HERE WE GO AGAIN: After Sunday’s 34-0 drubbing in Atlanta, the Giants find themselves in a familiar position — needing to win the final games of the regular season. (Anthony J. Causi)
It’s not out of the question the reigning Super Bowl champs could be eliminated from the playoffs this Sunday — with a week still to go in the regular season.
The possibility of that very embarrassing turn of events was very much on the Giants’ minds yesterday, resulting in a team that has lacked focus all season to insist it is thoroughly focused on what could be a do-or-die visit to Baltimore this weekend.
“It’s serious now,” defensive tackle Chris Canty said. “This is it — this is our season Sunday. We need to win two games to get [into the playoffs], and this is what you thrive on. This is what excites you. This is what motivates you to lift all those weights in the offseason.”
Although the 8-6 Giants are the only team in the NFC East that controls its own destiny, they can throw it all away Sunday afternoon at M&T Bank Stadium. A loss to the Ravens combined with wins by the Cowboys and Redskins and a win or tie by the Seahawks would boot Big Blue from the playoff race.
The only possible comfort for the Giants is they were facing virtually this exact scenario a year ago and responded by running the table to another Lombardi Trophy in stunning fashion.
But coming off last week’s 34-0 rout by the Falcons (the Giants’ first regular-season shutout loss since 1996), you can excuse coach Tom Coughlin and his players if they aren’t bold enough to predict a similarly inspired performance.
“The past is the past,” defensive end Justin Tuck said. “We’ve got a lot of holes to fix. We can’t go out there and just expect to do what we did before, because the NFL doesn’t work that way. We have to act like the playoffs start today.”
The 9-5 Ravens, who are struggling but have already clinched an AFC playoff berth, certainly don’t seem intimidated by the Giants’ Super Bowl credentials.
Baltimore coach John Harbaugh made that clear when asked this week if the Giants’ pass rush — the backbone of their championship run last year but a group that has been up and down this year — produced a fear factor in his struggling team.
“I wouldn’t use that word,” Harbaugh said.
Considering their putrid performance in Atlanta just five days ago, the Giants weren’t offended when Harbaugh’s comment was relayed.
“He shouldn’t use that word,” Tuck said. “We haven’t had that kind of year. ‘What have you done lately?’ is how this league looks at you, and lately, we haven’t done much of anything as far as getting after the quarterback.”
Safety Antrel Rolle is so mindful of the stakes Sunday and claims to be so locked in that he uncharacteristically snapped at reporters for asking about one of his favorite subjects — fellow University of Miami alum Ray Lewis.
Lewis, who might play this week after what many thought was a season-ending arm injury in October, is a mentor and inspiration to Rolle but isn’t getting any public praise this week.
“I love Ray Lewis like a brother, but I’m not answering any questions about him,” Rolle said.
Rolle only wants to talk about the Giants, who he thinks will finally start to show their true championship colors Sunday.
“I expect this team to respond the way we respond when our backs are against the wall,” Rolle said. “We’re going to go out there and fight and get a win at all costs. This week’s practices have had a lot of emotion. Guys are trying to do all the right things.”
Osi Umenyiora agreed.
“I expect us to come out and play a lot better than we did last week, that’s for sure,” the Giants defensive end said. “Everybody knows what’s at stake. We just have to perform like it.”