Antrel Rolle: Giants can win out
Giants safety Antrel Rolle speaks to the media after a brief team practice at Timex Performance Center that served as the start of training camp. (July 26, 2013) Credit: James Escher
If the Giants are going to make the playoffs this year, they'll likely have to win all six of their remaining games starting with Sunday night's home contest against the Cowboys. Can they run the table?
"Absolutely I think it's a possibility," Antrel Rolle said during his weekly spot on WFAN. "There's no doubt in my mind. But in order for it to be a possibility, we have to go out there and play as a team. All three phases have to be on the same page at the same time."
That hasn't been the case the last two weeks as the defense folded against the Seahawks and then the offense was unable to produce against the 49ers. Rolle said he thought the Giants' defense played well enough to win on Sunday against the 49ers, and even said he was "not thrilled" by the play-calling on a first-and-goal late in the game that resulted in three incompletions and an interception. But he later said he was not frustrated by the lack of scoring.
"We did enough (on defense) to get a win but I don't think we did enough to help our team win," he said. "We all know there have been plenty of times where the offense saved our butts."
Rolle said it is "always a concern" that players will check out during a losing streak such as the one the Giants are experiencing -- now at five straight games. He cited leaders in the locker room and on the coaching staff, however, as reasons why that won't happen.
"That's why you have guys who can set great examples and hopefully other guys follow suit," Rolle said.
Maybe they can follow to the tune of six straight wins. It is, as Rolle said, a possibility. Unlikely -- after watching the last five games perhaps even unfathomable -- but possible.
"This team is more than capable, but right now we're just not doing the things that are asked of us to do," Rolle said. "All we can do is control what we do on the defensive side of the ball. I know our offense will pick it up. They're a great offense. They just had a bad day."
Tom Rock began covering sports for Newsday in 1996 and became its NFL columnist in 2022. He previously was Newsday's Giants beat writer beginning in 2008.
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