Tuck notes Falcons' cheap-shot reputation

The Giants players have not spent a lot of time analyzing tape of the Falcons yet, but Justin Tuck already knows at least one thing about their offensive line.

"Most people, you would call them dirtbags," Tuck told reporters Monday.

He was speaking of opposing teams' criticism of the Falcons for cheap shots, hits after the whistle and flops that result in penalties. Twice in a span of three games earlier this season, players from the Packers and Lions called out the Falcons for their tactics.

After Green Bay's Oct. 9 win over the Falcons, Packers nose tackle B.J. Raji was quoted as saying that "great teams don't indulge in the kind of cheap stuff the Falcons do" and "these guys are coached to play after the whistle."

Two weeks later, Detroit's Ndamukong Suh -- he of the two-game suspension for stomping a Packers offensive lineman -- said the Falcons are coached to play dirty and that it was karma that quarterback Matt Ryan was injured in the Oct. 23 game.

"We know they have that quote-unquote reputation," Tuck said. "In a way, it kind of is exciting . . . We've got to make sure we do our job, and if we are doing our job well, then they will be upset and they will be trying to do things to get us off our game, and we've got to take that as a compliment. But in the same sense, you've got to protect yourself, and hopefully the referees have 20-20 vision this week."