Team Giants

NY Giants Previous News Items

Feb 22 Giants general manager Jerry Reese acknowledged that the team needs to start planning for life after 36-year-old quarterback Eli Manning. While the long-term outlook is unclear, there's no doubt that Manning will be under center for the Giants when the 2017 season opens.

A 49-year-old Monmouth County man has been sentenced to five years in prison for scamming 16 people out of $116,550 for New York Giants season tickets seat licenses.

Former Giants
Geoff Schwartz is done with the NFL. And he leaves football with just one personal disappointment: That he failed to live up to his big contract with the Giants.

NFC East News
Cowboys' cap situation bears watching for the Giants, especially because Dallas could target defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul in free agency.
Redskins and Kirk Cousins remain at an impasse, with one week left before the deadline for the franchise tag.
Eagles' Jason Peters to return at current salary. Peters' cap number is $11.7 million -- the highest among the Eagles.

Feb 20 No division won more games than the NFC East in the 2016 regular season, so it comes as no surprise that all four teams rank in the Top 10 of toughest schedules for 2017. The New York Giants, who went 11-5 last season, are tied with the New York Jets for the eighth-hardest schedule with an opponent winning percentage of .535.

Feb 19 A key aspect of New York's defensive success was the elite duo at cornerback of Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and Janoris Jenkins. Despite that resounding success, Rodgers-Cromartie could be traded during the 2017 offseason.

As the Giants search for a replacement for Victor Cruz, they would be wise to target a deep threat, because the past three seasons indicate there will be plenty of opportunities to make plays downfield.

Feb 16 It's obvious the Giants need to upgrade at the position. Edge protection of quarterback Eli Manning was a team weakness in 2016. It's not clear, however, how general manager Jerry Reese plans to attack the problem. Reese could look to add a veteran tackle in free agency next month.

Adrian Peterson can't get the Giants out of his mind. The former NFL MVP - who told ESPN a few weeks ago that if the Vikings were to release him before next season and he became a free agent he would be interested in joining the Giants - tweeted more love toward Big Blue on Wednesday.

Former Giants
Victor Cruz made it clear that he plans to continue playing after his release from the Giants on Monday. Cruz could get the opportunity to extend his career with the Broncos.

Feb 15 Who could replace Victor Cruz? The Giants cleared some cap room when they released veteran receiver Victor Cruz on Monday, but they also created a hole -- and not just in fans' hearts.
They were two of the Giants' most vocal veterans, two of the locker room leaders for a young club that needed their leadership. They were two players who taught the club how to win and how to function as a team. But Victor Cruz and Rashad Jennings were far more than that, too.

5 more potential Cap Casualties. While there aren't any huge red flags for the salary cap--especially after the recent cut--there are still some action items with an exclamation point next to them.

Feb 14 In moves not unexpected, the New York Giants have reportedly release receiver Victor Cruz and running back Rashad Jennings. The two moves made will clear $10 million in cap space.
Cruz was due to earn $6.4 million in base salary in 2017 and $7.4 million in 2018 from the Giants. The team saved $7.5 million against the 2017 salary cap by releasing him. Jennings was due $2.48 million in 2017, and the Giants will save $2.5 million in cap space with that move.
Cruz's unceremonious end should not and will not change how Giants fans remember him: as a catalyst to a championship, as an underdog who defied the odds, as a resilient competitor who disproved doubters by making a triumphant healthy return to the field in 2016.

Feb 13 What would Eli Manning have done if he was in same situation as Matt Ryan? Giants fans can only hope they find Manning standing in Ryan's position one year from now in Minneapolis having to make that decision.

Feb 12 NFL free agency opens March 9, followed by the draft April 27-29 in Philadelphia. But the Giants' offseason deliberations already are well underway on how to fill their roster's needs through both signings and selections prior to the 2017 NFL season.

Feb 9 Why the Giants could face tough road back to playoffs in 2017. Five quick, way-too-early observations about the Giants' 2017 schedule (which won't be revealed in full until the spring), as well as an early prediction of what games they will play in primetime this coming season.

Feb 7 Eli Manning, Giants remain the only kryptonite to legendary Tom Brady, Patriots. Eli Manning's stock went up just a tick Sunday night. The only quarterback to ever stop him? That's still Eli Manning. Who did it twice.

If the Giants want to take the next step in 2017, I think they need to upgrade their play at the tight end position. It starts with the blocking where there were far too many times this year that poor blocking by the tight end would often short circuit running plays that would otherwise be successful.

Feb 6 Special Report - The Atlanta Falcons held a 28-3 lead over the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LI with 8:37 left in the third quarter. Big deal."The Patriots have been through a lot this year, said quarterback Tom Brady, who for the fifth time in his seven Super Bowls was named the game's Most Valuable Player. With 3:52 left in the overtime, Brady capped a 75-yard drive by tossing the ball to running back James White, who took it over for a two-yard dagger in the hearts of the Falcons.
For Giant fans, of course, Eli Manning remains the only quarterback to defeat Brady and the Patriots in the Super Bowl -- and he did it twice. Head coach Bill Belichick, who was once told by former Giant general manager George Young that "you're not ready to be a head coach in this league," won his fifth Super Bowl.

Feb 5 Eli Manning was named co-winner of the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year at Saturday night's NFL Honors awards show, the first Giant to win it in the 47-year history of the award. He shared the honor with Larry Fitzgerald of the Cardinals.
Manning said, "I told Larry earlier this week the last time we were up for an award together was the 2003 Heisman Trophy, and it did not go well for either of us that night. And to come back 13 years later and to be up for an award and for both of us to win it is very special."

Feb 3 If Eli Manning wants another chance at Super Bowl, Giants first need Odell Beckham Jr. to grow up. Eli Manning is at the Super Bowl making appearances. He wants to be in Minneapolis next year playing in the game. Matt Ryan is in the Super Bowl, in large part because he and Julio Jones have become the most explosive passing combination in the league.Jones is not a diva receiver. Eli Manning said there is no "secret formula" to beating the Patriots in the Super Bowl. And if there was one, he probably didn't follow it, anyway. "It's not, be down by two or be down by four with two minutes to go," Manning said Friday of the situations he found himself in during his two Super Bowl appearances against New England.

Janoris Jenkins: Bring back Jason Pierre-Paul and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie. Janoris Jenkins knows he's coming back to the Giants. He just signed a huge five-year, $62.5 million contract less than a year ago. Now, though, he's on a crusade to make sure everyone else comes back too. If they can, Jenkins believes the Giants might be playing in the Super Bowl next year.

Jason Pierre-Paul has settled his lawsuit against ESPN and reporter Adam Schefter out of court. Pierre-Paul was suing Schefter and ESPN for publishing an image of his medical records in July of 2015 when Schefter reported Pierre-Paul's right index finger had been amputated after his hand was severely damaged in a fireworks accident.

Feb 2 Special Report - There is an ageless proverb credited to the French that says: "The more things change, the more they stay the same." The guy who coined that never thought it would apply to the Super Bowl, a more recent (in the timeline of history) event created by the NFL. But it is perfectly true and fulfills all the implicit definitions. Sunday you will have the opportunity to view the 51st renewal of this game, which pits the champions of the two conferences, AFC and NFC, against each other for the mythical pro football world championship.
There are only three of us in the media world who have covered all 50 games, and all are here for their 51st. Two of them are semi- or almost fully retired, but your correspondent transferred via early retirement from The (Newark, N.J.) Star-Ledger to E-GIANTS and never broke the string. The other two return from their retirement homes out west to scribble a few columns each year, but they are guaranteed a presence at each Super Bowl.

Former Giants
Josh Brown reiterates his admission that he physically abused his now ex-wife in an interview with "Good Morning America". Brown also, for the second time, chose to claim that he never hit his wife, Molloy, even though doesn't dispute that he was violent with her.

Jan 31 It has only been five years since the Giants last played in (and won) a Super Bowl, even though to some it feels like a lot longer than that. The drought since then included three losing seasons and not a single playoff berth until they finally returned this year.

Rashad Jennings is an obvious candidate to be a Giants salary cap casualty this offseason, but the veteran running back remains confident he will return for a fourth season with the team. Veteran Shane Vereen is also under contract for 2017 (although he could also be a cut candidate.

Victor Cruz showed the first signs of regret from any of the Giants wide receivers involved in the now-infamous trip to Miami before their playoff game earlier this month.
Cruz said on the "Timeout with Taylor Rooks" podcast. "At the end of the day, you want to put your mind in a place where you want to succeed at whatever your next task is."
Although the players vehemently denied after the loss that the Miami trip had any effect on their performance or the outcome of the game six days later, it still was an easy target for critics.

NFL News
Super Bowl LI: Matt Ryan focusing on Eli Manning's advice.

Jan 30 The Pro Bowl was a success for the Giants for 1 reason. No one got hurt. That's really all you need to know about the four Giants who participated in Sunday night's Pro Bowl in Orlando, Fla.
In an all-star game filled with forced punts, goal-line stands and busted trick plays, the NFC, which featured four Giants players, fell to the AFC, 20-13, on Sunday night at Camping World Stadium.

Former Giants
Members of Giants' 1986 Super Bowl share glory and pain of football 30 years later.

Jan 29 The NFL's most ridiculous man is the one Giants let get away. Martellus Bennett spent his first four NFL years with the Cowboys, serving as an understudy to Jason Witten, and he had come to the Giants to flex his football muscles.

Jan 27 Odell Beckham catches everything when it doesn't matter. ESPN reported Beckham has looked loose and relaxed throughout Pro Bowl week.    |   Photos
The Giants' star receiver showed off his catching skills and won the first ever drone drop event at the 2017 Pro Bowl in Orlando on Thursday.
Beckham was also part of the NFC's victorious dodgeball team. The NFC also defeated the AFC in the overall team skills competition.

Free agency is over a month away, but it's becoming clear the Giants will likely be challenged to retain Jason Pierre-Paul.

Jan 26 Falcons need to look at Giants for blueprint to beat Tom Brady and Patriots. Eli Manning and the Giants would have been the Patriots' nightmare opponent in Super Bowl LI.

Jason Pierre-Paul wants $85 million, and fans to stop the 'BS'. Pierre-Paul apparently wasn't happy that some Giants fans thought the team shouldn't sign the veteran defensive end to a big deal.

Jan 22 Giants, forget the success of Ezekiel Elliott ... and don't pick a running back in first round of NFL Draft. In Sunday afternoon's NFC title game, we'll watch the Green Bay Packers trot out a converted wide receiver, Ty Montgomery, at running back, while the Atlanta Falcons rely on 2014 fourth-round pick Devonta Freeman and 2015 third-rounder Tevin Coleman.

Former Giants
Tom Coughlin situation in Jacksonville is 'screwed up'. Not everyone is encouraged about the homecoming.

Jan 20 Adrian Peterson makes pitch to sign with Giants. The Giants' struggling ground game could be a thing of the past.
He said he has "five strong years" left and hinted at other teams he'd like to play for if Minnesota decides to cut him loose - one of which is the Giants.
But dig deeper, and you'll see Peterson isn't the right fit with the Giants. Start with his age and his health. He turns 32 in March, a time when most running backs have retired or are close to being done.

Jan 19 The Giants have to grapple with many questions regarding their disappointing offense over the next few months. A less obvious one: What to make of the fact their leading receiver in the final two weeks of the season was inactive the previous six games?

Ben McAdoo at 39 years old took a Giants organization that had floundered for four years missing the postseason and turned Big Blue into a confident, 11-win playoff qualifier. The arrow has to point up on McAdoo's hiring for now given those facts alone.

Ben McAdoo needs to take a page from Mike Tomlin's playbook and learn how to punish his players. Ben McAdoo, make some room on that giant diner menu of yours for a few notes, because it's time to learn the lesson that Tom Coughlin forgot to teach you.

Odell Beckham Jr. failed to leave a mark on Lambeau Field, so he left one underneath it. The already-infamous hole in the wall in the bowels of Lambeau caused by a Beckham punch following the Giants' 38-13 playoff loss to the Packers on Jan. 8 has been repaired, according to ESPN.

The Giants wide receivers weren't the only ones invited to Miami for the infamous boat trip with Trey Songz and Justin Bieber. The defensive backs were, too, according to safety Landon Collins. But they opted to pass.
That doesn't mean the defensive backs were choir boys necessarily, though. Asked what the secondary did on their off day instead, Collins said, "I can't say on the air." Collins said he didn't mind the receivers flying down to Miami and partying with the Biebs until at least 6 a.m.

Jan 18 Special Report - While four teams get ready to play for Super Bowl invitations on Sunday (two will get letters in the mail, two others will be nothing but good wishes), the Giants are taking all the time they need to figure out what went wrong and how to fix it. Problem is, they don't know what went wrong, because it started to go wrong prior to the beginning of the 2016 season.
No, this doesn't have anything to do with the replacing of head coach Tom Coughlin with Ben McAdoo. In the mind of co-owner John Mara, it was time to make that move. Coughlin, despite the two Super Bowl championships and a 110-93 overall regular season record, had put together four consecutive non-playoff seasons and his final two years were identical 6-10 twins.

Jan 17 2016 Season in Review - First thing's first. Beckham is still the most dynamic play maker on the Giants and it's not even close.
Odell Beckham's no-show performance vs. Packers is magnified as other star WRs shine in the playoffs.

Jan 15 A look at the 2017 slate of opponents, first previewing the most intriguing non-divisional games and then breaking down the state of the NFC East. The Giants have no shortage of long plane rides in 2017, playing at Oakland, Arizona, Denver, and San Francisco.

NYC mayor Bill de Blasio sent supplies to fix Lambeau Stadium wall. De Blasio sent drywall, plaster and a trowel to Green Bay Mayor Jim Schmitt to repair the hole that was caused when Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. reportedly punched the wall.

Leon Hall isn't going to lose any of his playoff share. The Giants safety has not been fined for a hit on Packers wide receiver Jordy Nelson in last Sunday's Wild-Card round game.

Former Giants
Tom Coughlin is getting the band back together. Two former Giants assistants, Perry Fewell and Pat Flaherty, will be joining the coaching staff with the Jaguars.

Jan 14 NFL Playoffs
Steelers-Chiefs start time changed due to forecast. Weather has affected Sunday's slate of NFL Divisional Round games.

Jan 13 Jerry Reese hit the jackpot with his well-documented spending spree last offseason, but the Giants' coffers aren't empty and the GM can go shopping again this March if he wants.

Eli Manning buys $8.5M home in Quogue. There's a two-time Super Bowl MVP moving into the neighborhood. Eli Manning recently purchased a house in Quogue for $8.5 million.

The Giants signed four more free agents on Thursday, including a Trenton, N.J., native, a 2011 second-round pick and a recent Jets practice squadder.

Former Giants
Tom Coughlin is back. The former Giants head coach was introduced as the Jaguars' executive vice president of football operations on Thursday.
Tom Coughlin said he always saw himself more in the front office than in the trenches. "I think this is the role I really anticipated and wanted at this point in my career."

NFC East News
Cowboys - 5 reasons Ezekiel Elliott, Dak Prescott and Dallas Cowboys will beat the Packers.
Cowboys - Aaron Rodgers among 5 reasons Green Bay Packers will beat Dallas Cowboys.
Redskins suddenly need another coordinator. It likely will be an inside job, according to a source.
Eagles - Will NFL do right thing with Eagles' unique schedule situation?

Jan 12 Ben McAdoo looking for answers to fix Giants' offense. The Giants brought back most of the same offensive personnel - they even added pieces with Sterling Shepard, the return of Victor Cruz, and rookie running back Paul Perkins - yet stumbled throughout the entire season.

How does Giants' Victor Cruz stack up to other No. 3 receivers? Cruz finished the regular season with 39 catches for 586 yards and one touchdown. That ranked Cruz seventh in catches, fourth in yards and tied for ninth in touchdowns among the No. 3 receivers from the 12 playoff teams.

Odell Beckham knows he has a problem: close Giants friend. Beckham had a miserable game - he nearly dropped as many passes (three) as he caught (four, for just 28 yards) and punctuated his frustration by punching a hole in a wall outside the visiting-team locker room at Lambeau Field.

Keep JPP? Rework Odell's deal? Now comes hard part for Giants. The salary cap is expected to expand to around $155 million. The Giants, at the moment, are projected to be about $32 million under the cap - around the middle of the pack in the league.

Can the Giants afford to bring Johnathan Hankins back? Should they? The Giants had one of the best defensive lines in the NFL this season. Finances will make it a challenge to repeat that next season.

Rashad Jennings got his first taste of the playoffs Sunday, and he said he believes the Giants have the pieces to get back there next season. Jennings is slated to earn slightly more than $3 million next season, so the Giants will have a decision to make.

Games to circle on the Giants' 2017 schedule. With that in mind and the Giants holding the 23rd pick in the draft, Giants.com has taken a look at the 2017 slate of opponents, first previewing the most intriguing non-divisional games and then breaking down the state of the NFC East.

Former Giants
Josh Brown to pay ex-wife $15K per month in spousal support in divorce deal finalized on Dec. 28.

Jan 11 A day after GM Jerry Reese indicated he wants Odell Beckham Jr. to grow up, teammate Victor Cruz said he wasn't worried about his fellow wideout but does think Beckham's tantrums could hold the receiver back.
Cruz spoke about him lifting other players' spirits in the locker room, whether they are going through on- or off-field issues. The rest of the world, though, sees only the amazing catches and the angry outbursts.

Victor Cruz "absolutely" wants to return to the Giants. The Giants' brass doesn't seem as enthusiastic. Cruz has two years remaining on the five-year, $43 million extension he signed in 2013. But is due $7.4 million next season, so the only way he'll return is he takes another pay cut.

Jerry Reese has never had to worry about the high-stakes world of finding a franchise quarterback. Eli Manning was there when he took over as Giants general manager in 2007, and Manning is still there now, with two Super Bowl titles in-between.
Reese acknowledged that with Manning now 36 years old, the Giants have begun thinking about the successor at starting quarterback. Even if his decline continues in 2017, the Giants are slated to pay Manning over $22 million in 2018.

Former Giants
Rueben Randle signed a futures/reserve contract with the Chicago Bears Tuesday.

Jan 10 Fans may think the Giants played like trash in Green Bay, but the team says it didn't trash their return flight home.
The Giants took out their frustrations at blowing their first shot at the Super Bowl in five years by trashing the jumbo jet that carried them home - leaving it reeking of booze and forcing a major clean-up at Newark Airport.

Jerry Reese tells Odell Beckham it's time to grow up. That was the message that Giants general manager Jerry Reese had for Odell Beckham Jr. as the talented and tumultuous wide receiver heads into the offseason.
Eli Manning on Odell Beckham Jr.: 'You do things, you've got to back it up'. Simply put, Beckham didn't do that against the Packers. The star wideout was awful in the Giants' playoff-eliminating loss. He managed just four catches for 28 yards, despite Manning targeting him 11 times.
Packer on Giants' Odell Beckham Jr.: 'Maybe the stage is too big for him'. How could a player so good and so explosive only post 28 yards receiving against a Packers secondary missing key players?

Giants GM Jerry Reese speaks out on Odell Beckham, Ereck Flowers, Eli Manning. On Day 1 of the Giants' offseason, general manager Jerry Reese could not have been more forceful and thought-provoking on three salient issues. Reese addressed the team's most pressing areas with language that couldn't have been clearer.
The Giants still believe Ereck Flowers has a future with them. They just are not sure where that is any longer. After a shaky second season as the starting left tackle by the former first-round pick, Jerry Reese admitted Monday that Flowers might better serve the Giants at right tackle.

Jason Pierre-Paul is ready for a massive payday. The pending free agent said Monday he will sign a multi-year deal this offseason and hopes to return to the Giants, but his decision will be based on what's best for his family.
Jason Pierre-Paul says he won't sign one-year deal. Jason Pierre-Paul believes he did enough on the field this season to command a long-term contract. Now the defensive end will discover if the Giants feel the same way.

Former Giants
Tom Coughlin, who twice took the Jaguars to the AFC Championship Game as their first coach and led the Giants to two Super Bowl championships in 12 seasons, is back in Jacksonville.
Tom Coughlin seemed uncertain when he spoke to people close to him in recent weeks. What did he really want at age 70? To coach an NFL team again? To be an executive?

Jan 9 Giants lose to the Packers 38-13 | Video | Photos | Photos

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On The Game: Game 17
Gamegirl ---"Things were going so well. The Giants weren't putting up a lot of points, but they were controlling the game. I really thought it would be one of those low scoring ones that they would win, but then things came crashing down..."
Mikefan. ---"You've seen it before, a season where the Giants were unstoppable. Well, this year it looks like Green Bay is on a mission to go all the way..."

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ESPN - Rodgers works Hail Mary magic, Packers beat Giants 38-13.
Giants.com - Instant Analysis: Packers 38, Giants 13.
NYDailyNews - Giants defense, a season strength, couldn't handle Packers.
NYDailyNews - Giants boat memes hit social media after 38-13 loss to Packers.
NYDailyNews - Odell Beckham, Sterling Shepard cost Giants with early drops.
NYDailyNews - Giants can't stop Aaron Rodgers and Packers, lose 38-13.
NYDailyNews - Odell Beckham and Giants waste another year for Eli Manning.
NYPost - Did Giants screw up Hail Mary? Depends which defender you ask.
NYPost - Ben McAdoo ends strong year with 2 contentious calls.
NYPost - Giants' Rodgers-Cromartie is feeling so many types of pain.
NYPost - How Giants were doomed by Packers' eerie, karmic revenge.
NYPost - This is what enraged Odell Beckham did to a Packers wall.
NYPost - Odell Beckham grabbed the boat spotlight - then disappeared.
NYPost - Odell Beckham a sobbing mess as Giants crash out of playoffs.
NYPost - Giants in tears, feeling empty after falling short of goal.
NYPost - Giants report card: The apt end for disastrous offense.
NYPost - Victor Cruz would be crushed if this is the end.
NYPost - One bad choice highlighted Bobby Rainey's horrible day.
StarLedger - Giants' season comes to crashing end with blowout playoff loss to Packers.
StarLedger - Insult to injury: Giants' Eli Manning subjected to drug test after loss.
StarLedger - Odell Beckham Jr. was bad, but don't blame Bieber and the boat trip.
StarLedger - Giants' biggest stars come up small in 38-13 playoff loss to Packers.
StarLedger - Giants' Odell Beckham Jr. again shows troubling immaturity with wall punch.
TheRecord - Inside Giants-Packers: What went wrong for Big Blue.
TheRecord - Giants notes: Special teams not so special.
TheRecord - Giants' season ends in a blink in 38-13 loss to Packers.
InsideFootball - Instant Analysis: Giants Fall to Packers, 38-13.
BigBlueInteractive - Green Bay Packers 38 - New York Giants 13.
Newsday - Florida trip didn't make Beckham play poorly.
Newsday - Giants Q&A: DRC's absence hurt secondary.
Newsday - Rodgers' 4 TD passes knock out Giants.
Newsday - Rodgers vs. Giants' defense: No contest.
Newsday - Giants have no answers for Rodgers' Hail Mary TD pass.
Newsday - Giants' grades: Special teams gets F.
Newsday - Eli Manning's chances at a third Super Bowl ring running out.
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel - After sluggish start, Rodgers dazzles again.
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel - Packers' Gunter stands tall against Beckham.

Giants (11-5) vs Packers (10-6) Game Preview
The Packers won their Sunday night game with the Detroit Lions 31-24. Both teams knew going in they would be in the playoffs, but the division title and home field advantage was on the line.
The Giants finished up with an 11-5 record. They fought hard for a win in their last game of the season with the Redskins 19-10, even though the results would have no impact on their playoff standing.
Giants - Redskins Wrap-Up

Jan 8 Ben McAdoo has won over the Giants by being one of them. Vince Lombardi could be growling at him from across the field and Ben McAdoo wouldn't blink. The Russians could have jammed his walkie talkie and Ben McAdoo wouldn't have flinched. McAdoo's going home - to pals who miss him and want to crush him. Ben McAdoo won't be your ordinary visiting NFL head coach Sunday. Not here, at least, and still not yet.

The Giants' and Packers' Sunday afternoon Wild Card showdown at Lambeau Field will be a matchup of Best-on-Best: The Giants' defense, one of the league's top shutdown units, against Aaron Rodgers, the quarterback playing at the highest level right now.

Giants believe Playoff Eli will be be superhero against Packers. They have heard he is not the same quarterback, not at 36. They know he has trouble putting 20 points on the scoreboard, and yet the memory of how this quarterback left Brett Favre frozen in despair nine years ago, then discount double-checked Rodgers five years ago haunts them.

Robbie Gould not worried if Giants-Packers comes down to late kick. Gould, who is in his 12th NFL season but first with the Giants, spent more than a decade as the Bears kicker. Twice a year, every year, he'd kick against the Packers. One of those matchups would be in Lambeau.

Pressure's on Odell Beckham to sink or swim in Green Bay If OBJ doesn't come up with a couple of explosive plays, if he drops an important pass, if he gets a personal foul, if he goes all Josh Norman mode on the Packers, it's going to be blamed on the Miami trip.
Immediately after helping the Giants to their 11th win last Sunday, Beckham flew to Miami, partied into the wee hours with Justin Bieber at a nightclub, partied some more on a yacht in Biscayne Bay and returned home in time for Tuesday's team meetings.

Former Giants
Hakeem Nicks' epic 37-yard TD to end 1st half is forgotten gem of Super Bowl XLVI run.
Lawrence Tynes reflects after staph infection ended career.

Giants expected to make offensive line change vs. Packers. The Giants are going back to their opening day offensive line to start the second season. Veteran Marshall Newhouse is expected to start at right tackle over Bobby Hart in Sunday's NFC Wild-Card game against the Packers.

Jan 7 Aaron Rodgers does not scare Landon Collins and the Giants' defense. It's not that they don't respect Rodgers. Damon "Snacks" Harrison called him "one of the greats" on Friday.
As anyone paying attention since 1925 knows, when it comes to the Giants it almost always comes down to defense. The last time the Giants had a first-team All Pro was defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul in 2011. That also was the last season in which they won a Super Bowl.

The dream scenario for the Giants is Aaron Rodgers on the sidelines, frozen with helplessness and anxiety, watching the kid run the rock over and over and over again.
On Sunday, the Giants will likely need Paul Perkins and Rashad Jennings to provide another 1-2 punch on the ground in the NFC Wild Card Game in Lambeau Field. They're confident they will.

Eli Manning is tougher than you. He may pull odd faces and inspire unflattering memes, but while other QBs fall by the wayside the Giants' stalwart hasn't missed a start since 2004.

Before the Giants and Packers meet again in a win-or-go-home setting, a look back at the 2007 NFC Championship Game through the eyes of the players who tried not to freeze during it.

The story behind how mini-Ben McAdoo was born. A few months ago, 12-year-old Peter Costigan came home after getting a haircut. The part in his hair, usually on the side, had shifted to the middle.

Jan 6 Mission Impossible? How the Giants plan to defend Packers QB Aaron Rodgers in NFL Playoffs rematch. Limiting the damage inflicted by Aaron Rodgers must be the defense's top priority.
There are worse jobs in the world than being the guy in charge of stopping the Packers' Aaron Rodgers, who has thrown 18 touchdown passes in his past seven games without an interception. But none comes immediately to mind.

A day after Landon Collins said the team's corners started calling themselves the "NYPD" - New York Pass Defense - Green Bay players basically shrugged off the whole thing. "Well, we're in Wisconsin, so we don't have to worry about that," Packers receiver Davante Adams told ESPN.

Damon "Snacks" Harrison is turning to video games to get an upper hand on Aaron Rodgers. The Giants defensive tackle said Thursday he's been playing with the Packers on Madden this week in the lead-up to Big Blue's Wild Card round matchup in Green Bay this weekend.

To hear Bart Scott tell it, Aaron Rodgers will have his way with the Giants' defense - an overrated defense, according to Scott - and lead the Packers to an easy win in their NFC wild-card matchup on Sunday at Lambeau Field.

Rashad Jennings and rookie running back Paul Perkins combined for 39 carries for 153 yards and a touchdown in the season finale. With temperatures expected to hover around zero degrees, the running game will likely be a critical component of the Giants' game-plan.

The Giants' coaches preach offensive balance against Green Bay's defense for this Sunday's NFC wild card game, but rookie wide receiver Sterling Shepard wonders aloud if they should throw more against a depleted secondary that was ranked 31st in the league against the pass.

Former Giants
Perry Fewell out of a job again as Redskins overhaul staff. Fewell was fired Thursday by the Redskins along with defensive coordinator Joe Barry, defensive line coach Robb Akey and strength and conditioning coach Mike Clark.

Jan 5 Frozen balls, AC: Giants going all-out to prepare for Green Bay. The forecast says there should be a high of 14 and a low of 7, practically balmy compared with the minus-1 temperature the Giants and Packers experienced in the NFC Championship game on Jan. 20, 2008.
It will be cold Sunday at Lambeau Field. Not Ice Bowl cold, or even 2008 versus the Giants cold, but cold enough to advise caution to fans attending the game. The normal temperature for this time of year, which will return briefly Monday, is 25 degrees.

The Giants would not be here without Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, who, technically, is not a starting cornerback and yet Wednesday was named the NFC Defensive Player of the Week for his two-interception, one-sack performance in the 19-10 victory over the Redskins. Rodgers-Cromartie is in his ninth NFL season and is not thinking about leaving any time soon.

Five years ago Victor Cruz was the toast of Giants nation. The last time the Giants were in the playoffs, Cruz caught two passes for 28 yards in a 28-2 victory over the Falcons on Sunday, Jan. 8, 2012, the first (and still only) playoff game he ever has played at MetLife Stadium.

It's unlikely Giants' defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul will play in Sunday's Wild Card playoff game against the Packers. But Pierre-Paul made a small and encouraging step on Wednesday, when he appeared at practice for the first time since undergoing sports hernia surgery on Dec. 7.
Rookie Romeo Okwara has filled in admirably for Pierre-Paul at the left defensive end position, but JPP was a man possessed in the Giants' Week 12 win in Cleveland, making seven tackles, three sacks, forcing a fumble, and returning a 43-yard fumble for a touchdown.

Jan 4 The Giants' search for an identity is over. They are a low-scoring team with a monstrous defense and a knack for winning close games. But will that be good enough to win it all?
It's no secret that Eli had a subpar season this year, or that the Giants' offense never came close to maximizing its high-octane potential. It's something even Eli himself has publicly conceded.

The Giants are coming off their best rushing game of the season, 166 yards in their regular season finale, a 19-10 victory over Washington.
Rashad Jennings, the starter for most of this season other than the games he missed with injury, was the second running back used in Washington last Sunday. He could not have cared less.

For one very obvious pregnant pause, it seemed as if Eli Manning was about to take his teammates to task for their impromptu visit to Miami. It sounded as if he was ready to express an opinion diametrically opposed to what his coach said a day earlier.
The wide receivers have taken some criticism for flying to Miami Sunday night and hitting the club until at least 6 a.m., risking an encounter with Justin Bieber, before hopping on a boat with Trey Songz on Monday, six days before the team's wild-card game against the Packers.

Jan 3 No opposing head coach is as familiar with Aaron Rodgers as Ben McAdoo is, but the Giants coach says he doesn't have a secret formula to stop the star quarterback. "I don't have any kryptonite," McAdoo said Monday.
Manning has a reputation for being able to perform well in playoff games. Hey, it's been almost eight full calendar years since he's lost one! While the Giants players and coaches who were here in '07 and '11 recognize that, Ben McAdoo has a slightly different perspective.
McAdoo was on the wrong end of Manning's 37-20 victory over the defending Super Bowl champion Packers in the 2011 divisional round in Green Bay, but he would prefer not to ask the 2016 Manning to fight fire with fire against Rodgers.

The Giants' search for an identity is over. They are a low-scoring team with a monstrous defense and a knack for winning close games. But will that be good enough to win it all?
As confident as every Patriots fan you know is, as grand as their swagger might be, offer them a shot of sodium pentothal alongside this question: Would you like taking a third shot at the Giants this time around? Still, that's a long ways off.

Jan 2 Giants win over the Redsdkins 19-10 | Video | Photos | Photos

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On The Game: Game 16
Gamegirl ---"The Giants defense had 3 sacks in the first half and had held the Redskins to zero points. I guess that factored into Ben McAdoo's decision to go for a 4th-and-2 at the Washington 16 yard line on the Giants opening drive in the 3rd quarter..."
Mikefan. ---"Who would have thought, as this long season moved along, at the very end the strength of the Giants offense would be with their running game? All year Eli Manning has had his three healthy talented receivers at his disposal, and today he threw for only 180 yards and no touchdowns..."

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ESPN - Redskins lose to Giants 19-10, blow chance to make playoffs.
Giants.com - Instant Analysis: Giants 19, Redskins 10.
NYDailyNews - Giants crush Washington's playoff dreams with 19-10 win.
NYDailyNews - Josh Norman unable to bait Giants' Odell Beckham in first half.
NYDailyNews - Paul Perkins provides Giant boost to running game before playoffs .
NYPost - Giants rip Redskins' heart out in game that meant nothing.
NYPost - The reality behind Giants history shows how special this year is.
NYPost - Giants report card: Ben McAdoo pulled every right string.
NYPost - The moment Giants afterthought has waited for doomed the Redskins.
NYPost - How Josh Norman proved Odell Beckham's ready for playoffs.
NYPost - Paul Perkins has made his case that he should be starter.
NYPost - Which is the real Ben McAdoo?
StarLedger - Giants' offense still a concern entering playoffs.
StarLedger - Paul Perkins is the team's most important player this postseason.
StarLedger - Janoris Jenkins 'sore' after leaving win over Redskins.
StarLedger - Giants to face Packers in Wild Card round.
TheRecord - Giants knock Redskins out, playoffs next.
TheRecord - Beckham, all grown up and playoff-ready.
InsideFootball - What we've learned from the 19-10 win over Washington.
BigBlueInteractive - New York Giants 19 - Washington Redskins 10.
Newsday - Meaningless? Not for Giants, who KO Redskins.
Newsday - Perkins tops 100 yards in first NFL start.
Newsday - Odell Beckham focused on Giants' playoff run.
Newsday - Giants grades: Team is coming together for playoffs.
Newsday - Glauber: Defense will decide how far Giants go.
Newsday - Giants Q&A: McAdoo played his starters; it worked out fine.
WashingtonPost - Josh Norman wasn't happy with latest penalties during rematch with Odell Beckham Jr.
WashingtonPost - Kirk Cousins sidesteps question about staying in Washington..

Giants (10-5) vs Redskins (8-6-1) Game Preview
The Washington Redskins notched another win last Saturday in Chicago. That 41-21 victory kept them on pace for a possible playoff spot.
The Giants could have qualified for the playoffs last week with a Thursday night win in Philadelphia. A 24-19 loss kept that from happening until other teams playing on the weekend gave them that opportunity.
Giants - Eagles Wrap-Up

Jan 1 The secret to Eli Manning's playoff success during his championship runs is not really a secret. There are no drastic differences between Manning's regular season and postseason numbers in almost every relevant statistical measure - except for interceptions, particularly away from the Meadowlands.

Josh Johnson has not thrown a pass in an NFL game since 2011, back when he was with the Buccaneers. His right arm might get dusted off on Sunday, though, if Ben McAdoo decides to pull Eli Manning from the game with the Redskins before the finish.

About all the Giants have left to prove this season is that they can score, and this is their last chance to do so in the regular season. That undoubtedly plays into Ben McAdoo's decision to play his starters and build some momentum in a game in which he could easily and without argument rest them for next weekend's much more important wild-card game.

Brad Wing on living with Odell Beckham, beating the odds - "You just think of the strict numbers - there's 32 jobs in the world for the job that I've been going for for the last six years. The American population is up there, and then you add the Australian population, too, so for me to kind of work my way up through college and then to finally grasp one of those 32 jobs..."

The Giants tuned in on Christmas Eve to see the New Orleans Saints beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and clinch Big Blue's first playoff berth in five years. And on Sunday night there is again a good chance Ben McAdoo's players will be glued to their smartphones on the return trip from outside Washington D.C.

Dec 31 Victor Cruz does not need to be told stories about the legend of "Postseason Eli." The Giants' veteran wide receiver is one of the few on the current roster who has lived it.
Eli Manning is mentioned often these days as one of the Giants' liabilities approaching the NFL playoffs due to his shortcomings this season, despite his two-time Super Bowl-winning pedigree.

Ben McAdoo hasn't changed his mind. On Friday he said the same thing he said on Wednesday. He's bringing the Giants to Washington this weekend to win the game.
Janoris Jenkins could be game-time decision vs. Redskins. With Jenkins' status still up in the air, it seems like holding the Pro Bowler out until next week for the playoffs would be a prudent move.

Sterling Shepard has been everything the Giants hoped for - and then some. Shepard enters the finale of his first NFL regular season Sunday in Washington with coach Ben McAdoo raving publicly about him. And that never happens.
Before Shepard ever stepped onto the field, Odell Beckham Jr. was touting him as the next great receiver. He tweeted him (or was it tweaked him?) with a simple number - "1,306" - to signify how many receiving yards he wanted Shepard to have in 2016 to break his own NFL rookie record.

His first NFL game could have been his last. Andrew Adams is aware of how tenuous a football life can be and is living proof what does not get you fired can make you stronger.
Brett Jones has won the Grey Cup. Jones, the Giants' reserve interior offensive lineman, hopes to join a select group of players who have won championships in the CFL and NFL this season.

Dec 30 Special Report - All right, let's file some things under facts we know for sure ... First of all, we know that Giants' head coach Ben McAdoo is going to play his regulars Sunday in Washington, regardless of the fact that his team is cemented in the No. 5 seed (first wild card) and the result of the game won't make any difference.
What we don't know is how long he'll play them - will it depend on the score, on the tenor of the game, on the ferocity which with it's being played? He knows that his regulars are going to be even more important the next week, the first round of the playoffs.

The Giants broke from their typical practice routine on Thursday. After stretching, players usually break up by position groups for drills. But on Thursday, the players were summoned to midfield where captain Jonathan Casillas delivered an impassioned speech.
It was the moment when the regular-season ended and the postseason began for the Giants. Technically that happens on Sunday in Washington after the Giants finish their 16th game on the schedule. But Casillas made sure everyone understood how important this game is to their future, that preparations for the wild-card round - and possibly beyond - cannot be crammed into the space of one week.

Dec 29 They're playing to win the game. Giants coach Ben McAdoo left no doubt Wednesday, adamantly declaring his team will go all out Sunday in Washington and play to beat the Redskins.
Ben McAdoo channeled his inner Herm Edwards Wednesday, saying he will play to win the game on Sunday even though the contest against Washington means nothing.
At no point, however, did McAdoo say that his starters would play the entire game. He was especially vague when it came to questions about quarterback Eli Manning, who has thrown the ball 91 times in his last two games.

Former Giants
Tom Coughlin interviews with Jaguars for head coaching job. Coughlin was the first coach and general manager of the expansion Jaguars beginning in 1995 at age 49.

Dec 28 Giants starters waiting to hear from Ben McAdoo if they're playing vs. Washington. For now, the players are operating under the assumption that it will be a full go against Washington.

Giants describe how they learned of clinching a playoff berth. Victor Cruz was in a restaurant on Christmas Eve when he found out the Giants made the playoffs.
The Giants, who clinched their postseason berth when the Saints beat the Bucs on Saturday, will return to the playoffs for the first time since their last Super Bowl victory over the Patriots.

The sweetest sound of Rashad Jennings' NFL career was his phone "blowing up with calls and texts" on Saturday. That sound signified the Giants had made the playoffs.
For the first time in his career, Jennings is going to the playoffs. The eight-year veteran has never been there - never even been on a winning team until this season.

Dec 27 Eli Manning must play better for Giants to make another Super Bowl run. The Giants have to hope Manning can rediscover that playoff magic because he hasn't looked Super Bowl-caliber during the first 15 games of this season.
Even though the Giants' game in Washington is meaningless on Sunday with a wild card game on the horizon, Manning doesn't want to rest. But while he wants to play, Manning said he'll do as he's told.

Ben McAdoo has no good reason to play Eli Manning, Odell Beckham and other Giants starters vs. Washington Have a seat, guys. This is not 2007; the Giants are not playing an undefeated team and Manning is now almost 36 years old.
Tom Coughlin allowed Manning to use the last 2007 regular-season game against the Patriots as a springboard to glory and the greatest quarterback in New York Football Giants history doesn't want to rest against the Redskins on New Year's Day.

It could be the Packers, Seahawks, Falcons or Lions awaiting the Giants in the first round of the playoffs. All that is certain is the Giants are the No. 5 seed in the NFC and will be on the road.
Their opponent is yet to be determined, but here is a look at the four possible opponents and the scenarios involving each.

Dec 26 The Giants' regular season finale at the Redskins on New Year's Day in Landover, Md., has been moved to a 4:25 p.m. Eastern kickoff, the NFL announced Sunday.
Giants should sit Eli Manning and other starters this week. This is not 2007; the Giants are not playing an undefeated team and Manning is now almost 36 years old.

Ben McAdoo's faith in Steve Spagnuolo pays off for Giants. A pair of games nearly a decade ago has indirectly had a profound impact on the Giants' current run.
In the 2007 season, the Giants won a championship as a wild card. In 2011, they got in with a win in the final regular-season game, only their ninth victory. Then they won the Super Bowl.
Their defense will keep them in games. But they are a flawed team, averaging 15 points in their past four games. That will get you ousted from the playoffs in a heartbeat.
There looks like there's a crack in the Giants' defense, and it's coming at exactly the wrong time if they hope to get very far in the playoffs.

Dec 25 Giants clinch first playoff berth in five years with Bucs loss. What a Merry Christmas indeed for the Giants. Big Blue's coaches and players will wake up on Sunday morning with a playoff berth resting under their trees on Christmas Day.
Giants finally earn another shot at snagging fifth Super Bowl title. Back in the playoffs after four years out of them that seemed like fourscore and seven years ago to a franchise and fan base with great expectations.
Saturday's 31-24 victory by the New Orleans Saints over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers punched the Giants' ticket to the playoffs as one of two NFC wild-card teams - the fifth seed when the NFL postseason opens on the weekend of Jan. 7-8.
Eli Manning grew up in New Orleans rooting for the Saints. And unlike most of his childhood, the Saints did not disappoint him. If the Bucs had won, the Giants would have needed the Cowboys to beat the Lions on Monday night to clinch a wild card in Week 16.

Former Giants
Tom Coughlin is heading back to Jacksonville...for an interview, at the very least. The former Giants coach will reportedly interview for the Jaguars' head coaching job.
Tom Coughlin is a candidate for the head-coaching job in Jacksonville but could wind up being part of the front office as a "football czar" or some other title.

Dec 24 The Giants - even after Thursday night's huge letdown loss to the Eagles in Philadelphia - are projected to have a 99 percent chance to make the playoffs. So, for the morose and the curious, what about that remaining 1 percent?
The Giants still are in control of their own path to the playoffs. For now, though, they will be spectators to it. The Giants will have four games to watch in three different time slots on Saturday and Monday night, any of which could clinch for them a first postseason berth since 2011.

A common complaint from fans is this: We care more than the players do. You do not care more than Odell Beckham Jr. does.
Say what you will about Beckham, but do not say he is not passionate about winning for its own sake. He is fiercely competitive and will give you everything he's got in every game.

The Giants had meetings scheduled for Saturday morning and the players then will have a few days off. They'll return to practice on Tuesday. "I think it's important that they get away from it a little bit, refresh their minds and think about the type of football they want to play moving forward," Ben McAdoo said.

It's good to be on Olivier Vernon's Christmas shopping list! The Giants defensive end gave every one of his teammates and coaches, as well as other members of the organization, a personalized bottle of Louis XIII Cognac, according to multiple sources.

Ben McAdoo has no excuses for Walkieleaks. The Giants' head coach said Friday he takes full responsibility for his illegal use of a walkie-talkie during the team's 10-7 win over the Cowboys on Dec. 11, and will pay the $50,000 fine the NFL hit him with as a result.

Dec 23 Giants lose to the Eagles 24-19  | Video  |  Photos  |  Photos

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On The Game: Game 15
Gamegirl ---"I wasn't expecting that the Giants would be down 14-0 in the first quarter. They went nowhere on their first possession, and then Eli Manning threw an interception on the second..."
Mikefan. ---"The Giants had an opportunity to clinch a first postseason berth for the first time in five years. It can still happen this weekend depending on how other teams win or lose in their games..."

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ESPN - Eagles prevent Giants from clinching playoff spot, 24-19.
Giants.com - Instant Analysis: Eagles 24, Giants 19.
NYDailyNews - Eli Manning throws three interceptions, Giants fail to clinch playoff spot.
NYDailyNews - Odell Beckham and Giants beat themselves up after loss to Eagles.
NYDailyNews - Some Giants puzzled over questionable calls in loss to Eagles.
NYPost - Giants' playoff party put on hold by rival Eagles.
NYPost - Two questionable calls - and one no-call - doom Giants.
NYPost - How the Eagles knew they could manhandle Giants receivers.
NYPost - Eli Manning no longer a master at the fourth-quarter comeback.
NYPost - Giants report card: Ben McAdoo's offense sputters again.
NYPost - Beckham knocks head against wall after Giants heartbreaker.
NYPost - Odell Beckham rues the one key play he couldn't make.
NYPost - Breathe easy Giants fans, playoff cushion remains.
NYPost - Victor Cruz gets 'emotional' closure from horrific injury.
StarLedger - Giants blow chance to clinch playoff berth, lose to lowly Eagles
StarLedger - Here's how Giants can still clinch playoff berth after loss to Eagles.
StarLedger - Giants 5 observations: Eli Manning can't make fourth-quarter magic in a big game.
StarLedger - Eagles rallied around preventing Giants from clinching playoff berth.
TheRecord - Giants can't seal playoff fate, fall in Philly.
InsideFootball - Giants Fall to Philly, Fail to Clinch Playoff Berth.
BigBlueInteractive - Philadelphia Eagles 24 - New York Giants 19.
Newsday - Eli Manning, Giants can't take advantage of win-and-in scenario.
Newsday - Will Tye lacks that get-up-and-go-get-it.
Newsday - Victor Cruz revisits the spot where he injured his knee.
Newsday - Giants fall to Eagles; playoff berth still possible.
CourierTimes - First Take: Eagles 24, Giants 19.
NJ.com - Carson Wentz plays like a franchise quarterback in Eagles win over Giants.

Giants (10-4) vs Eagles (5-9) Game Preview
Last week the Eagles lost a close one to the Baltimore Ravens when they decided to go for a two point conversion on the last play of the game. They could have tied the game kicking an extra point, but when the conversion failed, they lost 27-26.
The Giants continued on their quest to the playoffs, by keeping Detroit out of the end zone. The Lions managed just two field goals, while the Giants came up with a field goal and two touchdowns to take the win 17-6.
Giants - Lions Wrap-Up

Dec 22 This is the biggest Giants game in five years. These resilient, irrepressible, battle-hardened Giants seem to understand the 5-9 Eagles will die trying to stop them. They won't be offering hot cocoa and marshmallows for the visitors when the Big Blue bus pulls up at the Linc.
It won't be easy. Division rivalry games, for the most part, aren't. The Giants' defense, which has driven the team's playoff push and been one of the best in the NFL, will again star.

If the Giants beat the 5-9 Eagles, who have lost nine of their last 11 games, they're in. But the Giants still would hold a major advantage in the wild-card chase if they lost. Thus, McAdoo's singular focus on blocking and tackling - and blocking out the what-ifs of the playoff picture.
A Giants' victory on Thursday night will qualify them for the playoffs for the first time since 2011 and they will earn no worse than the No. 1 wild-card spot. The Birds have lost five in a row and are ready to fly south for the winter.

No joke, Ben McAdoo is a fun guy. As they travel to meet the Eagles having won eight of nine, as they travel down the Turnpike carrying the league's only two wins against the mighty Cowboys on their resume, McAdoo has earned his way into the NFL's Coach of the Year discussion.

Dec 21 Wide receiver Odell Beckham, Jr., cornerback Janoris Jenkins, safety Landon Collins and special teamer Dwayne Harris were named to the NFC Pro Bowl team. Beckham will play in the game for the third time, while it's the first selection for Jenkins, Collins and Harris.

Shane Vereen's season is over, and backup QB Ryan Nassib's is too. The Giants placed both offensive players on IR Tuesday morning, ending their respective years.

Cornerback Janoris Jenkins isn't sure if he'll be able to play in Thursday's game against the Eagles. "I don't know," Jenkins said. "I'm just focused on getting better every day and just see what happens."
Jenkins, who left in the second quarter of Sunday's win after taking an inadvertent knee to the back from teammate Trevin Wade, said he is just dealing with a bruise, but he remains very sore and he hasn't tried to run yet.

Why Super Bowl contenders need to fear the Giants . The Giants have a dominating defense front to back capable of short circuiting the most high-powered offenses and they have Odell Beckham, who not only is always the best player on the field, but comes equipped with Eli Manning, who can get him the ball in the tightest windows. All of a sudden, the Giants are a team nobody is going to want to play in January - or even the first Sunday in February.

Victor Cruz out to finally ease pain where knee injury halted Giants career. Eight-hundred and two days after Victor Cruz's knee and career blew up in the back right corner of the end zone in Philadelphia, the Giants wide receiver will return to the spot it all began and seek closure.
The knee is behind him, the rare left calf injury that stole last season too. He's made it all the way back, had big catches, even scored a touchdown. Now Cruz will play at Lincoln Financial Field for the first time since the day he admits changed his career.

Left guard Justin Pugh wanted to make a clear distinction between his feelings for Philadelphia and his feelings for the city's football team. "I love the city of Philadelphia, I hate the Philadelphia Eagles," Pugh said. "That's all I've got to say about that."

The NFL fined the Giants $150,000, coach Ben McAdoo $50,000 and moved back their fourth-round pick in the 2017 draft after determining that the team illegally used walkie-talkies during the second half of a 10-7 win over the Cowboys Dec. 11 at MetLife Stadium.

Dec 20 The reminders have been relentless, from the first day Ben McAdoo gathered his Giants together: "We are here to put that fifth Super Bowl trophy in the case." And now it is no longer a pipe dream. It is no longer The Impossible Dream, it is no longer Mission Impossible. This is real now.

Shane Vereen re-injures triceps, season could be over. Vereen was expected to provide a jolt to the offense, but he had just two carries for 11 yards and three catches for 19 yards in his return from injured reserve.

A day after Janoris Jenkins was knocked out of the Giants' 17-6 win over the Lions following a hit to the back, the cornerback and Big Blue got some good news about his status.
It's unclear if Jenkins will be able to return to the lineup on Thursday as the Giants try to clinch a playoff berth. Jenkins was limited to a season-low 15 snaps on Sunday.
Jenkins conceivably could sit out the finale, too. It might be more prudent for the Giants to have him as close to full strength going into the playoffs rather than taking a risk.

Dec 19 Giants win over the Lions 17-6  | Video  |  Photos  |  Photos

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On The Game: Game 14
Gamegirl ---"It was great to see Victor Cruz make a 29 yard catch on the Giants opening drive. That put them right up to the red zone, and after Paul Perkins ran for six and eleven yards, a few plays later, Sterling Shepard caught a pass from Manning for a touchdown...."
Mikefan. ---"The defense didn't allow a single touchdown in this game. That was surprising, especially after top cornerback Janoris Jenkins took a knee to the back, and was down for a while. It looked bad, but Jenkins was able to walk off the field. He didn't return for the second half, but the defense held up..."

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ESPN - Manning's 2 TDs, Beckham one-hander lead Giants past Lions.
Giants.com - Instant Analysis: Giants 17 Lions 6.
Giants.com - What does this win mean for the Giants?
NYDailyNews - Giants defense stays dominant as Odell Beckham continues to dazzle.
NYDailyNews - Giants gaining Super edge with play from defense.
NYDailyNews - Eli Manning shows he can still make big plays when Giants need it.
NYDailyNews - Victor Cruz may have played final home game with Giants.
NYPost - Giants report card: The defense somehow reached another level.
NYPost - How a forgotten play typifies an attitude growing within Giants.
NYPost - MVP-candidate Matthew Stafford glows about Giants defense.
NYPost - Meet the 'Savages': The Giants force with a Super Bowl vision.
NYPost - Justin Pugh's sleep issue sounds worse than his Lions issue.
NYPost - Janoris Jenkins nearly gave Rodgers-Cromartie a heart attack.
NYPost - How this game explains Eli Manning's career.
StarLedger - Defense, Odell Beckham lead Giants to 17-6 win over Lions.
StarLedger - Giants 5 observations: Eli Manning's incredible throw leads to a huge December win.
StarLedger - Giants' Victor Cruz: 'I laid my life on the line on that field'.
StarLedger - Janoris Jenkins injury update: Giants hopeful about their 'Goliath' stopper.
StarLedger - Left-handed? Odell Beckham Jr. finds another way to amaze as Giants close in on playoffs.
TheRecord - With Beckham on their side, Giants never out.
TheRecord - Quick hits: Inside the Giants' 17-6 win over the Lions.
TheRecord - Cruz cherishes home finale ... just in case.
InsideFootball - Giants top Lions, 17-6; Inch closer to postseason berth.
BigBlueInteractive - New York Giants 17 - Detroit Lions 6.
Newsday - Giants' grades: Defense shines again.
Newsday - Giants lose Janoris Jenkins, but defense holds Lions to six points.
Newsday - Giants look like a playoff team in dominant win over Lions.
Newsday - Giants looking like a real Super Bowl contender.
Newsday - Giants Odell Beckham Jr. makes another highlight-reel one-handed TD catch.
DetroitNews - Lions' line takes blame for rancid rush game.
DetroitNews - Lions fumble away chance to control playoff destiny.

Giants (9-4) vs Lions (9-4) Game Preview
It was another come from behind win for the Lions in their game with the Bears last Sunday. Detroit has now won their last 5 games in a row with that 20-17 score over the Bears.
The Cowboys had lost just one game this year, and it was to the Giants in the season opener. They built up an impressive 11-1 record, but the Giants took them down again in the rematch, winning with a 10-7 score.
Giants - Cowboys Wrap-Up

Dec 18 Letting Eli Manning call the plays would have been the right move for Giants. It was Eli Manning's opportunity for a hostile takeover of the Giants play-calling and he blew it.

From the look in his eyes to the sound of his voice, you can tell this is different for Eli Manning. With a chance to reach the playoffs for the first time since his last Super Bowl run after the 2011 season, the Giants quarterback's heightened sense of awareness is obvious.

The Giants are 9-4, tied for the second-best record in the NFC, and have a 1.5-game lead on a wild card spot with three games to go. If several games break the right way this weekend while they beat the Lions at MetLife Stadium, they could clinch a playoff berth as soon as Monday night.

Once again, an exciting playoff run for the Giants rests on Eli Manning's shoulders. His numbers are down this season, but there are good reasons for that, not excuses. There has been this revolving door of offensive lineman, and there is no running game to speak of and there is no real serious threat except Odell Beckham Jr. among his receivers.

Former Giants
Damontre Moore's star-crossed NFL career may have finally bottomed out. The former Giant and current Seahawk defensive end was arrested on suspicion of driving while intoxicated and for driving with a suspended license Saturday in the Seattle area.

Dec 17 Special Report - Historically, the Giants have sunk into denial when it comes to the subject of disappointing first-round draft picks. Like now. It has become increasingly more obvious, even to the television analysts, that left offensive tackle Ereck Flowers is not improving.
His technique is not acceptable, he allows sacks and pressures, he isn't great - or even acceptable - at run-blocking, and yet the coaching staff, from the head man, Ben McAdoo, to offensive coordinator Mike Sullivan and offensive line coach Mike Solari continues to provide excuses and bubbling optimism.

Christmas is coming early for Giants offensive line coach Mike Solari. His present is the return of left guard Justin Pugh, who has missed five games with a sprained right knee.
Three different players started in Pugh's absence. Marshall Newhouse started three games, including the past two, while Adam Gettis and Brett Jones each started one game.

The Giants offense needs more than just Odell Beckham. Sure, With the running game in shambles, Big Blue needs a big boost from its secondary targets: Victor Cruz and Sterling Shepard.
There's been a lot of hand wringing over the Giants' offense this season. And that's understandable considering that through 13 games, the Giants rank 27th in the league in total offense, 30th in the league in rushing and have failed to reach 30 points in any game this season.

NFL News
When is Super Bowl 51? Date, kickoff, time, TV channel, halftime show for NFL 2017 big game.

Dec 16 Ereck Flowers' status as the Giants' starting left tackle was reaffirmed by offensive coordinator Mike Sullivan. But the embattled second-year player had no interest in discussing that.
The Giants left tackle abruptly called off a group interview at his locker when asked about his coaches supporting him as Big Blue's starter despite the struggles of the second-year pro out of Miami (Fla.), Jerry Reese's ninth-overall first-round pick in 2015.
He not only has struggled with his technique, he is also the Giants' most penalized player by far, leading the team with 12 infractions, two more than the 10 he was flagged for last year. Eight of Flowers' 2016 season infractions have been for offensive holding, and eight of his overall 12 penalties this year have contributed to stalled scoring drives.

Giants can say goodbye to Super Bowl if offense doesn't improve. If the defense is hitting its stride, then the offense is still learning how to walk. The offense has lacked consistency, beyond Odell Beckham Jr.'s insane ability to destroy defenses single-handedly.

The acquisition of Brad Wing from the Steelers for a seventh round pick is an overlooked move made by general manager Jerry Reese that is paying dividends for the Giants (9-4) as they continue their march toward a possible playoff berth.

Sterling Shepard is still getting used to plenty of things as a rookie wide receiver, but adjusting to the actual game isn't necessarily one of them. Case in point: A few days after playing a part in the Giants' 10-7 win over the Cowboys, in which he had a key fourth-down reception, Shepard was informed that he'd been fined for wearing all- white socks.

Dec 15 Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford is working through options on what -- if anything -- to wear on his dislocated middle finger for Sunday's game against the Giants. For now, the glove of choice appears to be a mostly fingerless one that helps him grip the football.
Forecast for Giants game amps up pressure on Stafford's finger. The forecast of moderate temperatures but rain could play into the grip Stafford gets, or does not get, on the football while wearing a glove.

Victor Cruz is not entertaining the idea that Sunday's game against the Lions - the Giants' home regular season finale - could be his last at MetLife Stadium with the franchise. There will be questions to answer this offseason regarding the remaining two years on his contract.
On Sept. 21, 2014, in the second quarter of a scoreless game against the Texans, Victor Cruz caught a 26-yard scoring pass from Eli Manning. No one would have guessed at the time that it could wind up being his final touchdown ever at MetLife Stadium.

Odell Beckham Jr. once again cannot do all he wants to ensure the dropped passes are a thing of the past. His right thumb continues to be painful and cause Beckham to think about it far more often than he prefers. He would have hit the Jugs machine this week to sharpen his touch, but that will not happen, cognizant of the pounding his hands -- and thumb -- would take.

Ben McAdoo either is in denial or is feigning ignorance over his team's inability to run the ball. In the wake of the Giants' 10-7 win over the Cowboys, the head coach lauded his team's running game for its rushing ... attempts? That's right, McAdoo looked right over the fact that the Giants averaged a pathetic 2.8 yards per carry and was pleased that they simply tried to run the ball a lot.

How much help did the Giants give Ereck Flowers in pass protection? After halftime, Flowers got help from a chip block on three of the Giants' 12 passing plays: Twice from Perkins and once from tight end Will Tye. Flowers was much better in the second half with and without the help.

Giants punter Brad Wing won the NFC Special Teams Player of the Week for his performance in Sunday's 10-7 win over the Cowboys. If you only looked at the box score, you may be surprised that Wing was recognized after averaging a pedestrian 43.2 yards on nine punts. But Wing was a major factor in the field position battle, pinning the Cowboys inside their 20-yard on five punts.

Stadium News
Fans at this weekend's Jets and Giants games will notice something missing from the end zones: color. For the first time in MetLife Stadium's seven-year history, the teams will be aiming to reach -- or defend -- blank end zones, with nothing but nine white, diagonal lines to decorate an area otherwise the same generic green as the rest of the field.

Dec 14 Janoris Jenkins is playing like he has been there, done that -- but in truth, he never has been this way before.
Jenkins said he feels like he's playing the best he's played right now, but also that he's just getting a little more attention because of his team, too.

Odell Beckham Jr.'s signature route has been torturing opponents for years. Call it a slant-and-go or perhaps a slant-and-score, and if you've watched Beckham throughout his three-year pro career or even just against the Cowboys on Sunday, you know exactly what that is.

Eli Manning knows better than anyone this has to be his game plan the rest of the way. Manning had three turnovers in the massive 10-7 win over the Cowboys. It easily could have been five.
The Giants won even though the offense brought nothing to the pot luck party. It was the defense that made it happen, which has been the case in most of the nine wins this season.

Dec 13 Eli Manning is indestructible as far as not missing any snaps or games, but that does not mean he is impervious to the pounding he has taken in 13 NFL seasons. The hits this season have been harder and more frequent, starting all the way back in the summer.
Manning was 17-of-28 passing for 193 yards with a touchdown and an interception in Sunday's 10-7 win over the Cowboys. But he also lost two fumbles, and had at least two more throws that should have been picked off by Dallas defenders.
There are legitimate concerns about whether Manning can snap out of a malaise that has lasted the entire season in which the Giants have been unable to crack 30 points after doing so seven times last season on the way to scoring 420 points.
The Giants scored one touchdown Sunday night thanks to a 61-yard play that accounted for nearly one-quarter of their 260 yards of total offense. They turned the ball over three times. They converted only two of 14 third downs (although they were 2-for-2 on fourth downs), three of their eight three-and-outs lasted less than a minute, and they recorded just 12 first downs. Statistically, it was a flop.

Like the rest of the Giants' offense, wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. was having a miserable start to Sunday's 10-7 win over the Cowboys. Beckham got open deep but dropped a potential touchdown pass from Eli Manning late in the first quarter. Beckham then dropped a potential first down on a third down midway through the third quarter.

Dwayne Harris could not believe his eyes. He lined up as the gunner in punt coverage and saw someone he did not recognize across the line assigned to block him. And he also knew this was not going to go well for whoever the heck No. 30 was. Twice, Harris pinned the Cowboys deep by downing Brad Wing punts deep inside Dallas territory.

Giants GM Jerry Reese should rightly get some credit for landing right players in offseason. Reese's managerial record still has its glaring holes, of that there is no doubt, but he certainly deserves some plaudits now for clearly identifying and landing the right players during his $200 million free-agent spending splurge in the 2016 offseason.
The Giants' Janoris "Jackrabbit" Jenkins may be the best cover corner in the league. He is certainly having one of the best 2016 seasons of any NFL defensive back. It has to be a pleasant sight for John Mara and Jerry Reese. They are paying Jenkins ($16 million) the second-most in "total cash" for the 2016 season of all NFL corners.

Matthew Stafford will start against the Giants, Lions coach Jim Caldwell told Detroit-area reporters Monday in Allen Park, Mich., after reportedly dislocating a finger and tearing ligaments in his throwing hand in Sunday's win over the Bears. But that's about the extent of what Caldwell said.
Matthew Stafford's middle finger was bent at a 90-degree angle, and the ligaments were torn. But it didn't matter to him. Not even as he dashed through the teeth of the Chicago defense. His injuries were painful, the flight of the ball a measure of that.

Dec 12 Giants win over the Cowboys 10-7  | Video  |  Photos  |  Photos

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On The Game: Game 13
Gamegirl ---"Wow! Wow! Wow! I was hoping but not expecting that the Giants could take down the Cowboys again tonight at MetLife Stadium. What a victory for them and for all the fans who showed up to cheer them on...."
Mikefan. ---"Dak Prescott and Eli Manning completed the same number of passes. Manning was 17 of 28 and Prescott was 17 of 37. What? Both quarterbacks threw for one touchdown, and Manning had one interception and Prescott had two. What? The Cowboys wonder kid got a wake up call tonight to the NFC East and how the Giants roll..."

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ESPN - Giants snap Cowboys' 11-game winning streak 10-7.
Giants.com - Instant Analysis: Giants 10, Cowboys 7.
NYDailyNews - Giants snap Cowboys' 11-game winning streak with dominant defense in 10-7 victory.
NYDailyNews - Giants QB Eli Manning has disastrous game with 3 turnovers.
NYDailyNews - Odell Beckham delivers big blow as Giants have Cowboys' number.
NYDailyNews - Giants WR Odell Beckham does moonwalk after scoring touchdown.
NYDailyNews - Giants rookie Romeo Okwara answers call replacing Jason Pierre-Paul.
NYDailyNews - Giants coach Ben McAdoo won't consider benching Ereck Flowers.
NYDailyNews - The Giants are putting Jerry Jones through Hell -- again.
NYPost - Giants defense terrorizes Cowboys as Beckham steals mammoth win.
NYPost - Odell Beckham needed one play to remind everyone of his value.
NYPost - Eli Manning won't always be able to get away with these mistakes.
NYPost - Jason Pierre-Paul doesn't have to be on field to inspire Giants.
NYPost - Giants defense comes up huge even without Jason Pierre-Paul.
NYPost - Giants hounded Prescott so much Jerry Jones got asked about Romo.
NYPost - Giants put NFC on notice in blasting Cowboys at their own game.
NYPost - Giants report card: How are they winning with this horrid offense?
StarLedger - Giants stun Cowboys as dominant defense saves the day.
StarLedger - Giants make statement with season sweep of Cowboys.
StarLedger - Ben McAdoo explains how Giants' offense actually made progress vs. Cowboys.
StarLedger - Odell Beckham Jr.'s brilliance saves a putrid day for the offense.
StarLedger - Carl Banks: The Giants D hasn't played this good in 10 years.
StarLedger - Cowboys' Dez Bryant struggles once again against Giants.
StarLedger - Is Cowboys owner Jerry Jones considering a QB change after loss to Giants?
TheRecord - Quick Hits: Inside the Giants' win over the Cowboys.
TheRecord - OBJ fuels Giant rally, completes Dallas sweep.
TheRecord - Giants defense bails out its offense.
Newsday - Giants slow down Cowboys star rookies Dak Prescott, Ezekiel Elliott.
Newsday - Brilliant Odell Beckham Jr. comes up big in clutch.
Newsday - Defense helps Giants complete sweep of Cowboys.
Newsday - Jason Pierre-Paul fires up Giants with video, then pregame speech.
Bloggingtheboys.com - Cowboys lose to Giants by 10-7 Final score as offense sputters again.
Bloggingtheboys.com - Dallas Gets Smacked In The Mouth By Giants Defense.

Giants (8-4) vs Cowboys (11-1) Game Preview
The Cowboys extended their win streak to 11 with a Thursday night victory over the Vikings. It was a tight game, and the final score was 17-15 in favor of the Cowboys.
The Giants traveled to Pittsburgh and it didn't go well. They were behind for the entire game and their six game win streak ended with a 24-14 loss to the Steelers.
Giants - Steelers Wrap-Up

Dec 11 Running back Shane Vereen was activated off injured reserve Saturday and will make his return Sunday night against the Cowboys.There will not be help arriving for the offensive line, as left guard Justin Pugh is expected to miss his fifth consecutive game.
The Giants will likely ease Vereen back in, and they will still utilize veteran Rashad Jennings and rookie Paul Perkins. But there is a case to be made for using Vereen as their featured back down the stretch.
Vereen's presence could also help on third down which would also affect the number of plays the Giants run per game. Since his exit from the lineup, the Giants have converted 31.6 percent of their third down attempts, down from the 47.1 percent they were converting with him in the lineup.

The Giants are desperately in search of a late-season signature victory that can jump-start a January run just like their three-point loss to the undefeated Patriots in the final game of the 2007 season set the foundation and provided the momentum for their amazing dash to a Super Bowl title.
Odell Beckham Jr. pinpointed the greatest difference between Dallas (11-1) and the Giants on Wednesday: The Cowboys' offense doesn't make its defense do too much heavy lifting. McAdoo's offense is constantly being bailed out by the other side of the ball.

It does not all come down to this, but how the Giants fare Sunday night against the rival, rampaging Cowboys will go a long way in defining the stretch run of this season, and very possibly determine if the Giants get to keep playing after New Year's Day.
No matter what happens at cold and wintry MetLife Stadium, the Giants will head into Week 15 holding onto an NFC wild-card slot. The result of this game will ascertain if that hold is firm or slippery.

Dec 10 When the Giants and Cowboys square off Sunday night at MetLife Stadium in a massive divisional game, the weather in East Rutherford could be nothing short of miserable. But Big Blue coach Ben McAdoo is looking forward to braving the elements.
With a blustery forecast for game time that includes temperatures in the 20s and a good chance of icy rain and snow, the Giants believe they will have an advantage over a team that plays its home games in a billion-dollar bubble and might not be as prepared to face the elements.
McAdoo, who spent eight years as an assistant with Green Bay (where legend says they have experienced some nasty weather days), waved off the notion that rotten weather grounds a passing game and makes for a run-all-game offense.

The NFL has fined Odell Beckham Jr. $12,154 for verbal abuse/excessive profanity toward an official during last Sunday's 24-14 loss to the Steelers. The fine is for on-field actions, according to Pelissero, who said it is unclear if Beckham was fined for his post-game rant about referee Terry McAulay and his crew (or his Stevie Wonder joke earlier this week).

Dec 9 Giants on Cowboys clinching NFC East title: Not in our house!. Not here. Not this week. That's the mindset of the Giants as they prepare to face the Cowboys on Sunday night.
The Giants (8-4) host the Cowboys (11-1) on Sunday at MetLife Stadium in a rematch of the season opener, which the Giants won, 20-19, in Dallas. That was the second-lowest output of the season for the Cowboys, who rank fifth in the NFL in scoring. Can the Giants shut down the Cowboys again?
Cowboys have perfect weapon to exploit huge Giants weakness. Defending tight end Jason Witten is a massive problem facing the Giants in the Sunday night showdown against the Cowboys at MetLife Stadium. And the Giants have been dreadful defending tight ends.

Shortly after Giants fullback Nikita Whitlock recounted to The Record the feelings of disappointment and confusion that have emerged since his home was broken into on Tuesday night and defaced with several racially charged epithets, local police announced they are investigating the incident as a hate crime.
Victor Cruz blasts Donald Trump supporters after racially charged vandalism. When it was mentioned to Cruz that his comments would upset some people, he didn't back down. Cruz, a Paterson native, added that he doesn't associate all Trump supporters with racist viewpoints.

Dec 8 Jason Pierre-Paul's 2016 season is probably over. His NFL career is not. His Giants tenure could be finished, though. Imagine that: Has JPP played his final down for Big Blue?
The Giants hoped rest and rehab would be enough for JPP, but after a visit in Philadelphia on Tuesday with Dr. William Meyers, a noted sports hernia surgeon, a determination was made that surgery was the best option. Meyers performed the surgery in Philadelphia.
Has Jason Pierre-Paul played his last game with Giants? Pierre-Paul and the Giants appear to hope he will be able to return after about six weeks, which could happen if the Giants make a postseason run. But Pierre-Paul's final game with the Giants may have been Sunday's 24-14 debacle.

Left guard Justin Pugh is eyeing a return to action in Sunday's crucial matchup with the Cowboys. Pugh sprained the MCL in his right knee in a 28-23 win over the Eagles on Nov. 6. The injury has sidelined Pugh for the past four games, partly because of a setback in practice on Nov. 23.
Guard Justin Pugh continues to make progress in his return from an MCL knee sprain and running back Shane Vereen, who remains on injured reserve, could be cleared to return to the 53-man roster before the Saturday 4 p.m. deadline to play in the upcoming game.