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Strahan Bugged By Loss

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By IRA KAUFMAN | The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 31, 2007

Updated: 12/30/2007 10:23 pm

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - While his teammates dwell on the good vibes accompanying the Giants to Tampa, New York's vocal leader is still thinking about the one that got away.

"I expected to win ... I don't play just to get close to a really good team," veteran defensive end Michael Strahan said following a 38-35 loss to the Patriots on Saturday night, when the Giants yielded 22 consecutive points after building a 28-16 advantage in the third quarter. "You're not out there to be just fish food - I want to be the fish. Yes, there were a lot of positives, but the one negative that bugs me is we lost."

Strahan needs to quickly redirect his frustration toward the Bucs if New York intends to win its first playoff game since the 2000 club that reached the Super Bowl against the Ravens at Raymond James Stadium.

The Giants (10-6) relied on a fierce pass rush led by Strahan, Osi Umenyiora and third-year terror Justin Tuck to finish 10-6 and earn the NFC's No. 5 playoff seed.

"We learned a lot about ourselves in this loss," said Tuck, who registered 10 sacks and 21 quarterback hurries during a breakthrough season. "We came out fired up and now we can take that energy with us to Tampa. We have a heck of a team and we know it."

Coach Tom Coughlin indicated Sunday he expected all three starters who were injured against the Patriots to be available for the postseason.

Center Shaun O'Hara and former South Florida linebacker Kawika Mitchell both limped off with knee sprains, and cornerback Sam Madison suffered an abdominal strain in the second half.

"Madison is sore, but he's pretty positive he'll be ready," said Coughlin, who backed up his pregame vow to play to win, rather than rest his regulars. "The other two guys have sprained MCLs. They both feel a little bit better today, but we'll see. We need to check the MRI to see how aggressive we can be with them."

The Giants take a 7-1 road mark into Tampa and quarterback Eli Manning, who struggled often at home, stung New England for four touchdown passes, including two to big-play receiver Plaxico Burress.

At 6-foot-5, Burress will own a substantial height advantage against Tampa Bay's defensive backs.

"That's the team I have been looking for all season and that's the Giants team that needs to be in Tampa," said Burress, who caught 12 of Manning's 23 scoring passes. If we can go out and play with that same intensity, we can win a lot more football games. I don't think we're going to have a problem bouncing back to beat Tampa."

On defense, the Bucs will focus on stopping Brandon Jacobs and putting the ball in the jittery hands of Manning, who threw 20 interceptions and coughed up 13 fumbles.

Jacobs, a bruising 264-pound back, ran for 1,009 yards this season despite missing five games. New York also expects a contribution from rookie Ahmad Bradshaw, who sat out Saturday as a precaution with a slight leg injury, a week after gaining 151 yards at Buffalo, including an 88-yard touchdown burst.

"Tampa Bay is a heck of a defensive team and Jeff Garcia's a heck of a quarterback," said Jacobs, who's averaging 5.0 yards per carry. "We have to get our running game going next week and once we get that established, that will help Eli against a talented secondary. We must stay in manageable down and distances because that Buc defense can really put you behind the 8-ball."

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