One of the reasons the Giants have assembled a four-game winning streak after their 0-2 start is that they refuse to view themselves as a winning team on a roll.
Linebacker Antonio Pierce, following Monday night’s 31-10 victory over the Falcons, described the mindset as, “We still got that 0-2 mentality,” and added, “As long as we keep that mentality and stay hungry, don’t get too full, I think we’ll be OK.”
That is music to the ears of coach Tom Coughlin, who had a sign put up inside the Giant locker room that reads, “Prepare, practice and play as if you lost your last game.”
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Normally, allowing an opponent’s possession to start on average at the 30-yard line is not acceptable, but that’s what the Giants accomplished vs. the Falcons, and Coughlin wasn’t sounding the alarm.
Troubled most of the season with kickoff coverage, a different approach was taken, with Lawrence Tynes mixing in three different type of kickoffs – a “border” kick that popped up short and to the right sideline, a squib kick and a regular deep kick – in order to contain the speedy Jerious Norwood.
As it turned out, Norwood averaged only 17.4 yards on his five returns, but the Falcons were able to secure good field position.
“It may be those kicks are not pretty to the eye, but they do cause adjustments on the part of the scheme,” Coughlin said.
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Plaxico Burress is only the second player since 1970 with at least one touchdown reception in each of the first six games of the season. Jerry Rice in 1987 is the other. Since 2006, Manning and Burress have hooked up for 18 TDs, most of any QB-WR tandem in that span.
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RB Derrick Ward’s aggravated his sprained ankle, an injury that might be an issue this week. … In addition to breaking Tiki Barber’s franchise reception record with his 587th career catch, Amani Toomer also caught his 48th career TD, tying him with Kyle Rote for the franchise lead.