NFL

GIANTS AIM FOR PERFECT ENDING

Who’s afraid of the big, bad Patriots?

Certainly not the Giants, judging by their loose and feisty locker room yesterday and the demeanor of no-nonsense coach Tom Coughlin.

“It’s not like they’re Jesus Christ and his 12 disciples or anything like that,” defensive end Osi Umenyiora said of the 15-0 Pats. “They’re an outstanding team, but they’re not so far ahead of everybody else.”

Umenyiora was far from alone yesterday in expressing no fear of Bill Belichick’s seemingly invincible club, which will try to make history tomorrow night at Giants Stadium as the only team ever to go unbeaten in a 16-game regular season.

Only the Giants, who already have a first-round playoff date set with the Buccaneers, stand in New England’s way. But try telling the Giants the game is meaningless from a Big Blue perspective.

“It doesn’t matter what the situation is, we’re not going to go into a game and just give anybody a game,” Umenyiora said. “We’re going in there to try to win. Whatever happens after that, we’ll deal with the repercussions.”

The Giants appear to be taking their cue from Coughlin, who was evasive with the media this week about whether his starters would play the entire time. Coughlin apparently gave his players a totally different message behind the scenes.

“He wants us to go out there and play as hard as possible and see if we can knock these guys off,” defensive tackle Barry Cofield said. “Coach Coughlin doesn’t approach any game any other way.”

Umenyiora agreed, saying he expects to play “all four quarters” against the Pats.

“I think [the starters] are going to play the whole game,” Umenyiora said. “I don’t think there’s going to be a situation where we’re going to be pulled out or we’re going to allow them just to go out there and get the record.”

History says to expect nothing less from Coughlin, who doesn’t have it in his DNA to let up for any game, regardless of the circumstances.

A look back at Coughlin’s final game as coach of the Jaguars in 2002 is a prime example. Even though the Jags were long since eliminated from playoff contention and owner Wayne Weaver made no secret that Coughlin was about to be fired, he coached the regular-season finale at Indianapolis like it was the Super Bowl.

Coughlin was still throwing challenge flags in the second half that day and exhorting his players to rally in the final seconds of a 20-13 loss. Coughlin then showed up at 5 a.m. the next day to get fired, even though Weaver didn’t arrive until three hours later.

“It’s not his style to just give up,” Cofield said. “He’s an intense guy.”

Linebacker Antonio Pierce said he and his teammates are feeding off the atmosphere – which is expected to be like a playoff game with national simulcast showings on CBS and NBC – and off the perception that the Giants have no hope this weekend.

“I don’t think there’s any pressure on us. The pressure will all be on them,” Pierce said. “They’re the ones fighting for history. We’re in the playoffs, we’re set, and there’s nothing we can do besides win another game.”

bhubbuch@nypost.com