DENVER – The Giants didn’t want any parts of this game when the schedule came out.
And they absolutely played like it Thursday night.
With a defense that couldn’t tackle or make a stop in the first half and an offense that failed to find the end zone for the first time this season, the Giants erased all of the good vibes they had mounted in Sunday’s victory over the Falcons with a 26-6 loss to the Broncos.
"We just didn’t play as well as we should," said Osi Umenyiora, who was caught by the TV cameras yelling on the sideline in the direction of a few teammates. "Given the situation, given the circumstances we’re in, we should have played a lot harder and we should have made a lot more plays. But we didn’t."
The Giants’ situation was made worse by the fact this loss came right after the Cowboys (8-3) knocked off the Raiders, meaning the Giants (6-5), who helped snap a four-game losing streak for the Broncos (7-4), are now two games out of first place with five to play.
"I’m as frustrated as anybody by the quality of our play," coach Tom Coughlin said.
Thursday night’s offensive output tied the lowest regular-season point total of Coughlin’s tenure, which was set in a 27-6 loss to the Eagles on Nov. 28, 2004, in Eli Manning’s second career start. It was the lowest total, period, since the 23-0 shutout loss to the Panthers four seasons ago.
Manning (24-for-40 for 230 yards and one interception), who had turned in two straight solid performances, threw over receivers’ heads and at their ankles while under pressure from the Broncos’ unconventional fronts.
"Their pass rush was good and they had some good blitzes on they got us with," Manning said.
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