RALJON, Md. — This is more than The Game.
In many ways, this is The Season.
It is Put Up or Shut Up today for you Jim Fassel Giants.
You have every right to talk Super Bowl talk in this NFL as long as you walk the walk.
Here it is, Giants.
Walk the walk.
True Giants do not trudge off Redskin turf to the roar of the enemy crowd.
True Giants dance off Redskin turf to the deafening sounds of silence.
Big players play big in the big games.
Here it is, Giants.
Your chance to show New York, show the league, that you are a big-game team with big-game players.
This is The Game because it can position you to capture the NFC East if you win.
This is The Season because you are going nowhere without homefield advantage in the playoffs, if there are any playoffs at all for you if you lose.
“This is almost like a Super Bowl game for both teams,” Brian Williams said.
This is your chance to wipe the smirk off the faces of hated rivals who ran up 50-21 at your home opener.
“I felt embarrassed for everybody that played for the New York Giants on this defense in all the history of New York Giants defense, and I don’t want see that happen again,” Sam Garnes said.
It is time for Fassel to play to win. Playing to win means yanking Kent Graham for Kerry Collins if Graham cannot get into the end zone against this sorry defense. Playing to win means not being afraid that 20 carries will wear down Tiki Barber. Playing to win means attacking from the get-go. Playing to win means playing smart but not being afraid to take chances, too.
“I wish both teams had a better record so this game could get the respect I think it’s gonna deserve, ’cause I think it’s gonna be a war,” Percy Ellsworth said.
How does a 60-Minute Bloodbath sound?
“That’s what it’s gonna be,” Keith Hamilton said. “It’s gonna be everything that the Giants were founded on. It’s gonna be up to us. If the offense has a great day, that’s good. But this thing’s gonna be riding on the defense’s back, and that’s the way we’ve gotta approach it.”
Get the body bags ready.
“I’ve been getting in the hot tub and resting up all week for this one, because they’re gonna try to pound us and we’re definitely gonna try to pound them,” Ellsworth said. “But you gotta add an extra thing where each team will be trying to hurt the other team. When you come up this time, it’s not just get him to the ground, it’s trying to run through him.
“You’re gonna see it taken to another level. It’s gonna be people trying to hurt each other out there.”
After every Saturday walkthrough, Fassel picks a different Giant to address the team. His choice for this game was Pete Mitchell.
“I think he’s a tough guy, I think he’s a competitive guy, I think he’s a guy that will play good in a big game, and he hasn’t spoken to the team,” Fassel said.
What did Mitchell think he would say?
“For the young guys, I’ll try and use a lot of experience that I’ve had in the five years I’ve been in the league,” Mitchell said, “and try and stress to them the importance of this game. The importance of this time of year. You know, the little things, what’s gonna make a difference between winning and losing in this league.”
Corey Widmer was asked what he would have said.
“Everybody’s talking about they want to play in the playoffs and Super Bowl,” Widmer said. “This is a game that’s gonna get you there. If you really consider yourself a person that wants to do what they have to do to get to the playoffs, then you’re gonna show up Sunday and you’re gonna play your best game.”
I asked Hamilton what he would have said.
“That you don’t get these opportunities too many times, to be in control of your own destiny,” he said. “These are the kind of games you gotta … I mean, whatever it takes, you gotta come outta there with that win.”
So it could get ugly out there.
“In a big game like this you can’t be stupid, though,” Hamilton said. “The smart, tough guy is the one who’s gonna win that game. When emotions are charged like that it’s so easy to lose your cool and smack at a guy and then you’re thrown out of the game. I’m sure they’re gonna try to bait us and we’re gonna probably try to bait them a little bit.
“If we can get one of their good players kicked out or they can get one of our good players kicked out, then they gotta feel like that’s an added plus for them, so you always gotta keep that in the back of your mind.”
I asked Jessie Armstead what he would have said.
“You gotta have some pride to go out there and fight,” Armstead said. “No game gets no bigger than this right now.”
Sam Garnes was asked what he would have said.
“If you can’t get motivated for this game,” Garnes said, “then you shouldn’t be on this team.”
Is this is a big-game team?
“I don’t know; we need to find out,” Garnes said. “This is definitely the game for us to step up and play like men and not play like little kids.”
Then play like men. Put Up or Shut Up.