They are used to it.
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Coughlin’s decision Sunday to go for it on fourth-and-2 from the Jets’ 4-yard line with the Giants already holding a 10-point lead with just under nine minutes remaining blew up on him and could eventually cost him his job.
Lucy – or in this case, fate, lousy coaching, lousy talent or all of the above – pulls the ball away and they land on their bum.
The Jets are alive with a 7-5 record in the wild card derby, with an unlikely second-half rally sparked by a controversial gamble by Giants’ coach Tom Coughlin. They do know how to lose spectacularly.
Fitzpatrick connected with Brandon Marshall for a 9-yard touchdown with 27 seconds remaining in the game, knotting the game up at 20 apiece and forcing overtime. Marshall mentioned this multiple times and made it clear that everything was cool after the game. A 43-yard kickoff return by Harris and a 20-yard pass to Beckham on fourth down from the Giants 46 set up Brown’s missed attempt. For the boys in blue, they fall to 5-7 and their playoff hopes seems slim, but they can still win the division. The Giants’ last-ranked defense has proven it can’t stop anyone, allowing Ryan Fitzpatrick to throw for 390 yards Sunday.
The Giants started a drive a little more than halfway through the third quarter, and was shaping up to be the deciding drive of the game.
But it was the Jets for whom Christmas came three weeks early, and it was the Giants who were in the giving mood after yet another blown fourth quarter lead in a 23-20 overtime defeat at the hands of Gang Green.
It ended up sparking the Jets, who appeared well on their way to a disappointing, mistake-filled loss.
Yet even beyond that, the Giants have a lower-rung roster in terms of quality and depth.
Steve Serby of the New York Post says that the Giants now have the flawless excuse to fire Coughlin.
Look, there is no first-guessing, second-guessing or third-guessing Coughlin anymore. But Marshall told his quarterback maybe this Jets team was special; maybe this season would be different, starting with Brown missing the kick.
Although Beckham took full advantage of the injury absence of both Revis (concussion) and Williams (knee), ringing up 149 yards – including a 72-yard touchdown – on just six catches, the Jets didn’t let that translate into a Giants’ victory. Collins, the Giants’ second-round draft pick this year, leads the team with 76 total tackles (57 solo) following his Week 13 showing against the Jets. Right then. Right there. Marshall, though, repeatedly stressed that Jenkins later apologized when the Giants’ defensive lineman learned that the Jets receiver is married to Michi Marshall.
Jets safety Rontez Miles picked off the Manning pass, which launched a 12-play, 80-yard drive in which the Jets kicked a field goal to close the gap to 20-13. The Giants went three and out.
Fitzpatrick combined with Bilal Powell on a 25-yard screen pass for the Jets’ other touchdown.
“This is a statement game for us as far as coming from behind and winning one”, Decker said. “They played two-man and everyone threw their backs to me”. Ryan Fitzpatrick is not that kind of QB. Marshall is a big guy. “We have to make the opportunities we’re given and I didn’t make my opportunity”. “He gets in there, he only knows one speed and he’s been a great help late in ball games recently”. “I lost that battle”.
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Giants K Josh Brown on his missed 48-yard FG try in overtime that gave the win to the Jets… “Just a bad hit”. “I have to keep striking the same ball. The defense is playing great, and we need to give them momentum”, guard Justin Pugh said. It trailed left and stayed just left of the upright. “I stand by it”.
