Giants enter final, crucial 4-game stretch

Despite their 31-7, taking-care-of-business bruising of the Redskins on Sunday, the Giants’ final four-game stretch has remains a crucial test with no room for mistakes.

With one game remaining against NFC East co-leader Philadelphia coming up in two weeks, and three of their remaining games on the road, the pressure to win becomes ever more important in terms of the 8-4 Giants’ postseason future. Whereas at first a 10-6 record might have gotten them to the postseason, that number might well leave a second-place team outside the six-seed tournament due to strong wild-card competitors such as New Orleans (9-3) and Green Bay (8-4).

But the Giants are in position to make a run, as they sit tied with Green Bay for the final playoff seed. Pressure? It’s what they signed up for.

“It’s exciting, actually,” said right guard Chris Snee. “That’s when the true competitors step forward. We feel like we’re loaded with those, and we’re looking forward to seeing what we can do here down the stretch.”

The team that has gone 11-15 in Tom Coughlin-coached Decembers will have to change its demeanor now. But defensive tackle Barry Cofield said the current situation offers more motivation than aggravation, especially after way his unit shut down the Jaguars and Redskins during the past six quarters.

“That’s what you live for,” Cofield said. “That’s exciting. You want to have pressure and have something to play for and have things at the end of the season to play for.

“We need to treat every game like a must-win," Cofield added. "That’s the only way we’ll assure ourselves of the playoffs. Our No. 1 goal is to win the NFC East. We know [Philadelphia] is playing good football, and we have to play good football.”