Bradshaw returns to Giants' backfield

Ahmad Bradshaw -- all 5-10, 214 pounds of him -- was the spark plug the Giants' running game had so desperately needed.

He had been sidelined with a foot injury for the previous four games, but Sunday he made a contribution. Behind Brandon Jacobs and Bradshaw, the Giants outgained Green Bay 100 yards to 89 on the ground, albeit in a losing effort at MetLife Stadium.

Moral victories don't count for much in the NFL, but Bradshaw said there were plenty of positives for the Giants in their 38-35 loss to the Packers.

"We know this is a good team," he said of Green Bay, which extended its unbeaten streak to 18 straight. "We were ready to come out and play. It just didn't end our way. We know we're better than how we played today and we can do a lot better, but we played great. They just came out with the better score than us."

Bradshaw practiced for the first time Friday since suffering the injury more than a month ago and was listed as questionable for Sunday's game. But he didn't appear to be hampered by the stress fracture in his right foot and gained 38 yards on 11 carries.

"I'm better than I thought I would be after the game," said Bradshaw, who last played against Miami on Oct. 30. "I thought I'd be sore and not even able to walk. But I feel great."

In Bradshaw's absence, Jacobs didn't fare too well carrying the load. The Giants had a total of 296 rushing yards in the four games Bradshaw missed, and Jacobs churned out only 67 yards on 25 carries in their losses to the Eagles and Saints the previous two weeks.

"It definitely was good to get 'Bulldog' back out," said Jacobs, who rushed for 59 yards on eight carries to move into fourth place on the Giants' all-time rushing list, ahead of Alex Webster, who was inducted into the team's Ring of Honor during halftime.

"I think he played a wonderful game. He got a couple key first downs for us, made a couple plays. And that's what we needed."

Bradshaw, however, didn't think his return was the catalyst for Jacobs' breakout day.

"That's what his plan is every game to come in and do, and he took advantage of it today," he said of Jacobs, who had a 1-yard touchdown run and a long run of 14 yards. "I think we play for each other and we complemented each other today."

Bradshaw said he was not restricted by play counts and is unsure if he'll be held out of practice this week to rest his foot.

"I just want to be healthy for Sunday," he said. "However it goes."