By Tom Canavan, AP Sports Writer
The bye week turned into a bonanza for the New York Giants.
Not only did quarterback Eli Manning and company get a chance to rest and get away from a four-game losing streak, the Giants (5-4) also got lucky.
The Dallas Cowboys (6-3), Philadelphia Eagles (5-4) and Atlanta Falcons (5-4) all lost while the Giants were hunting, fishing and watching football games, and New York’s playoff chances improved markedly.
New York is now a game behind Dallas in the NFC East and tied with Philadelphia, Atlanta and Green Bay for wildcard playoff berths with seven games left in the regular season.
The Giants return to action Sunday at home against the Falcons.
New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning (10) reacts after throwing a touchdown pass to Giants wide receiver Steve Smith (12) against the San Diego Chargers in the second quarter of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 8, 2009, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)
“We have to worry about the Giants,” Manning said Monday. “We have to handle our business; we have to go out there and play well and win games. We know that we have to play Philly again, the Cowboys and the Redskins again.
“Really what it comes down to is we have to focus on Atlanta this week,” Manning added. “That’s all we can do is focus on them, go out there and play well and see if we could get a win and get back on a winning streak.”
After last Wednesday’s practice, coach Tom Coughlin gave the Giants four days off.
Players returned at 8:30 a.m. Monday, lifted weights, went on the field for about an hour and were done by noon. Everyone practiced except backup running back Ahmad Bradshaw, who has been bothered by foot and ankle injuries all season.
Defensive end Justin Tuck said he hopes the time off helped everyone clear their minds after consecutive losses to New Orleans, Arizona, Philadelphia and San Diego.
“I think it did,” said Tuck, who came up empty deer hunting in an undisclosed mountain location. “In our little work that we did today, it seemed like guys were happy to be back. Guys were bouncing around and things like that. But like I said, it only matters what we do on Sunday, so we will find out this week.”
Tuck said the time off also gave everyone a chance to rest injuries. His left shoulder, for example, has been bothering him since the second week of the season, forcing him to wear a harness during games.
During the past week, he has done some strengthening work and said the lack of contact has given him time to recover.
Manning, who went to Mississippi on Saturday to watch his Rebels play, also got time to rest the right heel that has bothered him for more than a month.
“The foot feels fine, it’s not an issue,” Manning said. “That injury I think is kind of over and done with. I think a week off of not practicing, not putting any pressure on the body and the arm definitely helps and refreshes the whole body.”
Now, Manning and the Giants are ready for a fresh start.
“I know in the NFL you are never out of anything, especially after nine games,” Manning said. “There is a lot of football left, and teams can turn things around. Teams can get hot at the end of the season. We have to go out there and start playing better football, and we are capable of doing that.”
Copyright 2009 The Associated Press.
