Strahan: Giants lack killer instinct

A prominent former Giant has publicly criticized the team's performance against the Eagles on Sunday. Perhaps the most surprising part is that it wasn't Tiki Barber.

Michael Strahan, a Fox analyst and one of the most respected former players in the Giants' locker room, ripped the team's effort and intensity in the fourth quarter of their 38-31 loss, saying "they should be ashamed of themselves" and adding that the team lacks "killer instinct."

The Giants let a 31-10 lead slip away before DeSean Jackson's 65-yard punt return won it as time expired.

"You look at that game and wonder how it got out of hand for the Giants," the Super Bowl-winning defensive end said in comments distributed by Fox. "They got soft and relaxed. They thought 'We got it.' "

A 65-yard touchdown pass to Brent Celek made it 31-17 with 7:28 left. That's when things changed, Strahan said.

"All of a sudden, the blitzes looked like 'whoever gets there, gets there' instead of 'I'm going to make that play and not wait for someone to make that play,' " he said. "Then when it came time to pick it up, they couldn't.''

Although it was the first time these Giants allowed a lead at the start of the fourth quarter to turn into a loss, Strahan said they need to learn how to close out games.

"The Giants have not finished, I don't know if they know how to finish, and they need to learn how if they expect to do anything this year," he said. "You have to have a killer instinct.''