Giants start to think Chargers might be must-win
Photo credit: Getty Images | Justin Tuck and the Giants have the mindset that next week's game against the Chargers may be a must-win. (October 11, 2009)
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Nov. 1: Eagles 40, Giants 17
Justin Tuck looked around the Giants' locker room Monday afternoon and declared that team confidence is as high as it's been in nearly a month. This less than 24 hours after a 40-17 thumping by the rival Eagles, a fall from first place in the division, and a historically bad three-game losing streak.
Why such high hopes?
"Because you realize it's going to be hard for us to play as bad as we have over the last two weeks over and over again," Tuck said. "It has to turn around. And that's how we approach it."
The Giants believe they've sunk as low as they can go. Asked if this is rock bottom, Tuck said he thinks it is. Then, he added, "I hope it is."
Of course, just when a team thinks things can't get any worse, they very often do. And that's the precipice that the Giants face Sunday when they host the Chargers, a team like the Giants themselves with loads of talent but not an overly impressive record at this point in the season.
So what does it say that a team that always thinks about nothing but winning, abolishes negative thoughts and has always been convinced of its ability to come out on top in the face of late-game deficits, late-season funks and even bullet holes in receivers, is suddenly bracing itself and realizing what a loss Sunday would mean?
That confidence may not be as high as Tuck thinks it is. And that rock bottom may not have been reached just yet.
"The last thing we want to do is go into the bye week being 5-4 with another loss and having two weeks to think about that one," Tuck said. "It's a very, very important game coming up on Sunday. I hate to say that because it's Week 9, but it's a very important game on Sunday."
So important that it could ultimately be season-defining. Antonio Pierce called it a "must-win" game on his weekly call-in with WFAN Monday. It's pretty close to that.
"Unless you're in the playoffs, one game does not define your season," Shaun O'Hara stated. "But," he conceded, "we do have a big game coming up."
Tuck may have been touting his team's confidence Monday, but he said that it was lacking to the point where doubt had set in on Sunday. He said the Giants had enough fight in them, but lacked what he called "swagger."
"When they got up on their lead, I don't know if we honestly believed we had the capability of coming back on them on that day," Tuck said. "Maybe I'm just completely off base in saying that. I don't know if there is doubt. But it feels that way."
Notes & quotes: LB Michael Boley (knee) and DT Chris Canty (calf) are expected to practice Wednesday and could be ready for Sunday's game. CB Aaron Ross (hamstring) might advance to individual drills this week . . . Tom Coughlin said WR Mario Manningham (shoulder) is feeling better and likely will practice this week after missing the Eagles game.
