THE D IS KEY
EAST RUTHERFORD — Tom Coughlin knows that as good a season as Eli Manning has had it’s going to be defense that will ultimately take the Giants deep into this year’s NFC playoffs.
“You take last year’s champion (Green Bay),” Coughlin said. “They played exceptional defense.
“They were an outstanding, physical defensive football team, which you have to have. The encouraging thing about our situation is the way our defense is playing right now and the fact we’ve been able to do some things – stop the run, at- tack the quarterback, that kind of thing.
“So that would be the suitable formula,” added Coughlin as he met the media for the first time leading up to Sunday’s 1 p.m. NFC wild card playoff game here with the 106 Atlanta Falcons.
“I think we played a couple of games in a row where we played well. I think we can play better,” he said. “I think we’ve come closer as all three phases have come closer to playing better together and complimenting one another and realizing how the other is playing and how that affects the other phases of the game.
“But we’re getting there. I think these two games (wins over the Jets and Cowboys) have given us momentum, have given us confidence. Hopefully we’ll just continue to improve,” said Coughlin.
He didn’t miss a chance to praise the Falcons, noting they are “a team that’s 10th in the league on offense, 12th on defense, outstanding special teams – No. 1 punt coverage team in the league. A very fast, very physical football team that certainly, offensively, has many, many outstanding players,” added Coughlin
“They run the ball very well with a 1,300-yard runner in Michael Turner, two or three exceptional receivers and (Tony) Gonzalez at tight end. A very good and talented team. Of course Matt Ryan, the quarterback, is a outstanding young player in his own right.
“We’re very fortunate and glad to be playing them at home. Our fans did an outstanding job last week. The 12th man really came through in a big fashion for us and I’m encouraging them to do so again this week because it was really very impressive and our players appreciated the effort that the fans put forth,” said Coughlin.
••• The Giants are the third team since 1990 to make the playoffs after finishing last in the league in rushing. The 2008 Cardinals and 2009 Colts used a great passing attack to reach the big game after their run game was worst in the NFL.