The Giants have a pretty simple path to the playoffs: beat Indianapolis and they’re in.
And after standing toe-to-toe with the NFC’s second-best team on the road last weekend, one might think they’d be incredibly confident heading into Sunday – but there’s no such thing as a litmus test, according to head coach Brian Daboll, because every game is different and so is every week.
“We try to do the same thing each week. We go back and look at some of the things we did well – and some of the things we can improve on – and get ready for this week, try to be as consistent as we can with it,” Daboll said Monday. “I don't think you're ever happy or satisfied after a loss in really any shape or form. But you have to go back, review it, correct the things you need to correct and get ready for next week.”
The Giants’ mantra is that the next game is always the biggest game, and in this case, a win meaning a playoff berth makes it big by default – but again, no different than any other week.
“All we can control is making sure we're prepared, ready to go and go out there and put our best foot forward,” Daboll said. “I think we just try to control our own destiny each week by trying to win a game. The goal is always to try to go 1-0, and that'll be no different this week. We're all professionals. I think the best thing you can do is just control what you can control, which is the things you need to control this week. All the other things, there's no real sense.”
The Giants got a little different chance to scout the Colts on Monday night, able to watch their loss to the Chargers live on Monday Night Football ahead of beginning to game plan for Sunday. But, in the same vein as noting every game is different, seeing it live doesn’t really change anything for the way they will be prepared.
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“I'd just say we try to win each day. I think if you stack good days together that leads to good weeks, and as you keep going throughout the season, you improve,” Daboll said. “Certainly, you try to win every game you play, and I’m thankful for the position that we're in, but there's a lot of work that needs to be done. It starts this week just like every other week we've had.”
Being his first year at the helm and first as a head coach, many may not have expected the Giants to be in this position, or anywhere close. But, the fact that they are is just another testament to the mantra Daboll has been positing since Day 1.
“This is our first year trying to implement our systems, and I think when you start out, you try to put together the best team we could possibly put together and go out there and do everything we can do each day to win that day,” Daboll said. “If you do that and concentrate on those things, then hopefully the results will come. They don't always, and we've seen that, obviously, this year. But focus on the things that are important, and hopefully you get the results that you're working hard to get. If you constantly monitor everything, then that trickles down to the players focusing on the things that they can control.”
And, no matter how many times he was asked, Daboll would never admit to thinking about what it would mean to make the playoffs, especially his first year – but he did, backhandedly, admit it would be great for the Giants to finish off their home slate this year with a win for a fan base that has hung on and been rabid all year long, enjoying the ride.
“They’ve been outstanding,” Daboll said of Big Blue Nation. “I'm very thankful for all the support that our organization gets, the following. We work extremely hard each week to put a good product on the field, and one of the reasons is for our fan base. So, to play at home in late December in an important game, it's important to us. I know it's important to them. And we'll do everything we can do to be ready to go.”
Follow Lou DiPietro on Twitter: @LouDiPietroWFAN
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