Eli Manning: Giants must win last two and hope for help
Eli Manning #10 of the New York Giants throws a pass in the first half against the Carolina Panthers at MetLife Stadium on Sunday, Dec. 20, 2015 in East Rutherford, N.J. Credit: Jim McIsaac
Eli Manning addressed the Giants on Monday and told them the biggest regret they will have this season is if Washington (7-7) loses its last two games, which is half of the equation that could get the Giants into the playoffs, and the Giants (6-8) can’t win their final two games, which is the other half.
The chances are slim. If Washington beats Philadelphia on Saturday night, the Giants will be eliminated from contention before they even take the field Sunday night in Minnesota.
But Tom Coughlin insists the odds — or the elimination — will not change the team’s approach.
“Full speed ahead, that’s how you handle it,” Coughlin said on Monday. “We talked about that, and we looked each other in the eye, and we’ve got to have two great weeks of practice starting right now . . . Nothing changes, nothing changes. We will prepare and do the necessary work, and go up there and believe we will win.”
Sunday’s loss to the Panthers was the sixth that came after the Giants were leading or tied with less than two minutes remaining in the fourth quarter. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, that is the most such games the Giants have had in a season since the 1970 merger.
“I’m still trying to deal with that and understand it,” Manning said. “I think we are a good team. We just haven’t been good enough to win some of these games.”
JPP: ‘I make a big difference’
Jason Pierre-Paul registered his first sack of the season Sunday and said he should have had three.
“Honestly, I think that I’m getting better and better,” he said Monday. “This [hand injury] didn’t come with instructions, as my coach said . . . Any time you come back from a long injury or whatever, you’ll be rusty. Other than that, I think I’m just getting started.”
Pierre-Paul said he feels as if he is coming out of training camp at this point. “I make a big difference on the line,’’ he said, “and I’m just happy that I’m out here playing with my teammates and I can help.”
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.
More Giants
