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- Geoff Schwartz is activated. **
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After he suffered a dislocated toe in the preseason and spent the entire season until this point on injured reserve/designated for return, the Giants today activated the offensive lineman, who is eligible to play on Sunday against the Dallas Cowboys. We'll wait to see which position Schwartz plays after the 28-year-old veteran mostly played left guard in the offseason program and preseason. That spot has been played by rookie Weston Richburg in Schwartz's absence.
"I've started 11 games at tackle." Schwartz said. "I played three and a half quarters last year at tackle in the last game of the season. I can play tackle. Obviously, I was signed as a guard, but I think they like my versatility, and I feel comfortable definitely playing tackle."
2. Justin Pugh hopes to return to the field.
The second-year right tackle was forced to leave Sunday's game with a strained quad and did not return after coming out on the second drive. Pugh said today that the injury began in pregame warmups last week in Seattle, where he was able to start and play the entire game.
"It was just something in pregame," Pugh said. "It wasn't anything out of the ordinary, it was a misstep on a pregame warmup, I tweaked it, we wrapped it up, I played. Everyone is playing hurt at this time. So you have to go out there and you've got to fight through that stuff, and it is something I want to continue to do. I've got to get healthy and get back out there."
3. Coach Tom Coughlin used the defense's resiliency as an example for the team today.
Heading into their Week 11 game against San Francisco, the Giants were coming off their worst game of the season defensively, allowing Seattle to post a franchise-record 350 rushing yards. For the most part, the defense responded on Sunday, holding the 49ers to 16 points.
"The point that I made with our team today was that a week ago our defense was upset and embarrassed," Coughlin said. "They hadn't played well. They really focused well and practiced well. [They] put their nose to the grindstone. Their pride was on the line and they played better. I am hoping that the offense will respond in the exact same way this week and I am hoping that the defense will continue to improve and that special teams will improve and that our offense will get themselves back on track where we can have all three groups contributing to – I'm sure San Francisco doesn't feel this way – but I felt it was an opportunity for us to win a game yesterday."
4. Rashad Jennings has a 48-hour rule.
In his first game back since injuring his knee in Week 5, the starting running back rushed 18 times for 59 yards against the 49ers. The Giants rushed for just 65 yards as a team.
"I think, for me, I've got a 48-hour rule, win or lose," Jennings said. "Learn from it, move forward, win, lose, draw, it is always something that you can get better on from watching the tape. As professionals, that is what we are going to do, as far as rallying up, this is the National Football League. We don't need nobody to rally us up, we all want to play, we all want to be successful, we all want to leave a good resume. Nobody is forcing us to play this game, we do it because we love it. I think our defense played outstanding, special teams played outstanding, and I think as an offensive unit, we let the team down. It is going to be a big healthy dose of ownership this week for the offense."
5. Coughlin thought "this is going to be great."
Down by six in the fourth quarter with a chance to take back the lead, the Giants drove down to a first-and-goal from the four-yard line that was set up by a spectacular 37-yard catch from rookie wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. Coughlin thought it was about to lead to a vintage Giants comeback, but instead, the team failed on four attempts with the final one ending in an interception.
"The ball is on the four-yard line. You have a chance to win the game," Coughlin said. "Somebody make a play. Get the ball in the end zone and you win. I will remember that one. As a matter of fact, I thought when [Beckham] made that spectacular catch, I figured this is going to be great. We are going to win one of those nail biters."
