Giants' defense loses battle, wins war
Photo credit: AP | Atlanta Falcons tight end Tony Gonzalez, right, catches a pass in the end zone against New York Giants linebacker Michael Boley for a touchdown to tie the game in the fourth quarter. (Nov. 22, 2009)
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Photos: Giants 34, Falcons 31 (OT)
The Giants won the game. The defense? Well, they joined in the celebration as much as they could after blowing a 14-point fourth-quarter lead and allowing a last-minute touchdown drive for the second time in two games.
"It hurts my heart, honestly," cornerback Terrell Thomas said. "It was a bitter taste. It was a great win for our team, we needed it . . . but we definitely didn't like the way we finished it. We would have loved for the game to end [31-24] with the defense making a great stop, but unfortunately, that didn't happen for us."
Thomas wasn't the only one who left the stadium Sunday night with those feelings.
"It almost feels like we lost, because the defense didn't help to win in the end," linebacker Chase Blackburn said.
Cornerback Corey Webster talked about the goals the defense outlines before each game, such as keeping the opponent to fewer than 17 points. "There's always a bitter taste when you don't reach those goals," he said, "but there's no pretty or ugly wins."
Jacobs 'seems OK'
Brandon Jacobs left the game late in the third quarter after taking a blow to his right knee, but he said afterward that he thought he could have returned. He didn't. Monday, Tom Coughlin said he was told by the medical staff that Jacobs could not have returned. Still, he was not listed on the injury report and participated in the "modified jog-through" Monday. "He did seem OK," Coughlin said.
Giant steps
Denver QB Kyle Orton (ankle), who did not start Sunday but came in when Chris Simms was ineffective, practiced fully Monday and Broncos coach Josh McDaniels said he "feels good" about the prospects of having him Thursday night . . . RB Ahmad Bradshaw (foot/ankle) was the only Giant who did not participate in yesterday's on-field workout.
