Giants Q&A: Redskins burn Amukamara

Rough day for Prince Amukamara?

Yes. The rookie cornerback was a bit exposed Sunday by the Redskins, who clearly targeted him early on. Amukamara was in coverage on the fourth-and-1 pass to Jabar Gaffney that allowed the Redskins to escape a third-and-17. He was one of those in coverage when Santana Moss caught a 20-yard touchdown pass, and he was burned by Gaffney on a slant when he overpursued and allowed the receiver to cut outside for 5 additional yards and convert a third-and-14 with a 16-yard play.

"There's still a lot of things I need to work on," Amukamara said. "I'm still not where I want to be or where the coaches want me to be."

How did the Giants handle it in the second half?

Basically, they benched him and had safety Antrel Rolle play as their third cornerback for most of the half. "It was the coach's decision," Amukamara said of being pulled. "He just told me that they were going with a different package." Said Tom Coughlin: "It seemed like they threw the ball in that direction and we were not having a lot of success."

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What was the halftime entertainment?

It was supposed to be the New Providence (N.J.) High School marching band, but the band never had a chance to play because the Giants' Devin Thomas had a neck injury that was being attended to for most of the intermission. The band actually took the field and appeared ready to begin its presentation, but it was waved off while medical staff slid Thomas onto a backboard and carted him off the field.

Is Thomas OK?

He walked around on the sideline during the second half. Coughlin said Thomas was "going through a series of tests" that he also called "precautionary stuff." Coughlin said the tests were being done to determine if he suffered a stinger or had a disc injury.

Any other injuries?

Jake Ballard left the game in the second half with a sprained knee and will have further tests Monday. Fellow tight end Bear Pascoe also appeared to injure a knee late in the game and had X-rays.

Why was D.J. Ware the receiver on the go route when Oshiomogho Atogwe intercepted Eli Manning?

Ware was lined up in the slot, a position Travis Beckum usually would have played, but Beckum was out with a chest injury. London Fletcher had good coverage on Ware down the field, but Ware is not a receiver. He tipped the ball in the air before Atogwe dived and caught it.

Was Long Island in the house?

You know it. Redskins fullback Darrel Young, from Amityville, scored his first career touchdown on a 6-yard run in the second quarter and had four carries for 14 yards. Defensive end Stephen Bowen, a product of Half Hollow Hills West and Hofstra, sacked Manning for a loss of 8 yards right before the Giants missed a 44-yard field-goal attempt in the third quarter.