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Resilient Giants Prove They Are Ready For Anything

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By IRA KAUFMAN, The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 16, 2008

Updated: 01/16/2008 12:15 am

IRVING, Texas - The Giants faced elimination in the final minutes Sunday with the football in the hands of Tony Romo, who already had torched New York for nine touchdown passes this season.

The Cowboys' Pro Bowl quarterback was flushed from the pocket repeatedly by the league's best pass rush. But when Romo looked downfield, he saw Dallas receivers shadowed by a bunch of backups who epitomize the resilience of the NFL's reigning road warriors.

"This is the best team I've ever been around, because all these guys are accountable to each other," said David Diehl, who shifted seamlessly from guard to left tackle for the Giants this season after Luke Petitgout signed with the Bucs as a free agent. "We believe in each other."

That trust has been a hallmark for the NFC's surprising No. 5 seed, which has overcome a slow start and a flurry of injuries to reach Sunday night's conference championship game at Green Bay.

In his fourth season at the helm, Coach Tom Coughlin has been forced to rely on some outstanding draft picks to forge a confident club that heads into Lambeau Field with nine consecutive road victories.

Sunday's 21-17 triumph against the top-seeded Cowboys was highlighted by stellar second-half play from a secondary that already was missing injured cornerbacks Sam Madison and Kevin Dockery.

When rookie starter Aaron Ross went to the sideline with a shoulder problem in the third quarter, the only healthy cornerbacks available were Corey Webster, veteran R.W McQuarters and Geoffrey Pope, a practice-squad player activated Dec. 31 and suddenly thrust into his first NFL game.

"I knew I was one guy away from being in there," said Pope, who played extensively as the Giants limited the NFC's top scoring attack to three points after intermission. "It's funny how stuff happens, but I decided to get in there, make some big plays and contribute."

The camaraderie in New York's locker room was evident following road playoff victories against Tampa Bay and Dallas.

A club that started 0-2, triggering speculation about Coughlin's future, has jelled down the stretch. Role players such as wide receiver Amani Toomer and rookie back Ahmad Bradshaw are stepping up, while quarterback Eli Manning has kept his poise in directing a turnover-free attack in the postseason.

"We've got everybody standing together and fighting," said linebacker Kawika Mitchell, the former University of South Florida standout who joined the Giants in March as a free agent from Kansas City. "Look at a guy like Pope, who did a great job against Dallas. That's the kind of team we have here - a real team."

When tight end Jeremy Shockey broke his left leg a month ago, it appeared to be a crippling blow.

The Giants were forced to turn to fifth-round pick Kevin Boss, who caught a touchdown pass in the regular-season finale against the Patriots and added a key 19-yard reception Sunday during a late second-quarter drive that left the teams tied at 14 at the half.

Rookie receiver Steve Smith added four receptions at Texas Stadium and defensive end Justin Tuck, drafted in the third round in 2005, has been a major contributor with his natural pass-rush skills.

"The last couple of weeks have been different," said Toomer, who has grabbed 11 passes and scored three touchdowns in two playoff games while the Bucs and Cowboys focused on stopping Plaxico Burress. "We have had a lot of different personnel, which has brought a different mentality and a different personality."

McQuarters, a 10-year veteran playing for his fourth NFL team, has registered an interception in each playoff game, sealing Sunday's upset by picking off Romo in the end zone.

Webster, a second-round pick in 2005 hampered by injuries, has excelled in the past month, blanking Terrell Owens in the second half as the wild-card Giants improved to 12-6.

"I feel good, I stepped my confidence up," Webster said. "I know my abilities and what I can do."

The Giants now find themselves underdogs for the fourth consecutive week. But a gritty effort against New England and two playoff wins have them brimming with confidence, eager to silence any remaining skeptics.

"We'll be the worst team in NFC Championship Game history and we'll be happy about it," said right guard Chris Snee, New York's best offensive lineman. "We'll go in there and fight. We know what type of team we have ...we fight to the end."

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