Giants trying to avoid new franchise low in Arizona
EAST RUTHERFORD » In a year where the Giants have set new benchmarks for futility, a loss Sunday in Arizona would officially cement this as the worst 16-game season in franchise history.
The Giants (2-12) have never lost 13 games in a season. They went 3-12-1 in 1983 and have twice finished 4-12 (1980, 2003).
“We haven’t talked about that,” interim head coach Steve Spagnuolo said. “We don’t really need any added incentive. We’re trying to win a football game. We’re chasing that feeling of what it feels like in the locker room to win. That’s what we’re looking for.”
The Giants are 0-2 under Spagnuolo since Ben McAdoo was fired, dropping two more games to the Cowboys and Eagles. New York is 0-10 in NFC play for the first time ever, and prior to last Sunday they hadn’t been swept by Dallas and Phildelphia since 2003.
It is the type of infamy fans and pundits will remember years down the road, which is another reason Giants players feel an urge to dig deep for pride’s sake at this point in the season.
“Unfortunately, this year we weren’t able to accomplish what we set out to accomplish,” said defensive tackle Damon Harrison, who was snubbed of a Pro Bowl selection this week. “No matter the outcome of games or whether we have a winning record or a losing record, we just got to go out there and keep fighting. I don’t want to be one of those guys 10 years from now when they’re talking about this Giants team and they can say I wasn’t handling my business.”
There is valid reason to believe the Giants can stave off the historic low for at least one more week when they take on the Cardinals (6-8).
New York came within a point last week of scoring 30 points for the first time in 31 consecutive games. The offense generated season highs in points (29) and total yards (504). Eli Manning had his ninth-career 400yard passing game.
The blueprint was an up-tempo scheme that the Giants scrapped earlier in the season when injuries to several receivers resigned the offense to tight end-heavy sets. Offensive coordinator Mike Sullivan made key tweaks against the Eagles.
Arizona will also feature a lethal pass rush anchored by outside linebacker Chandler Jones, the NFL’s sacks leader (15).
“We wanted to slow things down a little bit and try to run more clock, run the ball more and have less plays,” Manning said of the heavy formations. “But as the weeks have gone on, we just felt the best way to try to help out the offensive line is to play fast and see if you can slow down some of these pass rushers by playing fast.”
The Cardinals have lost four of six games and dealt with their own offensive issues. They have zero touchdowns and nine field goals in their last two games against the Redskins and Titans.
So Arizona head coach Bruce Arians made a change at quarterback this week, replacing Blaine Gabbert after five starts with 33-year-old veteran Drew Stanton. Carson Palmer has been on injured reserve since Oct. 26.
All-Pro wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald, who just earned his 11th Pro Bowl selection in 14 seasons, needs eight catches and 18 receiving yards to become the oldest player to top 100 catches and 1,000 yards in a season.
“Like always, unless it’s a drastic change in the type of quarterback, we just defend the scheme,” Spagnuolo said. “I think both Blaine and Stanton are very similar in that regard. One might be a little more athletic or they might run a few more movement passes, but Bruce likes to throw the football ... so, we’re more concerned about the speed and the tight end skill and the scheme more than anything.”
This marks the Giants’ third trip to University of Phoenix Stadium since the Super Bowl XLII victory versus the Patriots, which the franchise has commemorated the 10th anniversary of this season.
“I’ve obviously had some good memories there,” Manning said. “But just try to go out there and see if we can get a little early Christmas present and get a win.”