Slumping Giants trying to convince themselves
Photo credit: AP | San Diego Chargers tight end Antonio Gates (85) slips away from New York Giants' Aaron Rouse (26) on his way to a first down in the first quarter. (November 8, 2009)
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Nov. 8: Chargers 21, Giants 20
It was a day to regain confidence. Or to act that way, at least.
The Giants, coming off a devastating 21-20 loss to the Chargers that marked the emotional peak - or depth - of their four-game losing streak, did a lot of self-boostering Monday. Osi Umenyiora said he "still thinks we're one of the best teams in the NFL." Antonio Pierce said the Giants are "capable of winning a championship."
Even Eli Manning backtracked after saying the Giants are "in a bind," which was the verbal equivalent of one of his awkward scrambles from the pocket.
"We are not in the exact position we want to be at 5-4," Manning ultimately said, "but it's not an awful position."
So the Giants have the right mind-set and are talking it up. But are they confident because they feel as if they can still make a title run, because things are coming together for them after playing an encouraging game but losing, and because they truly believe they are winners? Or are they confident simply for confidence's sake, because the alternative is so unappealing?
Perhaps the most telling line from all the bravado and bluster came from Umenyiora, the defensive end who admitted there is some doubt to the Giants' - or at least his own - rhetoric. "I'm definitely panicked right now," Umenyiora said, "but it's not something we can let get into the psyche of everyone else."
Apparently, it has not infiltrated, as Umenyiora noted several times, and he said the team has "the utmost confidence in ourselves." But the Giants also know they are staring at a series of seven virtual must-wins.
"I have all the confidence in the world that this team can turn it around," Pierce said. "Hopefully, we can go 7-0 in this next stretch. I know one thing, every game from this point on obviously is very critical to our season and how we're going to play and if we're going to play in January and February."
The next time the Giants can win will be against the Falcons on Nov. 22, six weeks since their last victory, a rout of the Raiders. Four days later, they play in Denver before three straight NFC East games, including the Eagles and Cowboys at Giants Stadium.
"We definitely have our work cut out for us," center Shaun O'Hara said. "But having a winning record halfway through the season, you give yourself a chance. That's all you can ask for."
Added Umenyiora: "It's going to be very difficult, but those are teams we can beat, teams we have to beat. Nobody wants our season to end early."
The Giants are quick to remind doubters that at this point last year, they were on an 11-1 run. That season ended with a one-and-out playoff loss to the Eagles at home. "We've learned the past few years that it is really most important to be playing your best at the end of the season," Manning said.
At the very least, the Giants are back to being overlooked, disrespected and counted out. They wear that well, and the position seemed to work for them the last time it happened, toward the end of the 2007 season. Maybe that, in some reverse-psychology way, is fueling the confidence.
"This is a situation that the Giants are comfortable in," Umenyiora said. "We have our backs against the wall and we always come out swinging. Hopefully, we'll be able to do that for the rest of these games right here. This is something that we're used to."
