EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) -The season-ending suspension of Plaxico Burress has turned into a bigger problem than the New York Giants envisioned.
Since placing the wounded wide receiver on the non-football injury list two weeks ago, the Super Bowl champions have discovered that no Plax means no offense.
Even worse, the loss of Burress could very well cost the Giants (11-3) the first-round bye that just weeks ago seemed a mere formality.
The scenario is simple. If New York loses its final two games to Carolina (11-3) and Minnesota (9-5) and the Vikings win their last two, then the Giants will play a first-round game.
The problem is clearly with the Giants’ offense. It has been limited to one meaningless last-minute touchdown in losses to Philadelphia and Dallas the past two weeks.
“There is very little getting done offensively,” coach Tom Coughlin said Monday. “We are just unable right now; we haven’t made a play in the last couple of weeks and we really have to make some plays. We’re very disappointed. The players are disappointed.”
ek with the Panthers coming to the Meadowlands for a game in which the winner will clinch a first-round bye and NFC’s home-field advantage for the postseason.
Carolina is playing very well, having won its last three and seven of eight.
The Giants have lost two straight games for the first time since the start of last season, and they have question marks heading into this week. Halfback Brandon Jacobs, who sat out at Dallas with a knee injury, is again an uncertainty and so is right tackle Kareem McKenzie, who injured his back against Dallas. He underwent tests on Monday, Coughlin said.
Guard Rich Seubert, who had to leave the game in the fourth quarter with the flu, is expected back.
However, rediscovering the offense that led the league in rushing and averaged almost 30 points in the first 12 games will take some work, especially with Burress no longer around. He was suspended two weeks ago after shooting himself in the thigh at a New York nightclub, his latest problem in a season marked by another suspension and league fines.
Opposing defenses no longer have to keep a safety over the top to guard against the deep pass to Burress. That seemingly has helped them stop New York’s running game, which has been held to less than 100 yards the past two weeks.
oys. “This is a crazy sport and we have gone through periods where we have struggled. Every team goes through that stretch. You kind of have to regroup and find your identity again and start executing and make the plays.”
Manning also downplayed the loss of Burress, saying the team won three games earlier this season when he was sidelined or suspended.
“You can’t use that as an excuse. He is a good player for us and, I don’t want to diminish his talent, but we feel like we have guys who can make plays and do things. When I look at the film, I see plays where guys are getting open and there are plays to be made, and we are just not making them. That is the issue, not that we don’t have one of our players.”
The Giants have been through bad stretches before. Last season, they played one of their worst games in losing at home to Washington in their 14th game of the year.
New York bounced back the following week against Buffalo to clinch a playoff spot and started the roll that led to their Super Bowl title.
Coughlin said there were three plays Sunday night that could have changed the outcome of the game.
eceiver was hit before the ball arrived without a penalty being called.
An annoyed Shaun O’Hara guaranteed the Giants would be cranked up and ready to go this week against Carolina.
“Are we in a slump? No, I don’t think we’re in a slump,” the center said. “We’ve played two tough physical teams who were desperate for wins to keep their playoff hopes alive. We came up a little short. The best part about it is we have a great opportunity this coming week with a big game against Carolina, where we if win, none of this matters.”
The good news for the Giants: Their defense kept them in the 20-14 loss to Philadelphia and the 20-8 loss to Dallas.
Defensive end Justin Tuck admitted the losing streak is coming at the wrong time, but he was not worried about the offense.
“Our offense has picked up the slack for us and that’s what we have to do now,” he said. “Our offense will get back on track. We have to continue to play good defense and everything else will handle itself.”
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