GIANT NOTES
Even when they were winning, the Giants were losing when it came to effectiveness in the red zone, or, as they like to call it now, the green zone. Inside the opponents’ 20-yard line, the Giants were 15th in the NFC with a success rating of 38.9 percent with seven touchdowns and four field goals.
The difficulties were overshadowed by four consecutive wins. But in yesterday’s 28-13 loss to the Lions, the Giants were again dismal in the red zone and it came back to haunt them.
“We haven’t been well in the red zone all season,” running back Tiki Barber said. “It’s just a problem that’s exacerbated when you lose.”
The first half was particularly galling. The Giants turned a first-and-goal at the Detroit 9-yard line into a 19-yard Steve Christie field goal. Coach Tom Coughlin went for the first down on fourth-and-1 on the 10 and Ron Dayne barely gained the necessary yard. Dayne came up short on third-and-goal on the 1-yard line and Coughlin opted for the field goal.
“Given the lack of success on the play before, you just take the points,” Barber said. “We were ahead and it seemed like the right call.”
Later in the second quarter, Kurt Warner from the Detroit 11-yard line tossed an interception when cornerback Chris Cash stepped in front of Amani Toomer on a pass Warner should have drilled but did not.
“I just wish I put more on it,” Warner said.
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The Giants sacked Joey Harrington three times in the first half but not once in the second as he completed 18 of 22 passes for 230 yards.
DE Michael Strahan, who did not have a sack for the third straight game, took offense to being asked about the lack of pressure.
“I bleep, write that I bleep,” he barked. “Strahan didn’t get any sacks, he’s overrated, he should retire, write it all. If there’s no pressure on the quarterback, it all ends up on my head anyway.”
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CB Frank Walker left in the second quarter with a sprained ankle. He said he rolled the ankle and should be OK for next week . . . DT Fred Robbins (shoulder) was inactive. William Joseph made his first career start.