Giants know playoff chances now 'remote'

What a difference a year has made for the New York Giants.

Much like this time last year, the Giants entered the final week of the season looking to secure a postseason berth, which they did with a win over the Cowboys at home.

This year, the Giants have a similar chance to get into the postseason, albeit as a wild card, if they win their season finale against the Eagles and if they get a bunch of help from other teams in the conference.

But after coming off two very bad losses the last two weeks, the Giants sound as though the playoffs are the furthest thing from their minds.

"If we get into the playoffs, we will deserve to make it," said head coach Tom Coughlin, adding, "That's very remote right now."

Coughlin was blunt with his assessment of his team, which held control of its destiny until it threw away another golden opportunity thanks to a 33-14 loss to the Ravens on Sunday.

"We weren't able to get it done. We don't have momentum going," he said. "We came into this circumstance and we knew it very well, but we're not playing anywhere near that type of football, and when it happened for us last year, this particular game, the 15th game, we had a spark, we really had a great spark.

"We're not a very confident group right now," he continued, adding that the Giants are "a very long way" from being the team that thrashed the Saints 52-27 just three games ago.

So where do the Giants go from here?

"I think there's great pride in that locker room, and we certainly all know that 9-7 is better than 8-8," Coughlin said.

"We can't really concern ourselves with (the playoffs) right now; we have to concern ourselves with getting better as a football team and winning this next game, which is the most important game," added defensive end Osi Umenyiora. "After that, whatever happens, happens."