Justin Tuck wants Brandon Jacobs back in blue

Brandon Jacobs said goodbye to the New York Giants last week— after the team and the running back couldn't come to a contract agreement— but that doesn't mean the bulldozing Jacobs won't return to Big Blue, according to Justin Tuck.

It sounds like Tuck and a few of his teammates aren't convinced they've seen the last of Jacobs in the backfield for the Giants.

"Obviously [Jacobs] has been here since I've been here," Tuck said.  "We came in the league together in 2005 and I hear there is still a chance he might be back.  You cross your fingers about that," Tuck said, Tuesday night when he was honored for his part in contributing to a new Multicultural Arts Center in New York.

While a Jacobs return seems like a long shot after he was cut last week and saved the Giants from paying him a $4.9 million roster bonus, the big back always talked about returning for the right price.

The two parties tried to reconstruct his contract but couldn't come to an agreement.  The two-time Super Bowl winner and team owners parted on amicable terms.

Tuck called Jacobs the "heart and soul" of the team and said he understands that— even after seven years of service to the Giants— there's still "the business part of this football we play."

"When I think of Brandon, I think of a guy who helped us win two Super Bowls," said Tuck.  "So he's got a lot to hang his hat on, and I know that he's still got football left to play and he's going to go somewhere else and play some smashmouth football."

The defensive end might be considering the fact that he might be on the other end of that smashmouth football next season.

Giants cut Brandon Jacobs after seven seasons

The New York Giants released running back Brandon Jacobs today after he and the team could not come to an agreement on a restructured contract which would include a pay reduction.

The 260-pound bruiser wanted to return to the Giants, but knew he was never going to get the $4.4 million he was schedule to earn in 2012.

For seven years the 29-year-old Jacobs plowed through defenses for the Giants and had two Super Bowl rings to show for it.

Only last week, Jacobs said he wanted to stay but warned, "I'm not willing to sell my soul, you know?  It's a great organization and I want to be a part of it , but if not, if they're not feeling the same way, then so be it."

Apparently, the Giants didn't feel the same way.

Still, Jacobs had no hard feelings.

"I might be leaving, but my name will stay," he said.  "But it's time to move on.  We tried, couldn't reach an agreement.  It's been great though, I can't say anything bad about anybody in the organization."

Jacobs had a $500,000 roster bonus to be paid on March 17, a sum that will not see his bank account any more.

The team wanted Jacobs for another season but at a lower price. He had one of his least productive seasons in 2011 (571 yards, 3.8 yds per carry) and went from starter to reserve behind Ahmad Bradshaw.

Last year, Jacobs took a pay cut to retain a spot on the team.

"I feel like I'm 25 years old," he said last week.

Jacobs, a fourth-round pick in 2005, leaves the Giants as the fourth leading rusher in team history with 4,849 yards.  His 56 rushing touchdowns are the most for any Giant.

Jacobs was considered a fullback when he first backed up Tiki  Barber before becoming the starting running back.  The sight of the punishing Giant knocking down opposing players was the source of Giants fan's pride for seven seasons.

His best seasons were in 2007 and 2008 when he had the only two 1,000 yard seasons of his career.

The release of Jacobs leaves the team with Bradshaw, D.J. Ware and Da'Rel Scott as the only running backs on the roster.

Bradshaw is not known as an every down back and hasn't ever played a full season without injuries.

It looks like the Giants will have to add a veteran back through free-agency or draft one out of college.

Still, the sight of Jacobs rallying his Giants teammates and riling opponents will be missed.

Hakeem Nicks' Helmet Catch Has A David Tyree Super Bowl Look

Hakeem Nicks incredible catch off the front of his helmet gave the New York Giants a 20-10 halftime lead over the Green Bay Packers and brought back memories of the Eli Manning to David Tyree catch that led to a Giants Super Bowl championship four years ago.

While not as dramatic as Tyree's legendary catch against the New England Patriots, Hicks'  37-yard touchdown catch was sensational because it came as time expired in the half and it looked like the Giants blundered management of the clock and a chance to put at least three more points on the scoreboard.

Instead, Manning's desperate heave-ho gave them seven more points leading the way to a resounding 37-20 win over the Packers in this NFC Divisional playoff game.

Ahmad Bradshaw got the the Giants into field goal range with a 23-yard run out-of-bounds at the 37-yard line to stop the clock with :06 left in the second quarter.  With no timeouts left, Manning went back to pass but was chased out of the pocket as the seconds ticked by.

Then with one second left— and no time left for a field goal attempt— Manning heaved the Hail Mary pass to the back of the Packers end zone.

Hicks leaped between two Packers defenders, pressed the ball to his face mask and tumbled to the ground for the score.  Time remaining on the clock— :00.

Comparisons to the Giants 2007-08 playoff run to this season have been the topic of conversation for weeks and Hicks' grab could be taken as an omen of things to come. 

Like in 2008, the Giants had to roll through frozen Lambeau Field.

The first half of this playoff battle was a back and forth affair— not unlike their Dec. 4 meeting at MetLife Stadium.

The Giants were the beneficiaries of a couple of Green Bay fumbles and had the misfortune of having one taken away on a bad call by the officials.

As the first quarter was winding down, Giants defensive back Kenny Phillips recovered what looked like a fumble after a Greg Jennings catch but it was ruled that the receiver was down.  Giants head coach Tom Coughlin challenged the ruling on the field but the call wasn't overturned. Every camera angle showed that Jennings' knee never hit the ground before the ball came loose.

The Packers continued their drive and tied the game at 10-10 on a Aaron Rodgers TD pass.

The Giants failed to score on a first-and-goal from the five yard line and kicked a field goal to make it 13-10.

The Packers hit the field to start the second half with gusto while the Giants looked flat.

A field goal at 3:50 cut New York's lead to seven, 20-13.

The Packers blew a big chance in the fourth quarter when Rodgers under-threw to a wide open Michael Finley on third down at the Giants 40-yard line, then decided to go for it on the fourth.

Rodgers was sacked and the Giants took over.

The Giants didn't get a first down in the second half until almost four minutes elapsed in the fourth quarter when Mario Manningham caught a pass and the team started to move the ball once again.

The drive stalled and Lawrence Tynes narrowly put the ball inside the uprights on a 35-yard field goal to increase the lead to 23-13 with 7:48 left.

A third Packers fumble by Ryan Grant was picked up and returned by Chase Blackburn to the Green Bay 4-yard line.  On the next play Manning threw his third TD pass of the day— hitting Manningham crossing the back of the end zone.

Giants lead 30-13 with 6:48 to go in the game.

Rodgers couldn't complete a crucial third down play but a phantom "blow to the head" personal foul was called on the Giants Matthias Kiwanuka for knocking the Packers QB down.  The call gave Green Bay new life but the clock was slowing ticking down.

The second bogus call of the day against the Giants would lead to another Green bay touchdown.

Rodgers hit Donald Driver with a 16-yard TD pass with 4:46 on the clock to narrow the Packers deficit to ten, 30-20.

A second failed Packers onside kick was pounced on by Victor Cruz and left the Giants at mid-field.

Manning hit Cruz on a critical third-and-long to essentially lay the Packers to rest followed by a big run by Bradshaw to the Green Bay 10-yard line which closed the lid on the Packers coffin.

Brandon Jacobs rumbled into the end zone to make it 37-20 and put the final nail in the Packers season.
 
Next week, the Giants go to San Francisco to face the 49ers in the NFC Championship game.  The last time the two teams played each other in the playoffs was 2003.  The Giants lost, 39-38, on a botched Giants play that will forever be remembered as "The Snap."


If the Giants keep rolling along like they have, maybe the Hicks catch is a sign of things to come.

Right now, Giants fans would rather be reminded of "The Catch."

Giants Tuck: "We're Capable of Winning Super Bowl"

Justin Tuck had a little trouble Sunday night before finding his intended Gatorade target— Tom Coughlin— after the New York Giants defeated the Dallas Cowboys, 31-14— but it sounds like the Giants defensive end plans on dumping a cooler of the juice on his head coach after the Super Bowl.

"We're capable of winning the Super Bowl," said Tuck after the Giants clinched their first playoff spot  since 2008.

Tuck finally did douse Coughlin with the Gatorade— with a little help from the coach's son-in-law Chris Snee—after the Giants handily beat the Cowboys at MetLife Stadium.

Tuck's optimism is not unfounded.  After a lackluster performance against the Washington Redskins, the G-Men had relatively easy wins against two bitter rivals— the Cowboys and New York Jets.

The Giants defensive line is healthy for the first time this season and sacked Tony Romo six times and chased him all over the field.

Last week against the Jets, the Giants got to Mark Sanchez five times and forced three interceptions.

The Giants (9-7) run to the Super Bowl is a marathon and kicks off next Sunday in a wild card game against the Atlanta Falcons (10-6) at MetLife Stadium.

The Falcons might prove to be a bigger challenge than either the Cowboys or Jets.  Dallas came to New Jersey with Romo and his bruised throwing hand and the Jets were there with Sanchez and his black and blue ego.

The Giants now face a formidable opponent with another Ryan on their side.

After beating loudmouths Rex and Rob, they will face Matt Ryan— a quarterback who does his talking on the field.

Combine Atlanta's Ryan with running back Michael Turner, receivers Julio Jones and Roddy White and veteran Tight-end Tony Gonzalez and you have a multi-faceted offense that can run up the score.

Let's play devil's advocate and assume the Giants do beat the Falcons and the New Orleans Saints defeat the Detroit Lions, then they will have to play the Green Bay Packer at Lambeau Field.

The Giants almost beat the Packers in a 38-35 shoot-out on Dec. 4 at MetLife Stadium and did beat the Pack in the NFC Championship game in Green Bay on their run to their 2008 Super Bowl title.

Tuck isn't the only Giants player sipping the Gatorade.

"I think we're in the perfect position," said linebacker Mathias Kiwanuka.  " We didn't get here the way that we wanted to, but regardless of what happened during the season, we're in the playoffs, we won our division, we have a chance at the Super Bowl."

The Giants are the first NFC East champion to finish the regular season with less than 10 wins but in 2007 no one gave New York any chance of making the Super Bowl— never mind beating the undefeated— and 12-point favorites— New England Patriots.

Tuck, who has battled through a series of injuries throughout the season, says he is healthy now and—combined with Osi Umenyiora and Jason Pierre-Paul— give the Giants the best pass-rushing trio in the NFL.

Never one to be left out of the verbal mix, Giants running back Brandon Jacobs backed Tuck's bravado.

"I wouldn't want to face the New York Giants right now," said Jacobs.  "It's going to be tough to beat us in the playoffs."

Giants Coughlin Shows Everyone Who's The Boss

Tom Coughlin made two calls—one before and one during— a game against the Dallas Cowboys yesterday that saved the New York Giants season and probably saved his job—again.

Before Sunday's game in Dallas, the Giants head coach benched arguably his best running back Ahmad Bradshaw for the first half before the season's biggest game and then later called a time-out to ice rookie Cowboys kicker Dan Bailey's 47-yard field goal seconds from sending the game into overtime.

Taking a cue from Cowboy's head coach Jason Garrett—who iced his own kicker last week in a loss against the Arizona Cardinals— Coughlin's call made Bailey attempt a do-over which was blocked by Giants DE Jason Pierre-Paul.

The blocked kick gave the Giants (7-6) an unbelievable 37-34 victory and put them in first place of the NFC East ahead of the Cowboys (7-6) via tie breaker.  The two teams will clash again on New Year's Day at MetLife Stadium.

Benching Bradshaw was a game day decision after the running back reportedly violated team curfew although neither the player or coach would confirm that.  Either way, Bradshaw suited up and played ineffectively during the second half.

Brandon Jacobs, who was called a "bully" by Cowboys DB Mike Jenkins earlier in the week, got the start and lived up to the new nickname.  The Giants bruiser rumbled through the Cowboys defense for 101 yards on 19 carries and two TD's.

As many things that went right for the Giants went wrong.

Eli Manning overcame numerous tipped and dropped passes to keep the G-Men close for three quarters but when it looked like the Cowboys had the game in control, Manning came alive and led the team to 15 points in the last 5:41.

It was Manning's fifth fourth quarter comeback victory this season and after losing four straight, the Giants find themselves in the  thick of the playoff hunt.

But it all comes down to Coughlin.

Call him a taskmaster, old school or just plain out of touch with today's player—but he does it his way.

Every year there are calls for the rosy-cheeked Coughlin's head— especially when the team begins their annual December swoon.  Maybe this year things will be different.

"We needed to have a locker room celebration," said Coughlin in the Giants locker room after the win.  "We've been starving for for that."

Yesterday's victory changes everything about the Giants.  If the Giants lost, they would trail the Cowboys by two games for even the final wild-card spot and end the regular season facing division rival The Washington Redskins, New York City rival the New York Jets and, of course, their arch enemy the  Cowboys.

That road is more of a slosh through the Meadowlands swamps than a romp through Central Park.

Maybe this Giants team isn't reminiscent of Coughlin's former teams.  The running game has been anemic, the defense lets opponent's offense have their way all game long and it has given up 114 points in the last three games, but if there is a constant, it is Coughlin.

The more things change, the more they don't.

Brandon Jacobs To Cowboys: "I Am A Bully"

Brandon Jacobs agrees with Cowboys Mike Jenkins that "he is a bully" and because the Dallas cornerback said it, the Giants running back thinks the Cowboys are scared.

On Wed., Jenkins said this about Jacobs, "That's him.  That's what you get from him.  He is a bully."

Jacobs, the 260-pound pile driver, pulled no punches when he said that he doesn't mind the derogatory label.

On Wed., Jacobs proudly claimed "I am a bully" in response to Jenkins dig.

Not exactly politically-correct, but it makes some awfully good bulletin board material.

"I think people who call out bullies are afraid of bullies," said Jacobs on Thursday.  "If you call me a bully, that's how I see it.  They're just sitting back waiting for us to come there, and we're going in there ready to play football."

Just another one of the controversial tid-bits Jacobs has babbled this season.

Earlier in the season, he criticized the coaches for not using him enough and— after the recent loss to the Philadelphia Eagles— Jacobs commented about the fans who booed him during his 12-carries for 21 yards game.

"I don't take nothing back about what I said about the fans," he crowed.

Jacobs hasn't exactly been bowling over too many opponents this season with bully-like running.  His physical running style has been hampered by injuries all season and pulled a hamstring, after gaining 25 yards on two carries, last week against the Green Bay Packers. 

It sounds like Jacobs wants to make a statement on the field in this week's critical game in Dallas.

"That's always our plan," he said.  "If you go in there and bring it to them and keep doing it all game long, some body's going to break.  Either the person who's giving it is going to get tired of bringing it or they're going to get tired of trying to stop the person that's bringing it.  Whoever wants it bad enough."

Giants DE Justin Tuck agrees.

"I always tell him 'First they're going to try and face you up,'" Tuck said.  "'Second quarter they might slide and ask for their teammate to help them.  Third quarter, man, they're going to be jumping out of the way.'  I'm hoping that he understands how dominant of a back he can be when he wants to be."

Tuck laughed off Cowboys DeMarcus Ware's assertion that he wants to swap the "NY" on his helmet for a star.

"Me wanting to be a Cowboy?  Hmmm," Tuck said.  "Well, I don't wear Wranglers.  I don't wear cowboy hats or boots or those buckle belts.  And I don't need a star on my helmet to tell me I'm pretty good at what I do.   I plan on retiring a Giant."

Eli Manning Outduels Elite Brady; Giants Beat Patriots, 24-20

Eli Manning may have finally justified using the word "elite" when describing his game after he marched the New York Giants 80 yards on eight plays in the waning seconds to defeat the New England Patriots, 24-20, in Foxboro today.

This was the first meeting between the two teams since 2007—when Manning led the Giants to a Super Bowl victory.  Even after that momentous victory, the Giants quarterback is still having a hard time trying to convince fans he should be mentioned in the same breath as Tom Brady.

In that game, the Giants broke the hearts of Patriots fans and New England's shot at a perfect 19-0 season.  Today, the Giants broke their hearts again along with the Pats 20-game home win streak.

More importantly, Manning proved he could do it again.

Manning—who compared himself to the "elite" Brady in an interview this year— has been criticized for the remark all season.  Today, he might have put the Eli-bashers to rest.

The Giants trailed, 17-20, after Brady pulled another patented last minute drive out of his own hat and hit TE Ron Gronkowski just over the end zone line with 1:36 remaining in the game.

After the kick-off, the Giants (6-2) started at their own twenty before Manning began driving the Giants to the winning touchdown.  The team was helped by a 20-yard pass interference call on Patriots safety Sergio Brown on the one-yard line two plays before Manning hit TE Jake Ballard with a toss in the left corner of the end zone with :15 remaining on the clock.

The game was a sloppily-played defensive match throughout the first half.  The score was 0-0 at half time and the Giants missed tackles and dropped passes.  In the fourth quarter, Brady came alive and the G-Men looked tired and beaten.

The Giants quarterback came up big when it counted.

Manning finished the game with 250 yards on 20-of-39 passing and two TDs and one INT.  He might have had better stats if his receivers and backs didn't drop half-a-dozen throws and his favorite target, Hakeem Nicks, wasn't sidelined.  But in crunch time, Manning was superb or more appropiately—elite.  Manning threw both of his TD passes in the final 3:03 of the game.

Brandon Jacobs was the workhorse out of the backfield and finished the game with 72 yards on 18 carries and a 10-yard TD.  While he wasn't spectacular, the 260 pound Jacobs—who complained earlier about his lack of playing time— was serviceable in the absence of starter Ahmad Bradshaw.

Manning, meanwhile, proved he is becoming one of the best quarterbacks in the league.  He may not have the arm of Aaron Rodgers or the precision of Brady, but he manages to win.

Today's game was the first in a brutal row of teams on the Giants schedule.  Manning will have to prove himself against six of the best teams in the NFL over the next eight weeks if he wants to keep in elite company.

Giants Bradshaw Could Need Foot Surgery

The New York Giants already know they will head into Sunday's game against the New England Patriots without Ahmad Bradshaw—one of their most dangerous offensive weapons.  Now, the Giants are also in danger of losing their most valuable running back for the remainder of the season.

Bradshaw injured his foot last Sunday against the Miami Dolphins and, according to the the New York Daily News, is mulling season-ending surgery.

The Giants haven't provided full details about Bradshaw's injury but said the 5th-year veteran—who has had foot and ankle problems before— is thinking about having corrective surgery.

Both Bradshaw and Giants receiver Hakeem Nicks missed practice today.  Nicks is nursing a hamstring injury and looks doubtful for this Sunday's game.

At first glance, the Giants will use backup Brandon Jacobs as their primary running back.  Jacobs has  been ineffective so far this season and has grumbled about his lack of playing time over the past few weeks.  Last week, against the Dolphins, the 260-pound Jacobs totaled 10 yards on four carries.

Beyond that, the Giants can got to D.J. Ware (45 yards on 14 carries this season) and rookie Da'Rel Scott— who hasn't had a carry since the preseason ended but, in the last exhibition game against the same Patriots team, ran for 114 yards and a TD while returning a punt for another TD.  Expect to see a lot of Ware on passing downs.

The Giants head coach Tom Coughlin said Bradshaw was still "sore and swollen" on Wednesday.

The Newark Star-Ledger reported that unnamed sources said Bradshaw has a fractured foot but are unsure if he just aggravated an old injury.  The running back already had a screw inserted into the foot for an old fracture and tests on Thursday will determine whether or not there is a new break.

Bradshaw, meanwhile, told the source that he might be sidelined for only two weeks, however doubtful that looks.

Bradshaw's loss is huge blow to the Giants rushing offense.  He accounts for 60% of the carries—on a team that only has 440 total yards on the ground this season—and the team faces a brutal nine game schedule to close out the regular season.

Jacobs just returned from a knee injury himself after missing two games.  He has run 42 times for 126 yards this season and looks like a shell of the bruising back he once was.

The free-agent-to-be Jacobs had been yapping about his lack of playing time until this week when he vowed to turn his season around.

 Let's see if he can back it up.

Brandon Jacobs Wants Out in 2012

Brandon Jacobs is tired of playing tag-team with Ahmad Bradshaw in the New York Giants backfield and—in an interview with "Men's Fitness" magazine—said he feels disrespected by the team and doesn't expect to be back with the Giants next year.

The disgruntled running back has seen his role with the Giants diminish over the past few seasons and has previously expressed displeasure with how he is used by the team but, this time, Jacobs spills his guts.

"I can't wait to get a true opportunity to get out there and show myself again, you know?  Next year, hopefully," he said in the interview.  "This is a business and you have to look at it that way.  I just want to get out there and show myself.  It's going to have to be for another team, but it is what it is."

When asked outright if he sees himself with the Giants next year, he said, "No, I don't."

Jacobs is recovering from from a knee sprain which has kept him out of the last two games but is expected to play on Sunday against the Miami Dolphins.

Jacobs has no one to blame but himself for his sporadic use.  Injuries and inconsistency have become his trademarks and, at times, looks more like Ron Dayne falling down on third-and-short than the bruising back he once was.

"I'm just here; doing the best I can do to help my team," he said.  "I come out to win; it's up to them whether or not they want me."

Maybe the team has soured on Jacobs already.  It's possible the Giants don't want him back next year anyway.

Jacobs restructured contract—made prior to this season—results in $500,000 roster bonus in March.  This means the team will have to make a decision on Jacobs future with the Giants quickly after the season ends, instead of later during the summer.

The big back may find himself with a new team sooner than he thinks and Jacobs could still be playing in MetLife Stadium.  I hear the Jets are looking for someone.

Giants Will Face Dolphins At Full Strength

Tom Coughlin says he has a problem and a good problem it is.  When the New York Giants head coach surveyed his practice field yesterday, Coughlin saw something he hasn't seen all season—a full roster of football players.

"I hope we have enough uniforms for these guys," he joked.

For the first time since last season, the Giants had every starter participating in practice in some way or another.

Big Blue is no longer black and blue.

The equipment manager may be the only person on the IR by Sunday's game against the Miami Dolphins.  He'll be exhausted gathering up all 53 uniforms after every practice.

The Giants bye last week couldn't have come at a better time.  It gave key players extra time to heal and now they face the winless Dolphins healthier than they have been in a long time.

Six players: DE Osi Umenyiora, DE Justin Tuck, RB Brandon Jacobs, LB Michael Boley, FB Chris Hynoski and CB Prince Amukamara were on the injury report and all were listed as practicing on a limited basis.

G Chris Snee practiced fully after missing a game due to a concussion, while S Kenny Phillips and LS Zak DeOzzie weren't on the injury report.

The only player not expected to play is Hynoski, who will miss a second game because of a neck burner and everyone else is expected to suit up this Sunday.

The defense will be welcoming a couple of key additions. All-Pro Tuck (neck/groin) will be back on the field for the first time in over a month and Amukamara will be making his NFL debut after breaking his foot during the second day of training camp.  The top draft pick is looking forward to playing as a pro.

"I haven't lined up across someone in a couple of months," Amukamara said.  "[I] have to get re-acclimated to that speed."

After playing hapless Miami, the G-Men face a brutal line-up of teams with a combined record of 31-14.  They will need all the healthy bodies they can field.

On paper, the visiting Dolphins look like tuna salad on a menu for the Giants (4-2).  New York may have a full roster of players, but Coughlin is still wary of the winless Miami team.

"Respect all, fear none is the approach we've taken," he said.

Looks like the uniform shortage isn't such a problem anymore.

Bradshaw's 3 TD Runs Lead Giants Over Bills, 27-24

A late 23-yard field goal by Lawrence Tynes gave the New York Giants an ego-boosting 27-24 victory over the Buffalo Bills in MetLife Stadium on Sunday afternoon.  The win sends the Giants in to their bye-week with a 4-2 record and sole possession of first place in the NFC East.

Ahmad Bradshaw rumbled over the Bills defense for 104 yards including a leaping goal-line flip that put the Giants up 24-17 in the third quarter.  Bradshaw became the first Giant to run for three touchdowns in a game since Brandon Jacobs did it against the Carolina Panthers on Dec. 21, 2008.

The Giants (4-2) also found some remnants of their smashmouth style of play after losing their mojo last week in a devastating home loss against the Seattle Seahawks.  As Bradshaw helped the Giants discover the running part of their game, the defense did just enough to keep the Bills at bay.

 Bills running-back Fred Jackson gained 121 yards but most of that acreage came on an early 80-yard breakaway.  The Giants D harassed Bills QB Ryan Fitzpatrick all day and registered 3 sacks, 2 interceptions and made one fumble recovery.  While it's not enough to make fans hearken back to the days of L.T., they held the Bills when they had to.

The Giants' Eli Manning was facing a Bills defense which led the league in interceptions but the turnover prone quarterback came out of the game unscathed.  Manning was nearly flawless and completed 21-of-31 for 292 yards.  He had no TD throws but a couple of passes in or around the endzone were dropped by his receivers.

While the Giants were scoring on short runs by Bradshaw, the Bills (4-2) made the big plays highlighted by Jackson's run and a 60-yard Fitzpatrick pass to Naaman Roosevelt.  Jackson's scamper was the longest run given up by the Giants since Oct. 15, 2006 when the Falcon's Warrick Dunn scored on a 90-yarder.

The Giants have to feel good settling into their bye week.  They face a pretty bad Miami Dolphins at home when they resume play in two weeks and all signs are leading to Big Blue being less black and blue by then.

Chris Snee (concussion), Brandon Jacobs (knee) and Justin Tuck (neck) are all expected to be fully recovered from injuries which have them on the sidelines.

There is also talk that Prince Amukamara will be ready to suit up for his first regular season game.  Last spring's first-round selection broke a bone in his foot the first week of camp and could be ready to join the rest of the defensive backfield.

The Giants had to work hard for this victory and things can only get better with the return of Snee, Jacobs and Tuck-- all crucial parts to the G-Men's grind-it-out running and swarming defensive style.

If today's game proved anything, it's that the Bills are the real thing but the Giants are just a little better.

Jenny Finch Shows Up at New York Giants Practice

The New York Giants came in contact with another bird for the fourth week in a row.  After beating the Eagles, Cardinals and losing to the Seahawks, former Olympic gold medalist Jenny Finch showed up at the team's practice facility and lent a little beauty to what is shaping up as an ugly Giants team.

The former softball pitcher showed up at the Giants Timex Performance Center yesterday as part of a cross-sponsor event prior to her running the ING NYC Marathon next month.

The 31 year-old Finch sported Brandon Jacobs' #27 jersey and chatted with players.

She did some placekicking with punter Steve Weatherford-- and even made a 20-yard field goal-- before she took some passes from TE's Jake Ballard and Bear Pascoe.

Victor Cruz should take note-- Finch actually holds on to the ball.

Finch is running her first marathon after recently completing a half-marathon.  She said she is cramming in her training before the Nov. 6 race and the flame-throwing pitcher has set a modest goal.

"I'm going for around four [hours]," she said.

Finch looked pretty good running routes and catching the ball.  No word on if she was instructed how to 'flop' or 'give herself up.'

Justin Tuck Is a Neck Up On Antonio Pierce

Justin Tuck may scoff at Antonio Pierce's implication that the New York Giants player's toughness was being questioned because he didn't take the field and "doesn't have an injury that needs surgery or is that severe," but he is shaking his head because the same type of neck injury ended Pierce's career two years ago.

On a Monday radio show, Pierce chided Tuck and running back Brandon Jacobs for sitting out Sunday's game against the Seattle Seahawks because they didn't ignore their pain and just play.  Tuck has missed two games with neck and groin injuries while Jacobs is nursing a sprained MCL.

Yesterday, Tuck laughed off his friend Pierce's words.  He just might be thinking that Pierce has nothing from the neck up.

"It's funny to me," said Tuck.  "I wish I could reverse roles with A.P. and say what he said and see how he responds to it."

Tuck knows Pierce was a fierce competitor and played through injuries but thinks the former-Giant should concentrate on a player's on-the-field performance rather than their perceived toughness.

"Like in this case, I know I'm doing everything in my power to speed up this process of getting back on the football field," said Tuck.  "So why worry about what other people might think or what other people might say about it.  Because obviously they don't know."

Pierce should have a better understanding of this than anyone.  His career was cut short in a 2009 game against the Arizona Cardinals.  He was diagnosed with the same injury as Tuck-- a burner-- and played two more games before an MRI exam showed a bulging disk in his neck.

Pierce never had surgery and never played in an NFL game again.  Now he is telling Tuck to throw caution to the wind and get back on the field?

At first, Tuck was angry at Pierce's ironic words but smoothed things over.  The two men spoke by phone on Monday and came to an understanding.

"I understand how he meant it.  It didn't come out the way he wanted it to, " said Tuck.  It's water under the bridge."

Tuck said he is focusing more on what members of the Giants organization think than what outside observers perceive.

"All the doctors and even the coaches are telling me 'Be smart.'  When you're ready to play, come back and play," Tuck said.  "The good thing is regardless what other people say, I know the people in the locker room trust me and understand that I want to be on that football field.  That's all that matters."

Eli Manning Looking To Avoid Any More Late-Game Heroics Against Seahawks

The New York Giants return home tomorrow to play the Seattle Seahawks in a game that is loaded with all the signs which suggest overlooking the opposition.  The Giants (3-1) are coming off two thrilling come-from-behind victories on the road and a three game win streak but the Seahawks (3-1) have a rousing fourth quarter rally, in their most recent loss to the Atlanta Falcons, under their belt as well.

The Giants claim they are not overconfident playing the offensively-deficient Seahawks, but after being down by 20 points in the third quarter last week against the Falcons, the Seahawks switched to a hurry-up offense and reeled off 21 points in the final 25 minutes only to fall short, 30-28, in the loss.

We all know how the Giants handle the hurry-up and don't think the referees won't be looking for some more Giants' players flopping on the field to slow it down.  Hear that Deon Grant?

The Giants return to MetLife Stadium for a three game home stand after playing three of their first four games on the road.  It could be the easiest stretch of their schedule and  make-it-or-break-it time for the G-men.  Last week's two score comeback over the Arizona Cardinals has to make the homecoming even sweeter.

Over the next month, the Giants play the still-suspect Buffalo Bills and the Andrew-Luck Lottery front runners Miami Dolphins before the team heads into a sadistic nine-game stretch against top-tier teams and division rivals.

Oh yeah, there's a bye week thrown in there after the Buffalo game.  So for the next month, the Giants can get used to familiar surroundings and an accommodating schedule-maker.

The game at hand brings in a Seahawks team juiced up with a little momentum and Pete Carroll's hurry-up to frustrate the Giants D.  I'm pretty sure we'll be seeing the giddy-up offense going at a depleted Giants defense that will be without DE Justin Tuck for the second straight week.

The Seahawks don't match up well against the Giants as their last two losses to New York will attest.  The Giants pummeled the 'Hawks 41-7 last season and 44-6 in 2008, so that overconfidence buzz could be in the back of Giants player's minds.

But these birds don't like to leave the nest either.  Seattle has lost its last six road games and the last nine games played in the Eastern Time Zone.

As for the Giants offense, the loss of Brandon Jacobs (knee) means the running game will be in the sole hands of Ahmad Bradshaw and the concussed head of Mario Manningham has turned Victor Cruz into a starting receiver.  Manningham still has to overcome last week's perceived miscommunication with QB Eli Manning and get back into the swing of things.

Manning will go to his receivers early and often.  It sounds like he doesn't want to toy with any more late-game deficits. 

"You always want to get off to a fast start, but you also don't want to get frustrated if you don't.  And if you don't get off to a fast start, you still can't afford to make mistakes or turn the ball over," said Manning.  "We are doing a better job of [limiting turnovers], and  that's keeping us in games."

The NFC's second-ranked QB is slowly making the league forget about the other Manning, Peyton, and is brimming with confidence.  The new and improved Giants QB has not thrown an interception in 90 straight attempts.  He looks almost Tom Bradyish.

The Giants now attempt to shoot down the third bird-named team in-a-row and feather their own nest.

If Manning comes out firing-- because of the Giants depleted running game -- and the Seahawks give the hurry-up a little go-see, this game could turn into a shoot-out.

The Giants hope it turns into a turkey shoot-- or a Seahawk one.