New York
Giants

For starters, the Giants are very much intent on transferring everything they accomplished during their self-scouting process during their bye onto the field of play in the form of fundamentally sound football from this point forward, as New York will probably need to win five of their remaining seven games if they want to be playing in January.

"The most important thing to me is our team, and the word 'opportunity' and the fact that what we do is the most important thing of all," said Giants head coach Tom Coughlin.

"This is the National Football League; it is mid- to late-November. Things happen in our league. On a weekly basis anybody is capable of beating anybody else."

"It is an important game for us because we have to get back on track," added quarterback Eli Manning. "We are in similar situations. They have lost three of their last four, so they are going to feel they have something to prove, just like us."

Still, an even bigger incentive for the Giants to win this week is that it would give them the head-to-head tiebreaker against the Falcons, who like the Giants are still in contention for a NFC wild card spot.

Despite the possible playoff implications this game might have, Coughlin doesn't want his players looking too far ahead. Rather, he wants them to understand that they can only control what is directly in front of them if they come out and execute the way they're capable of doing.

That is what has Manning excited the most, knowing that he's in control of what can happen. "I am excited because no matter what happens, all we can control is what the Giants can do," said Manning. "We've got to control our play and go out there and play well."

Even though they are trying not to look too far ahead, Coughlin realizes that there is a bigger opportunity there for the taking. Not only would a win put the Giants in good shape for a wild card berth, it would also ensure that they remain in the hunt for the NFC East crown, where New York is currently a half game behind the 5-4 Eagles and a full game behind the 6-3 Cowboys.

With games against Dallas and Philadelphia still on the Giants' schedule, a win this week would be a huge boost, as New York would look to build on that positive momentum for that critical stretch of games against the NFC East opponents that begins after a Thanksgiving date at Denver.

SERIES HISTORY: 20th regular-season meeting. Falcons lead the series, 10-9. This is Atlanta's first trip to Giants Stadium since 2004. The visiting team has won the last nine meetings.

--LB Antonio Pierce has never been part of a losing effort against Atlanta during his time with the Giants. His best game came in 2007 at Atlanta when he recorded eight tackles, one sack, and one pass deflection.

--DE Justin Tuck has played against the Falcons twice. In 2006, Tuck recorded two tackles on special teams; in 2007, he had two tackles and one sack at Atlanta.

--DE Osi Umenyiora has 14 tackles, 2.5 sacks and a forced fumble in four career games against Atlanta. His best performance came in 2006, when he had five tackles and two sacks.

--LB Clint Sintim said he's been a long time admirer of future Hall of Fame TE Tony Gonzalez, who is now a member of the Atlanta Falcons. However, the rookie vowed that when it comes time to line up against Gonzalez, he will not be star-struck. "When you come inside of the lines of football you kind of realize that he's a man just like you are," Sintim said. "Between the lines, it's man against man. So there won't be time to be star-struck."

--CB Kevin Dockery could be in danger of losing snaps when CB Aaron Ross returns to action. Dockery has struggled the past few weeks in coverage and has already been passed on the depth chart by rookie Bruce Johnson in the nickel package. If Ross does come back, the coaches will probably want to ease him back into the game, so his snaps could come at Dockery's expense.

BY THE NUMBERS: 5-15 -- The Giants' record in games following their bye week. New York is 2-3 in post-bye games under current head coach Tom Coughlin.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "Coach (Mike) Waufle often says we need to stop hitting the triples and start hitting home runs." -- DE Justin Tuck on the defense's desire to increase its sack total in the team's remaining seven games.

"Whoever is active has got to help one of the teams," Coughlin said when asked about what Barden needs to show in order to be active on Sundays. "He has had some good days and some bad days. And we need more consistency."

PLAYER NOTES

--P Jeff Feagles is leading the NFC Pro Bowl balloting fan vote with 52,952 votes as of November 16. Through nine games this season, the 43-year old Feagles is currently ranked last in the NFC, and 31st league-wide with his 35.8 net average.

--RB Danny Ware is expected to see an increase in his role, according to head coach Tom Coughlin. Ware, who was being groomed to be the team's third down back, saw his season take an unexpected detour on the Giants' opening kickoff in Week 1 when he injured his elbow and missed the next five games. Head coach Tom Coughlin is hoping that the third-year running back continues to make enough progress to get back to where he was before the injury.

--LB Clint Sintim, who saw his first extended action on defense before the bye week, played well enough to earn even more time as part of a developing rotation with veteran Danny Clark at the strong side linebacker spot. "I do expect him to be as involved as we can make that (happen)," said Coughlin. "He improved the second time around, so we're looking for more improvement."

--LB Michael Boley is going to have some extra incentive this week, his second one back since he had knee surgery in early October. He'll be facing his former team. "That will probably get (his) attention," said head coach Tom Coughlin when asked about Boley's emotional state of mind for this weekend's game.

--RB Brandon Jacobs remains in search of his first 100-yard rushing game this season, and his first in more than a year. After getting off to a slow start to this season when he was asked to execute a number of runs that were not quite an ideal fit for his style, Jacobs has returned to running plays that are a better match. As such, he's been averaging 5.1 yards per carry over his last four games.

GAME PLAN: Normally the Giants prefer to forget about their last game as quickly as possible, especially when that game is a loss. However, there were many positive signs that have left New York with reason to believe that its losing ways could soon be a thing of the past.

For starters, the Giants defense did its best job of the season in getting pressure on the quarterback. While they didn't get the sacks, they did force the quarterback into making several premature throws that didn't go far.

Against Falcons QB Matt Ryan, the Giants defense faces a signal caller who, in his last four games, has been jittery when faced with a heavy dose of pressure. Ryan has thrown 12 interceptions so far, including eight in his last four games.

One thing in the Giants' favor is that DE Justin Tuck, who's been ailing with a shoulder injury since Week 2, said he feels as good as he's felt in weeks. If Tuck and his bookend, DE Osi Umenyiora, play like they're capable of, it could be another long day for Ryan.

Even if Atlanta somehow finds a way to stifle Tuck and Umenyiora, they'll still have to contend with DT Chris Canty's fresh legs, as well as the continued presence of DE Mathias Kiwanuka, who lines up at defensive tackle on passing downs where he's had success in getting to the quarterback.

MATCHUPS TO WATCH: Giants LBs Danny Clark, Clint Sintim, and Michael Boley vs. Falcons TE Tony Gonzalez. In the Giants' base package, the strong side duo of Clark and Sintim will have responsibility for limiting Gonzalez. However, the Giants will also probably try to get the quicker Boley matched up against Gonzalez as often as possible in obvious passing downs as Boley has the speed and the quickness to keep up with him.

Giants OL vs. Falcons DL. The Giants have taken 12 sacks in their last four games. While some of the sacks are directly a result of coverage, the Giants' offensive line will still have a big challenge ahead as the Atlanta front seven has been consistent with pressuring the quarterback, recording 19 sacks so far.

INJURY IMPACT:

--CB Aaron Ross continues to be limited in practice this week as he works his way back from a hamstring injury. If Ross does play on Sunday, he's not sure what role he'll have, as he's been doing work at both corner and safety. "Right now they are working me in and trying to see how my leg holds up," he said. "I am just waiting for them to call number 31 out there."

--RB Ahmad Bradshaw (foot/ankle) remains the only player on a managed practice schedule. Bradshaw did not practice Wednesday and won't practice Thursday, but he should be able to do some limited work on Friday, as he has done in the past.

--QB Eli Manning told reporters earlier in the week that his injured foot was no longer an issue. However, he was listed on the team's weekly practice report. Regardless, he took his normally scheduled practice load so it would appear that the Giants' decision to list him is just a technicality.