's game.

Colts and Giants erase memories of 0-2 starts. About three weeks ago, you probably heard some variation on the following statistic: Since 1990, only 12 percent of teams that started 0-2 ended up making the playoffs. Seven teams started 0-2 this season, but two of those have rebounded with three-game winning streaks.

A photograph of cornerbacks Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and Prince Amukamara posing with a fan wearing a jersey that mocked the number of Super Bowls won by the Eagles hit the Internet on Tuesday night shortly after it was taken at a New Jersey autograph signing.
Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and Prince Amukamara received the equivalent of a trip to the principal's office Wednesday morning. Only this wasn't an understanding educator waiting for them -- but an annoyed football coach. The message? Shut up and cut out the distractions.

Eagles quarterback Nick Foles has been a shell of the quarterback he was last season when he posted historic numbers relying primarily on sound decision making and ball protection. After throwing just two interceptions in 10 starts last season, he has already thrown five picks through the first five weeks this season.
Buzz Bissinger went on air with 94WIP and blasted Foles again for his poor start to the season through five games (for a 4-1 team, mind you). The comments went beyond run-of-the-mill criticism, and dipped into vendetta territory. "I got pride. Now? You think I want to interview him now?" Bissinger said. "I would rather interview the Eagle mascot."

Oct 8 Tom Coughlin has a phobia when it comes to rookie running backs. That's why in all the years he's been the coach of the Giants he has never had one who carried the ball 20 or more times in any game. Not Brandon Jacobs, not Ahmad Bradshaw, and certainly not David Wilson, who made Coughlin squeamish. They're too unpredictable. They don't block well. They fumble.
He got 65 yards on 20 carries, including a bulldozer of a touchdown run, but at no time during the second half of Sunday's game did Giants rookie running back Andre Williams look more excited than he did after his first catch. Catching the ball has been a well-chronicled issue for Williams.

At the age of 68, in his 20th year as an NFL head coach, Tom Coughlin has given up his offense, scrapped it and replaced it with a new approach brought in from, of all places, historic Green Bay, delivered by a 37-year old who had never before coordinated anything, never before created his own offense.

Giants facing biggest game of season against Philadelphia Eagles This is a statement game for the Giants. It's a chance for them to prove they've got a real shot in a division race that almost nobody expected they would win.

One tiny, and obvious, adjustment has Eli Manning on track for his best season in years. Manning, who has been plagued by interceptions throughout his career, says he's staying patient early on in the new offense and is using a tool that he hasn't always embraced -- throwing the ball away.

Rodgers-Cromartie's mystery leg injury bugs Coughlin. DRC has a left leg issue the Giants acknowledge he may just have to play through if it lingers throughout the season.

NFC East News
The NFC East has seen a resurgence this season as the Philadelphia Eagles (fourth), Dallas Cowboys (sixth) and New York Giants (13th) all sit in the upper half of the league in this week's ESPN.com NFL Power Rankings. The NFC East is a combined 12-8 this season, including a 10-6 out-of-division record. Half of the overall losses belong to the Washington Redskin (26th).

Oct 7 Mark it down: If the Giants somehow continue to roll and sweep these next two games, they glide into the driver's seat in the division and contend the rest of the way. If they get swept, they are very likely headed to a third consecutive year with no postseason to play in.

Coach Tom Coughlin shows his team the NFC East standings every week. He's not going to have a tough time getting his players' attention with them this week.
The Philadelphia Eagles are 4-1 and the defending NFC East champions. Giants safety Antrel Rolle doesn't seem to care. In his eyes, the Eagles are on par with the Giants, Cowboys and Redskins.
Needless to say, word got back to the Eagles pretty quickly, and cornerback Brandon Boykin was asked about it during an interview. "We'll find out on Sunday," Boykin said.
What comes next -- road games against the Eagles and Cowboys -- will tell a great deal about the direction this season takes before the Giants go off on their bye week.

Rashad Jennings won't need surgery to repair his injured left knee, but an MRI on Monday revealed a sprained MCL, and Jennings is expected to miss at least a few weeks with the injury.
Coughlin remains publicly optimistic it won't come to that. Asked how long Jennings will be sidelined, Coughlin said, "I am going to go day-to-day. I'm not going to change off of that until I am told differently."

Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie may be a part-time player for a while. The Giants' best cornerback rotated in and out of Sunday's game against the Falcons while nursing a leg injury. Rodgers-Cromartie called it an ankle injury on Sunday night, but Tom Coughlin said it may be more than just a simple sprain.

There were lessons to be learned from Sunday's Giants victory over the Atlanta Falcons. And while coach Tom Coughlin might begin by teaching his team to play better in the first half, maybe the way it all unfolded was an omen.

Oct 6 Giants win over the Falcons 30-20  | Photos  | Video

On The Game: Game 5 Gamegirl - It was strange to see Osi Umenyiora on the field playing against us. It was nice to reflect back on all the things he did for us as a Giant over the years. Later though, in the second quarter he came up with a sack on Eli Manning at the Atlanta 35 yard line. That put us in a 3rd and 16 and out of field goal range and the fans weren't so happy and let Osi know about that." Mikefan. - "The Giants knew the Falcons were hurting coming into this game and they played as if all they had to do was show up for the win. As a result they were down 13-10 at the half. They played better after that, but it still took a touchdown in the fourth quarter to finally put them ahead once and for all."

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ESPN - Rapid Reaction: Giants 30 Falcons 20.
ESPN - Odell Beckham Jr. was worth the wait.
ESPN - Giants say Rashad Jennings sprained left knee.
ESPN - Giants take defense to 'a different level' as pass rush applies heat on Falcons' QB.
ESPN - Andre Williams gives Giants big boost.
ESPN - Osi Umenyiora gets tribute and sack in his return.
Giants.com - Instant Analysis: Giants defeat Falcons, 30-20.
Giants.com - Rookies lead Giants offense in win over Falcons.
NYDailyNews - Giants win third straight, beat Falcons 30-20.
NYDailyNews - Rookie RB Andre Williams has big day for Giants after Rashad Jennings goes down.
NYDailyNews - Osi Umenyiora hears boos from Giants fans as he returns to MetLife with Falcons.
NYDailyNews - Giants offense now up to speed as NFC East rivals await.
NYPost - Odell Beckham leads Giants' comeback win over Falcons.
NYPost - Giants fans drool, Odell Beckham dances after first TD.
NYPost - Eli Manning might have just saved the Giants' season.
NYPost - How Jason Pierre-Paul turned the Giants defense around.
StarLedger - Giants vs. Falcons instant observations: Pass rush was there, eventually paid off,
StarLedger - Odell Beckham Jr. doesn't disappoint in his Giants debut.
StarLedger - Odell Beckham Jr. provides first glimpse of what he can do for the Giants in debut .
StarLedger - Rapid Reaction: Odell Beckham Jr. doesn't disappoint in his Giants debut.
StarLedger - Odell Beckham: How the Giants utilized their new weapon in win over Falcons.
StarLedger - Osi Umenyiora on boos from Giants fans: 'I appreciated it'.
Newsday - Rookies Odell Beckham Jr., Andre Williams lead Giants to third win in row.
Newsday - Odell Beckham Jr. turns heads in debut.
Newsday - Rookies Odell Beckham Jr. and Andre Williams look like the real deal.
TheRecord - Beckham TD catch helps Giants rally past Falcons, 30-20.
TheRecord - Giants rookie Odell Beckham Jr.'s debut leaves mouths agape .
NYTimes - Rookies Lead Rally Over Falcons, and Giants Could Get Used to It.

NFC East News
Eagles beat Rams 34-28 behind defense, special teams. - More.
Cowboys hold on, win 4th straight on Dan Bailey's overtime FG 20-17. - More.

Giants (2-2) vs Falcons (2-2)
Last Sunday the Falcons fought for three quarters to finally get the lead in a game against the Vikings. They had a one point lead going into the fourth quarter, but couldn't hold it. The final score was Vikings 41 - Falcons 28. The Giants got it all together in their last Thursday night game in Washington and won their second game of the season 45-14. It was a strong performance on both sides of the ball. Giants - Redskins Wrap-Up

Oct 4 They've scored 75 points in their last two games, moving the with ease. Their quarterback, Eli Manning, is completing a career-best 66.9% of his passes and they actually have a running game. They'll continue evolving this week, with the possible debut of first-round pick Odell Beckham Jr., who could finally provide a consistent deep threat.

Along one wall from left to right near a common entrance are the lockers for Eli Manning, running back Rashad Jennings, middle linebacker Jon Beason and strong safety Antrel Rolle. Manning is the unquestioned heart of the offense, Beason and Rolle are the spiritual and vocal leaders of the defense, and Jennings is the most productive, prominent and influential of the many first-year Giants.

Tom Coughlin, still showing the same energy at 68 that he displayed during his days as the Giants' receivers coach under Bill Parcells from 1988-90, has shown a willingness to remain flexible and adapt to his surroundings. That remains crucial to his approach.

Peyton Hillis said his aim this year is to represent the Giants in the Pro Bowl as a special-teamer. "It's more than likely not going to happen, but that's why you set goals for yourself. To try to achieve the impossible." If Hillis continues to play the way he has for the last two weeks, the impossible might become reality.

Larry Donnell isn't getting overlooked anymore after breakout start to his 2014 season. Donnell, now 25 and in his third NFL season, is used to a lack of attention from outside his circle of family and friends. All that was left for Larry Donnell then was to keep dreaming and working out, which he did every day on an empty field at Grambling State University. For all he knew, nobody was watching. But someone was.
After going undrafted in 2011 and spending the entire season unemployed -- failing in tryouts with the CFL and now-defunct UFL -- Donnell became deterred for the first time ever, envisioning a new reality of working for his friend's truck driving company to support his family, accepting it as temporary, hoping it wasn't permanent. But a few hours later, the phone call he had waited for finally came -- the Giants were on the other end.

Oct 4 Can Eli reach 70% completion percentage? That goal seemed laughable after an 18-of-33 performance against the Detroit Lions in Week 1, but Manning has been very effective in the three games since. Manning has posted a QBR above 75 in each of the last three weeks, completing 75-of-106 passes (70.6 percent) in that span.

Giants cornerback Prince Amukamara's wife is "flattered" their sex life is getting credit for his on-field emergence this season. "She was flattered, and she just thought it was comical," Amukamara said.
Prince Amukamara is playing well but Tom Coughlin stops short of answering if it has anything to do with the cornerback's marriage and the things that come along with it. "Stop it. I'm not answering that question," Coughlin said. "Anybody have a legitimate question for me?"

After missing two games due to the aggravation of a foot and toe injury that sidelined him the entire preseason, Jon Beason said he expects to play against the Falcons (his old NFC South rivals from his Panthers days, he added).

Rashad Jennings has the write stuff. Rashad Jennings often tells the story of how he decided one day to take control of his life.

Oct 3 Jason Pierre-Paul has no doubt the Giants will come away from Sunday's game against the Falcons with a victory. If they do, it would be a milestone of sorts. For the first time since the end of the 2012 season nearly 22 months ago, the Giants would be a winning team. They would be above .500.

All things considered, the Giants are one of the lucky teams heading into the start of Week 5. During practice on Thursday, there wasn't a single player off to the side doing rehab work. This was the second day in a row for what is truly a rare site this deep into the season.
Atlanta had four players limited on Thursday (including star wide receiver Julio Jones and WR/KR Devin Hester). Atlanta also placed three starters on injured reserve earlier this week, including two starting offensive linemen. Three-fifths of their offensive line is likely to be different than last week when they lost in Minnesota.

Safety Antrel Rolle thinks cornerback Prince Amukamara's improved play this season is due, at least in part, to the benefits of being a newlywed.
Prince Amukamara calls Antrel Rolle's comments 'comical' but agrees marriage has helped his game. "Why not," Amukamara said. "I'll take it."
Amukamara had abstained from sex until he got married to Pilar Davis this offseason, and he'd never been shy about mentioning that. Last year, that earned the always-polite, goody-two-shoes, virgin corner the nickname "Black Tebow" in the Giants locker room.

Oct 2 It looks like Eli Manning will have a new weapon to throw to this coming Sunday. Rookie wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr., who missed the Giants' first four games of the season because of a hamstring injury, practiced Wednesday, and it sounds like he'll play against the Atlanta Falcons.
The goal is to put Beckham through a second straight "hard" practice on Thursday to ensure he's ready. Coughlin admitted that the team is preparing him to be a part of the game plan on Sunday.
There have been starts and stops with Beckham ever since he strained his right hamstring way back in the spring, but the momentum is building for him to make his NFL debut.
Beckham was the Giants' first-round draft choice this year and it is expected he will bring consistent production and big-play ability to the offense and perhaps the return game.

Jason Pierre-Paul did not have a direct hand in any of the four interceptions the Giants produced against Washington last week. But he was the one who helped set them up.
This week against the Falcons, the play of Pierre-Paul will have a big impact on the outcome of the game. The Falcons lost three offensive linemen in Week 4 against the Minnesota Vikings. With such a depleted offensive line, the Giants' defensive line, led by Pierre-Paul, have to take advantage.

Osi Umenyiora, who played his first 10 pro seasons for the Giants, will return to MetLife Stadium in an enemy uniform for the first time, as a member of the Atlanta Falcons.
Osi Umenyiora spoke with reporters for close to 20 minutes on a conference call Wednesday, recalling his time with the Giants and describing his current situation with the Falcons.
Umenyiora sounded Wednesday as if he wishes he could take back some of the things he did and said before parting company with Big Blue after the 2012 season.
Umenyiora doesn't have a sack in 2014, but the Falcons only have three as a team -- tied for the second-worst total in the entire league.

Larry Donnell: I benched myself in fantasy football. The tight end admitted that he indeed benched himself in fantasy football in favor of 49ers tight end Vernon Davis, missing out on his career-best performance that included seven catches for 54 yards and three touchdowns.

Oct 1 Odell Beckham Jr. may have Rashad Jennings to thank for improivng hamstring. Jennings' routine is different, but it works. During every practice, typically after the team-wide stretch, Jennings, 29, works through his own dynamic warmup.
The good news is that Odell Beckham's long, frustrating wait may finally be over. His fingers are crossed that his long-awaited debut will come this Sunday afternoon.
Eli Manning, who attended the same New Orleans high school as Beckham and has thrown to him there and in passing camps for years, has eagerly waited for the day he can target him in a game.

With one quarter of the 2014 season completed, Larry Donnell is putting together what could become the most productive year by a tight end in Giants history. The second-year pro leads the Giants with 25 catches and four touchdowns and is second on the team with 236 receiving yards.

This high-priced Giant has rediscovered dominant form. Without a big rebound year from Will Beatty - he called his 2013 showing "an anomaly" - the rebuilt offensive line would have crumbled instead of grown on a weekly basis.

Wide receiver Mario Manningham's second stint with the Giants didn't end as gloriously as the first. The Super Bowl hero was released Tuesday from the injured reserve list. He will receive an injury settlement and is now free to sign with another team.

Sept 30 Sunday's day off afforded what Tom Coughlin called a "live scout" of the next opponent, Atlanta, something that can be more instinctive, more reactive and basic but helpful nonetheless. He said there was a checklist of observations he prepared for live scouts.
Giants know schedule only gets tougher, starting with Falcons - and they are ready for it. Matt Ryan brings a steadying hand to Atlanta's air attack, the first quality QB the Giants have seen since they fell to Matthew Stafford and the Lions in Detroit in the opener.
The Atlanta Falcons come to town Sunday, and one of their pass-rushers is former Giant Osi Umenyiora, who meant a great deal to left tackle Will Beatty when Beatty and Umenyiora was at the top of his game.

The target has been set. Now it's just a matter of whether Giants rookie wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. can receive clearance for Sunday's game against the Atlanta Falcons after struggling for months with a hamstring injury.
Physically, he's healed and back on the practice field. Now he has to convince the coaching staff he knows the offense and convince himself he can turn it loose and show that blazing speed.

Sept 29 Two victories have, for now, dispelled the notion the Giants are no better this season than they were a year ago, when the offensive line marched front and center behind the banner reading "Things That Went Bad in 2013." It looks as if the Giants have a five-man unit capable of competing at a reasonable level, or perhaps beyond that.
The extreme results that the Giants have gotten out of their offense in the past two weeks are pretty startling. After Rashad Jennings led the charge with 176 rushing yards in Week 3's 30-17 win over Houston, Eli Manning captained a ruthlessly efficient passing attack to defeat Washington.

NFC East News
Eagles - Nick Foles turns in worst game of his career in Eagles 26-21 loss to the 49ers. - More
Cowboys -Cowboys get payback vs. inept Saints, Rob Ryan with 38-17 win. - More

Sept 28 Just how far Manning has come in this West Coast-flavored offense. Per the Giants weekly grade book distributed by Pro Football Focus (subscription required), Manning went 9-for-10 for 124 yards, three touchdowns, and a perfect 158.3 passer rating on throws 10-19 yards down field.
Tom Coughlin said this week that he and the Giants always saw the potential in Larry Donnell, liked his athleticism, and hoped he could develop into a pretty good tight end. It turns out he wasn't the first coach to go down that path. That distinction belongs to Rod Broadway.

Forget the two-game nightmare that opened the season; in the wins over the Houston Texans and Washington, the secondary has made seven interceptions and forced eight turnovers.
Ryan Fitzpatrick? Kirk Cousins? Now the Giants' defense can get tested. The Giants get to sit back this weekend and watch, and what awaits them after this early-season mini-bye surely will be a stiffer challenge for their resurgent secondary.
Quintin Demps: How the veteran safety fared in his first start for the Giants (Film Review). Perry Fewell elected to start veteran Quintin Demps opposite Anrel Rolle on Thursday night against the Washington Redskins. Demps recorded seven tackles, an interception and two passes defended.

Eli Manning has done a lot of good things in his NFL career, most notably winning two Super Bowls. Rushing for touchdowns is something he hasn't done very often, and is almost as rare. "It is almost like seeing a UFO or seeing a unicorn or something like that," wide receiver Victor Cruz said.
Rueben Randle is raising his game in the Nicks of time for the Giants. Tom Coughlin still rides him for his every mental lapse, and there are still plenty of critics who insist that he's an incomplete receiver.

Sept 27 Eli Manning and the Giants offense had their most productive day on Thursday since the 2012 season finale. They scored 45 points in a demolition of the Redskins and Manning accounted for five touchdowns.
Part of what's helped the pass protection is the ability of Eli Manning and the Giants' offense to operate their no-huddle offense, built on quick drops and Manning's ability to unload the ball about a half-second quicker on average than he did last year.

The Giants have gone from 0-2 to 2-2 in the span of just five days. It's a remarkable turnaround, but the Giants don't sound very surprised. "I'm not shocked by it. I just give credit to the hard work that we put in," wideout Victor Cruz said Friday, on a conference call with reporters.
The NFL is a week-to-week league, but few teams experience the kind of changes that the Giants have undergone in the past seven days. The offense is tuned to efficiency. The defense is ferocious and greedy. The team they were just a few short days ago is now practically unrecognizable.
Victor Cruz can't pinpoint one particular moment when the Giants' season turned around. But he can pinpoint one particular player -- and it's not him, nor is it Eli Manning or any of the Giants' other high-salaried stars. "I think when Larry Donnell started to come to fruition, and catch the ball well and make some plays for us, I think that's when things kind of shifted," Cruz said.

Eli Manning has thrown nine touchdown passes this season. Seven of them have been to tight ends. Larry Donnell scored the Giants' first three touchdowns in their 45-14 dismantling of the Washington Redskins in FedEx Field. He is the first Giants tight end with three touchdown receptions in a game since Joe Walton 52 years ago. Daniel Fells scored the other touchdown, his third in as many games.

Jason Pierre-Paul: The moment the Giants knew their best defensive player had grown up. Jason Pierre-Paul was not previously viewed by his teammates as a mainstay in the film room. But over the last week, he began picking up on some of Cousins' mannerisms and couldn't help himself.

Larry Donnell: Maybe Jerry Reese was right, the Giants do have their Julius Thomas on the roster. Donnell had seven catches on eight targets for 54 yards and three touchdowns on Thursday night alone. He has 25 receptions for 236 yards and four touchdowns in four games this season.
Thursday night's surprising 45-14 rout here of the Redskins not only showed that Big Blue is just fine at that spot, but that the Giants also might have the deepest and most dangerous corps of pass-catching tight ends in the NFL.

Sept 26 Giants win over the Redskins 45-14  | Photos  | Video

On The Game: Game 4 Gamegirl - "The Giants were everything you wanted to see tonight.... It's sure nice to go from 0-2 to 2-2 and notch a division win to boot." Mikefan. - "Coming into this season the worry was that the Giants didn't have a tight end they could rely upon. Say 'Hello' to Larry Donnell. The Redskins certainly did as he pulled in three touchdowns against them."

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ESPN - Rapid Reaction: Giants 45 Redskins 14.
ESPN - Manning throws short in big win.
ESPN - Eli-to-Donnell connection is clicking as Giants tailor offense to their personnel.
Giants.com - Instant Analysis: Giants 45, Washington 14.
Giants.com - 3 impressions from Giants win in Washington.
NYDailyNews - Larry Donnell has three touchdowns as NY Giants rout Washington, 45-14.
NYDailyNews - Giants defense unleashes capital punishment.
NYPost - Eli Manning throws 4 TDs in Giants' rout of Redskins.
NYPost - Manning, Donnell do their best Simms-Bavaro imitation.
NYPost - Victor Cruz and Rueben Randle come up big in Giants laugher.
NYPost - Opportunistic Giants defense forces six Redskins turnovers.
NYPost - Playing it safe, Beason sits and watches happily as Giants roll.
StarLedger - Giants defense: Kirk Cousins was 'staring down' Redskins receivers all night,
StarLedger - Quintin Demps: 'I did what I was supposed to do' on hit that knocked Niles Paul out.
StarLedger - Redskins linebacker Ryan Kerrigan: Giants 'flat out kicked our (butts)'.
StarLedger - Rapid Reaction: Giants put it all together, send notice to NFC East.
StarLedger - Studs and Duds: Giants' Larry Donnell, Eli Manning shine, Redskins QB Kirk Cousins scuffles.
StarLedger - Giants-Redskins: 10 observations, including that tight end we didn't think Big Blue had.
Newsday - Larry Donnell's 3 TD catches lead Giants in rout.
Newsday - Giants secondary gets a tip from Jason Pierre-Paul.
Newsday - Eli Manning ready to take baton from Derek Jeter as NYC's biggest star.
TheRecord - Giants blow out Redskins, 45-14, behind Eli Manning's 4 TD passes.
NYTimes - Giants' Smooth Offense Runs Redskins Ragged.
WashingtonTimes - Giant setback for Redskins in ugly nationally televised loss.
WashingtonPost - Kirk Cousins has five turnovers, Eli Manning has five TDs, and Giants top Redskins, 45-14.
WashingtonPost - Phil Simms slipped and said 'Redskins' during Redskins-Giants game.

Giants (1-2) vs Redskins (1-2)
Things got out of hand last Sunday when the Redskins battled the Eagles. Players were ejected from the game and there was a total of 8 touchdowns and 5 field goals scored. The Eagles trailed by 10 points, but they took over the lead and gave their home crowd a 37-34 win.
The Giants won their first game of the season 30-17. It wasn't always pretty, especially in the first quarter, but they showed what they are capable of as they continue to improve.
Giants - Texans Wrap-Up

Sept 25 Close call, but take Redskins as favorites over Giants. Big Blue is coming off an impressive win Sunday over Houston that featured a balanced offensive attack.
It had to happen eventually and, at long last, the first NFC East game arrives at an opportune time for the Giants.
Even when the Giants were 0-6 last season, they were able to stay alive for a while because no one else in the division was winning a lot of games. That's not the case this year.

Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie understands there is one constant when it comes to covering DeSean Jackson. It's not his speed. It's not his quickness. It's not his moves. It's his volume.
Rodgers-Cromartie and Jackson were teammates in Philadelphia before going their separate ways: Rodgers-Cromartie and Jackson will line up across from one another, this time on opposite sides of an NFC East rivalry that takes center stage Thursday night in Landover, Md.

Quarterback Kirk Cousins has gone from trade bait to the potential savior of the Washington Redskins.
From a distance, Cousins appear to be doing some good things. Is there a belief that he is for real, and could potentially take the job from RG3?

While calling Giants game, Phil Simms says he will try to avoid Washington's offensive nicknames. While Simms will do his best to avoid saying the name, he realizes a few may slip out.

Sept 24 The Giants signed Quintin Demps primarily to be a kick returner, but he's a safety too, and he knows the most important thing about playing the position. "You've got to be deeper than the deepest," Demps said Tuesday. "Deeper than the deepest, that's what it's all about."
When free safety Stevie Brown allowed Texans speedster Damaris Johnson to slip behind him in Sunday's Giants victory, he also may have lost his grip on the starting job. It was the final defensive snap Brown saw in the contest, and may be the last time he's viewed as the starter at that position this year.

For two weeks, they looked like a colossal disappointment, an overpaid, underperforming defense that kept committing penalties and just couldn't get off the field. And then the Giants 'D' came out on Sunday against the Houston Texans and dominated the first half of a cruise-control victory. And now, the Big Blue defense is starting to think big things.

Sept 23 Time is limited, practice time on a field is mostly non-existent. Monday is a Wednesday. Tuesday is a Thursday. Such is life for an NFL team that plays on Thursday Night Football.
The Giants will attempt to do what has been an imposing and impossible task: Winning on the road on Thursday night. The home team this season is 3-0, winning by a combined score of 118-36.

There are plenty of reasons to point to why the Giants' offense, defense and special teams finally clicked in a 30-17 victory over the Texans on Sunday afternoon at MetLife Stadium.
The player who stood out the most on Sunday was right tackle Justin Pugh, who did a fine job while mostly facing Texans All-Pro defensive end J.J. Watt.
Late in Sunday's game, veteran safety Stevie Brown left the field in favor of rookie Nat Berhe, a fifth-round pick who impressed the coaching staff this preseason. The Giants would only say today that the change was not injury related.

NFL News
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell attends New York Giants game, but stays mum.

Sept 22 Giants win over the Texans 30-17  | Photos  | Video

On The Game: Game 3 Gamegirl - "The Giants sure know how to drag the fans through super highs and lows, but finally we got to see what they were hoping to bring to the field." Mikefan. - "Last week against Arizona the Giants edge was that the starting quarterback Carson Palmer was out and they still lost. This week the Texans spoted the Giants their starting running back Arian Foster. Today the Giants were able to make that stick."

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ESPN - Rapid Reaction: Giants 30 Texans 17.
ESPN - Giants' O-line gets better of Watt, Texans.
ESPN - Cruz, Giants get much-needed win, relief.
ESPN - Giants respond to Tom Coughlin's lighter touch.
ESPN - Giants defense provides turnovers, finally.
Giants.com - Instant Analysis: Giants 30, Texans 17.
Giants.com - 7 takeaways from Giants Postgame Interviews (9/21).
NYDailyNews - Eli Manning, Victor Cruz and Rashad Jennings lead Giants to 30-17 win over Texans.
NYDailyNews - Rashad Jennings fueled by rush from dad.
NYDailyNews - Giants shake off special teams mistakes in win over Texans.
NYDailyNews - Victor Cruz erases boos with big day.
NYPost - Giants' offense back on track as Big Blue picks up first victory.
NYPost - Big stand made when Giants needed it most.
NYPost - Big Blue O-line pushes Texans' defense around.
NYPost - Rolle, Big Blue 'D' turnover a new lead.
StarLedger - Rapid Reaction: Giants dominate Texans, 30-17, for first win of the season.
StarLedger - Giants defense makes a statement in victory over Houston.
StarLedger - Giants vs. Texans instant observations: Running game finally makes a return.
StarLedger - Texans' J.J. Watt, Houston defense 'tapped out' and were 'worn down,' Giants say.
StarLedger - Victor Cruz: Win 'takes a lot of weight off' Giants shoulders
StarLedger - Why did Jennings run wild? 'nothing was working,' says Texans LB Brian Cushing.
StarLedger - What Tom Coughlin did this week to keep the season from slipping away.
StarLedger - Eli Manning, Giants offense solve timing issue in win over Texans.
StarLedger - Rashad Jennings dedicated his 176-yard game to his double-amputee father.
Newsday - Giants capitalize on turnovers, beat Texans for first win of season.
Newsday - Eli Manning has his best game yet in Giants' new West Coast offense.
Newsday - Victor Cruz wins back fans with big game.
TheRecord - Rashad Jennings (176 yards) leads Giants past Texans, 30-17 .
NYTimes - Giants Thrash Texans and Shake Off Gloom.
AZCentral - Cardinals top Giants, move to 2-0 on season.
AZCentral - Stanton shakes off rust, leads impressive win.

NFC East News
Cowboys - Cowboys erase 21-point deficit, beat Rams 34-31. - More.
Redskins - Eagles top Redskins, 37-34, in feisty affair. - More.
Eagles - Cary Williams criticizes Chip Kelly, teammates after 37-34 win. - More.

Giants (0-2) vs Texans (2-0)
Last week the Texans had a 27-0 lead going into the fourth quarter. They went on to win their second straight game, beating the Oakland Raiders 30-14.
The Giants did themselves in playing against a watered down Arizona team. They were ahead at one point, but then the mistakes just kept coming and they lost the game 25-14.
Overall
Both teams hope that history doesn't repeat. Last season at this time, the Texans and Giants held the same win-loss record heading into game 3. The Texans lost all the rest of their games and the Giants fell to 0-6 before they managed to pull out a win. One of these teams will continue on that path and one won't.
Turnovers could be the key in this game as the Texans on defense are forcing them to happen and the Giants can't get out of their own way in assisting other teams from being successful in that cause. If the Giants cut down on their penalties, missed assignments, and turnovers, they should send the fans home happy this Sunday.

Sept 21 There are two things the Giants haven't done this year that seem to go hand in hand. The first is win a game. The second is force a takeaway on defense. They seem confident that both situations are about to be rectified.

Following a summer during which so much was made about the Giants not having a tight end capable of starting in the NFL on the roster, Larry Donnell has proven so far that they just might.

Rashad Jennings knows what he has to do to save Giants. It's on him. The holes have been there, Jennings adamantly said, and he hasn't produced.

Victor Cruz has been targeted 16 by Eli Manning this season but has only caught seven passes in the Giants' first two games. But Cruz says he no longer cares if those fans are on his side.

Sept 20 Starting middle linebacker Jon Beason and the Giants held out the slimmest sliver of hope that he'd be able to play Sunday against the Houston Texans despite a foot injury. They've been advised it's not in his best interest.
The Giants are taking a careful, watchful approach to Jon Beason's foot/toe injury, holding the middle linebacker out of Sunday's game, even with the team looking at a 0-3 start with a loss to Houston.

The feeling around the Giants is that their 0-2 start is more a function of their own mishaps and lack of execution than anything the Lions and Cardinals did to beat them. As far as they're concerned, it's Giants vs. Giants. They're hoping the better team wins. So far it hasn't.

As much as Tom Coughlin has earned a reputation for being terse and rigid around players, he has a team that sees him as a chameleon of sorts that has the ability to to motivate almost anyone.
The sounds of Biggie Small's "Hypnotize" and Mystikal's "Danger" blasted throughout Giants practice on Friday- unusual sound effects to watch old-school coach Tom Coughlin run his team.
The grizzled coach agreed to the music being played during warm-ups after it was suggested by the players' leadership council. "The players wanted that," Coughlin said.

Sept 19 You might see a Giants team you don't recognize from the first two weeks of this season when they play the 2-0 Texans Sunday at MetLife Stadium. You might see a more aggressive, angry Giants team playing with less tentativeness and more abandon than you saw in their lackluster losses to the Lions and Cardinals that so far have marred this season.

The Giants only scored 14 points again in Week 2, but offensive coordinator Ben McAdoo likes the direction his unit is headed. Eli Manning in particular looked much better against the Cardinals, completing 26 of 39 passes for 277 yards -- and he could have had a few more completions, if his receivers had held onto the ball.

Victor Cruz has not caught a touchdown pass since Week 4 last season in Kansas City -- a string of 12 games played. He missed the final two games of 2013 with a knee injury. Teammate Antrel Rolle told WFAN in a Tuesday interview: "Victor will definitely give them something to play that salsa music soon enough." Coach Tom Coughlin and Cruz met Tuesday and discussed, among other things, the Giants' need to stay positive despite their 0-2 start.

The Houston Texans are 2-0 and the New York Giants are 0-2, but Giants defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul is sleeping comfortably this week.
Jason Pierre-Paul isn't scared at all by the Houston Texans offense. What worries Jason Pierre-Paul about the Houston Texans offense? Uh, nothing!"

It appears the Giants have not lost their middle linebacker after all. Jon Beason says his injured foot "feels a whole lot better," and he is not ruling out playing Sunday against the Houston Texans despite not practicing the past two days.
The Giants middle linebacker (foot/toe) was no longer walking around in a protective boot on Thursday, and on Friday, he will see noted foot specialist Dr. Robert Anderson in North Carolina.

Sept 18 Special Report - After Arizona: The good, The bad, The ugly
Well, that didn't go as planned now, did it? For the pessimists out there, the season is almost over. For the optimists, the new offense showed some signs of life and the defensive front had a decent (not great) showing. The facts, however, are thus: there were too many dropped passes, too many turnovers, the defense let a career backup quarterback keep his team in the game and a crucial failure on special teams was a back breaker. The Giants have proven one thing over the last few years: they're consistent in their inconsistency.

Cruz needs to connect with Eli, teammates. This is new for Victor Cruz, his role as a team captain, his saying he wants the ball thrown his way more often, the boos he heard after dropping passes last Sunday against the Cardinals. And so, Cruz admits he's learning as he goes along.
Victor Cruz leads the NFL with four dropped passes, according to STATS. Depending on who is counting, it could be five after a rough outing on Sunday, where Cruz's drops contributed significantly to the loss. It prompted a meeting between the wide receiver and coach Tom Coughlin this week.

This would be the ideal week for the Giants to get Odell Beckham Jr. back on the field. But it hasn't been an ideal kind of season, has it?. Tom Coughlin all but ruled out the first-round pick who has been sidelined with a hamstring injury since the spring.
While Giants coach Tom Coughlin indicated that the rookie receiver is making progress in his return from a hamstring injury, the coach said Wednesday that Beckham will not see any snaps with the team this week. He will work off to the side.

The Giants pride themselves on flipping every stone when it comes to finding talent. One of their wide receivers was an afterthought from UMass. Another was buried at Division II Newberry College. But Preston Parker? "Begging for money, that's all," he said when asked what he was doing last year. "Trying to find a job."
With Jerrel Jernigan, who suffered a mid-foot sprain in Sunday's loss to Arizona, out for the remainder of the season, Parker will have first shot at his No. 3 receiver position. Parker, who is also the primary punt returner, had one catch for 29 yards last Sunday.
In training camp, Parker seemed to catch every pass thrown his way. He got an opportunity to return punts when Beckham suffered a hamstring injury that still has him on the sidelines. Now Jernigan is out and Parker's importance continues to grow.

NFL News
The NFL and the players union announced that after several years of feuding over drug-testing protocols, they had reached an agreement on a new plan. The most significant change is that players will be tested for human growth hormone for the first time.

Sept 17 The Giants were busy trying to modify their roster in order to survive the season. Injuries to starting middle linebacker Jon Beason, nickel cornerback Walter Thurmond and wide receiver Jerrel Jernigan prompted the moves.
Jon Beason's return to the Giants' lineup looks like it will go through Charlotte. The Giants are already thin at linebacker with promising rookie Devon Kennard sidelined by a hamstring injury.
Receiver Jerrel Jernigan was placed on season-ending injured reserve Tuesday with a mid-foot injury, joining cornerback Walter Thurmond, who went down Sunday with a torn pectoral muscle.

There are no guarantees that Odell Beckham Jr.'s balky hamstring will allow him to play, but Tom Coughlin has yet to rule him out, a dramatic shift after weeks of expecting nothing from the receiver.

Giants' secondary a mess so far. Aggressive enough to be called for way too many penalties; not aggressive enough to force any turnovers.

Victor Cruz has four dropped passes this season, and the two he dropped last Sunday helped fuel the Cardinals comeback as they turned a 14-10 deficit into a 25-14 victory over the Giants.

Antrel Rolle tabbed Sunday's showdown with the Houston Texans at MetLife Stadium as a "must-win" game and promised a more impactful brand of football out of Big Blue. And he asked for the Giants fan base to give the team a hand, too.

A look at the NFL officiating this season. The NFL today has many of the best possible individuals working as officials.

Sept 16 For Eli Manning to fit into Giants West Coast offense, he needs help from receivers Dropping the ball is a bad thing, and it's a real problem when it happens three times in a row in the fourth quarter.
What has become of the Giants? Why does everything they touch turn to dust, unless of course they cannot touch it and instead drop it or have it glance off someone's fingers and into the hands of someone who doesn't wear their uniform?

The Giants, already buckling under the weight of a 0-2 start to their season, suffered a significant injury loss on Sunday when cornerback Walter Thurmond suffered a torn pectoral muscle, ending his season.
Is it worth making a phone call to Terrell Thomas? According to two sources familiar with the situation, the Giants have yet to reach out to their former Nickel corner, who last played in the preseason for Seattle.

The Giants as a whole sounded surprisingly upbeat Monday, despite losing their home opener by 11 points to a team starting a backup quarterback who hadn't thrown a pass in a regular-season game since 2010.
Lost in the mess that the Giants devolved into in a second straight meltdown was one potentially critical development, something that will be of vital importance if the team somehow finds its way out of an 0-2 hole: Eli Manning looked like a mostly functional quarterback again.

Sept 15 Giants lose to the Cardinals, 25-14  | Photos  | Video

On The Game: Game 2 Gamegirl - "It's always great to watch the Giants play at home. It's too bad they couldn't come away with a win for the fans." Mikefan. - "With Carson Palmer suddenly unable to play and the Cardinals having to make a last minute switch to backup quarterback Drew Stanton, this should have been a cakewalk for the Giants."

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ESPN - Rapid Reaction: Giants 14 Cardinals 25.
ESPN - No margin for error, yet Giants make many.
ESPN - Victor Cruz really letting Giants down.
ESPN - Special teams costs the Giants, again.
ESPN - Pierre-Paul and the pass rush show life.
Giants.com - Instant Analysis: Cardinals 25, Giants 14.
Giants.com - 7 takeaways from Postgame Media Hour (9/14).
NYDailyNews - Giant mistakes doom Big Blue in loss to Cardinals.
NYDailyNews - Rashad Jennings fumble has Tom Coughlin at a loss.
NYDailyNews - If Victor Cruz wants the ball, he better catch it.
NYDailyNews - New faces, same results as Giants still look like sorry bunch.
NYPost - Ugliness continues as Giants stomped by Cardinals.
NYPost - Special teams drops the ball for Giants.
NYPost - Big boo-hoo: This may be Giants' new reality.
NYPost - Eli on 'O': 'Better, but not where it needs to be'.
StarLedger - Rapid Reaction: Giants self-destruct in fourth quarter vs. Cardinals.
StarLedger - Giants-Cardinals final: 10 observations include a defense that is just as much to blame.
StarLedger - Justin Pugh: 'I got punched in the face and got flagged for 15'.
StarLedger - Victor Cruz on hearing Giants fans boo him: 'I could care less'.
StarLedger - Giants' studs and duds in loss to Cardinals: What's up with Victor Cruz?
StarLedger - Rashad Jennings fumble: Giants RB says he cost his team a touchdown.
StarLedger - What went wrong on Ted Ginn's punt return for a TD that doomed the Giants.
Newsday - Giants drop the ball again, fall to Cardinals.
Newsday - Giants hurt by an epidemic of dropped passes.
Newsday - Giants still have 4 games to improve on 2013.
TheRecord - Giants replay: Cardinals.
NYTimes - Offense Makes Strides, but Giants Pay for Turnovers and Special-Teams Play.
AZCentral - Cardinals top Giants, move to 2-0 on season.
AZCentral - Stanton shakes off rust, leads impressive win.

NFC East News
Cowboys - Cowboys bounce back from loss in opener, rout Titans 26-10. - More.
Redskins - RG3, D-Jax hurt as Redskins top Jaguars 41-10. - More.
Eagles - Tonight at 8:30 pm Eagles-Colts - More.

Giants (0-1) vs Cardinals (1-0)
The Cardinals started their season right after the Giants in the second Monday Night Football game broadcast last week. They managed to beat the Chargers 18-17 by coming from behind with 12 unanswered points in the fourth quarter.
The Giants were working in a new system and it showed. The resulting 35-14 loss to the Lions now has them losing in their last four consecutive season openers. The 21 point margin on Monday was their biggest since losing 35-0 to the Cowboys in 1995.