Now that their backs are pressed up against the playoff wall again, now that the Big Blue sky is falling again on the Giants, I have a message Tom Coughlin needs to pound through their skulls every day from now through the final four games:
Play Like Chumps again, and don’t come crying if you choke on the playoffs and someone else is hoisting the Lombardi Trophy.
Once again, it is time to Finish.
Finish the season.
Finish Building the Bridge.
Finish like 2007 and 2011, not 2008, 2009 or 2010.
Finish dishonoring Harry Carson with 200-yard run defense and dominate the trenches.
Finish teams with some good old-fashioned killer instinct.
Finish quarterbacks with that fearsome pass rush of yesteryear.
Finish drives with touchdowns again.
Finish committing mindless, costly penalties.
Finish being pussycats and unleash your inner … let Antrel Rolle tell it:
“I don’t see enough dog out there on the field,” he said on radio yesterday.
And he doesn’t mean poodle.
“I think we just need to get back to being a little nasty,” he said.
Destiny is still in your hands. Don’t drop it.
“We have to win literally every one of our games,” Coughlin said.
Then win them:
vs. SAINTS
Drew Brees will be looking to rebound from his five-interception nightmare against the Falcons. And remember he will have studied the Giants for 10 days — a four-day advantage over Eli Manning. And good luck covering tight end Jimmy Graham and Darren Sproles out of the backfield.
Joe Vitt has made a difference, but Sean Payton is missed. At least we can be certain there will be no bounty on Manning. The Saints’ defense is the NFL’s worst (440.5 yards allowed) but has averaged 329 yards allowed in its past two games. Hakeem Nicks is not himself. Steve Spagnuolo will have a trick or two up his sleeve for Manning. The 5-7 Saints — 2-4 on the road — will be the more desperate team. But no Dome-field advantage this time.
at FALCONS
There will be an element of revenge for last season’s 24-2 playoff loss, but the reality is the 11-1 Falcons, already NFC South champs, won’t need the game as much as the Giants will, and their season will be measured by the playoffs, where Matt Ryan and Mike Smith are 0-3. Would the Falcons like to make a statement in case they see the Giants in January? Of course. Would they like the No. 1 seed? Of course.
“We want to make sure that we go out and we play every game to win,” Smith said. “We need to win. We need to win them all. We need to go 4-0 in the fourth quarter [of the season].”
Not nearly as much as the Giants need to go 4-0 in the fourth quarter. A healthy Ahmad Bradshaw could gash the Falcons’ shaky run defense.
at RAVENS
The Ravens will be coming off difficult games against RG3’s Redskins and Peyton Manning’s Broncos and may need to hold off the Steelers to capture the AFC North. And the place will be turbo-charged if Ray Lewis is able to ride in on his white horse.
Contain Ray Rice and make quarterback Joe Flacco run for his life and beat you is always the best strategy. When Rice has touched the ball 20 times or more, the Ravens are 32-10. The Steelers shattered the Ravens’ aura of invincibility at M&T Bank Stadium, where the home team had won 15 straight games.
Once again, Peyton plays an opponent immediately before Eli. Peyton’s insider secrets didn’t work for Eli against the Bengals, but Eli doesn’t have a tired arm anymore. And the struggling Ravens pass rush won’t be helped if Terrell Suggs (biceps) is diminished. If Charlie Batch can dissect this secondary, you have to like Manning’s chances. Big Blue Utopia: Ravens beat the Redskins on the way to clinching the division before this date.
vs. EAGLES
Michael Vick will be on the sidelines watching rookie Nick Foles play quarterback in Andy Reid’s last game. Matt Dodge won’t be punting, and DeSean Jackson won’t be returning. Old nemesis LeSean McCoy (concussion) may not play, but Bryce Brown has looked like Jim Brown in his absence. It will be impossible to gauge the emotional state of this turmoil-ravaged rival. But all the pressure will be on the Giants. The fear of missing the playoffs and getting swept by these guys should be motivation enough.
Finish. Or be Finished.