At 5-4, Giants ahead of past two seasons
Eli Manning #10 of the New York Giants calls a play during a game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium on Sunday, Nov. 8, 2015, in Tampa, Fla. Credit: Getty Images / Mike Ehrmann
In each of the last two years, the Giants had a record of 3-6 and were in third place in the NFC East at this point in the season. So though being a game over .500 with a precarious half-game lead in a miserable division might not seem like much of an accomplishment, it's far better than recent alternatives.
"Obviously, it's a great thing," Tom Coughlin said this week. "It's a wonderful thing to be able to be in the hunt, to be relevant. And each week is extremely meaningful, and that players are well aware of that."
Of the Giants' seven remaining opponents, two are unbeaten and their combined record is 37-19. According to ESPN Stats & Information, the .661 winning percentage of remaining opponents is the highest in the league.
For now, though, the Giants will enjoy their perch while fully aware of the challenges that loom.
"Obviously, we have many, many important and big games to go," Coughlin said. "But it's good to have that factor involved."
Hughes addition
The Giants placed DT Johnathan Hankins (pectoral) on injured reserve and promoted DT Montori Hughes from their practice squad. Hughes played in 16 regular-season games for the Colts in the past two seasons and three playoff games last year. He played in the AFC Championship Game against the Patriots that sparked the investigation into New England's use of deflated footballs. Hankins (25) had the second-longest streak of consecutive starts on the team behind Eli Manning's 176. That honor now belongs to Odell Beckham Jr. with 21. The Giants also added DT Louis Nix to their practice squad after waiving him Saturday.
Giant steps
Trevin Wade's fumble return as time expired was the first Giants touchdown with no time left on the clock since Scott Brunner threw a 19-yard touchdown pass to Johnny Perkins against the L.A. Rams in a 28-7 Giants loss Sept. 28, 1980 . . . According to the Elias Sports Bureau, the Giants' nine sacks is their lowest total through nine games since team sacks first were compiled in 1963.
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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