It is, in coach Tom Coughlin’s estimation, a “huge, incredible difference’’ if the Giants beat the Redskins Sunday to finish 7-9, rather than lose and bow out of 2013 with a record of 6-10.
Other than rising or falling a few spots in the 2014 NFL Draft, how the Giants fare in their season finale won’t move the needle an inch on a day where around the NFL 13 of the 16 games contain sort of playoff implications. Not so at grey and what’s expected to be rainy MetLife Stadium, where two of the league’s most disappointing teams pull the curtain on forgettable seasons.
If the Giants win they will have rebounded from losing their first six games to win seven of their last 10, a nice recovery that shows their character but does nothing to dull the ache of no post-season admission for the fourth time in the past five years.
“We’d recognize the fact that this is a group of young men that has refused to give in to all the negativity that surrounded the 0-6 start,’’ Coughlin said of what a 7-3 closing run would mean. “It shows the strength of character, it shows the competitive nature of the individual, it shows the fact that they do believe. It hasn’t been in any way the kind of season that we wanted it to be, but nevertheless we’ve tried to do the best we can. And the idea that if we were to finish like that would be a nice indicator for these players and the coaches of what has taken place here.’’
A look inside the game:
Best battle
Redskins RB Alfred Morris vs. Giants MLB Jon Beason: Morris in year No. 2 in the NFL was not as dynamic as he was as a rookie but he still has 1,213 rushing yards and averages a robust 4.7 yards per carry. He almost always seems to find a way to fall forward for extra yards. The one area where the Giants greatly surpassed their 2012 effort was in their run defense and it’s no secret the acquisition of the sideline-to-sideline pursuing Beason was a huge help.
Goodbye Mr. Nicks?
If this is the last game for Hakeem Nicks in a Giants uniform wouldn’t it be nice if he actually got the ball in his hands in the end zone and scored his first touchdown of the season? It is one of the incredible statistics of the year that Nicks in 14 games has no TDs. His lack of production is perhaps the greatest indication of all now the mighty Giants offense has fallen. Despite the sluggish last two seasons for Nicks, he and Victor Cruz are second in the NFL as a tandem with 6,356 receiving yards since 2011, behind only Calvin Johnson and Nate Burleson (6,531) of the Lions.
THE shadow knows
Prince Amukamara maintains a cornerback really knows he’s ascended in the league when he’s assigned to shadow the opponents’ top receiver week in and week out. The Giants refrained from doing that with Amukamara until last week, when they stuck him on Calvin Johnson for the entire game. Megatron clearly was hampered by a bad knee but Amukamara took advantage, limiting him to three catches for 43 yards. Was that a one-shot deal? If ever there was a game to assign Amukamara to one player it’s this one, as Pierre Garcon leads the NFL in receptions with 107. Next in line at receiver for the Skins is Santana Moss with 40.
Skinned
Last season, the Redskins went worst-to-first in the NFC East as they won their last seven games to turn a 3-6 record into a 10-6 division title. This year, they’ve lost seven straight, their franchise quarterback, Robert Griffin III, has been put on the shelf and it is highly likely that head coach Mike Shanahan will be fired. Road teams playing their final game of a miserable season often put up a fight, but only for so long.
Perfect attendance award
It has been 32 years since a first-round pick of the Giants started every game in his rookie year. Lawrence Taylor did it in 1981 and it hasn’t been accomplished again until now, when Justin Pugh on Sunday takes his position at right tackle, as he’s done for the past 15 games. Other players as rookies started all 16 games – David Diehl as a fifth-round pick did it in 2003 – but no first-rounder ever endured through an entire season since LT until Pugh. After a rough first month, Pugh settled in and showed that he will be a fixture on the line for years to come.
“I think my knowledge of the playbook has gotten better each and every week and I’m better at that,’’ Pugh said. “I have to keep working on my hands and doing the right things with my hands and my feet. I have a lot to learn this offseason, I think it’s going to be a big offseason for me.’’
One voice
From the outside looking in, offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride takes the most heat for the failures of the offense, with fans derisively calling him “Kevin Killdrive.’’ He’s also been at the helm of a high-powered passing attack that helped win two Super Bowls. Last week, reserve receiver Jerrel Jernigan got his first career touchdown catch in Detroit, mainly because he had two options on the route and he and Eli Manning were on the same page. It’s complicated and it’s Gilbride’s way.
“Well, that’s how we teach our offense,’’ Gilbride said. “Let’s say this, if it didn’t happen, I’d be discouraged. I teach that every day. That’s all we talk about. That’s why there’s one voice in those meetings, me. When this happens, you do this; when that happens, you do this, so everybody sees it the same way and reacts the same way. When you have some latitude with your receiving corps, it can be disastrous if everybody’s not looking the same way. That’s the essence of what we do.’’
PAUL’S PICK
Giants are banged up but they do have their starting quarterback and does anyone want to consider Eli Manning getting out-dueled by Kirk Cousins? The biggest headache for the Giants is Alfred Morris but they did a great job on him the first time around and have the ability to do so again. Maybe things help ring in the New Year with a few smiles after so many frowns this season. Giants 27, Redskins 13.
NUMBERS TO KNOW
11-4
Justin Tuck’s record in games he’s played against the Redskins. He has 13 sacks in the 15 games, including four back on Dec. 1 in Washington.
15
How many consecutive seasons Redskins LB London Fletcher has reached 100 tackles, dating back to 1999, when he was in his second year in the league, playing for the Rams.
103
How many points the Giants have been outscored by this season. The last time they were outscored by more than 100 points in a season was 2003 in Jim Fassel’s last year as head coach.