The Giants had a short week as it was, coming off a Monday night loss in Kansas City, and could’ve packed it in when a handful of players either tested positive for COVID-19 or were deemed close contacts and forced out of the building for multiple days.
Luckily they didn’t do that, and even more luckily, most of the players affected were able to clear COVID protocols, with only third-string running back Gary Brightwell and running backs coach Burton Burns, who actually tested positive for COVID, deemed out on Sunday.
Oh, yeah, and they won the game, 23-16, thanks in part to a defensive effort that included a lot of safety Xavier McKinney, who was one of the players that missed time while in COVID protocols.
“It was a long week. Obviously, I didn't get to practice those two days, but I was still in meetings, and just tried to stay locked in,” McKinney said. “Obviously, earlier in the week, I didn't know really what was going to happen as far as if I was going to be able to play or not. Just tried to stay locked in throughout the week and follow the NFL’s protocols.”
McKinney is not vaccinated, and when asked about that, he simply said it’s a personal choice that everyone has reasons for, and his reasons are for him and him alone. That may seem tough to hear given this is a team sport – and given what has happened with Aaron Rodgers in Green Bay this week – but McKinney kept working, even if he didn’t know if he’d be able to play on Sunday.
“At first, I thought I wasn't going to be able to play just because I didn't how really the rules work, but I did know that I tested negative. I wasn't quite sure, though,” McKinney said. “That's why it was kind of a longer week for me because I was in between; am I going to be up or am I not going to be up? It was hard to balance that, but when I figured out and found out that I could play and I practiced on Friday, I was good to go.”
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Devontae Booker, who nearly had a 100-yard rushing game in the win, is vaccinated, but had to wear a mask in his post-game press conference because he was considered a close contact with Brightwell and Burns as part of the running back room.
He, too, was compromised because of that, and while he’s pretty sure given McKinney’s situation that he’d have been able to play if he wasn’t vaccinated (he is) but tested negative, he believes the situation around the building actually helped the Giants come together a bit this week.
“We really just taught ourselves all week to stick with everything,” Booker said. “We went through the adversity all week, but everyone got their stuff done in Zoom meetings. It can be hard sometimes because you don’t know if guys are watching, but once we came to practice everything clicked.”
Added Daniel Jones of that notion: “I think it’s a credit to the focus of the group and guys preparing despite being out of the building to make sure we were ready to go. Stuff like that will come up, it’s about dealing with it and getting done what you need to get done.”
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And get it done they did, thanks in part to a fast start that included a touchdown pass to Evan Engram on the opening drive.
“We just didn’t blink, did everything we were asked and jumped through all the hoops,” Engram said. “Our coaches did a real good job of navigating everything, allowing us to be safe and still get all our work done.”
Added cornerback James Bradberry: “I think it shows that we're resilient, and we're able to adapt to any situation.”
The Giants also had one last thing to pull them together, too: the crowd, which was in a frenzy all day, especially on the final defensive stand that ended in the game-icing strip sack.
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“That was big for us, the crowd really got into it down the stretch and we appreciate that. Don’t underestimate how they can impact the game,” said Jones.
Added Engram: “There’s been tough times with our fans, but it felt good to play good football for them and dig out a win. The way our defense showed up the last two home games, I think they fed off that. When we’re in big situations like that last drive, the crowd was into it.”
For now, the Giants have a bye week to get healthy on all fronts, and then a week to prepare for a Tampa Bay team that has designs on back-to-back Super Bowls. Then, after that, their next home date is a Thanksgiving weekend divisional showdown with the Eagles.
Can Big Blue count on that crowd fury three weeks from now too?
Engram has an idea: “As long as we continue to put a good product on the field.”
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