Giants: 'We got punched in mouth'

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - The feeling of euphoria and invincibility the New York Giants had after beating New England 2 weeks ago is gone. Long gone.

It's been replaced by disappointment, anger and frustration in the wake of consecutive losses to San Francisco and the Eagles that has wiped out their two-game lead in the NFC East.

The slump has left many wondering whether the Giants (6-4) are heading for another second-half swoon.

The loss on the road to the Niners (9-1) was understandable. The one to the Eagles (4-6) really upset Tom Coughlin's team, and it wasn't merely the loss. It was the way they lost. The Eagles were not only more physical, they showed a willingness to do anything to win, and New York failed to respond in falling into a tie for first place with Dallas.

Veteran Giants defensive tackle Chris Canty showed his frustration talking about the game. His voice was loud and his words were so filled with conviction, his eyes welled with tears.

"It was an opportunity lost, an opportunity to put that team behind us," Canty said. "It was an opportunity to secure first place in our division, at home, in front of our fans. It was a great atmosphere. You couldn't ask for a better evening to play football. We just went out there and didn't execute. We didn't match their intensity. We got punched in the mouth and we didn't do anything about it."

The Eagles more than punched the Giants in the mouth. They shoved it in their faces in ways that left several veterans still irked yesterday.

Eagles receiver DeSean Jackson started the indignities by flipping the ball to Giants defensive coordinator Perry Fewell after a 50-yard catch early in the quarter. He was flagged for taunting.

Near the end of the quarter, defensive tackle Cullen Jenkins blindsided running back D.J. Ware at the end of the 10-yard run, causing a concussion.

The play that really had the Giants still fuming was defensive tackle Trevor Laws' hit on quarterback Eli Manning after an interception.

While guard Chris Snee went after Laws, Giants safety Antrel Rolle said the team really failed to answer.

"I don't like the way we responded to it," Rolle said. "At the end of the day, you play within the lines, you play within the rules, but you don't take [anything] from nobody at the end of the day. And that's my attitude. You don't take [anything] from anybody and [Sunday] night I felt like we took a little bit.

"Like I said, man, it's, I don't know what's going to change and I don't know how it's going to change, but in order for us to be where we want to go, things are definitely going to have to change."

With six games left in the regular season, the Giants need to get things straightened out soon. The upcoming schedule is not going to help. They will be at New Orleans (7-3) on Monday night and then return home for a Dec. 4 meeting against Green Bay (10-0).