National Football League

Despite 6-6 record, Giants control their destiny

Published Dec. 5, 2011 11:00 p.m. ET

share

facebookxredditlink

foxsports

Despite losing four straight games and having a .500 record, the New York Giants control their playoff chances with four games left in the season.

Making the situation most interesting is the Giants (6-6) don't have to run the table to get back to the postseason for the first time since 2008.

All coach Tom Coughlin's team has to do is beat the Dallas Cowboys (7-5) twice and win one other game. That would leave the Giants at 9-7 and it would give them the NFC East title.

''I think obviously you get late in the season and every game is important, every game is going to dictate whether you make the playoffs or not, so we know what is ahead of us,'' Eli Manning said Monday. ''We know what we have to do right now. This is a huge game. It's not a situation where all the sudden you get stressed or you get worried about winning or losing. You get excited about these games. This is where you want to be. This is going to be fun and we have to look forward to it.''

New York opens the stretch run with a game at Dallas on Sunday night, followed by a home game against Washington, an `away' game with the Jets and a final home game against Dallas on New Year's Day.

The Giants have not won since beating New England 24-20 on Nov. 6. It gave New York a two-game lead in the division that's gone now.

The Giants might have gained some momentum, though. They played an outstanding game against the undefeated Green Bay Packers (12-0) on Sunday, dropping a 38-35 decision on a last-second field goal by Mason Crosby.

It was the closest call the Packers have had all season, and they needed Aaron Rodgers to hit three passes of 18 yards or more in the 58-second drive to win their 18th straight game.

Coughlin said thinking about the game wasn't fun. But speaking to his team Monday, the 65-year-old coach already was looking ahead.

''I talked to them about that because I think our goals are still in hand,'' Coughlin said. ''Everything that we wanted to achieve at the very beginning of the season, having played 12 weeks, they're still there. This is obviously a big game in the division, in Dallas, for first place in the division.''

The Giants' offense looked a little more balanced with running back Ahmad Bradshaw back in the starting lineup. His cutback ability and toughness on each play seemed to motivate the team and helped set up the power rushing of backup Brandon Jacobs.

Receiver Hakeem Nicks, who caught two touchdowns, said the running attack forced the Packers to bring a safety closer to the line of scrimmage and that allowed Manning to throw deep passes, including a 67-yarder to Travis Beckum for a score, a 51-yarder to Nicks, and a 42-yarder to Victor Cruz, who is closing in on the Giants' single-season record for yards receiving.

''We're in a situation where we control our own destiny,'' Nicks said. ''We know where we want to be and what we want to do. We just have to get the job done.''

Veteran defensive tackle Chris Canty smiled when asked about the stretch run.

''I guess the playoffs have already started for us,'' Canty said.

Notes: Safety Kenny Phillips was in the locker room with a brace on his sprained left knee. Coughlin said doctors are uncertain how long he will be out. ..OT Stacy Andrews is going to miss the rest of the season after being hospitalized on Saturday night with embolisms in both lungs. ...Bradshaw and LB Michael Boley were sore after seeing their first action in weeks. ...DE Osi Umenyiora is looking doubtful again this week with an ankle injury ...MLB Mark Herzlich, who was inactive Sunday, was still wearing a boot on his right foot Monday.

.

share

Get more from National Football League Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more

in this topic

National Football League