Giants Get Back to Work, Happy to Have a Few Extra Hands

For the Giants, the bye could not have come at a better time. Despite a 4-2 start that had them atop the N.F.C. East, the Giants have dealt with a host of injuries, from nagging to season-ending. On Monday, they returned to practice with an influx of healthy bodies.

“This is a good place to have a bye,” linebacker Mathias Kiwanuka said. “As close to the middle as you can possibly get — I think that’s the perfect time to get the bye and then you can just go downhill the rest of the way. It obviously worked out for us in particular because of the number of injuries we had.”

Seven players who were dealing with injuries entering the week off practiced Monday as the Giants began preparing to play the Miami Dolphins (0-7) on Sunday at MetLife Stadium.

“It’s a good sign to have guys out there, and hopefully we’ll have the consistency of all these guys practicing and it’ll give us a little bit of extra gas in our tank,” Coach Tom Coughlin said.

Among those out there was defensive end Justin Tuck, who has played in only two games this season because of neck and groin injuries. He is expected to play against the Dolphins.

In Tuck’s absence, Jason Pierre-Paul and Osi Umenyiora, who has an injured knee but also practiced Monday, have stepped in. In three games, Umenyiora has recorded five sacks and forced two fumbles. Pierre-Paul is third in the N.F.L. with seven and a half sacks.

Sunday will be the first time this season all three defensive ends will be in uniform together.

“I think he’s definitely a guy offenses have to accommodate for,” Kiwanuka said of Tuck. Then, referring to Umenyiora; another defensive end, Dave Tollefson; and Tuck by their uniform numbers, he said: “When you look out on the field and you see the numbers lined up, you got to pick your poison. Do you double 72? Or do you double 71? Is it 91? Whoever is out there on the field, it poses a big problem for the offense.”

Safety Kenny Phillips, who sustained a rib-cage strain in the Giants’ 27-24 win over the Buffalo Bills before the bye week, and cornerback Prince Amukamara, who has not appeared in a game after breaking his left foot during the preseason, also practiced. Amukamara participated in individual and special-teams drills and said that he was “almost 100 percent” sure he could make his N.F.L. debut on Sunday, but that he would not know until later in the week.

“It’s just a little soreness now,” Amukamara said. “At this time last week it was really sore, so I think that’s a good sign.”

The Giants also welcomed back running back Brandon Jacobs (knee), guard Chris Snee (concussion), fullback Henry Hynoski (neck) and wide receiver Ramses Barden (ankle).

Snee, who sustained a concussion in the Giants’ Week 5 loss against Seattle and did not play against Buffalo, said he was not sure if he would have been able to play on Sunday.

“I’ve been headache-free for over a week now,” Snee said, adding that he had not had a concussion before. “The bye week kind of helped with that. If I had to go back last week and play, I probably would’ve been a little worried about it. But I had an extra week to heal.”

Barden is eligible to come off the physically unable to perform list on Sunday. Coughlin said Barden took “about a third” of the repetitions at practice.

“People always say it’s like a kid in a candy store,” the 6-foot-6 Barden said of returning to practice. “I felt like I was in a bank vault without security cameras. That’s how much fun I had today.”

After a week off to recharge mentally and physically, the Giants hope they will be ready for the Dolphins and the formidable teams — including the Patriots — they will face in the coming weeks.

“As I always say, the bye is where the bye is,” Coughlin said. “I don’t have anything to do with it. We take it as it is. We use it as a positive, and hopefully everybody’s come back naturally refreshed.”

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N.F.L. Roundup: Mara, Giants Co-Owner, to Head Powerful Management Council

The Giants co-owner John Mara was appointed chairman of the N.F.L. Management Council, the league’s most powerful committee, Commissioner Roger Goodell announced Thursday.

The latest news, notes and analysis of the N.F.L. playoffs.

Goodell said that Mara was replacing Jerry Richardson, the Carolina Panthers’ owner, as leader of the Management Council, which is the main N.F.L. labor committee.

Goodell also said he had formed a committee on health and medical issues that would be led by the San Francisco 49ers’ owner, John York. Jerry Jones, the Dallas Cowboys’ owner; Rich McKay, the Atlanta Falcons’ president; Mark Murphy, the Green Bay Packers’ president; and Mara will serve on that panel, called the Health and Safety Advisory Committee.

HARRISON TRADE VOIDED The backup running back Jerome Harrison is back with the Detroit Lions. His trade Tuesday to the Philadelphia Eagles was voided after a physical examination.

The Lions said only that Harrison, 28, had an illness. Lions Coach Jim Schwartz would not comment on specifics of the illness, calling it a privacy issue. He said Harrison was back on the team’s 53-man roster.

The Lions’ leading rusher, Jahvid Best, sustained his third concussion Sunday. Maurice Morris, who has 9 carries for 20 yards this season, will probably start Sunday against Atlanta.

CONCUSSION MAY BENCH FUJITA Cleveland Browns linebacker Scott Fujita is unlikely to play Sunday against the Seattle Seahawks after being sent home before practice for the second straight day with postconcussion symptoms.

SAINTS TIGHT END IS AILING Tight end Jimmy Graham, who leads the New Orleans Saints in receiving, missed practice Thursday with a sore right ankle, Coach Sean Payton said.

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Giants in First Place With Cavalry Coming to Help

Defensive captain Justin Tuck, Pro Bowl guard Chris Snee, first-round draft pick Prince Amukamara, backup running back Brandon Jacobs and receiver Ramses Barden all might be ready to return when the Giants (4-2) face the Miami Dolphins on Oct. 30.

Tuck guaranteed Sunday that he would be back after missing three straight games with neck and groin injuries, and Snee also felt he would be ready to go after sitting out Sunday's 27-24 win over the Buffalo Bills.

Amukamara (broken foot), Jacobs (knee) and Barden (ankle) are a little more iffy, but they are close as the Giants prepare to embark on a frightful five-game run that includes games at New England (5-1), at San Francisco (5-1), Philadelphia (2-4), at New Orleans (4-2) and Green Bay (6-0) after the game vs. Miami. That's a combined 22-8 record.

"I think it will be a nice boost in the arm," coach Tom Coughlin said Monday. "I don't know exactly when the individuals will be cleared, but hopefully we'll be in a position where they are ready to go when we're talking game week and we get closer to our next opponent."

While they are in first place, the Giants have a lot of areas that need to be fixed heading into the final 10-game stretch if they are to get back to the playoffs for the first time in three years.

The running game took a much needed step forward this past weekend as Ahmad Bradshaw rushed for 104 yards and three touchdowns, becoming the team's first back to gain 100 yards this season.

Third-down conversions improved to 45 percent on Sunday, but for the season, Eli Manning and Co. are converting at a dismal 31 percent.

A week after turning the ball over three times in an embarrassing loss to Seattle, the offense was flawless against the NFL's top takeaway team.

"Do I think it is a finished product," veteran offensive lineman David Diehl asked Monday. "No. I know that we have the attitude that we are going to continue to work and make sure that it becomes one of the strengths of our offense because it needs to be."

A bigger concern is the play of the defense, particularly against the run.

Buffalo rushed for 155 yards, with Fred Jackson gaining 121. Most came on an 80-yard run on which he went through the line in a split second and only had aging Deon Grant to beat for a touchdown. It was not a match.

"You can't take that one run out and I wish we could but in terms of the rest of the game, I think we were pretty sound in terms of responsibility and everybody knowing where they were supposed to be," said linebacker Mathias Kiwanuka, who has been playing a lot of end in recent weeks with Tuck out.

"That was the only issue coming into the game. It wasn't that people couldn't make plays, it was that some responsibilities were mixed up coming in."

The statistics after six games reflect that. Opponents are averaging 127.7 yards rushing and nearly 374 yards in total offense.

Buffalo also scored on a 60-yard touchdown pass play with Bills receiver Naaman Roosevelt making one move to turn a 10-to-15 yard pass into a scoring play.

The positive for the defense was that cornerback Corey Webster intercepted two passes in the second half. The second ended a potential Bills' go-ahead scoring threat and started New York on its game-winning drive that Lawrence Tynes capped with his second short field goal.

The defense iced the game four plays later, forcing the Bills to give up the ball on downs.

Diehl called the win huge.

"To do that and be 4-2 at this point, it is definitely a morale booster," he said, "and we are excited to have that and get guys healthy, get guys fueled back up heading into next week when we play Miami at home again."

Kiwanuka refused to discuss the schedule after the Dolphins, saying looking ahead only causes problems.

"That's when you let one slide away that you should have had and you should have won," he said. "For us, it is a non-issue and for me it is a non-issue because we have had a lot of injuries and we know how to play when people are out. To get people back would be a huge plus for us, but it is not about looking deep into the schedule and trying to map it out. It is about looking into this next game and getting a win."

___

NOTES: Coughlin said the Giants only had a couple of minor nicks Sunday with S Kenny Phillips being the most notable with strained ribs. ... Coughlin says his special teams have to improve their blocking on field goals after Tynes has his second kick blocked this season. ... WR Mario Manningham received kudos for his blocking on Bradshaw's late 30-yard run that set up the game-winning field goal.

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Giants 27, Bills 24: Giants Hang On to Beat Bills, 27-24

The coaches shout: It is the fourth quarter now. This is the end. We cannot lose the fourth quarter. We can’t. We have to finish.

“That’s been their thing since back in training camp,” wide receiver Hakeem Nicks said.

Tight end Jake Ballard backed up Nicks. “It’s constant,” Ballard said. “Finish. Finish. Finish. Finish the game. They won’t let us slack off at the end of practice at all. It’s a top priority. And the more we do it, especially in games, the more comfortable we are when things get tight.”

Ballard conceded that fans might not be so at ease with the high-pressure emotional swings, but Giants players, at least, seem to be growing more comfortable in the fourth quarter. Their 27-24 victory over the Buffalo Bills on Sunday was the Giants’ fifth game this season in which they had a fourth-quarter drive that could tie the score or put them ahead, and their fourth straight game in which the decisive score came with nine minutes or fewer remaining. The Giants (4-2) have won three of the four.

Sunday’s version of the late-game dramatics featured two important interceptions by Giants cornerback Corey Webster, a career day from running back Ahmad Bradshaw and an unflappable performance from Eli Manning, who did not throw an interception against a Bills team that came into the game as the league leader in forcing turnovers.

“We have been striving to finish and win the fourth-quarter battle,” Webster said. “We did just that.”

With the score tied, 24-24, and the Bills driving with four minutes left, a reprisal of last week’s disappointing loss to Seattle seemed more likely. The Bills had a first down at the Giants’ 27, when receiver Stevie Johnson made a quick move at the line of scrimmage and got a step on Webster as he sped down the sideline.

It had been a mostly difficult day for Webster. He had missed an important tackle, been late on several pass coverages and now seemed a step slow on what looked to be a game-winning play for the Bills.

As the ball started to fall toward Johnson, however, Webster accelerated. And as Johnson reached high to pull it in, Webster’s hands went higher. He cradled the ball as he fell to the ground at the Giants’ 5-yard line, holding on even as Johnson pulled his facemask to the side.

It was Webster’s second interception of the game (he also picked off Ryan Fitzpatrick earlier in the quarter), and he pranced to the sideline with glee. Minutes later, he was joined in celebration by the rest of his teammates. Manning led the Giants down the field for the go-ahead score, with Lawrence Tynes’s 23-yard field goal with less than two minutes to go providing the final margin.

It was an important win for the Giants, who, with a bye week, have two weeks to enjoy it. With the sting of last Sunday’s loss lingering and another rash of injuries sidelining their defensive captain Justin Tuck, their Pro Bowl right guard Chris Snee and the backup running back Brandon Jacobs, the Giants could have easily slipped again against the surprising Bills (4-2). Before Webster’s interception, it looked as if they might.

Instead, the Giants escaped with a victory on a day when Bradshaw scored a career-high three touchdowns, Manning passed for 292 yards and the defense rallied from an awful start to stand firm when the Giants needed it most.

Bradshaw was the finisher for much of the game, plunging into the end zone from 1 yard out on three occasions. When Bradshaw broke a 30-yard run to put the Giants into field-goal range on the final drive, it gave the Giants their first 100-yard rusher of the season (he finished with 104) — no small accomplishment considering the offensive line was operating with the backup Kevin Boothe in place of Snee.

“We knew if we kept pushing a little bit harder, we would get there,” left tackle Dave Diehl said. “Today was a total group effort.”

Stopping the run had also been a problem for the Giants, and much had been made of the defensive coordinator Perry Fewell’s connection to the Bills. Fewell spent four years coaching in Buffalo and was the interim head coach for the final seven games of the 2009 season.

Buffalo Coach Chan Gailey had been concerned about Fewell’s familiarity with the Bills, but Fewell’s greatest focus in the buildup was on his own team. The Giants entered having allowed an average of 159.3 rushing yards a game over the previous three weeks, an ominous number because Bills running back Fred Jackson was averaging 96 yards a game on his own.

Early on, it looked as if nothing had changed. After the Giants went ahead with five minutes remaining in the first quarter on Bradshaw’s first score, Jackson immediately responded with an 80-yard touchdown run. Linebacker Michael Boley did not fill a hole, safety Deon Grant took a poor angle and cornerback Aaron Ross could not make a touchdown-saving tackle.

The Giants’ defense followed that by taking another hit, as Fitzpatrick found receiver Naaman Roosevelt for a 60-yard touchdown catch-and-run just before the end of the first quarter. This time, it was Webster and the backup cornerback Justin Tryon sharing the role of hapless would-be tackler, and Coach Tom Coughlin had a stunned look on his face as the Bills danced in the end zone.

“We could have let those two plays determine the outcome of the game, but we didn’t,” safety Antrel Rolle said. “We played relentless.”

They did. After struggling in the first quarter, the Giants’ defense held Jackson to 39 rushing yards the rest of the game, limited Fitzpatrick to 130 passing yards in the second half and did not allow the Bills to even get a first down on their final drive of the game. When Fitzpatrick’s fourth-down pass fell incomplete with 59 seconds left, the Giants had sealed a victory that will fit nicely alongside their thrilling wins over Philadelphia and Arizona.

“It was about fighting,” Coughlin said. “We knew it was going to be a 60-minute game.”

With these Giants, it seems as if it always is.

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On Football: Giants Have Another Adventure in Sudden Reversals

First down on the 27, already in field-goal range, the Buffalo Bills seemed to have the Giants right where they wanted them, where they were the previous week, about to cough up a close game at home.

That’s when Ryan Fitzpatrick, the Harvard-educated quarterback, flunked the fundamental question on the deep sideline route. He underthrew his receiver, Stevie Johnson, leaving Corey Webster in prime position to turn around the game’s momentum, the disquieting mood at MetLife Stadium and maybe the Giants’ season — or at least the first half of it.

“I wanted to get inside of him,” Webster said of Johnson, whom he was chasing on the left sideline, just inside the 5, with four minutes and change left in a 24-24 game. “Hopefully you get your head turned around and go for the ball.”

Turn around and turnarounds. It was appropriate word play for a day on which the Giants’ defense began by surrendering 14 points on two plays that covered a combined 140 yards. When they remembered that defense does require tackling, the Giants reversed field and fortune in a 27-24 victory that sent them into their bye week at 4-2, thinking they had survived a brutal run of preseason injuries in pretty good shape.

“To have the bye and to be an optimist, if I might, maybe we will get some guys healthy,” said Coach Tom Coughlin, whose team was without defensive end Justin Tuck again and running back Brandon Jacobs, among others.

Coughlin hedged on the hopefulness because this is the N.F.L., where enduring parity has been achieved almost to the point of parody, where most games are as predictable as a gust and where Coach barely knows who will suit up week to week.

A week ago, against Seattle, Coughlin must have felt mighty optimistic when the Giants were driving for a potential game-winning touchdown, only to have Eli Manning’s short pass to Victor Cruz turn into a pinball and run back the other way more yards than Coughlin could bear.

Be it coincidence or karma, Webster’s fourth-quarter interception that started the Giants on a 76-yard drive resulting in a deciding 23-yard field goal by Lawrence Tynes was made in the general vicinity of the previous week’s Manning-Cruz crusher.

On Sunday, Manning was mostly patient and pick-free while throwing for 292 yards. Fitzpatrick, one-time master of the Wonderlic, was perhaps left wanting to beat his own brains in for Webster’s interceptions. Especially the second one, unforgivable as it was given the circumstances. “I’ll take that matchup every time, and if I throw a good ball on that, Stevie scores and everybody is happy,” Fitzpatrick said. “It’s easy to second-guess it now, but I thought it was a great call and I thought it was the right play.”

A debatable claim, to say the least. But that the Bills were even bidding for their fifth victory in six games was testimony to a crazy-quilt season that has already given us a stunning assortment of the ascendant (Lions, 49ers, Bills) and descendent (Eagles, Jets, Colts).

In a league whose current champion is the municipally owned property of Green Bay, in which Los Angeles doesn’t even rate a team, a season’s overriding success is seldom linked to size of market or sexiness of franchise. It’s the beastly nature of the game, the uncertainty of Sunday, which has turned the N.F.L. into the envy of all competing sports leagues, especially the one currently in collective bargaining limbo.

By themselves, the Giants have become a weekly soap opera. They were declared a disaster in the making after Week 1 at Washington, then a remake of “Little Giants” after they ran off three straight victories despite being patched together with sticks and glue, and a team on the brink of a nervous breakdown after the way they lost to Seattle last week.

“We talked about positive energy, because there was so much negative out there,” Coughlin said.

He was brimming with his own while praising Manning, Ahmad Bradshaw for his 104 yards rushing and 3 touchdowns, and the playmakers on defense who recovered from the unsightliness of Fred Jackson’s 80-yard touchdown run and Naaman Roosevelt’s 60-yard catch and run to the end zone about five minutes apart in the first quarter.

Especially Jason Pierre-Paul, who sacked Fitzpatrick for a 9-yard loss at the Giants’ 37 midway through the second quarter, pushing the Bills out of field-goal range. On the Bills’ next drive, he and Osi Umenyiora stuffed Jackson for no gain on third-and-1 at the Giants’ 31, forcing the Bills to settle for a field goal. In a 3-point victory, the play, though forgotten by the finish, loomed large.

“You never know what’s going to happen in this game,” Pierre-Paul said. “You give up a couple of big plays, but at the end of the day, you move on.”

You take the fourth-quarter gift from Fitzpatrick, drive the ball down the field and cringe when Manning forces a pass to Mario Manningham on third-and-5 from the Buffalo 5.

Cornerback Leodis McKelvin knocked it down, only a step from the unspeakable. “I tried to put it low and maybe squeeze it in,” Manning said. “It’s always a tough situation right there.”

Could have been worse, much worse, a turnaround to turn the stadium upside down. But this week, the football gods smiled on them. Parity rules.

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Bills LB Merriman Doubtful for Giants Game

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Shawne Merriman Officially “Out” For Giants Game

The Bills announced that outside linebacker Shawne Merriman will not travel with the team and has been downgraded to out for Sunday’s game against the Giants.

Merriman had been listed as “doubtful” after his left Achilles’ tendon flared up during Thursday’s practice. Merriman has also been dealing with a shoulder injury that kept him out of Wednesday’s practice.

In five games this season, Merriman has nine tackles and a quarterback sack.

The Bills are on their bye week after the Giants game, which gives Merriman additional time to rest before the Bills host the Washington Redskins in Toronto on October 30.

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Giants’ Manning Will Have Little Room for Error Against Aggressive Bills

Then last Sunday the turnover-prone Manning returned in a 36-25 loss to Seattle. He lost a fumble and threw three interceptions, including one that went for a 94-yard touchdown with a little more than a minute left.

The result could have simply been an aberration. Brandon Browner’s long return, for example, came after the ball bounced off the hands of wide receiver Victor Cruz. Take that away and the Giants might have scored and Manning could have finished with four touchdown passes and two interceptions.

But that did not happen, and now, in the Buffalo Bills, the Giants will face the league’s best ball-hawking defense.

The Bills enter Sunday’s game at MetLife Stadium leading the league in takeaways (16), interceptions (12) and turnover margin (11). Their opportunistic defense, which has returned a league-leading three interceptions for touchdowns, picked off both Tom Brady and Michael Vick four times, propelling Buffalo to a 4-1 record and a tie atop the A.F.C. East with the New England Patriots, whom they defeated earlier this season.

Last season, Buffalo was 28th in the N.F.L. with only 11 interceptions. This season, playing out of a base 3-4 defense, the Bills have blitzed only 22 percent of the time. Rather than apply overwhelming pressure, they tend to drop players back into coverage, anticipating mistakes by the offense. The tradeoff is that the Bills give up long drives. They rank 30th in total defense, allowing an average of 421.8 yards per game.

“Pressure teams want to go three-and-out, and these guys are saying, ‘We’ll force a 15-play drive and somewhere in there you’re going to make a mistake,’ ” Giants guard Mitch Petrus said.

According to the Web site Football Outsiders, seven of the Bills’ interceptions have been “unusual circumstance” — deflected passes, passes tipped or bobbled by receivers, or, in one case, a pass thrown in desperation as time expired. In other words, the total could very well be lower.

But the Giants have been susceptible to interceptions off deflections. Coach Tom Coughlin said Friday that it was important that Manning communicate with his receivers.

“It’s got to be decisive,” he said. “So you work very hard to put yourselves in position where you’re not so contested that the ball ends up being tipped.”

The Bills’ defensive philosophy does not pivot on reaching the quarterback. The defense has only four sacks, last in the league. But the Giants maintain that the Bills’ front, led by nose tackle Kyle Williams and the rookie end Marcell Dareus, is tough to handle.

“They may not get the sack, but they get enough pressure on the quarterback and they force quarterbacks into errors,” tackle Kareem McKenzie said.

Expecting opposing quarterbacks to make mistakes is a high-risk strategy. If the offensive line can handle the pressure, the quarterback should have time to pick apart the defense. But two of the league’s best — Brady and Vick — had trouble doing so against a secondary led by safety George Wilson. Now it’s Manning’s turn.

“They’re just aggressive,” Cruz said. “They get to the ball well, they hunt the ball down, they’re trying to strip it, they’re trying to disrupt routes, they’re trying to disrupt timing. When you’re aggressive as much as they are, a lot of big plays will fall into your hands.”

EXTRA POINT

Defensive end Justin Tuck (groin/neck), running back Brandon Jacobs (knee), guard Chris Snee (concussion) and fullback Henry Hynoski (neck) have been ruled out for Sunday. Snee had played in 108 consecutive games, including seven in the playoffs. ... Center David Baas (neck) and long-snapper Zak DeOssie (concussion) are questionable.

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Giants' Fewell Downplays Game Against the Bills

Forget that Fewell was the Bills' interim coach for the final seven games of the 2009 season, or that they passed him over and chose Chan Gailey to become the coach the following season.

The only thing of importance for him is that the Bills (4-1) and their high-powered offense are coming to MetLife Stadium on Sunday to play the Giants (3-2) and Fewell needs to get his inconsistent defense to start communicating better in order to shut them down.

"It's just a game that we have to win," Fewell said Thursday after practice. "I just happen to know those guys on the other side though."

While Fewell didn't admit it outright, he left the impression that he didn't get a fair shot at keeping the head coaching job after posting a 3-4 record in Buffalo.

"It's been two years and whether I did or didn't, I think that's irrelevant," Fewell said. "I'm happy to be where I am now."

Fewell took over as the Giants defensive coordinator last season and the unit rebounded after a dreadful 2009 season, finishing ranked in the top 10 in many categories.

This year has been more of a struggle and injuries have played a big part.

Terrell Thomas, who was the Giants' top cover cornerback, and middle linebacker Jonathan Goff were both lost before the start of the season with knee injuries. Defensive captain Justin Tuck has only played two games because of neck and groin injuries and fellow Pro Bowl defensive end Osi Umenyiora missed the first three games after having arthroscopic in the preseason.

The results aren't surprising. The defense is ranked 20th overall. The run defense has been horrible the past three games, yielding an average of 160 yards and the pass defense has blown coverage after coverage, including a total bust on Charlie Whitehurst's go-ahead touchdown pass to Doug Baldwin late in the fourth quarter of Sunday's 36-25 loss.

On the play, cornerback Aaron Ross and safety Antrel Rolle thought the other was going to take the receiver and no one did.

"It's about communication," Fewell said. "I think we weren't communicating. When you use that form of communication verbally everybody doesn't always get it at the same time. I think I need to do a better job and maybe (put) wristbands on the guys so that everybody knows what the call is. If one person doesn't know then he has to say it to everybody else. I think I can do a better job and help our players if I do that for them."

The Giants had better improve because the Bills have been machinelike on offense. The team is averaging just under 33 points and it has scored at least 20 points in five straight games.

"We're trying to learn how to play together. That's the biggest problem that I think we have right now, learning how to play together," Fewell said. "So yes, my focus is more on us than it is the Buffalo Bills because we have to learn how to complement each other and we don't know how to complement each other at this point in time."

Buffalo has used a balanced offense. Quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick has thrown for 1,233 yards, 10 touchdowns and four interceptions and running back Fred Jackson is third in the NFL with 712 yards from scrimmage.

Fewell has a special feeling for Fitzpatrick. After he took over as coach, he made the Harvard player his starter.

"He looks very comfortable in this offense," Fewell said, noting it's a totally different scheme than he had. "He's making quick decisions. He's getting the ball out extremely fast. His receivers and he are on the same page. He just looks like he's in total control and he knows exactly what they want to do with this offense."

Tuck, who has missed the last two games with neck and groin injuries, was just one of many players who said Fewell has kept an even keel in meetings this week, occasionally offering a little insight into certain Bills players.

"I think it means more to us than it does to him," veteran safety Deon Grant said of Fewell. "He is just going to go out and call his game, but a little better now because we have to get back to playing New York Giants defense.

"We as a defense, we want to get him this victory more than anything."

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Giants' Bradshaw getting frustrated

2011 STATS

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Video – CBS Giants vs. Cardinals Week Four Preview

The New York Giants hope to get their third victory this week as they prepare to take on the Arizona Cardinals at U of Phoenix Stadium on Sunday afternoon. Who will come out victorious? NFL.com’s Pat Kirwan and Jason Horowitz break down this game.

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Five Bold Predictions For The New York Giants vs. Philadelphia Eagles Week Three Game

LeSean McCoy #25 RB

The Philadelphia Eagles lost a heartbreaker in Atlanta to the Falcons, following an exciting comeback performance, and a nice showing from back-up quarterback Mike Kafka. The question going into Philadelphia’s week three game against New York was — Would Michael Vick be recovered from the concussion he sustained against the Falcons? Good news for Philadelphia, as Vick was cleared for practice and is expected to start against the Giants this Sunday.

New York is coming to Philadelphia following a relatively easy win on Monday Night Football against the St. Louis Rams, and are looking to capture an early lead on the division. The rivalry between the Giants and Eagles has heated up substantially in the past few seasons, and this season has been turned to a whole new degree. As last season the Eagles comeback win in the Meadowlands essentially ended the Giants playoff chances, and this game they are coming for revenge.

Here are five bold predictions for the Giants vs. Eagles week three match-up:

5. There Will Be a Number of Turnovers For Both Teams 

In the early goings of the season, both the Giants and the Eagles have struggled with turning the ball over on offense. There have been numerous miscommunications on hand-offs, routes down the field, and even poor blocking, all of which have led to a shockingly high number of turnovers. The Eagles have coughed up the ball in incredibly inconvenient situations, and have managed to give up a defensive touchdown already this season.

The Giants are in a similar situation, as Eli Manning has proven to be incredibly interception happy, and Ahmad Bradshaw has shown that he can be loose with the ball. Both the Eagles and Giants defense will be all-over, and ready to jump on any mistake made by either offense.

4. Philadelphia’s Defense Will Contain Ahmad Bradshaw 

The Eagles rushing defense is the hottest topic in Philadelphia. The Eagles seem to have every single piece together on both the offense and defense, except their linebackers have struggled containing the run. Following last weeks abismal performance from rookie Casey Matthews, he was benched in favor if Jamar Chaney, who started the latter half of last season at middle linebacker.

I feel that the Eagles defense has worked increasingly hard at containing the run, and they will prove this game that they can keep it under control. The move of Chaney back to middle will be huge to the success of the front seven, and it should have an immediate impact on Bradshaw and the Giants running game.

3. Eli Manning Will Struggle Finding Open Receivers

As stated earlier, Manning has had a rough stretch recently. He has been throwing interceptions left and right, and that has not been helped by his lack of receiver depth. There seems to be a curse in New York as every single receiver Manning is getting comfortable with, they go down with injury. The most recent being Domenik Hixon, tearing his ACL last week against the Rams, for the second straight season.

Combine that with Mario Manningham with a questionale status, and Manning is going to have a hard time. Any time a quarterback has to play the Eagles trio of corners, it is never easy, but with the current injuries in New York, it is going to be nearly impossible. Considering that the Giants are now starting Brandon Stokely, that should be some indication of how little Manning has to work with.

2. Michael Vick Won’t Finish The Game 

Last week against the Falcons, Michael Vick was forced to leave the game following a sack in which he fell into an offensive lineman and suffered a concussion. Since then, he has been cleared by team doctors, and also an independent source, and he is reportedly going to start Sunday’s game. The Eagles have had quite a few players suffer concussions, and most have not been able to bounce-back in less than one week.

I have a feeling that Vick will start the game, but he may get pulled due to residing effects of the concussion. The Giants are a physical team, and Vick can only take so many hits after an injury like this. I don’t see how Vick can start and finish a game after getting back into pads, and suffering a concussion less than a week ago.

1. The Eagles Offensive Line Will Look Terrible 

The second most discussed topic this off-season for the Eagles was the offensive line. Despite drafting heavily in offensive lineman, the Eagles still have not improved much from last season. But keep in mind the teams the Eagles have played, (Falcons, Rams), do not have anywhere near the caliber of defensive line that the Giants have. I would venture to say that the Giants have a top-three pass rushing defensive line in the NFL, and will be a true test Philadelphia’s offensive line.

I think this will also be a test that they fail. Considering how poorly the line has done protecting Vick so far this season, I don’t imagine it will turn around much in this game. I am aware that there are technically two starting rookies on the line, but that won’t change the Giants dominating pass rush. Considering the fragile state that Vick is in, with a mediocre offensive line, and an elite pass rush — The Eagles should be worried.

Conclusion: 

The Giants and Eagles always seem to have good games, regardless of who has the better season or better team. It also seems that if the game is not incredibly close and down to the last minute, it will be a blow-out. This is an early season match-up that has not received a lot of attention, but I think it will be one of the best games of the week, and one that will be determined in the fourth quarter. Giants 24 – Eagles 31

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Giants at Eagles Friday Injury Report

GIANTS

Out: CB Prince Amukamara (foot), DE Osi Umenyiora (knee)

Doubtful: WR Mario Manningham (concussion)

Probable: C David Baas (lower leg) , TE Travis Beckum (hamstring), DT Jimmy Kennedy (knee)

EAGLES

Out: DE Juqua Parker (ankle), DE Darryl Tapp (pectoral)

Questionable: QB Michael Vick (concussion)

Probable: S Nate Allen (knee), TE Brent Celek (hip), DE Trent Cole (hand), WR Riley Cooper (hamstring), TE Clay Harbor (ankle), LB Akeem Jordan (shoulder), T Winston Justice (knee), LB Brian Rolle (quadricep), CB Asante Samuel (finger), WR Steve Smith (knee), QB Vince Young (hamstring)

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Giants at Eagles Friday Injury Report

GIANTS

Out: CB Prince Amukamara (foot), DE Osi Umenyiora (knee)

Doubtful: WR Mario Manningham (concussion)

Probable: C David Baas (lower leg) , TE Travis Beckum (hamstring), DT Jimmy Kennedy (knee)

EAGLES

Out: DE Juqua Parker (ankle), DE Darryl Tapp (pectoral)

Questionable: QB Michael Vick (concussion)

Probable: S Nate Allen (knee), TE Brent Celek (hip), DE Trent Cole (hand), WR Riley Cooper (hamstring), TE Clay Harbor (ankle), LB Akeem Jordan (shoulder), T Winston Justice (knee), LB Brian Rolle (quadricep), CB Asante Samuel (finger), WR Steve Smith (knee), QB Vince Young (hamstring)

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Coughlin weighs in on Giants’ suspicious injuries

Published: September 20th, 2011 | Tags: Tom Coughlin, Deon Grant, Jacquian Williams, New York Giants

Giants coach Tom Coughlin met with reporters Tuesday to unpack the previous night’s 28-13 victory over the Rams. And he had some questions to answer.

Coughlin shared his perspective on first-quarter injuries to safety Deon Grant and LB Jacquian Williams that — because of how quickly the players bounced back — raised speculation New York was buying time against St. Louis’ no-huddle attack.

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“Well, from my standpoint on the sideline, I thought (Grant) was cramped,” Coughlin said. “They were in a no-huddle situation, a hurry-up deal. I just thought he cramped at that time or definitely had something that was bothersome to him.”

Said Coughlin: “When I looked out on the field, all I saw was the injured player.”

Coughlin then was asked if employing faking injuries to slow the action could be categorized as smart football.

“That’s not very smart,” he said. “That’s a penalty. … It did force a rule change, too. The only thing I would comment on is at that point in time, the only thing I noticed was a player down.”

Did we expect the veteran coach to say something different?

– Marc Sessler

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For Giants, Eagles week can’t come soon enough

With the Rams out of the way, everyone associated with the Giants has shifted their attention to the archrival they believe deserves a healthy dose of payback.

It’s Eagles week in New York, and evidence suggests that Big Blue’s locker room still clings to December’s excruciating 38-31 loss to Philly, a meeting defined by DeSean Jackson‘s 65-yard punt return for a score on the game’s final play. It all but ended New York’s playoff hopes, despite a 10-6 final record.

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“Last year will linger with me until I die,” Giants defensive end Justin Tuck told the Philadelphia Inquirer after Monday night’s win over St. Louis.

The Giants haven’t beaten the Eagles since Week 10 of the 2008 campaign, but Philly’s six-game winning streak (including the playoffs) is in danger after Michael Vick‘s concussion Sunday night in a 35-31 loss to the Falcons. Tuck hopes the Eagles fire starter make’s the date.

“Yes, why not,” he said. “I mean, that guy is a tremendous athlete. Obviously, as he goes … that offense goes. You always want to beat teams at their best. … I think he brings out the best in us, too. … If he’s playing, we know we have to be on our toes.”

Neither team took the high road during an offseason spent bickering like middle schoolers over Twitter, with Philly’s LeSean McCoy calling New York’s Osi Umenyiora “soft,” prompting the Giants DT to label his detractor a “Chihuahua, a poodle, a little girl.”

A somewhat bizarre underpinning to what amounts to Sunday’s biggest grudge match.

– Marc Sessler

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Did the Giants fake injuries in win over Rams?

Take a look at the video above from Monday night’s Giants-Rams tilt, which went to New York 28-16.

With just under four minutes left in the first quarter, and the Rams no-huddle offense marching toward pay dirt, a pair of New York defenders crumpled to the MetLife Stadium ground like a couple of teens at a Bieber concert.

We can’t speculate on the extent of the injuries suffered by S Deon Grant and LB Jacquian Williams. But they certainly healed in a hurry in what resembles the most recent example of a common delay tactic used by NFL defenses.

“Miraculously, he (Grant) recovered quickly,” ESPN’s Mike Tirico said after watching the replay.

Analyst Jon Gruden was a bit more specific in his interpretation: “I hate to say that he’s (Grant’s) not really hurt, but that’s a tactic that defenses have used in the past against no-huddle offenses to try to slow it down and stop the clock.”

The drive ended with St. Louis’ Josh Brown booting a 25-yard field goal.

In a chat on FOXSports.com on Monday, former VP of NFL Officiating and current FOX Sports NFL rules analyst Mike Pereira responded to a question about the suspect injuries.

“It is allowed because it is not against the rules,” he wrote. “It will end up getting discussed in the offseason. This has been going on for a long time and needs to be addressed. It is totally unethical.”

UPDATE: Asked for comment, NFL spokesman Greg Aiello pointed to page 19 of the NFL rulebook (Rule 4/Game Timing): “The Competition Committee deprecates feigning injuries, with subsequent withdrawal, to obtain a timeout without penalty. Coaches are urged to cooperate in discouraging this practice.” Of course, if a player or club admits to it, the action would be subject to discipline.

– Marc Sessler

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Giants’ Manningham, Hixon won’t return vs. Rams

Published: September 19th, 2011 | Tags: New York Giants, Domenik Hixon, Mario Manningham

The Giants are down two receivers against the Rams, as Mario Manningham and Domenik Hixon are out of the game.

Manningham went down with a concussion in the second quarter. Hixon won’t return because of a knee injury suffered in the third quarter.

This leaves New York having to make do with a banged-up Hakeem Nicks, who caught a touchdown pass in the first quarter, and Victor Cruz at receiver.

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MNF Rams vs Giants: The Final Word

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Giants intern given some face time with defense

Published: September 20th, 2011 | Tags: Ryan Brown, Michael Boley, New York Giants, St. Louis Rams

Giants video intern Ryan Brown found himself a little too close to the action Monday night at MetLife Stadium.

Giants LB Michael Boley returned a Rams fumble 65 yards for a touchdown in the second quarter, then felt the need to celebrate. So he fired the ball out of the end zone — and into an unsuspecting Brown’s face.

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ESPN’s cameras revealed Brown, donning a white Giants jacket and a backpack, studiously observing the game-changing play — but in the way a fan would, nowhere near ready for Boley’s bullet (which impressed Panthers QB Jimmy Clausen enough for him to tweet, “Got too excited and hit the guy in the face w the ball!! Lol”).

Brown wasn’t injured, but he was a little red-faced — literally.

“I’ve been getting blown up all night on Facebook,” he told The Star-Ledger after the Giants’ 28-16 victory.

When Boley found out about the incident after the game and learned that Brown was fine, he had a laugh about it. And according to an NFL Network producer, Boley later hugged Brown in the Giants’ locker room.

Welcome to the NFL, kid.

– Marc Sessler

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