Giants (5-10) vs Cowboys (9-6) Game Preview
On Sunday the Cowboys allowed the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to score an opening drive field goal. The Cowboys came right back with a touchdown, and kept the lead for the rest of the game. The 27-20 win gave the Cowboys claim to the NFC East division title.
Last week the Giants were on their way to pulling off an upset over the Indianapolis Colts. They held the lead for the entire game, right up until the last minute. The Colts needed to keep their playoff hopes alive, and they did so with their 28-27 win over the Giants.
Giants - Colts Wrap-Up

Dec 30 The Cowboys are locked into the No. 4 slot in the NFC postseason tournament and will play a home playoff game during wild-card weekend. Win or lose, it does not matter much to the Cowboys. That does not mean the Giants, at least their longest-tenured player, are looking to give the Cowboys a free pass.

If there is one position at which the Giants can feel good about their depth from top to bottom going into the offseason, it's tight end. Evan Engram shared his thoughts on his own roller-coaster season, the Giants-Cowboys rivalry and what his offseason will be like.

Dec 29 Odell Beckham Jr.'s season has ended in frustration again, but not without the Giants' star wide receiver promising to make 2019 his best. Beckham was asked Friday if he wants Eli Manning to return as quarterback.
Odell Beckham has a vision for how Eli Manning's career ends and it is not in a meaningless regular-season finale like the one set for 1 p.m. Sunday between the Giants and Cowboys with the star receiver not even in uniform.

Dec 28 Sterling Shepard has been the Giants' No. 1 wide receiver by default for the past few weeks, and it increasingly looks like he will serve in that capacity again if Odell Beckham Jr. misses his fourth straight game to end the season Sunday against Dallas.

Giants' big free agent Nate Solder: Portrayal as answer to all problems was a 'set up' | 'No superhuman people'. Solder is one of two players on the Giants who has played every snap on their side of the ball this season. The other is his partner on the left side of the offensive line, rookie guard Will Hernandez.

Dec 27 Despite the Giants (5-10) being out of postseason contention and the Cowboys (9-6) locked into the fourth seed as the NFC East champions, Pat Shurmur and Jason Garrett are playing to win Sunday's meeting at MetLife Stadium.

This is not the first time around for Eli Manning, but it remains an uncomfortable conversation, one he was forced to engage in at this time last year. That was the first time, Manning acknowledged, he ever felt he might not return to quarterback the Giants.

Eli Manning isn't sure he will be a Giants quarterback in 2019 but he isn't going to act like he won't be. "I don't know," Manning said when asked if he expects to be with the Giants next season. "I didn't know last year either, so we'll figure it out. Whenever you get to Year 15, these things come up."

Dec 26 Is the soon-to-be (Jan. 3) 38-year-old quarterback the main reason this franchise has regressed and will finish with a losing record for the fifth time in the last six years? Has Eli Manning been worse than his offensive line in that span? Has Manning been worse than the Giants defense that takes the field when a lead is there to be protected?

Dec 25 For many Giants fans (you know who you are), the thought of Eli Manning starting in 2019 is as popular as finding coal in your Christmas stocking. What happens with Manning and the Giants' starting quarterback position next season is up for debate - even though it shouldn't be based on the way he has performed this season, which is good enough to stay on for another year.

Giants should think twice before dumping Evan Engram. Just when it appeared the Giants were phasing Engram out of the offense in favor of better blockers, the second-year pro has 17 catches for 239 yards -- with a bulk of the damage coming after the catch -- combined over the last three games.

Giants (5-9) vs Colts (8-6) Game Preview
Last Sunday the Indianapolis Colts came up with an impressive shutout win over the Cowboys. They ended the Cowboys five game wining streak, and left town with a 23-0 victory.
On Sunday the Giants' fans were hit with a bad weather day. That, coupled with some poor play by their home team, resulted in a 17-0 loss to the visiting Tennessee Titans.
Giants - Titans Wrap-Up

Dec 23 The Giants had trouble getting their defense off the field last week. They were unable to contain Titans running back Derrick Henry and, as a result, the Titans controlled the ball for 35:21 while the Giants had it for only 24:39. Now, they face the Colts on Sunday at Lucas Oil Stadium, and no team in the NFL has been more difficult to get off the field.

Dec 22 Are the Giants a 40-point team without Odell Beckham? Or are they a zero-point team? The Giants ruled out Beckham for a third straight game with a bruised quad, and it is possible he has played for the final time this season, with only the season finale against the Cowboys still looming.

Dec 21 Joe Flacco and Eli Manning have enjoyed very similar careers -- from rising to the big moment to their per game averages -- but their organizations are taking very different approaches to the future. And it's not what you would objectively expect.

There are apparently no boundaries to the Giants' search for a quarterback. Bo Levi Mitchell, a two-time MVP in the Canadian Football League, is headed to the Meadowlands to work out for the Giants, a move first reported by GiantsWire.

The Giants defense failed its last test miserably, when Tennessee's Derrick Henry ran roughshod over them in Sunday's loss. Defensive coordinator James Bettcher had a pretty simple explanation for what happened.

Dec 20 Three Giants players - one each from the offense, defense and special teams - were selected to the NFC Pro Bowl team announced today. Rookie running back Saquon Barkley, safety Landon Collins and kicker Aldrick Rosas were elected in voting by fans, players and coaches.

Will Giants be on HBO's Hard Knocks in 2019? They have Saquon Barkley, Odell Beckham and no easy out. The only out is by fitting one of three exceptions. The Giants had had an out in 2016 based on hiring Ben McAdoo, an out in 2017 based on their last playoff appearance and an out in 2018 based on hiring Pat Shurmur and their playoff trip. But they don't fall into any of those three categories this season.

Former Giants
Eli Apple is thriving away from the Giants. Since joining the Saints, Apple, 23, has two interceptions, including one against Carolina in Monday's 12-9 win over the Panthers.

Giants (5-8) vs Titans (7-6) Game Preview
The Titans played their game at home on a Thursday night with the Jacksonville Jaguars. They held a 28 point lead late into the third quarter, and finished up with a big 30-9 victory over the Jaguars.
On Sunday the Giants traveled to Washington and things went their way. The Giants built up a big lead, while the Redskins were held scoreless until the fourth quarter. The final score was 40-16 in favor of the Giants.
Giants - Redskins Wrap-Up

Dec 16 Look, it's still a pipe dream's pipe dream, a crazy notion, a fantasy that exists, and should exist, only on the fringes of our imagination. OK? We haven't all lost our minds or our sense of order. Still, these are two absolute realities as Sunday dawns: 1. It is Dec. 15. 2. The Giants are not eliminated from the NFL playoffs. And that is a reality that didn't seem remotely possible five weeks ago.

Dec 15 With Giants' playoff hopes alive, here's your rooting guide for this weekend The 5-8 Giants need to keep winning and get lots of help.. It's not even impossible for them to get in at 7-9, which is how crazy -- or perhaps awful -- this race is. Still, the Giants probably need to win their final three games, beginning on Sunday against the Tennessee Titans.

No doubt the news that wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. will miss his second straight game with a quad injury was a bummer. Still, from the front office to the locker room, the Giants are starting to gain a bit of much-needed swagger heading into Sunday's game against the Titans at MetLife Stadium.
Shurmur hopes the team responds as well as it did last Sunday. With their top wideout watching the game in New Jersey, they enjoyed their largest offensive explosion in more than four years in a 40-16 rout of the Redskins in Washington

Dec 14 Odell Beckham Jr. was not exactly sure what to call the injury to his quadriceps -- a bruise or a contusion -- and instead wanted to leave the precise diagnosis to the experts. But he was certain of one thing. "S-t ain't right," Beckham said Thursday in his first extended comments since the injury was revealed last Friday.

A game of tags: The story behind Giants wide receiver Russell Shepard and his backpack. Shepard could wind up starting at wide receiver Sunday in place of his college teammate, Odell Beckham Jr., who continues to nurse a quad injury and missed last Sunday's 40-16 victory over the Redskins. He's also a special teams stalwart.

Dec 13 The Giants have a narrow path to the NFL Playoffs, even after rattling off four wins in their last five games following a 1-7 start to the season. However, it isn't completely unrealistic that they will be playing in January.

With two games beginning less than 21 hours apart and inclement weather in the forecast, MetLife Stadium, the Giants and the Jets announced today that neutral end zones will be used for the teams games this weekend.

Dec 12 Majority of Giants' 2019 roster already in place: 8 players who will be hardest to keep | Evan Engram? Landon Collins? The Giants were left scrambling after a self-evaluation in the preseason, with a NFL-high six waiver wire additions before Week 1. It should have been the first sign of trouble brewing. The Giants were left scrambling after a self-evaluation in the preseason, with a NFL-high six waiver wire additions before Week 1. It should have been the first sign of trouble brewing.

New York Giants backup quarterback Kyle Lauletta has applied for a "conditional dismissal" of charges related to an October traffic stop in Weehawken, court officials said Tuesday at the same time he had been scheduled to appear before a judge.

Former Giants
Tiki Barber: Saquon Barkley as fast a learner as he is a runner.

Dec 11 Here is how Giants make playoffs | These 6 things need to happen, but it's not THAT crazy.

Eli Manning should remain Giants QB - with a concession. The intrigue is whether Manning is the best option at quarterback next season for John Mara and Steve Tisch, for Dave Gettleman, for Pat Shurmur. He is. He is still Your Mann. Just not a $23 Million Mann.

Giants (4-8) vs Redskins (6-6) Game Preview
The Washington Redskins played their game in Philadelphia on Monday night. It was a costly 28-13 loss as their quarterback, Colt McCoy, was injured during the game. It was only the second game McCoy started as a replacement for Alex Smith, who was the original season starter for the Redskins.
A day earlier than that on Sunday, the Giants came up with a surprise win over the Chicago Bears. A last second trick play by the Bears tied the game and forced an overtime period. The Giants scored first with a field goal, and when their defense held up, the Giants had a 30-27 win.
Giants - Bears Wrap-Up

Dec 9 Here's scheme adjustment Giants should make with Odell Beckham out vs. Redskins. With Evan Engram off the injury report and the Giants having success using Rhett Ellison and Scott Simonson together at tight end, coach and play-caller Pat Shumur must decide how to distribute reps. One option is to play all three together in what is called '13' personnel, with one running back, one wide receiver and three tight ends.

Dec 8 For the third time in the last four weeks, the Giants will face a backup quarterback on Sunday afternoon, when Washington trots out Mark Sanchez at FedEx Field in the absence of both Alex Smith and Colt McCoy, who were lost for the season with broken legs.

Will Hernandez starting to show why Giants drafted him so high. The overhaul the Giants attempted this season with their offensive line didn't take right away, but the unit's drastic improvement has been a key factor in the team winning three of its past four games.

Dec 7 Giants not overlooking Mark Sanchez in matchup vs. Redskins. The Giant who probably knows the most about Sanchez is head coach Pat Shurmur. He was the Eagles' offensive coordinator when Sanchez was there.

With Mark Sanchez under center, the Redskins' quarterback carousel is spinning again. Before signing with the Vikings in March, Kirk Cousins became the first Redskins quarterback to start every game in three consecutive seasons since Joe Theismann from 1981 to 1984.

Giants safety battled homeless childhood to live out a dream. With Landon Collins on IR, this is Chandler's real chance, starting Sunday against the Redskins, to open eyes and convince the Giants that he does not deserve to be homeless in the NFL.

Dec 6 Just a few weeks ago, Mark Sanchez was sitting on the unemployment line. Improbably, he'll be a starting quarterback for the rest of this season. The Redskins have no other options left now that Colt McCoy will likely join Smith on injured reserve.
After Colt McCoy broke his leg in Monday's 28-13 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, the Redskins were, again, shopping in the bargain basement of the league's unemployed quarterbacks to find another signal-caller for the second time in less than three weeks. Don't expect the Redskins, however, to sign the most notable quarterback without a job: Colin Kaepernick.

The Giants must decide whether to sign Collins to a long-term extension, let him go in free agency or apply the franchise tag, which would give him a high-paying one-year contract in the neighborhood of $12 million for 2019. Only one player per team per season can be tagged.

Dec 5 Is Giants' Odell Beckham destined to be like Calvin Johnson? Records and 0 playoff wins 'can add up' to take a toll. Beckham is setting individual records but piling up team losses, which sounds a lot like another great NFL receiver from earlier this century.

Landon Collins has played 804 snaps this season, but the New York Giants will be without their most decorated defensive player heading into Sunday's game against the Washington Redskins in Landover, Maryland. Whether the two-time Pro Bowl safety will play another snap in 2018 - or another in a Giants' uniform again - remains uncertain moving forward.

Former Giants
Amani Toomer. What's keeping Odell Beckham from next level.

Dec 4 Giants' offensive line faces changes in 2019 but it's stabilized now. What was billed as one of the great game-within-the-game mismatches of the NFL season - the Giants offensive line against the Bears defensive front seven - was anything but after coach and play-caller Pat Shurmur learned from the previous week's mistake and stuck to running Saquon Barkley.

Odds are against Kyle Lauletta playing for Giants this season. At this moment in time, as you attempt to interpret Shurmur-ese, it appears more likely than not Manning will start the rest of the way unless and until it is determined by Shurmur that he does not give the Giants the best chance to win.

Giants (3-8) vs Chicago (8-3) Game Preview
The Chicago Bears played their last game on Thanksgiving in Detroit. It was all tied up in the fourth quarter, but Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford threw interceptions on back to back drives that gave the Bears a 23-16 win
Last Sunday the Giants had everything going their way in Philadelphia. They led 19-3 at one point in the game, and in the second half allowed the Eagles to tie the score and then go on to win, 25-22.
Giants - Eagle Wrap-Up

Dec 2 Scoring continues to be up, up and away in the NFL, and the Giants continue to try, usually unsuccessfully, to keep up. The league has never seen anything like it.

Eli Manning's INTs are way down over 27 games, but will ballhawk Bears, Eddie Jackson change that? Interceptions have not been a problem because Manning is on pace to match his 2008 career-low of 10 interceptions in a season.

Dec 1 It took awhile, but Giants' O-line isn't the worst anymore. The Giants have been burned for the second-most sacks in the NFL this season, but coach Pat Shurmur believes their overhauled offensive line has put together three solid games in a row entering Sunday's test against Khalil Mack and the Bears.

It's unlikely the Giants can pull off the upset without rookie running back Saquon Barkley having a big night. The Penn State product has been as good as advertised as a rusher and a receiver. The 5-11, 233-pound Barkley has an NFL-high seven carries of 25 or more yards, including rushes of 68, 51, 50 and 46 yards. He also has pass receptions of 57 and 55 yards.

Nov 30 Even athletic superfreak Saquon Barkley needs a break once in a while. Giants coach Pat Shurmur's decision to sit Barkley for all five plays on a crucial third-quarter possession as momentum slipped away in last week's loss to the Eagles drew a lot of attention.

When the Giants released Davis Webb before this season, cutting the quarterback with the best arm, best training camp and best chances of replacing Eli Manning, it seemed clearly intended to protect Manning and avoid a repeat of last year's benching fiasco with Geno Smith.

Nov 29 Special Report - It seems like yesterday the Giants were all full of excitement and momentum, talking about running the table for a chance to qualify for the postseason and the big things every NFL team desire most. In fact, for most of the first half of Sunday's game in Philadelphia, it looked like all that stuff was, just maybe, real.
Had the Giants turned the corner? It sure seemed as though they could defeat the defending Super Bowl champs, get to four wins, close the gap in the NFC East a bit and take aim at a depleted Chicago Bears team next week in hopes of notching one more conference victory and really get into the meat of a winning streak. Just like that, however, it was all gone.

Eli Manning could return as Giants' starting QB in 2019. There is still a chance that Manning will return to the Giants in 2019 -- and even return as their starting quarterback, according to a team source. The decision on his future has "absolutely not" been made, the source said, and management is open to the idea that another year with Manning at the helm might be the best option they have.

Nov 28 Pat Shurmur likes Eli Manning. Manning is what Shurmur wants in a quarterback: Calm, refined, company man, consummate worker and leader-by-example rather than leader-by-talking. This does not mean Shurmur will give Manning a free pass for the remainder of the season.

The raw data are incriminating. Saquon Barkley ran the ball nine times for 94 yards in the first half in Philadelphia and the Giants outscored the Eagles 19-11 on Sunday. Barkley ran it just four times for 7 yards in the second half and the Giants were outscored 14-3. Did play-caller Pat Shurmur lose his mind?

Nov 27 Missed penalty call kept Giants from chance at tying field goal. On the final play, the Giants in desperation tried for some trickery, with Sterling Shepard catching a 3-yard pass and then lateralling to Odell Beckham Jr. Beckham was immediately tripped up by linebacker Kamu Grugier-Hill - actually tripped up. That is a penalty, for either tripping (10 yards) or possibly a leg-whip (a 15-yard penalty).

Tight end Evan Engram was running a seam route during his normal in-uniform pregame warm-ups Sunday when he felt a "grab" in his hamstring. It cost him the entire game against the Eagles. Engram said the hamstring injury is not related to the knee injury that caused him to miss three games earlier this season.

Pat Shurmur dismisses Odell Beckham's criticism of Giants offense vs. ailing Eagles. Odell Beckham Jr. criticized coach Pat Shurmur's "game plan" on Sunday for not attacking the Eagles' depleted secondary downfield more in Sunday's loss. Shurmur's response on Monday was basically a long-winded way of saying Beckham is wrong.

Giants (3-7) vs Eagles (4-6) Game Preview
Last Sunday the Eagles scored only one touchdown in New Orleans. The Saints didn't hold back and in the end, the defending Super Bowl champs were blown away, taking a 48-7 loss to the Saints.
Earlier that day, the Giants treated their hometown crowd to a win, playing against Tampa Bay at MetLife stadium. They scored their highest points of the season with a 38-35 victory over the Buccaneers.
Giants - Buccaneers Wrap-Up

Nov 25 Giants visit Eagles with chance to prove the turnaround is real. This is the line of demarcation for the Giants. A 3-7 record would normally mean they are down and out, but in this NFC East, they are merely down. If they beat the sagging Eagles to improve to 4-7, it puts the Giants two games behind the Cowboys (6-5) and Redskins (6-5) with five to play.

Nov 24 Now it gets real for the Giants. The seduction started two weeks ago on the West Coast. That's when hope started to seep into the Giants' locker room following a 27-23 comeback road win over the 49ers. Hope then moved its way East, stimulated by last week's 38-35 home win over the Buccaneers. On Sunday, it arrives in Philadelphia.

Entering Sunday's game vs. Giants, the Eagles know 'it's now or never' to salvage season. The Eagles are 4-6 entering Sunday's game against the New York Giants, which will be followed by a Monday Night Football matchup with Washington and a visit to Dallas. For the Eagles to reach the postseason, the path must go through the division.

Former Giants
Davis Webb: Do you keep in touch with any of your old Giants teammates?

Nov 23 The Giants, after starting the season 1-7, have won their past two games to get to 3-7, and with a win Sunday over East rival Philadelphia, they could move to within two games of the lead in a division that suddenly looks up for grabs.
Eli Manning is 0-2 against the Eagles in the playoffs in his career. Sunday might as well be a playoff game because it is do-or-die. Actually, it might be that way for the Giants and the Eagles as they chase the Cowboys and Redskins in the NFC East, where only the division winner is going to the playoffs.

Nov 22 The Giants are one quarter of the way to fulfilling Odell Beckham Jr.'s goal. But he wasn't the only one in blue who thought winning out was possible. There was belief in the locker room before his hopes were scoffed at from the outside.

A lot has changed since the Eagles handily defeated the Giants in East Rutherford back in Week 6. That game wasn't ever really close, with the Eagles winning 34-13. The Eagles also haven't come close to that level of performance since then, losing three of four games and faltering on both offense and defense.

Nov 21 Resist. Resist the urge. Go against logic and defy what could be an obvious and certainly enticing strategy. The Giants must continue to remember who they are and resist the temptation Sunday to attack the vulnerable Eagles for who they are not.

The Giants defense created a season-high four takeaways against the Buccaneers and is on the upswing. The Giants defense allowed season highs of 510 yards and 31 first downs to the Buccaneers and is on the downturn. All the above numbers are correct, but which conclusion is accurate? That might not be known until Sunday against the Eagles.

Nov 20 Saquon Barkley challenged by coach Pat Shurmur to become more of a grinding running back and accept 3- and 4-yard gains rather than always looking to break out a longer run, Barkley said Monday he has changed his style once he gets the ball in his hands. Considering he is coming off his most productive NFL game, the adjustment is precisely what the Giants need.

Saquon Barkley scoured the film of his 152-yard, three-touchdown tour de force over the Buccaneers on Sunday and said he didn't bend enough at his hips. Seriously Barkley told the Daily News on Monday that his posture possibly cost him yards at the end of his increasingly effective "dirty" runs through traffic, which he frequently took to the final tackler but just couldn't quite break to daylight.

Giants (2-7) vs Tampa Bay (3-6) Game Preview
Last Sunday the Buccaneers hosted the Washington Redskins. The game was tied at 3-3 in the second quarter. The Redskins went on to do all the scoring after that and Tampa Bay took a 16-3 loss.
The Giants played their game on a Monday night in San Francisco. Eli Manning guided the team to a fourth quarter come from behind win. The final score was 27-23 in favor of the Giants.
Giants - San Francisco Wrap-Up

Nov 18 Giants' worst unit also can be their catalyst for a turnaround. The assessment from the head coach was this: The Giants' offensive line put together its best performance to date last weekend, and it helped spark a victory over the 49ers. Coach Pat Shurmur said he liked what he saw from new starting right guard Jamon Brown, believing the presence of the 340-pounder helped ease the protection concerns of Eli Manning.

Nov 17 Why Giants have legit chance to finally end 30-point drought. At first glance, it looks like a misprint. But it's not. The Buccaneers cannot possibly be as bad against opposing quarterbacks as the statistics say. But they are. In the nine games the Buccaneers have played, opposing quarterbacks have completed 73.6 percent of their passes for 2,755 yards, 23 touchdowns, one interception and a 122.3 passer rating.

Pat Shurmur wants Saquon Barkley to be more accepting of the between-the-tackles short gain, rather than looking to hit a home run on every rush. Now that Barkley is getting more carries -- he had a season-high 20 last week, his first time over 15 since Week 3 -- maybe it will be easier to not feel like every one is do or die.

Nov 16 The Giants' soap opera seems to be ending its run. The Giants have gone from a team in turmoil to a team finally settling in to play seven more games that can restore some respectability to their season.

The Giants have had 30 "successful" plays and three "explosive" runs in the no-huddle offense, which rank No. 7 and tied for No. 5 in the NFL, respectively, according to Pro Football Focus. From the huddling offense operated for most of the game, they rank No. 30 in "successful" plays and No. 31 in "explosive runs."

Nov 15 Giants must finally give their fans a home victory. They won one for themselves at San Francisco. Now win one for your fans. "It's definitely gonna feel good to have our fans behind us, and it's gonna be really important to us to get this win for us and them," Evan Engram said.

Giants' offensive line looks to build off outstanding effort. The beleaguered offensive line played its best game of the season on Monday night and the Giants won. Coincidence? Hardly.

For two years, the basic rule for beating the Giants defense was throw to the tight end. The trend stopped in the first half of 2018 ... but it resurfaced Monday against the 49ers like the nightmare you forgot you had last night until a fit of memory in the middle of the afternoon.

Nov 14 Given how well he played under such difficult circumstances, Eli Manning had a curious choice of words as he described the feelings of accomplishment and relief after Monday night's 27-23 comeback win over the 49ers.
At the risk of being a killjoy after Monday night's feel-good moments and with due respect to one of the most important players in franchise history, the Giants must move on from Manning in 2019.

With all the attention paid to the Giants' offense's inability to score points and protect quarterback Eli Manning, the lack of a pass rush on the other side of the ball mostly has gone unnoticed.
Saquon Barkley has impressed Giants fans since his first preseason touch. Now, the team's top defensive draft pick is showcasing exciting potential, too. Rookie linebacker Lorenzo Carter notched a career-high seven tackles in Monday's 27-23 win over the 49ers.

Giants (1-7) vs San Francisco (2-7) Game Preview
The San Francisco 49ers last played in a Thursday night game with the Oakland Raiders. Both teams had only one win on the season, and the Niners were favored to win at home and get their second. They did so in a big way, overwhelming the Raiders 34-3.
Before the bye week, the Giants played against the Washington Redskins at MetLife Stadium. They kept the game close up until the fourth quarter, and disappointed the home crowd while taking a 20-13 loss.
Giants - Redskins Wrap-Up

Nov 12 Odell Beckham Jr. missed the final 11 games last season. Cornerback Richard Sherman last season, in his first year with the 49ers, missed the final seven games. On Monday night, the two marquee players, fully healed, will battle each other when the Giants face the 49ers.

Evan Engram knows execution is key to second-half turnaround. If the Giants are to improve in the second half of the season, Engram will almost certainly be a key contributor. He is doing everything he can to maximize his strengths and eliminate the drops.

Nov 11 The defensive personnel change the Giants should make for the final 8 games. The self-diagnosed knock on the Giants defense is too many big plays allowed in the first eight games. In other words, the spotlight is directly on Curtis Riley.

Former Giants
Ron Johnson, the All-Pro running back who became the first player in Giants history to gain at least 1,000 rushing yards in a season, achieving the milestone twice in the 1970s, died on Saturday.

Nov 10 Giants must really start to feed Saquon Barkley. This is really simple, Giants. More Saquon, less Eli. It's about time and it's really not that difficult. Not only for "Monday Night Football," but for the Giants' future as well. But it must start Monday night against the 49ers.

The Giants went 9-7 in 2011 and won a Super Bowl by getting hot at the right time. Only Eli Manning and Zak DeOssie were around then among those in the 2018 locker room, but Odell Beckham referenced the last great Giants' run when asked what his personal goals are for the rest of a seemingly lost season. "Win eight games. Go 9-7 and go to the playoffs," Beckham said.

Nov 9 In the only statistical category that really matters, the Giants are no better or worse than last year. They have one win after eight games. Same as 2017, before changes were made to general manager, head coach, most of the assistant coaching staff and about 70 percent of the roster. So are the Giants any better?

Giants reshuffling O-line again: Who's the odd man out? If and when the Giants start their ninth and play their 10th different offensive lineman this season Monday night against the 49ers, John Greco is expected to be the latest odd man out.

Eli Manning refreshed after a week off, but how much longer before his bye week? There has been no win-or-else edict delivered to Eli Manning, at least not such an explicit mandate from Giants coach Pat Shurmur.

Nov 8 Saquon Barkley's most important bye-week film session: studying his own game. Saquon Barkley has always loved watching the best of the best running backs to glean tips to hone his own skill and better his game.
Halfway through his first NFL season, Barkley is far and away the leading candidate for the Offensive Rookie of the Year award. His top competition figures to come from Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield.

NFC East News
Eagles, Giants, Cowboys, Redskins reasons for optimism, concern at midway point - Predictions.

Nov 7 The search for reasons why the Giants are mired in a 1-7 start, for the second consecutive season, should begin with the position group that has been much maligned for the better part of two years. General manager Dave Gettleman and head coach Pat Shurmur need look no further than the offensive line. How does Jamon Brown fit in?
Usually, newcomers need time to acclimate to their new surroundings, and Jamon Brown is in that process right now with the Giants. But this will be a hurry-up scenario, and expect to see the new guard on the field sooner rather than later. "We're going to try to get him in there as quickly as possible," coach Pat Shurmur said.

Kyle Lauletta is getting another chance from the New York Giants. It's up to him to make the most of it. An emotional Lauletta issued a public apology at his locker Tuesday for the actions that led to his arrest stemming from charges that he allegedly drove his vehicle carelessly through traffic.

Since his draft day, Landon Collins has envisioned himself as a career member of the Giants. Not getting moved at the NFL trade deadline last week was Step One towards achieving that goal. Step Two - securing a long-term contract - hasn't gotten off the ground yet, however.

Nov 6 If you are a Giants fan who watched the first eight games of the season, you probably think you know who played well and who did not. Here are the seven Giants' starters with the highest grades and seven with the lowest grades at the midpoint of the season.

There is always a risk in tearing down and building back up an entire offensive line. The Giants did it and failed at the reconstruction job. New head coach Pat Shurmur before the season said his team would go only as far as the offensive line would take it. Well, the Giants have not gone very far, have they?

Nov 5 Giants' last trip to 'quarterback hell' - Why they are hesitant to quit on Eli Manning. The Giants could be in a version of quarterback hell if they move on from Manning without a replacement, after passing on Top 10 picks Sam Darnold (Jets), Josh Allen (Bills) and Josh Rosen (Cardinals) in the 2018 draft.

Nov 4 Special Report - Welcome to the bye week. We don't need to do one of those cutesy mid-season report cards, do we? There is plenty to be said, and very little. The Giants are 1-7 and no matter how you paint one part of the picture or the other, they are 1-7 because they can't finish, can't score enough points and can't win the battle at the line of scrimmage. Here are just a few of the potential headlines that we could use to describe the first half of the year.

Nov 3 Giants midseason grades: Odell Beckham Jr., Eli Manning, and more It hasn't been pretty for Big Blue as they reflect during their bye week.

Eli Manning getting sacked at an alarming rate. Eli Manning says, "Every sack has got its own story." If Manning wants to compile all of them in a bound edition, it will be a long, long book chronicling his tales of woe.

Former Giants
Jason Pierre-Paul has taken it to a new level since leaving the Giants.

Nov 2 The introduction to the NFL has been bittersweet for the Giants rookie class: plenty of snaps but not much winning. Dave Gettleman's top four draft picks from April - Saquon Barkley, Will Hernandez, Lorenzo Carter and B.J. Hill - are playing key roles right away, but they are not satisfied with the results.

Hey, Giants: Follow Colts' blueprint for rebuilding NFL's worst offensive line. The Colts and Giants both had quarterbacks named Manning for most of this century. They also both have had bad offensive lines for most of this decade.

Fact or Fiction: Saquon Barkley's first eight games have been more incredible than Odell Beckham Jr.'s as a rookie. Protecting the quarterback was the Giants' biggest problem on offense in the first half of the season.

Nov 1 Sometimes you just plain get lucky. With the top priority in the NFL's waiver claim hierarchy, the New York Giants might just have gotten very lucky on Wednesday when they were awarded guard Jamon Brown off waivers from the Los Angeles Rams.

A Hall of Fame-caliber NFL executive said the Giants had the best offseason in the NFL. Their former head coach and other NFL analysts picked (or almost picked) the Giants to win the NFC East. And some of the warning signs slipped through the cracks.

Oct 31 Giants report card: Grading each position on offense and defense, coaching and front office. Even the doomsday forecasters couldn't have seen this coming. The Giants are 1-7 and out of the playoff picture with eight games to go.

Landon Collins sees no reason the Giants would consider trading him. No reason at all. "I do a lot for the team, organization, I was a draft pick," Collins said. There is no concrete evidence the Giants ever considered shipping Collins anywhere.

Rookie quarterback Kyle Lauletta was arrested Tuesday morning for "various motor vehicle and related disorderly persons offenses" pertaining to a traffic violation in Weehawken, New Jersey.

Former Giants
Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie announced he is retiring from the NFL via his Instagram page Tuesday morning. Rodgers-Cromartie, 32, signed with the Raiders in late August after playing the last four seasons with the New York Giants.

Oct 30 Giants creak the door open for an Eli Manning benching. There are no guarantees. Not at 1-7. Not with an offense that moves within the vicinity of the end zone and then fails to advance.
At 1-7, changes for the Giants offense are inevitable, and head coach Pat Shurmur appears to at least be open to the idea of a quarterback other than Eli Manning starting in Week 10 in San Francisco against the 49ers following the Bye.

Eli Manning has broken every meaningful passing record in Giants history, has achieved career numbers in line with many of the NFL's all-time greats, and has Hall of Fame credentials, as far as I'm concerned.
Giants of garbage time? Closer look at Eli Manning, passing offense piling up empty yards, points. The Giants have a bye this weekend to clear their heads and find an answer, though it already appears to be a certainty that rookie quarterback Kyle Lauletta will get an opportunity in place of Manning at some point in the near future.

Giants (1-6) vs Redskins (4-2) Game Preview
Last Sunday the Washington Redskins advanced their position in the NFC East division race. They were the only team in that group to finish with a win. Even better for them, it was a 20-17 win over the Dallas Cowboys.
The Giants played on Monday night with the Atlanta Falcons. Going in, it looked to be a game they could win, as the Falcons were facing a number of injuries. The Giants fell behind early, and though they managed to score 17 points in the second half, they still lost out to the Falcons 23-20.
Giants - Falcons Wrap-Up

Oct 28 Eli Manning forced to be the Giants' rock in lost season. There have been tough moments for Manning during his 15-year stay, but nothing like this. He does not offer much introspection for public consumption, yet there was a pained look in his eyes this past week as he was barraged with questions after his team traded away two defensive starters for future draft picks, the loud-as-roaring-thunder signal a rebuild is in place.

Oct 27 Giants have one game to prove they still have some life. The Giants, en route to 1-6, have insisted all along that they're thisclose to being a good team and that they're better than what their record says they are.

How did Giants-Saints Eli Apple deal go down? What was Apple's 1st reaction? The NFL trade deadline is in four days. We've already seen several deals, including a pair by the Giants, sending cornerback Eli Apple to the New Orleans Saints and defensive tackle Damon Harrison to the Detroit Lions.

Corey Coleman wants in. The last time most of the football public saw the newest wide receiver for the New York Giants, the 2016 first-round draft pick of the Cleveland Browns wanted out. That was nearly three months ago when Coleman was shown on HBO's "Hard Knocks" suggesting to his former coach, Hue Jackson, that the Browns should trade him - and the organization did just that, dealing him to Buffalo. Two teams later, Coleman wants to prove he's not a bust with Big Blue.

Oct 26 Is more Sterling Shepard the answer for Giants offense? Secret to his big plays. It wasn't just that Sterling Shepard had a Giants' season-high 167 receiving yards in Week 7. It was the way he got them: Catches covering 58, 53 and 38 yards. Leaping at the ball's highest point. Tip-toeing the sideline. Moving a drive into the red zone three different times.

The Giants this week traded two of his starters, but defensive coordinator James Bettcher emphatically said today he will not tolerate a decline in effort or production from anyone on his unit.

With Giants in disarray, Redskins can play to strengths. Over their last 23 games, the Giants are just 4-19. This past week, the franchise traded two defensive starters - Eli Apple and Damon Harrison - ahead of Sunday's matchup with the Washington Redskins. Quarterback Eli Manning appears washed up.

NFL News
For the first time in the Super Bowl era, the NFL has fired a referee in the middle of a season.

Oct 25 Don't tell the Giants about the white flag raised outside their building. After trading away their second defensive starter in as many days, the 1-6 Giants don't believe their front office is surrendering this season and thinking only about the future.

When the Giants take the field against Washington on Sunday afternoon at MetLife Stadium, the starting lineup will look drastically different than the team that took the field in Monday night's 23-20 loss to the Atlanta Falcons. Here's a look at the most likely Giants starting lineup, now that Harrison and Apple have been dealt.

Oct 24 'Snacks' Harrison traded to Lions as Giants' fire sale picks up. Eli Apple was just the beginning. Giants GM Dave Gettleman did not wait long to sell off another piece of the defense, sending Damon "Snacks" Harrison to the Lions for a fifth-round pick.

Giants trade Eli Apple for draft pick as rebuild gets underway | What's next move? The third-year cornerback was dealt from the Giants to the Saints for a fourth-round pick in 2019 and a seventh-round pick in 2020.
Eli Apple now ranks among the Giants' biggest busts ever No. 10 overall pick in 2016 had an attitude problem and never came close to realizing his potential.

Giants (1-5) vs Falcons (2-4) Game Preview
Last Sunday the Atlanta Falcons managed to hold off the Tampa Bay Buccaneers down near their goal line in the final seconds of their game. The 34-29 win broke the Falcons three game losing streak.
The last time the Giants played, it was a Thursday night matchup at home with the Philadelphia Eagles, with both teams needing to improve on their losing records. The Eagles got back on track, while the home crowd watched the Giants let down on both sides of the ball. The result was a 34-13 loss for the Giants.
Giants - Eagles Wrap-Up

Oct 22 Giants can only do one thing to change this season's narrative. The Giants will face another team Monday night that hasn't had all that many things go well for it so far this year, and the Falcons have the added burdens of both being beat up and shouldering an expectation that they'd be one of the premier teams in the NFC this season.

It's time for everybody's favorite new Giants-themed game: Name that return man! Contestants 1 and and 2 were holdovers from last season. Contestants 3 and 4 were waiver-wire additions. Contestant 5 was an undrafted rookie. And on and on down the line.

Oct 21 Giants to make another change to the starting offensive line. As a whole, the unit has struggled massively, failing to create enough holes for the running game and give quarterback Eli Manning the needed time to throw.

The Giants are in search of their second win of the season Monday night against the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes Benz Stadium, but will need to find a way to contain quarterback Matt Ryan, and wide receivers Julio Jones and Calvin Ridley.

So much attention has been focused on the Giants' offensive shortcomings this season. Defensive coordinator James Bettcher wants to remind you that his group isn't exactly playing up to expectations either. He reminded his players of that as well.

Former Giants
Dick Modzelewski, a star defensive tackle who appeared in eight NFL title games with the New York Giants and Cleveland Browns during the 1950s and '60s, has died. He was 87.

Oct 20 James Bettcher's Giants defense was supposed to feature exotic blitzes and aggressive schemes - unpredictability that players were raving about in the spring and summer. That has yet to be the case, but there is a reason for that.
Did the Giants go all-in on Eli Manning as their quarterback in 2018 and beyond? The Giants are 1-5 and it appears obvious to most that their offseason plan was based on one big miscalculation: Manning would turn back the clock if given the right complementary pieces.
If Eli is not the answer, Giants have some options moving forward. The Giants are sticking with Eli Manning as their quarterback. For now. How long that commitment lasts likely rests largely in how well Manning and the Giants perform in the coming weeks and months of the 2018 season.

Oct 19 Pat Shurmur still believes he can hold disaster season together. His veteran quarterback has been attacked from many more places than simply opposing defenses: His star receiver has rattled the team-first foundation with bizarre, self-serving rants; his rebuilt offensive line can't block; and his high-priced defense has vastly underperformed.
If you want to last in this town, you have to go through the tough times, and Shurmur is already in the fight. How he battles through it will provide an early barometer of how he might be suited for the long term, however long term that might be. His players are solidly behind him.

Oct 18 Special Report - It's tough to argue that the Giants are just going through growing pains, though there is an argument that it might take a quarterback, let alone other players, nearly a season before being comfortable in a new system. It's also hard to argue that players earning $5, $10, $20 million or more can use such an excuse.
After last Thursday's debacle at home in a 34-13 loss to division rival and defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles, there were cries from GiantLand that Eli Manning is finished, that rookie Kyle Lauletta should be prepped to start "to see what he can do" and that the team missed their opportunity to get their hands on a franchise quarterback for the future in the April draft.

Fifteen years and two Super Bowls ago, the Giants made the right move trading for Eli Manning. The question that won't go away for years and years is whether they made the wrong move drafting Saquon Barkley with the second-overall pick instead of Sam Darnold.
Having an old quarterback isn't the only issue facing the Giants these days. The new offense, a system that Pat Shurmur brought with him as head coach this offseason, has been slow to click.

Oct 17 John Mara rips into Giants, Odell Beckham Jr. Co-owner says OBJ needs to do more playing and less talking, calls team's 1-5 start "embarrassing."
John Mara is just as wrong for throwing Odell Beckham Jr. under the bus Tuesday as Beckham was for throwing Eli Manning under the bus nearly two weeks ago.

Rare good news for Giants offense: Engram eyes return. It did not help the Giants' anemic offense that one of their main playmakers, tight end Evan Engram, missed the past three games with a sprained knee.

Giants offensive line is a mess ... Here's how Spencer Pulley can fix it. The Giants offense has a myriad of issues that have contributed to yet another "embarrassing" 1-5 start, not the least of which is lackluster offensive line play.

Oct 16 How it all went wrong for the Giants' offense. Nothing has worked out better than expected, but that does not mean everything has gone wrong - other than the results on the field, of course.
Giants' Eli Manning as ex-quarterbacks join line of critics: 'You always get a vibe of what's being said'. Eli Manning built a reputation based on an uncanny ability to block out noise and answer his critics on the field, but the line is starting to include too many of his fraternity brothers to ignore.

Health and a new locker room vibe have these 1-5 Giants feeling better than last year's 1-5 Giants. The Giants have had a few days off to reflect on where they are and where they might be headed.

Oct 15 If Eli Manning continues to struggle against the Atlanta Falcons and Washington over the next two weeks, Shurmur would be wise to making the change from Manning to fourth-round rookie Kyle Lauletta, to at least evaluate what the Richmond product is capable of in the NFL.
Kyle Lauletta is a perfect six-for-six this season. Six games, six designations as inactive. On game days, he is on the sideline, but not in uniform. The logical conclusion to draw from this is Lauletta is the No. 3 quarterback, behind starter Eli Manning and backup Alex Tanney. Well, nothing about this sorry Giants season is very logical.

Oct 14 It was just a few short weeks ago that everything was so shiny and new, it was hard to not get excited about the Giants. They seemed to have all the pieces in place to execute a quick turnaround from the 3-13 season in 2017 and become one of those worst-to-first teams that the NFL provides just about every year.
Giants are facing harsh reality they could never picture. There is little doubt Gettleman and Shurmur - as well as ownership - viewed this as a team capable of competing for a playoff berth. The offensive line, in particular, has disappointed.
How many more winnable games do the Giants have? Things look bleak for the Giants ahead of Week 6 in Atlanta, and it's worth wondering just how many potential wins remain on the schedule.

Odell Beckham Jr. says he has nothing to apologize for. There are several misconceptions about what went down after the Odell Beckham Jr. interview on ESPN that upset the Giants so strongly they fined him for his comments.

Oct 13 Through 15 years, there have been rough times for Eli Manning. Plenty of them. Accolades sure, but more recently, growing doubt on the outside, and perhaps even a little bit on the inside, about his ability to continue to function and thrive as the franchise quarterback of the Giants.
You can't spell believe without Eli. With critics of Eli Manning mounting to include former teammates and the Giants off to a 1-5 start, coach Pat Shurmur quickly put to rest any thoughts of a quarterback change during the long layoff before an Oct. 22 visit to the Falcons. ""We believe in Eli," Shurmur said.

There will be no turning around of the season. The Giants may win a game here or there. Maybe they string a few together down the stretch. More than half the roster is comprised of first-year Giants. It is a new system on offense and defense. Quality teams can win enough during the adjustment. The Giants are not a quality team.

Saquon Barkley already is proving to be a terrific NFL running back, and nothing about his first six games suggests selecting him high in the draft was a fool's errand. What is up for debate is why he ended up with the Giants.

Former Giants
Ereck Flowers signs with Jaguars. Ex-Giants coach Tom Coughlin scoops up tackle he drafted in first round in 2015.
Ereck Flowers signs with Jaguars, his unlikeliest suitor. The Jaguars were desperate, after placing two offensive tackles (Cam Robinson and Josh Wells) on injured reserve,
Geno Smith weighs in on Eli Manning, says everyone owes Ben McAdoo an apology.

Giants (1-4) vs Eagles (2-3) Game Preview
Last Sunday the Eagles hosted the Minnesota Vikings in a follow up of the NFC Championship game also played at home. Back then the Eagles beat them soundly 38-7, and went on to win in the Super Bowl. This time the Vikings got their revenge, and left town with a 23-21 win.
In their game, the Giants were up against a tough Carolina Panthers team. Despite trailing for most of the game, the Giants finally took the lead with about one minute left. The Panthers didn't have time to move the ball very far, but a 63-yard field goal gave them a 33-31 win.
Giants - Panthers Wrap-Up

Oct 11 Perhaps the start of the Giants' season would not be as dire if outside linebacker Olivier Vernon, their most accomplished pass-rusher, played in the first five games. He did not, though, but he will make his 2018 debut Thursday night against the Eagles, making the Giants' defense a more formidable unit.
The Eagles made a late addition to their injury report for Thursday night's game against the Giants. All-Pro right tackle Lane Johnson was downgraded to questionable with an ankle injury. Johnson wasn't listed on Wednesday's injury report.

The Giants have the chance to torpedo the defending Super Bowl champion Eagles' season with a victory on Thursday night at MetLife Stadium. However, it is going to take a complete game, which has been a struggle for Pat Shurmur's team through the first five weeks of the regular season.
For frustrated Giants, all that's on the line vs. Eagles is everything. There are only so many opportunities a team can have to save its season, and time has run out here. If the Giants lose, it is sole possession of last place and a record (1-5) that signifies it is getting close to making plans for next year.

Oct 10 Giants vs. Eagles injury report: Will Evan Engram or Olivier Vernon play? What's the latest on Saquon Barkley? Here's an update on Barkley, Engram, Vernon, kicker Aldrick Rosas and tight end Rhett Ellison, ahead of Thursday's game.

Upbeat Giants think brutal loss could be a turning point. The Giants lost on Sunday. Just a reminder, because it might seem hard to reconcile that fact with the way the team has been acting lately. Bouncing with energy. Brimming with optimism.

Lil Wayne heard what Eli Manning said - and is not happy. A day after the Giants quarterback spoke about the rapper for perhaps the first time in his life, a bothered Lil Wayne, enormous blunt in hand, released a series of Instagram videos in which he was incredulous he was on the receiving end of a shot from one of his favorite quarterbacks.

Connor Barwin spent the 2017 season with the Los Angeles Rams before signing with the Giants this offseason on a two-year deal. With Olivier Vernon (ankle) sidelined, Barwin has been thrust into a larger role on the Giants' defensive line. Thursday, he'll match up with right tackle Lane Johnson, and try to beat his former teammates on the other side of the Eagles-Giants rivalry.

Oct 9 Giants to cut or trade Ereck Flowers after draft bust 'ran its course'. Ereck Flowers' Giants career is over earlier than expected and later than the fan base demanded. The Giants intend to trade or release Flowers by 4 p.m. Tuesday.
The Giants are done with Ereck Flowers. For all intents and purposes, Ereck Flowers and the Giants unofficially parted ways two weeks into this season, when he was benched, yanked from his starting right tackle job.

Eli Manning praises Pat Shurmur for handling latest Odell Beckham controversy. If 14 targets in Sunday's game didn't say it, Eli Manning did. There is no rift between him and Odell Beckham after the star wide receiver offered only a tepid endorsement for his aging quarterback in a controversial television interview with ESPN.

The longest-tenured Giants offensive lineman on the active roster is Chad Wheeler. Let that sink in. A second-year player, undrafted a year ago out of USC, and the starting right tackle for the last three games, now stands as the only player in the position group who has been with the team since the start of the 2017 season. That's how much the Giants have overhauled their offensive line.

Giants (1-3) vs Panthers (2-1) Game Preview
Last week the Panthers were on an early season bye after playing in just three games. The week earlier they had hosted the Cincinnati Bengals, and won that game 31-21.
The Giants started out strong last week playing at home against the New Orleans Saints. They weren't able to sustain an early lead and took a 33-18 loss.
Giants - Saints Wrap-Up

Oct 7 The Giants (1-3) are staring into the face of their weakness at 1 p.m. today when they visit the Panthers (2-1) and their premier dual-threat quarterback (Newton) at Bank of America Stadium.
Giants activate run-stopper to face Panthers after suspension. Josh Mauro was signed by the Giants in March after he spent four years with the Cardinals, the final three playing for defensive coordinator James Bettcher during his stint in Arizona.

One of the reasons the Giants' offense can't seem to get started might just be where they are starting. Their return game, on both punts and kickoffs, has been virtually nonexistent. Their average starting field position through four weeks is the 24.4-yard line, which ranks 27th in the NFL.

Oct 6 Go ask Odell Beckham what he meant to say. That was the overarching message from Giants coach Pat Shurmur after Friday's practice, as he faced an onslaught of questions about Odell Beckham's on-video criticism of his teammates' heart and energy and of an offense that isn't putting him in position to make big plays.
Odell Beckham is right: Giants need to exhibit sense of urgency. The Giants' offense is a mess, a cruel joke, and something needs to change and better change starting Sunday in Charlotte, N.C. Eli Manning needs a big game. Badly. Immediately. Beckham needs a touchdown catch. Badly. Immediately. Manning needs to throw a touchdown pass to Odell Beckham Jr. Badly. Immediately.

Giants and Panthers are intertwined Especially the coaching staffs, many of whom worked for the other organization or with their counterparts. One of them, undoubtedly, is Dave Gettleman. He was abruptly fired as general manager of the Panthers last summer, two seasons after taking the team to a Super Bowl. In December, he was named general manager of the Giants.

Through four games, Will Hernandez is the highest-rated rookie offensive lineman in the NFL, according to Pro Football Focus. On Friday, Hernandez was named the PFF Offensive Rookie of the Month. Despite struggles along the line, Hernandez is fitting the mold of "hog mollie," the term of endearment general manager Dave Gettleman assigns to tough offensive linemen.

Oct 5 It is getting late early again for the Giants, and Giants fans have flocked into the Panic Room. Odell Beckham Jr. will not be joining them in there. Not yet anyway. Not now, at 1-3 and a trip to Carolina staring the Giants in their frustrated faces.

Giants can't wait to have their 'Terminator' back on the field. Even if the Panthers know that Olivier Vernon is expected to make his season debut Sunday, Damon Harrison doesn't think they know what's coming. "It'll be a nice surprise for the Panthers, if we can get him back," the Giants tackle said Thursday.

It's a prove-it game for the Giants. On offense, prove you can move the ball against the Cover 2 defense. On defense, prove you can stop the zone read. Until the Giants do those things, they are in danger of replaying the same game over and over, including at 1 p.m. Sunday against the Panthers.

Giants' Odell Beckham on deep-ball chances: 'They're there, but they're not there'. Beckham has yet to score a touchdown this season and has been held to under 100 yards twice in four games. "You seem more concerned about the end zone than me," Beckham snapped back at a reporter. "I'm not concerned. I missed four games my rookie year, still came back and [caught 12 touchdowns]. So, end zone, it'll come."

Oct 4 Eli Manning answers critics who say he needs to change tactics. Manning is adamant he is not settling for check-down passes and that he is not getting rid of the ball too quickly because he is concerned with the pass rush.
Eli Manning may be putting a strong face and a confident spin on the situation, but even the great ones start to have some self-doubt when they get to a certain age and the results they are used to attaining are no longer so easily achievable. So says Hall of Fame quarterback Brett Favre.

Eli Manning is not going to take unnecessary risks to try to jump-start the Giants' points-needy offense. In addition to touchdowns, the deep pass has become an infrequent component in the Giants' offense. Manning is tied for sixth in the league with 112 completions, but only three of them gained more than 25 yards, and none more than 37 yards.

The Cowboys and Saints held the Giants to three total scoring drives before the game was out of reach late in the fourth quarter. The common denominator is both teams played soft zone coverage, dropping safeties 20 yards off the line of scrimmage to eliminate big plays by Odell Beckham and Sterling Shepard.

It's time the Giants go all-in on Saquon Barkley. The Cowboys needed rescuing last Sunday against the Lions and Ezekiel Elliott rescued them. The Giants need rescuing this Sunday in Carolina and they should turn to Saquon Barkley to rescue them.

Oct 3 Eli Manning's low-risk game plan is driving Giants nowhere fast. Years of shabby protection has Manning at times feeling pressure that might not be there. His pocket was fairly well-secured against the Saints, and his passer rating of 99.1 was like cubic zirconia - it looked good but was not worth much.
The thing about a dink-and-dunk offense is it requires long drives to move the ball. And the thing about long drives is every play becomes an opportunity for disaster to strike in the form of a sack, a penalty, a turnover or lost yardage.
Maybe it's time to let Odell Beckham Jr. be himself again. Beckham has the 16th most receiving yards in the NFL this season (331). He's the only player in the top 16 without a reception of more than 30 yards.

Oct 2 What's the deal with all of Giants' Eli Manning's check down passes? Much has been made this week of the New Orleans Saints' ability to take away Eli Manning's deep passing game by playing a soft cover-two defense in Sunday's 33-18 Giants loss.

Giants want answers after officiating debacle in loss. After every game, the Giants and every other NFL team submits plays into the league office from that week's game, seeking clarification on calls and penalties. Coach Pat Shurmur calls it "a handful of things" in a typical week. "I have a bigger handful this week," he said Monday.

Pat Shurmur rarely is critical of anyone when speaking publicly. On Monday, he was. And he pointed that condemnation at himself. "I wish I would have called more runs, all right?" he said. "That's the reality of that. I think the ball in Saquon [Barkley]'s hands is a good thing."