Regardless of the dead-end circumstances — a 5-9 record and eliminated from playoff contention with two games still to play — the goal for the Giants remains the same: Play to win the game.
But there will be something under much more scrutiny than the end result or the execution for the Giants when they play the Lions Sunday at Ford Field in Detroit: Effort.
When the head coach questions the effort of some of his players the way Tom Coughlin did after the Giants’ 23-0 home loss to the Seahawks last Sunday, correctly calling it “pathetic,’’ that raises antennas everywhere. It raises questions from within the locker room. It raises the ire of the team’s disgusted fans. And it raises the awareness of the next opponent.
If you don’t think the 7-7 Lions — in the thick of the playoff race, coming off a heartbreaking loss and desperate for a win — won’t have a close eye on how quickly they might be able to break the weakened will of the beleaguered Giants, you do not know athletes very well.
Another sleepwalk effort from the Giants against a potent Detroit offense could result in yet another 60 minutes of embarrassment, and Coughlin’s head might explode.
These were Coughlin’s words, laced with anger and passion, in the immediate aftermath of the Seattle loss: “I told the players who prepared and gave great effort that I appreciated what they did, and I told those that were obvious they had not, that I felt sorry for them because they’re missing the whole point.’’
These were Coughlin’s words on Monday, the day after the first home shutout the franchise has suffered since 1995: “Today is a day of, as I put it, healing again, recognizing who we are, [to] put frustration and disappointment aside [and remember the] unselfish commitment to each other.’’
These were Coughlin’s words on Wednesday, an hour before the first practice for Sunday’s game: “I did clarify [my Sunday comments] the next day and said it wasn’t necessarily about the effort as much as it was about the execution, but that was my feeling right after the game.’’
In most cases, our initial gut-feeling reactions are most spot on, and this was the case for Coughlin. It was clear for all to see there were players wearing Giants uniforms who were not playing that game Sunday as if it were the last time they would put on an NFL uniform.
Coughlin called out no specific players, but if you watched the game you drew your own conclusions. For example, receiver Hakeem Nicks, who has been a complete enigma this season — in his contract year and with injury issues — was the intended receiver on four of Eli Manning’s five INTs. There were audible rumblings from inside and outside the Giants locker room that indicated Nicks could have been more aggressive going after at least one or two of those passes to avert the turnover.
The Giants offense, thanks to a poor job by the offensive line, did not cross into Seattle territory until midway through the fourth quarter, so there was that, too.
Yes, the Giants are hobbled with significant injuries, with top receiver Victor Cruz out the rest of the way with a knee injury he suffered last week, and the offensive line in constant flux. But that should not preclude effort, which is all Coughlin is asking for at this point. Baby steps, 16 weeks into the season.
“I think it says a lot about people,’’ Coughlin said of how his players handle these last two games. “It talks about responsibility and accountability, competitiveness, believing in each other, really understanding what your team is all about. You’ve got to have the passion and the character to fight on. That’s what you signed up for, that’s what this game is all about, is playing as hard as you can possibly play.
“Pride gets involved, the name on the front of your shirt being more important than the name on your back, all that stuff, so I expect that to take place.’’
Expect Coughlin’s attention to on his players’ effort more than anything that takes place Sunday.
“We evaluate ourselves,’’ Giants left tackle Will Beatty said, “but it’s the coaches’ job to be our mirrors.’’
A week ago, the reflection was very unflattering.