He said Coughlin has gotten the team ready every week, doing an outstanding job of picking them up after each tough loss. Nicks, the Giants’ 2009 first-round draft pick, was in Indianapolis previous year and spent the offseason in Tennessee before being cut before the season. But the offense, which had consistently been putting points on the board, didn’t keep pace.
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Minnesota Vikings strong safety Andrew Sendejo (34) is tackled by New York Giants wide receiver Dwayne Harris (17) after Sendejo intercepted a pass during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 27, 2015, in Mi… “I wanted to do my job and do my job well and get into the playoffs and have a big season so he could continue being the head coach, because I have such respect for him and he’s the only coach I’ve had in the NFL”.
The defense was far from ideal.
Gillislee finished with 93 yards rushing and led a ground attack that totaled 236 yards for the Bills (7-8).
With Peterson relaxing on the sideline, Jerick McKinnon rushed for two more touchdowns in the fourth quarter, including a 68-yard romp through a disinterested defense with the temperature down to 11 degrees. In New York, the Giants are expected to play better especially with how good Eli Manning has been.
Walsh nailed two more field goals in the third, one from 22 yards and one from 53 yards.
The offense couldn’t capitalize.
The only downside was it became clear that Smith has to up his post-touchdown celebration game. Yes, they’ve been eliminated from playoff contention, but they have one more game on the schedule.
This is still the same Manning who called the punt team off last week against Carolina, and spearheaded a 28 point comeback, only to see his defense falter on the game’s final drive. Peterson sprained his left ankle in last week’s 38-17 victory over NFC North rival Chicago, but the NFL’s leading rusher said he expects to play Sunday as Minnesota bids for a playoff berth.
McKinnon had just 167 yards on 41 carries entering play. They got some pressure early, had turnovers, they made plays, I made bad throws, made bad decisions, and I wasn’t on my game. We lose, I lose the game for our players. Coughlin said whatever disappointment emanated from that result did not diminish the Giants’ desire on a frigid Minneapolis night – at least for two-thirds of the units. “Defensively, it was outstanding”. “I think his mentality is always pretty good”. What will happen with Beckham going forward? There has been plenty of talk about Giants pride and respect recently. I don’t have any thoughts about them not being prepared or coming out and playing hard.
Even Coughlin acknowledged it the day after the game, saying that while he defended Beckham, “I will not defend his actions yesterday because they were wrong and this particular franchise and organization does not tolerate that”. The Vikings defeated the Giants 49-17. So are the Eagles, who visit MetLife Stadium for the season finale on Sunday.
-Linebacker Devon Kennard (foot) was placed on season-ending Injured Reserve.
NT Linval Joseph returned after missing three games because of a toe injury.
“I am not going down that road, ” Coughlin said, asked if had been given enough talent to win. “I think Teddy believes in him, that’s part of it”.
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“The situation is not about me”, he said. “I’m hoping that the players won’t get centered around that”. He doesn’t deserve to have ownership let him twist in the wind – if they think it’s time to try something else they should just tell him, and allow his tenure to end with some dignity. “I played for one of the best coaches to ever do it”, the guard said at his locker a few minutes after the game.
