You cannot completely scrap what you do every week just because the biggest game of the season is approaching. But you can do more than you usually do.
That is the message defensive lineman Dexter Lawrence, one of 10 team captains, is planning on imparting to his Giants teammates in the coming days leading into Sunday’s playoff-eliminator type game against the Commanders at FedEx Field.
“Challenge guys to watch a little bit more, study their matchups a little bit more,’’ Lawrence said Monday. “Doing what we already do, just a little bit more type of thing.’’
This will not be a hard sell, though.
“I don’t try to apply a lot of pressure to anybody,’’ Lawrence said. “It’s about doing what you do in other weeks, just a little more, knowing this is a playoff-potential game.’’
This is uncharted territory for Lawrence, who arrived in 2019, and also for Andrew Thomas, the third-year left tackle. Lawrence and Thomas played in late-season games of great importance at Clemson and Georgia, respectively, but not in their time with the Giants.
“You don’t want to go out and do something drastic you haven’t been doing all season, but you also want to be focused on every minute detail,’’ Thomas said. “We know what’s on the line. You already know the mentality that comes with that. Washington is a great team, our division is great this year, so we know what this game means.’’
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The Giants and Commanders have matching records of 7-5-1, playing to a 20-20 tie in Week 13.
Saquon Barkley played only 20 snaps against the Eagles, the third-fewest of his five-year NFL career. The plan was to use a rotation at running back with Matt Breida and Gary Brightwell to limit Barkley’s workload because of a neck issue. Once the game got out of hand, Barkley went to the sideline and did not return. Afterward, Barkley said he felt fine. A day later, coach Brian Daboll said, “Hopefully he’s a little bit better this week than he was last week.’’
The availability of TE Daniel Bellinger is in question after he was forced out with an injury to his ribs. “I’d say he’s pretty sore so we’ll see how he goes during the week,’’ Daboll said.
WR Richie James is in the concussion protocol. Daboll said it is too early to know about the possible returns this week for DL Leonard Williams (neck), CB Adoree’ Jackson (knee), G Ben Bredeson (knee) and S Xavier McKinney (hand).
The 253 rushing yards by the Eagles in their 48-22 rout Sunday was the most given up by the Giants in more than eight years. They allowed 350 rushing yards to the Seahawks in 2014. … This was the most lopsided loss to the Eagles for the Giants since a 27-0 loss in 2014. It was the most points the Giants allowed to the Eagles since a 49-21 loss on Oct. 4, 1959.
Giants assistant general manager Brandon Brown will take part in the NFL’s Front Office Accelerator this week in Dallas. The program was created to provide “rising people of color and women front office prospects with the opportunity to strengthen relationships with club ownership and executives.’’ Brown interviewed for the Vikings general manager job in last year’s hiring cycle before he was brought in by new Giants GM Joe Schoen.
