1. Disappointing 2014 season comes to an end.
|
|||||||||||
The New York Giants ended both a three-game winning streak and their season on Sunday with a 34-26 loss at home to the Philadelphia Eagles, finishing the year 6-10 and falling short of the playoffs again.
"There were times when things were clicking and we were playing well," quarterback Eli Manning said. "The Atlanta game, the Washington game early, and we just went through a little stretch where we weren't playing bad football, we just weren't playing quite up to where we needed to. We had a lot of close games, had a little stretch where we lost three or four close games in a row…We needed to make more plays and we had opportunities. We just didn't, in the important times, we didn't execute as we needed."
With a late turnover spoiling a big day for the passing game, the New York Giants lost their first regular-season finale since 2009, falling 34-26 at home to the Philadelphia Eagles.
**>> WATCH GIANTS VS. EAGLES HIGHLIGHTS**2. Beckham put an exclamation point on rookie campaign.
Since missing the first four weeks of the season with a hamstring issue, Odell Beckham Jr., the Giants' first-round draft choice, has wowed spectators, teammates, and opponents alike, seemingly breaking records on a weekly basis. He added 12 catches, a touchdown, and a season-high 185 yards on Sunday, bringing his rookie total to 91 receptions for 1,305 yards and 12 touchdowns.
"I felt the year went well," Beckham said. "There is still so much I can look back on and I wish I could have done that and I wish I could've done this, but it was great to get here and be able to learn and experience things, to get a year of experience underneath my belt, and I am looking forward to next year with a smile."**[
WATCH PLAYER INTERVIEWS](http://www.giants.com/videos/interviews.html)3. Randle wanted to finish strong.**
Third-year wide receiver Rueben Randle's career high of 132 receiving yards lasted for only a week. On Sunday, he broke his personal best, which he set in the Week 16 victory over the Rams, with 158 yards on six catches against the Eagles. The three best games of his career have now all come since the Week 8 bye this season (112 vs. San Francisco, 132 at St. Louis, 158 vs. Philadelphia).
"I just wanted to finish strong and that's just the main point about it," Randle said. "I didn't want to end on a bad note, at least for myself, so I just try to come out and give my all and just leave on a positive note."4. JPP: "I had to step up big time."
The Giants had a late-season surge on sacks, racking up 28 in the final five games after having just 19 through the first 11 games. Leading the way was defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul, who ended the season with at least one sack in four straight games, including another in Week 17 to bring his season total to 12.5.
"I don't know what changed," said Pierre-Paul, who was a game captain on Sunday. "I am trying to figure that out myself. I am playing better. I had to step up big time. I wouldn't say I wasn't stepping up the first couple of weeks. Injuries, I fought through them. I got healthy and I have been on a roll. That is the game of football. You never know."5. Biggest takeaway from 2014: Need a better start.
Although eventually getting to 3-2, the Giants started 2014 with two losses and -- after a three-game winning streak -- lost seven in a row at one point to sink their playoff aspirations. Safety and defensive co-captain Antrel Rolle was asked what is the biggest lesson to take away from this season.
"To get off to a better start. We have to get off to a better start as a team," Rolle said. "Be a little more resilient as a team when we are facing adversity. Just coming together, all three phases of the game, offense, defense, special teams, and trying to execute your assignment."
