CHICAGO – The bar for the playoffs in the NFC has dropped so low that the 7-4 Giants are sitting pretty even after their interception-laden 41-17 loss to the Vikings.
“We are not desperate for nothing,” linebacker Antonio Pierce said. “I don’t think it is a do-or-die situation. We are ahead of everybody in the wild-card race. With that being said, we just need to go out there and play ball.”
Play ball is what the Giants do this afternoon against the 5-6 Bears at Soldier Field, realizing they indeed are not desperate but certainly might soon be if they don’t deposit a victory into their postseason account.
A look inside the game:
BEST BATTLE
Giants kicker Lawrence Tynes and punter Jeff Feagles vs. Bears return specialist Devin Hester: Hester has five touchdown returns this season and has an incredible 11 scoring returns in his first 27 NFL games. Tynes must be creative with his kickoffs, which cannot sail to Hester on a line drive, or else. Feagles, when possible, must send the ball out of bounds or as close to the sideline as possible, or else. Of course, that task becomes more difficult if the Giants are backed up with lousy field position and Feagles has to punt in the shadow of his own end zone. In that case, Feagles may have to boom one down the field, putting the onus on David Tyree, Chase Blackburn, Domenik Hixon, Gerris Wilkinson, Reggie Torbor and the others on the coverage unit.
“Those guys save me some days,” Feagles said. “Some days I don’t get it outside the numbers, they make plays. You got to look out for each other. If I bomb one out there I’m like ‘Go get ’em, boys.'”
THE BOUNCE BACK
Eli Manning three times in his career has thrown three or more interceptions in a game. The following week, he’s 3-0 with five touchdowns passes and one interception. As flat-lined as his emotional reaction was after his four-interception meltdown against the Vikings there’s no discounting he’s able to either ignore rampant criticism or reshape it into motivation.
“I think that the one thing he has demonstrated throughout his time here is a resiliency or an inner strength, or a composure that allows him to weather the difficult times,” offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride said. “To weather the criticism and come back and perform at a very high level.”
RUNNING ON EMPTY
Last week, the Giants supposedly caught a break by not facing injured running back Adrian Peterson, the Vikings rookie sensation. This week, the Giants seemingly catch a break by not facing Cedric Benson, the Bears leading rusher, who is out for the season. So who do the Giants get in Benson’s place? Adrian Peterson. This one is a six-year Bears backup with 811 rushing yards in six years, a capable pass-catcher out of the backfield as the third-down back. After that, there’s rookie Garrett Wolfe out of Northern Illinois, who has nine carries this season.
MONTHLY MADNESS
Players don’t need to check the calendar to know what time it is in a season. They know exactly where the stretch run begins and realize that time is now.
“The NFL’s all about the month of December,” left-tackle David Diehl said. “Every game’s important but when you get to this point every game is even more important because this is make-or-break for people. That’s what the month of December’s about.”
The Giants are 7-8 in December under Tom Coughlin.
THE END GAME
Teams with gifted pass-catching tight ends always pose a threat, and the Giants have endured mixed results in stopping them. Now here comes a rarity: A team with two skilled pass-catching tight ends. Desmond Clark is second on the Bears with 33 receptions for 414 yards and two touchdowns. In overtime last week, Clark hauled in a 39-yard pass to help set up the winning field goal in a 37-34 victory over the Broncos. Greg Olsen, a rookie first-round pick from Miami, has 29 catches for 308 yards and two touchdowns.
“You have to be aware of that,” linebacker Kawika Mitchell said. “If a team is able to use their tight end, I think it’s a valuable weapon.”
PAUL’S PREDICTION
GIANTS – 24 BEARS – 16
As long as they do not allow Hester to beat them, the Giants should be able to navigate their way home. The scent of a Giants defensive touchdown is in the air.