Head Coach Tom Coughlin

We came in looking to be 4-2 and we are. Give credit to Detroit – they played hard, they played well. Give credit to Jim Schwartz and his staff – they played very hard. They got their second quarterback knocked up and the third came in and geez, he played very, very well. I went in and told our guys about the three turnovers. I never even thought about the first one with the muffed snap on the punt, which kind of set them up for that first opportunity to score of theirs, but that notwithstanding, the offense didn't turn it over and I thought that with the exception of the final kickoff return there, that special teams did a good job today. I know that the punter hit a couple of long punts, one of which ended up a fair catch, which was good to see. That was a lot of distance between the coverage people and where he was so… Offensively, they presented a nine and sometimes a 10-man front. We sputtered some – certainly should have made a first down on third and four and third and two. Would have kept the ball away from them, which was huge at the time, but as I said, they played well and they had really a nice run going in terms of the teams that we studied, they were in a position to win all of their games with the exception of the Minnesota game, so we knew that they were a quality team. They're on the rise, they're physical, they have a very good front – the front played well – and we wish we had gotten maybe a little bit more pressure on the quarterback. They did a good job of building the first downs and that type of thing and we ultimately came away with a win.

Q: Can you talk about Bradshaw's big play capability?
A: Well, he's certainly – he gives everything he's got and he finds a way even if he's cornered – one guy is normally not going to bring him down. He was powerful when he needed to be. Of course, he broke that long one off. He's been very good, he took care of the ball today. Jacobs did the same. They both ran hard. Offensive line with O'Hara in there today – it was good to see him back in there.

Q: Talk a little bit about your play against the run over the past three games?
A: Well, we've set our mindset to be to stop the run against everybody. Best is a very good football player capable of the big play. Our goal was not to give up the big play. We gave up the one to Johnson, which is typical. You know they're trying to get the ball to him. I'm yelling and screaming in the last couple of drives. You know where the ball is going. We set our mindset to stop the run – that seems to be the way to go for us – and then we react after that.

Q: Did you have a problem with some of the missed tackles on defense?
A: There were missed tackles after the catch. This is the number one team in the league in run after the catch and they certainly did a good job of that today. I'll have to look at the tape to see exactly what you're talking about there and how many.

Q: You said there wasn't enough pressure on the quarterback. Was that because you were afraid of the big play?
A: Well, we did both. We did some of that, we did some pressure, we covered probably more today percentage-wise, but still, we thought we were capable of getting home a little bit more with the four.

Q: If you had had a second active punter, would you have put him in after that first muffed punt?
A: Not after the next one, no.

Q: Are you pleased with where your team is in the division after six games?
A: Well, we're 4-2. I wish…can I have it back? Are we 6-0? Yeah. But we're not. We're 4-2. That's what we are. The division – this is a big weekend in the division for people and opponents that they're playing. I don't know anything more and we'll see. Our goal is to take care of our team. Stay on schedule with our team. Do the best we can week in and week out. That's the only thing that we can control.

Q: What happened with Tynes this weekend?
A: He tried. He couldn't (stomp) the plant foot down.

Q: Did it get worse overnight?
A: No. It just didn't get any better. It was very sore when it first happened and really nothing positive happened. I think it feels a little better today. But I am happy about Shayne being able to…you can't imagine what these two guys did – two people tried out Saturday morning and at 10 am we made a decision on who we were going to keep and at 10:45 that guy was lined up at a practice trying to time up our kickoff coverage team, so give him credit.

Q: Can you comment on the decision to move the postgame press conference?
A: Ask Mr. Hanlon. Don't ask me that.

Q: Do you like this better?
A: I like close quarters. It's all family-like.

Q: I know you don't like the term trap game, but were you ever worried during this game that things weren't going right?
A: Well, I wish we would have, as I said, the third and two, the third and four – I was not happy when it was 21-10 and they scored in the blink of an eye, no. But I never wanted to entertain the word that you people use because it didn't apply. To be honest with you, all you had to do was look at the tape – they played hard and they played well, and there's all kinds of numbers to back it up. The most points in the NFC were scored by the Detroit Lions coming in here.

Q: What do you say to your team after they see a player carted off, as happened today?
A: I hope everything is okay. I really feel bad for their team, for the player, for everyone, the family and everyone. I hope the young man is okay.

Q: How do you keep your guys focused on the game after that?
A: Well, you've got to keep playing. That's all you can do. We wish him the best, but you have to keep going.

Q: Can you talk about the resiliency your team has shown starting at 1-2 and now you're 4-2?
A: Well, we've earned it. We've earned the 4-2. We battled our way back and let's hope it keeps going.

Q: What were you trying to challenge?
A: It was two yards short. We thought the ball should have been a yard or a yard and a half and I couldn't challenge because it wasn't a first down play, but why not try it? All they can tell me is you can't challenge.

QB Eli Manning

What are your thoughts on how the offense played today?
We got off to a slow start.  They did a good job mixing in some new coverages, new schemes we hadn't really seen much.  They were throwing a lot of guys in the box trying to stop our run game.  They got good pressure early on that prevented us from sustaining some drives.  We had a couple really good drives and when we got down there we scored touchdowns.  Four touchdowns.  We needed a touchdown there in the fourth quarter to give ourselves a little bit of breathing room.  We were able to hit a big run and run it all the way down there to put us up by 11.  That was good.  We definitely can improve on some things and we have to fix some things, but it was a pretty good day.

How much pressure does it take off of you when you can get such production out of your running game?
When we can establish the run game it is usually just a matter of time before one of them breaks a long one.  We were close on a few of them and sure enough right there at the end Ahmad (Bradshaw)… the offensive line opened up a big hole, he made the safety miss, and hit a big play.  Then we put Brandon (Jacobs) in and a cornerback had an opportunity to make a tackle, he didn't want a piece of it, and we got him to run it in and get a touchdown.  Both of those guys are running hard, they are doing great, and the offensive line is opening up holes and it should help our play-action and help out the passing game and eliminate some of the pass rush.

What has been the biggest difference from a 1-2 start to now having won three straight?
I think sometimes it is just finding ways to win.  Today we had no turnovers offensively.  That has been one of the big problems.  Scoring touchdowns when we get down in the red zone is obviously huge.  To get down there four times and score every time, that is what you have to do.  We are not hurting ourselves; we are not making the big mistakes.  We have talent to make big plays and be explosive on offense and we are going to do that with patience and wait for our opportunities and today we hit enough of them to win.

Do you feel like the offense is coming into form now?
Yeah I think so.  Just kind of understanding what we have to do.  Understanding that there are going to be opportunities to hit big plays and sometimes you just have to wait for them and you can't force things.  You can't try to score a touchdown every play.  Sometimes you have to learn when to quit the fight and take what they give you and be smart.  When the opportunity comes and you have the right play and the right coverage and you have to run your route well and you have to block and everybody has to do their part to make it happen.

How difficult is it to get back to football after the injury to the Detroit player when he was carted off?
Obviously you send a prayer out to the player's family.  You have to refocus yourself and understand that we have a game to win.  Right after that on the first play we hit a long run with Ahmad and got ourselves a chance to score a touchdown and give ourselves a little breathing room.

Looking ahead to Monday night against the Cowboys, what is it going to take to beat them?
Well Dallas is obviously very talented.   Their defense has great pass rushers, great players all around.  They are going to be playing fast and it is going to be loud playing in Dallas in their stadium.  Obviously their offense is explosive and can score a lot of points.  We are going to come out and have a great week of preparation, keep working, and see if we can get out there and just play good football.

Safety Antrel Rolle

Q: Did it feel good to ice the game with the interception?
A: It was a great feeling, a great feeling. Our team was fighting all day, and we knew it was going to be a fight going into this game. We were able to keep our composure, keep our foot on the pedal and drive forward.

Q: Any concern on the last drive with Detroit going down the field?
A: No concern. We have to go out there and play ball, and we can't take any team for granted obviously. We just have to go out there and play our type of football. Guys were tired, and they were keeping the ball moving with the quarterback scrambling and guys would find little open areas. Through it all, everything is not going to come easy. We know that, but we stayed together as a team and came out victorious.

Q: What happened on the Calvin Johnson score?
A: It was two-man coverage, and I should have definitely stayed over top of Terrell coming. I thought he had an interception on that play, so I kind of concentrated on not hitting him. As a safety, I have to stay on top of that play, and I have to make that play. When in doubt, I have to go in and go for the kill shot.

Q: What's been the biggest difference between the beginning and now three straight wins?
A: Guys are coming together. Coach Coughlin preaches all the time about the team, and I was thinking about the team when I got the interception. Me, I would've tried to take it back for a touchdown, but I kept hearing 'Team, team, team' in the back of my head the whole time. We went out there and played a great game together, and that's what it's all about. Every win is not going to easy, but if you have teamwork and you tie each other together and stay as a unit, anything is possible.

Q: Do you feel the defense rose to the occasion?
A: We had to. I felt like we definitely rose to the occasion on several chances. We did a pretty good job for the most part. There were a few mistakes out there need to be and will be corrected, but no one is going to play a perfect game. This is the NFL, and they get paid just as well as we do. They have great athletes out there just like we do. Through it all, you have to keep your composure and make sure that you keep pounding, and pounding, and pounding, and you come out with a W if you do.

Q: So was it just a bad angle on the Johnson TD?
A: No, it wasn't a bad angle. I should have stayed over top of him because it was a two-man coverage, but I thought Terrell Thomas was going to make that play and I eased off and came underneath. He made the catch and ran it in for the touchdown.

Q: Does the way that receivers are protected come into play there at all?
A: No, I wouldn't put that up on the guy. I thought Terrell had a perfect coverage on that play, but being that it was a two-man coverage, I definitely have to stay on top of that and make sure that the receiver does not make that catch. We live and learn every day, and I can honestly say that that play certainly woke me up. We just had to keep pounding forward.

Q: Did Terrell's feet just get tangled underneath him?
A: He had great position, but with a two-man coverage, I was supposed to stay over top of him and I have to do a better job of staying on top and make sure I protect my corner before anything else.

Q: Did that make the interception a little sweeter?
A: The interception was what it was, it was able to seal a victory and allow the team to become 4-2 and that's all I'm taking it for. As myself, I'm my own biggest critic. I'm definitely going to take the interception, but at the same time, I also see that I can help out on the long play with Johnson and being a better safety and making sure that I do play my responsibilities well and do what I'm supposed to do.

Q: How does it feel to be 4-2?
A: It feels good. The guys were out there having fun, and when the guys are tired, we have other guys picking each other up. It's exactly what I expected coming into the Giants system, I can say we are honestly playing as a team and that's the biggest momentum that we have going for us right now.

RB Brandon Jacobs

Do touchdowns make up for carries?When the game is going the way it is going and I am in there and I get 10-11 carries that is more than enough for me.  To get in there and punch one in the end zone, that is one of the greatest feelings you can have as a running back because you are punching the ball in for your team because you are trying to win games.

How do you feel about your role on the team now?You have to accept it for what it is and you have to know the business for what it is and keep striving to make yourself better, strive to get your team better.  It is not the end of the world.  You have to go out, work hard every day at practice, and come out and play as hard as you can in the game.

Two touchdowns help though?Definitely.  It definitely makes it sweeter.  It gets the bitter taste out when you go out there and punch it in.

Ahmad Bradshaw calls you his big brother; do you consider him your little brother?Oh no question.  That is my little brother from another mother.  I love him to death.  I would go in the fire for him if I need to.  He has been doing really, really, really great and I hope he continues to do great and take advantage of the opportunity that he has at hand.  I am behind him 100 percent.

What was your view of his long run before your touchdown?Get in the end zone.  That is all I wanted him to do, to get in the end zone.  I saw him break through the line and I was like, 'is he going to go?  Is he going to go?  Is he going to go?'  And he went as far as he could and I came in and cleaned it up for him, scored the touchdown and gave him the ball.

How would you describe his running style?Sick man.  His running style is something that not a lot of people have.  I enjoy watching him make runs that are supposed to be losses into four yards.  He is just real shifty.  He stops on a dime and speeds up on a dime.  Not a lot of people have that talent.

With the way the running game produced today do you think the offense is rounding into form?I think the offense is getting back slowly but surely.  We have a good team, we have a good offense, and we put up 34 last week and put up 28 this week.  I think it is going to come as the season goes on.  We are going to get better in the running game and throwing the ball.

What has Bear Pascoe done to fill in for Madison Hedgecock so well?Bear has done an outstanding job for us.  We called on him and asked him to come in and substitute in there for Madison at the fullback slot and he has done that.  He has done a terrific job at it.  It is a different thing for him, he is a tight end coming back to play fullback so it is definitely a little weird for him, but he has handled it well.  He has also made some key blocks for us in the running game. 

Is it different running behind him instead of Madison?No.  It is no different.  He knows who he is supposed to block and we also know who Bear is supposed to block just as Madison.  We just run it the same way.  Bear comes in and moves some folks off the ball and it helps us get as many yards as we can.

Are you as fresh as you have ever been at this point in the season?
Yeah, no question.  I feel like a 12 year-old boy right now who hasn't played any sports.  I feel good.  My body is great and I am just coming out trying to add as much to my team as I can to help us win.

Mario Manningham on touchdown reception:

It's a play that we have been working on successfully in practice all week.  We knew we wanted to go to it when the time was right.  Coach dialed it up at the right time and Eli put the ball where it needed to be.  I got my hands on it and made the catch.  We just have to keep getting better every week.  What we did in this game was good but now we have Dallas next Monday night.  We"ll have to execute and make plays like we did today.

Shaun O'Hara on today's game:

It feels great to win at home.  I feel good; it feels good to be back there banging again, and doing what I love.  It felt good to be back with my fellow linemen.  It felt like old times running the football.  We are happy with the win.  At the same time we have to go back and watch film and correct the areas where we left some yards on the field.  We had been knocking on the door all day and we ran that weakside play to Ahmad and he just hit it and got some huge yards at a very important part of the game.  Our winning formula is run the football and don't turn the football over.  We have been striving for that all year long.  When we play like that and don't turn the ball over, I think we can hang with anyone. 

Travis Beckum on touchdown reception:

I blocked the defensive end and came across, even though it was real crowded in there.  I kind of got twisted around a little bit, but luckily I was able to get back out there in the route.  I was able to catch a real good ball from Eli.  He put it right where it needed to be.  I think it was a good call because I felt they knew we were going to go play action but we were still able to successfully execute it for a touchdown. 

Barry Cofield on today's game:

Turnovers went our way today.  Sometimes the ball just has to bounce your way.  It definitely wasn't pretty out there today, but you have to get a win any way you can.  That team was coming off a very big win.  We showed fortitude today.  We got the loose balls when we needed to.  And that shows that we were playing with great effort.  If we can win the turnover ratio every week, with the talent that we have, we have a good chance to win.  And that is the key to this game.  That is something that we haven't been doing.  That has definitely been a focus with us, and if we can keep that up, we can be successful from here on out. 

Terrell Thomas on today's game:

We gave away some free ones today.  But that is what we are going to concentrate on in practice this week.  If we can eliminate that, we are always going to be in a good situation.  I thought we tackled well today.  The Lions are a pretty good team.  They are patient.  They take what they get and they make plays, too.  We have been struggling with turnovers and today we didn't give up any.  And yet we got a couple for ourselves.  We probably should have had a few more.  I think that was the difference in today's game.  Deon (Grant) made a great play on the strip. He made a big play in a big situation.   Our goal is to get three turnovers a game, and that is what we did today. 

Deon Grant on fumble recovery:

I went to hit him, and I hit him hard enough to knock the ball loose.  And that is exactly what happened.  That is what the defense is all about – making big plays when we need to make big plays.  We got the turnovers when we needed to.  Timing is everything. 

Jonathan Goff on today's game:

We had a great week in practice.  We had a great scheme, which we went out there and executed today.  We knew it was going to be a battle today.  We were going against the number one scoring offense in the NFC.  We all stuck together and stayed in the fight.  We got some timely turnovers, which got them off the field.  And then we were able to give our offense a chance to put points on the board.  We have Dallas this week coming up.  And that is going to be a tough one.  And we have to keep playing the way we are playing. 

DE OSI UMENYIORA

Q: You guys were able to get a ton of pressure on Hill, and then you guys knocked him out of the game:
A: They were doing a good job with some quick passes, three-step drops, mixing it up with the run and the pass. They're a good football team. They played well today, and all the credit goes to them.

Q: You feel like a win against a team that was struggling like the Lions will keep the momentum going into the division games?
A: Well, I wouldn't say they were struggling, they played well. They haven't won a ton of games, but we knew coming in that it was going to be a dogfight, and a struggle. They played an outstanding ballgame, and luckily we were able to come away with the victory.

Q: When you're locked in on a QB, do you consciously say that you're going to go for the ball?
A: Yeah, I mean a sack is just a tackle for loss. That's it, just a glorified tackle for loss. If you're able to get the ball out and force a turnover, you put the offense in the position to really help the team win.

RB AHMAD BRADSHAW

Q: How do you and Brandon Jacobs get along after you were named the starter?
A: We work together. We have each other's back no matter what. If he's taking a hit, I have his back, and the same thing for me. We know what we can do talent-wise, and all we have to do is just keep running.

Q: How do you feel watching him score all those touchdowns?
A: I love it. He's like my big brother, and it's like any emotion. If your brother scores, it feels like you just scored. I feel good for him.

Q: You guys have strung together three in a row now, what do you have to do to make it four against the Cowboys?
A: Just keep it going. We know Dallas is always a big game. It's Monday Night Football. We just have to keep our pride going, keep focusing week in and week out, and I don't think anything can stop us.

Q: Talk about that 45-yard run you had:
A: I tell my lineman every time that every run play we get, right before we leave out of the huddle, I tell them that this can be the one. I felt great about that one, and it was a great call from the coordinator. I just run.

P MATT DODGE

Q: What happened with that muffed punt in the beginning of the game?
A: I need to catch the ball obviously, and I can't give them that kind of field position.

Q: Any other thoughts from today's game?
A: I think this was my most consistent day. I hit a couple punts but there were definitely some I wish I could take back. The one where I hit a touchback, I kind of drove it a little more than I wanted to. I'm glad we got the win though for sure, and I was sweating it out until the end.

S DEONGRANT

Q: Did you know the ball was out on the fumble, or did you just see it on the ground?
A: I knew it was out because their sideline was yelling. I felt him underneath me moving, and he was already tackled so I know he didn't need to move, so I knew the ball was out but I couldn't find it. When I finally saw it, I had it.

Q: Did you try to knock it out?
A: I just tried to hit him real hard and hope to knock it.

Q: Talk about your tackle on the kickoff after that:
A: That had me winded. I came from the other side, and had to chase him. We already knew that he's dangerous, and what he's been doing with two years in the league speaks for itself. That's part of special teams, we have to work together. I don't get any extra celebration or praise for that so it's called kickoff. That's why they put me out there.

RT KAREEM McKENZIE

Q: This wasn't a pretty win, but do you feel that you should have won?
A: A win is a win. They won't all be pretty, they won't all be the exact way that you like to plan them out. You come away with the win, you take something from it, and build upon it. You build on it, take as much positivity as you can, and build on it.

DT BARRY COFIELD

Q: Does this feel like a strange game and for a while you weren't able to put them away?
A: If you lose this one, and you go back and talk about all the opportunities that you had to win. In reality, you'll take any win, however it comes. This team won 44-6 last week, so obviously they're doing some things right. They came in and played hard. Any game that you give up an 80 or 90-yard touchdown, you're happy to come away with the win.

Q: You said this defense is developing a certain tough reputation, and today you knocked another QB out of the game:
A: It's a testament to overall pass rush. A lot of people like to count sacks to decide how well you rush the passer, and a lot of times you can hit and disrupt quarterbacks without getting a sack every time. We're going to hit the quarterback as many times as possible, and if he doesn't make it through the game, then that's unfortunate for him. If we make life difficult for any quarterback, we have a good chance to win the game.