By TOM CANAVAN
AP Sports Writer
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J.(AP) — Having been to the playoffs the past
four years, the New York Giants have rarely referred to a game
as must-win unless it was in the postseason.
Things have changed dramatically with three straight losses, and
more than one Giant is putting Sunday’s game with the San Diego
Chargers into the better-not-lose category.
Forget that the contest will mark the first time Eli Manning and
Philip Rivers face each other since the draft-day trade in which
the Giants obtained the No. 1 overall pick from the Chargers for
the rights to Rivers, who was the No. 4 pick, and three other
draft choices, including one which turned out to be linebacker
Shawne Merriman.
Middle linebacker Antonio Pierce went so far as to proclaim this
another Super Bowl for the Giants (5-3), who have fallen behind
Philadelphia and Dallas in the NFC East.
It’s just as important for the Chargers (4-3), who trail the
Denver Broncos by two games in the AFC West.
“I don’t ever remember losing three games in a row,” Giants
running back Brandon Jacobs said. “So a lot of guys around here
realize that in five years they have never really been part of
losing three games in a row and we have to do something about
it. And a lot of guys are willing to step up and go out and make
plays.”
Actually, the Giants lost four in a row in 2006, when they
managed to make the playoffs despite an 8-8 record.
The Chargers are very similar to the Giants in that most of
their wins have been against the NFL’s weaker teams (Kansas
City, Oakland twice and Miami), while their losses have been to
Denver, Pittsburgh and Baltimore.
“It’ll be a heck of a challenge,” said running back LaDainian
Tomlinson, who scored three touchdowns when the Drew Brees-led
Chargers beat Manning and the Giants in their last meeting in
2005.
“These guys are Super Bowl champs from a couple years ago. I
think it’s a different type of team,” Tomlinson said. “This is a
team that can run the ball effectively, they can throw the ball.
Defensive-wise, they get after the quarterback. They can stop
the run. And playing at their house, losing three straight, it’s
going to be a tough game.”
The key might be the big play. The Chargers have 18 passing
plays of 25 yards or more this season, tied for the third in the
NFL. The Giants, who have given up at least 40 points in two of
their three losses, have surrendered 15 pass plays of 20 yards
or more in their losing streak.
“I think everybody in the building recognizes where we are and
how we need to respond,” Giants defensive coordinator Bill
Sheridan said.
The fun part of the game will be watching Manning and Rivers,
who have both become outstanding quarterbacks. The difference is
Manning led the Giants to a Super Bowl win over New England in
2008. Coincidentally, the Patriots beat Rivers and the Chargers
in the AFC title game to earn the trip to Arizona.
Manning, who has thrown six interceptions in the losing streak,
downplayed the head-to-head matchup with Rivers.
“This is the Giants versus San Diego,” Manning said. “It is
about us getting back on track and getting that winning feeling
again. I think that is my only concern. I think that is kind of
in the past.”
Rivers also was indifferent about facing New York. He said he
never talked to any Giants front office personnel after they
drafted him and he had no hard feeling in the wake of the trade.
“Again, I know it wasn’t just a straight trade me for Eli or
vice versa,” Rivers said. “There were some very key picks and
players involved in what the Chargers were able to acquire and,
honestly, players that have had a huge impact over this past six
years and continue to have. So I’m sure both teams are happy the
way it worked out.”
If the Giants have an advantage it should be their running game
against the Chargers’ defense, which is giving up 132.1 yards
per game. New York plays its best when the running game allows
Manning to pick when he throws.
Giants safety C.C. Brown has struggled since taking over for
Kenny Phillips (IR) and Rivers will likely target him in New
York’s final game before a bye week.
Tomlinson said road games against NFC East teams can be tough.
“We just kind of expect when you go play physical teams like
these, with the big crowds, fans are really into the game, it
becomes a tough place to play,” he said. “It’s somewhere that
we’re really not used to. It’s different from Kansas City and
Oakland and Denver. It’s a little bit more.”
For the Giants, this game has also come to mean a little bit
more.
“Guys are running around, flying around, making a lot of noise,”
Jacobs said of recent practices. “Everyone has been that guy
this week to get on someone else when they are not doing it
right, make them do it the right way. I said on Wednesday
morning that I was going to be that guy to come in here and jump
on people’s backs when it doesn’t look like they are working
hard. And about 40 other guys had the same mentality.”
Chargers linebacker Shaun Phillips isn’t concerned how the
Giants feel.
“We can’t look at that, the Giants lost three in a row,” he
said. “I mean, they’re still a good football team, and they’re
one of the better teams in the league. So, them losing three
straight has nothing to do with us. But we can’t control what
they do. We can control what we do. As long as we continue to
have that mentality, I believe we’ll be OK.”
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