EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) -Despite a two-game lead in the NFC with five games left in the regular season, New York Giants coach Tom Coughlin is focused on the Washington Redskins this weekend – not a potential first-round bye or home-field advantage in the playoffs.
It’s not surprising.
The defending Super Bowl champion Giants (10-1) have a three-game lead in the NFC East and the big margin in the conference because they’ve learned to concentrate on the task at hand.
“There really is no sense in looking any further,” Coughlin said Monday in reviewing the Giants’ sixth straight win, a 37-29 decision over the Cardinals in Arizona. “You’re asking for trouble. It makes no logical sense, nor has there been any formula indicating it’s better to do it the other way around. I think the players understand that.”
New York can’t afford to take it easy down the stretch.
Cowboys, who have won two straight with Tony Romo back at quarterback.
The last two weeks of the season aren’t easy either, with a home game against Carolina (8-3) and a visit with the Minnesota Vikings (6-5), who are battling Chicago and Green Bay for the NFC North title.
Defensive end Justin Tuck admitted to thinking about claiming the division title.
“We know we are getting close to the end of the season, and the more wins we get the better chance we get of getting that bye week and having home-field advantage throughout the playoffs,” he said. “That is huge, especially with how we have played at home this year, so you definitely think about it.”
New York has won all six games at Giants Stadium this season.
Tuck, however, does not think the prospect of a bye and home-field advantage will be a distraction.
“We realize what our goals are and we realize that just one of them is making the playoffs,” Tuck said. “I don’t think guys are going to start thinking they are better than what they are because we know what we had to go through last year as far as the playoff run and it isn’t going to be any different this year. Hopefully we get a lot of home games instead of having to travel.”
Tuck added this is a team that knows what to expect.
d continue to do the same things this year,” he said. “I think the veteran leadership on this football team and just as a whole with all the guys, they really understand what it takes to win in this league and prepare to do so.”
If there is a concern for the Giants, it’s the status of receiver Plaxico Burress. He pulled a hamstring a week ago against the Baltimore Ravens and aggravated it again on the opening series against the Cardinals.
“That was the one thing that I was hoping against hope would not happen,” Coughlin said. “He has been so resilient and so tough under any circumstance.”
Coughlin did not think that Burress made his injury worse, but the veteran underwent further tests Monday.
Defensive tackle Fred Robbins had good movement in his shoulder after injuring it in the game, Coughlin added.
Add A Comment