NFL players tend to downgrade the importance of regular-season games because they are merely one of 16 that take place every year.
Still, the New York Giants, who are in the midst of a four-game losing streak, know that the next game on their schedule, against Atlanta, is a big game in many ways.
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.
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