Cowboys Extra: Scouting the New York Giants
Streaky.
That might be the best way to describe the 2014 New York Giants after six games.
They’re 3-3. They lost their first two games by a combined score of 60-28, won three in a row in impressive fashion by outscoring opponents 105-51 and then lost Sunday night’s game to the Philadelphia Eagles 27-0.
Talk about a formula for mediocrity. And things only appear to be getting worse for the Giants.
Not only did they become the first team the Eagles shut out in 18 seasons, but they potentially lost two starters for the season.
Wide receiver Victor Cruz is definitely done for 2014 with a torn right patellar tendon, and cornerback Trumaine McBride needs surgery to repair his right thumb.
Both players were put on season-ending injured reserve on Tuesday. McBride’s injury is certainly a blow to a depleted cornerback corps. Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie exited the game with back spasms.
“There is no time for feeling sorry for ourselves,” coach Tom Coughlin said on a conference call Monday. “The idea is to rise up. We have been knocked down before, this hurts, there is no question about it. I am not trying to disguise that in any kind of way.
“I feel very badly for Victor Cruz, for Trumaine McBride; they are both going to have to have surgery. We need to recognize the impact that those two young men have had on our team and the importance of each one of them. We also have to have realize we are moving forward.”
It’ll be a difficult task to replace Cruz, one of their biggest offensive threats. He had a pair of 100-yard receiving games during their three-game winning streak and creates matchup problems with his speed and versatility.
“This week we have to grow up and find out who is going to be playing the spots that Victor has played so well for us and keep growing,” quarterback Eli Manning said.
Added defensive end Mathias Kiwanuka: “Losing an individual like Victor for the season this early is going to be tough. There is no doubt about that.”
Quit the trash talk
In the days leading up to the Eagles game, the Giants sure talked a good game.
Safety Antrel Rolle was quoted as saying the defending division champs weren’t the team to beat in the NFC East. Defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul thought the Eagles could have been winless just as easily as they were 4-1.
All of that went for naught, as the Giants had to eat their words by the end of Sunday night’s game. Kiwanuka, a nine-year veteran, called it a “humbling” experience for the Giants to go through.
And something they’ll try to avoid this week leading up to the Dallas Cowboys game.
“[Coughlin’s] always preached talk is cheap and let your pads do the talking and all that,” Kiwanuka said. “We’ve had a lot of meetings [Monday] and he reiterated to us that it didn’t get us a win. It wasn’t anything that helped.”
Briefly
Quotable
“We have to have a great week of practice and go play a team that is playing great football. They are coming off a big win, beating Seattle, so we have to be prepared to play our best game.” — Eli Manning on facing the Cowboys
“It starts right here at the top. Very, very poor performance. I take full responsibility for it. And there’s not a lot to say about it. Not a lot to say.” — Tom Couglin on the Giants’ 27-0 loss
Number to note
The Cowboys and Giants have met 103 times in the regular season with Dallas holding a 59-42-2 advantage.
This story was originally published October 14, 2014 at 8:26 PM with the headline "Cowboys Extra: Scouting the New York Giants."