It gets deafening inside CenturyLinc Field when the Seahawks play, and it was loud Sunday at Arrowhead Stadium when the Chiefs silenced the Giants. And now, with his team Giants on death row, Tom Coughlin is making a plea for help.
“I’m hoping that our fans are as boisterous and supportive as they’ve ever been — maybe even more,” Coughlin said Wednesday. “I just hope everyone rallies around our team right now. The players need it, we all need it. We all need to feel that great support and the 12th man. Playing at home in your division there’s certainly every reason in the world to be excited about that. …
“I’m hoping that they help us, the fans help us win.”
Here’s the problem, and it goes beyond the chicken-or-the-egg obvious that it is on the Giants to give their fans something to cheer about Sunday against the hated Eagles:
Giants fans did not expect their team to come home 0-4.
Giants fans, like ownership, hold this team to a higher standard.
Giants fans dreamed of their team making history by becoming the first team to play in a Super Bowl in its home stadium, just as the players did.
Giants fans weren’t expecting an overmatched, injury-ravaged offensive line that can’t keep Eli Manning upright or clear the path for a running game.
Giants fans weren’t expecting Manning to throw 11 interceptions.
Giants fans weren’t expecting Jason Pierre-Paul to have only one more sack than Michael Strahan or Kelly Ripa.
Giants fans weren’t expecting David Wilson to fumble his golden opportunity.
Giants fans weren’t expecting Hakeem Nicks to virtually disappear.
In other words, Coughlin can expect Giants fans to be “All in.”
But guess what: It’s up to his Giants to keep them “All in.”
It’s up to the Giants to help the Giants win, no matter where the game is played.
“We need everybody,” Steve Weatherford told The Post. “We need our practice-squad guys. We need our janitor. We need everybody, because that’s all we have right now. I mean, nobody’s really giving us a chance. We need all the help and encouragement we can get this week.”
Giant fans weren’t expecting JPP to be standing at his locker at the beginning of October with only one sack, saying:
“We’re both playing to save our season.”
And:
“Honestly, I think getting a win here will build back that confidence. I think that we ain’t all believing in each other. It’s Game [5], and we still don’t believe.
“From Game 1 to Game 4, we haven’t been playing together, and it shows on TV, it shows on the football field.”
And:
“I’m pretty slow off the ball. Got to correct that.”
And:
“For a team, if you’re not playing together, and you’re playing like individuals, it’s going to show.”
Giants fans weren’t expecting Antrel Rolle sensing the need to speak to his reeling 0-4 team and tell it he believes 12-4 is possible.
Giants fans weren’t expecting 38-0 in Carolina and 31-7 in Kansas City.
Giants fans weren’t expecting a two-time champion coach to have to appeal for pride and fight from his team.
Giants fans loved it when general manager Jerry Reese said everyone was on notice because three seasons out of four out of the playoffs is not acceptable.
Giants fans weren’t expecting an S.O.S. from a two-time champion coach who seems to sense how fragile emotionally his team is.
Justin Tuck was asked if the Giants need help from the fans, or do you have to show them?
“Obviously it goes both ways,” Tuck said. “We’re struggling right now, and it’s a home friendly crowd, and we need them to pick us up, just like we want to go out there and have a great game and give them something to cheer about.”
Then give them something to cheer about, from start to finish, and you will have your 12th man. Play like Giants, and they will cheer like Giants fans. It won’t be any 12th man that saves your season. It will be the 11 men in the arena.