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Battered Giants welcome trip to Jacksonville
EAST RUTHERFORD, N. J. — The New York Giants’ four-game, post-bye week stretch that general manager described as “murderer’s row” finally came to an end, the Giants going winless against the Indianapolis Colts, Seattle Seahawks, San Francisco 49ers and Dallas Cowboys.
Starting this week, the Giants, at least on paper, will have a break in that they will have a four-game stretch against teams who have losing records — beginning with the Jacksonville Jaguars (1-10).
The Giants are winless against opponents who currently are .500 or better but undefeated against teams with losing records, but don’t tell them they’re about to embark on some smooth sailing which will result in an end to their current six-game losing streak.
“We are going to Jacksonville. They have one win, and we have three wins,” quarterback Eli Manning said. “I don’t think we are in a position to label anybody or to think we are better than anybody.”
Some might snicker at Manning’s statement, especially considering the Jaguars’ rankings.
On offense, they are 31st, averaging just 304 yards per game. They are 24th in rushing, 27th in passing and 32nd in scoring.
Defensively, the Jaguars aren’t much better. They are 30th in the NFL, 28th against the run, 27th against the pass and 32nd in scoring.
Coach Tom Coughlin, who has always shown respect to the next opponent on the schedule, noted that despite their record the Jaguars have shown flashes of playing solid football.
“We’re all well aware of the fact that they went over to London and lost to the Cowboys, 31-17, and turned the ball over down close a couple of times when they could have had points,” he said.
Rather than spend too much time worrying about what the Jaguars might have in store for them, the Giants are instead trying to figure out a way to put together 60 solid minutes of football in all three phases of the game to end their six-game losing streak.
The task hasn’t been easy. Every week, without warning, an area the Giants’ coaches thought was fixed suffers a breakdown that negatively impacts the game.
That is why Coughlin and company are trying to take baby steps toward restoring some credibility in the program.
“The main concern right now for me is our team,” Coughlin said. “It’s all about our team. That’s where it has to start.”
For Manning, the cure to end the losing streak is not to look at the opponent or its record, but to look in the mirror.
“We have to play well,” Manning said. “We’ve got to find a way to get a win. We’ve got to put 60 minutes together and play great football for that whole time.”
On paper, it should be easy to do against the Jaguars. But with these Giants, you never know what to expect.
NOTES: WR Odell Beckham Jr. (back) is on the injury report but not expected to miss Sunday’s game. … Limited in practice Wednesday were DT Cullen Jenkins (calf), LB Jacquian Williams (concussion/shoulder) and RT Justin Pugh (quadriceps). … Missing practice were DE Mathias Kiwanuka (knee), LB Jameel McClain (knee), OL Adam Snyder (knee) and S Antrel Rolle. … CB Prince Amukamara, who is on injured reserve for an arm injury, said he will be able to shed the protective splint he has been wearing to stabilize his limb in three weeks. … LB Justin Anderson was waived and OT Michael Bamiro was signed to the practice squad.
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