There are remarkable numbers and streaks achieved on a weekly basis in the NFL, but none as impressive as Redskins linebacker London Fletcher playing in 256 consecutive games or starting 215 straight games (a record for a linebacker).
Those are the numbers awaiting Fletcher when he steps on the field Sunday for the last time, as the 38-year-old plans to retire after his 16th season.
Following Fletcher, the player with the longest active consecutive games-played streak is Eli Manning, who against the Redskins starts his 151st straight game.
“He really is a football player,’’ Giants coach Tom Coughlin said of Fletcher. “He loves to play, he’s very physical, he’s very smart, he can lure you into circumstances you don’t want to be involved in. He’s had tremendous durability.
“He’s been an outstanding leader, a very smart football player. Remember, we always called him a tackling machine. He always had an incredible number of tackles every time he plays. I have the utmost respect for a man like that who plays the game the way he plays it for as long as he has with great passion.”
QB Kirk Cousins makes this third consecutive start for the Redskins since Robert Griffin III was shut down for the season.
Cousins threw for 578 yards with four touchdowns and three interceptions in the two starts; losses to the Falcons and Cowboys.
Several players could be playing their final game for the Giants, including defensive linemen Justin Tuck and Linval Joseph, and cornerback Terrell Thomas.
“It’s tough as a coach emotionally when you’re playing your last game, period,’’ defensive coordinator Perry Fewell said.
“When you couple that with free agency, yeah, it’s a difficult thing. You try to take that out of it because it is a business, but the human side of it tells you that you have developed a relationship, you love these guys, they’ve gone to war for you and they’ve gone through some things with their bodies with the pains and the aches that normal people don’t see. It’s a tough thing.’’
RB Peyton Hillis thought he was retired before the running back-depleted Giants signed him Oct. 16.
Hillis, 27, missed last week’s game in Detroit with a concussion and this could be his final NFL game.
“When I came here to this organization the people here were very loving with open arms,’’ Hillis said. “It’s very professional here. I’ve been in, as everybody already knows … in a few organizations and this, by far, takes the cake. I think the Giants know how to handle their players, handle players’ families, everything is very family-oriented here and I love it.’’
OL David Diehl is the longest-tenured Giants player, finishing off his 11th and most likely his last season with the team. He hopes to play despite a knee issue and said he won’t look around and get nostalgic.
“No, because that isn’t going to help me play football on Sunday, is it?” Diehl said. “I’m focusing on this one game and we’ll see what happens after.’’