Tom Coughlin believes he will know how much this halting playoff drive means to his players by how many of them are willing to go above and beyond.
“People have got to — they’ve got to extend themselves this time of year,’’ the Giants coach said Wednesday in a call-to-arms leading into Sunday’s game against the Jets. “If it’s that important to them, extend yourselves.
“Go to the office early, stay late, make sure you’re responsible for your assignments, make sure you’re prepared, make sure you know the guy you’re going to play against, do everything in your power.’’
Coughlin then pointed out what the calendar reads and what that should mean to the Giants.
“We’re in December now, there’s not many games left to play,’’ he said. “There’s no reason not to commit yourself totally and completely to something you’ve spent your life wishing and hoping for. That’s the attitude I take.’’
That is the attitude Coughlin is searching for, and, perhaps, pleading for. There was little of it in last week’s 20-14 loss to the Redskins, as the Giants entered the fourth quarter trailing 20-0 and staged a too-little, too-late rally that dropped them into a first-place tie with Washington in the weak NFC East. The Giants are 5-6 and do not absolutely, positively need to win this game to stay in contention for the division title, but a third consecutive loss will make their stretch run nearly a win-’em-all mandate.
“The motto is: You only remember what you do in December,’’ said Jason Pierre-Paul, one of the few who were on the scene when the Giants were at their best this late in a season. “So that’s true. Every game counts. How I feel is we should win every game, we have the talent to do it, and we just have to put it together. We can’t come out and start how we started last week or whatever. We’re out here working hard as a team and we’re going to get it right.’’
Coughlin’s cry for the Giants to extend themselves is similar to Antrel Rolle’s “All In’’ declaration that became the rallying cry in the closing weeks of the 2011 season. That was a very different team, and just because the head coach asks for it does not mean he will instantly get it.
Rookie safety Landon Collins did not sound completely sure what Coughlin was looking for.
“Put more effort, more time into this because we got a team that can really go far,’’ Collins said. “That’s what he doesn’t see. You play harder, you fight, put in more film study. There’s always something extra you could do.’’
Coughlin knows he must lean on Eli Manning to deliver for the Giants, but it has been four years since this coach and this quarterback made any December magic.
“He’s our guy and he’s done it so many times before,’’ Coughlin said, before quickly pivoting to what Manning’s teammates need to do for him.
“You’ve got to catch the ball when the ball is thrown to you, as well,’’ Coughlin said. “That’s part of the responsibility. We all know — I had a coach in college that believed a couple bad things happened when you threw it, but that’s not the case today in this league. So guys have got to catch the ball.
“[Manning] can do it, he’s done it before. We’ve got to have some help. He’s not out there by himself.’’
The battered offensive line could get Justin Pugh and Westin Richburg back to face the Jets, which certainly will help. Odell Beckham Jr. will be out there and Jets cornerback Darrelle Revis might not be. Manning has heard Coughlin’s message before.
“Yeah, I think just kind of talked about going all in or talked about now,’’ Manning said. “It’s just about not doing the talk, but actually making it happen. And taking that extra effort to make, sure you have the game plan, you have your assignments, you have everything down so you can go out there practice fast, play fast on game day.’’
In other words, extend yourselves.