The Giants meet the media following Sunday's game against the Rams:

Head Coach Ben McAdoo

Opening Statement:Well, when you play a talented football team and you handle the ball the way we handled the ball, you tackle the way you tackled today, We punted. We had a blocked punt and we struggled to cover a punt. Unfortunately, that's what the scoreboard is going to look like. Let's open it up.

Q: Did this team quit today?

A: No. The team didn't quit today.

Q: What did you think of the effort?

A: They were playing hard.

Q: Why didn't it correlate to more success?

A: I just gave you that answer.

Q: What do you see going on in the secondary? It seems like S Landon Collins isn't taking the right drops. Not sure whether man or zone. Had the third and 33 conversion for a touchedown.

A: Yeah. We'll have to go take a look at the film on the play you're talking about and the other one is just we got to get to the ball and we got to get them on the ground.

Q: What do you say about there just being dysfunction in the defensive backs room and guys not being on the same page and knowing their assignments?

A: No. That's not the case. A double move with a good player down the field. Give him credit. He made a heck of a play. Heck of a throw. Heck of a catch.

Q: How shocked are you by a team that's rested and coming off the bye and they perform like this?

A: Disappointed. I'm disappointed. Expected us to come out and play a better football game than we played. We have it is us. It's my job to get it out of us.

Q: When the score got that out of hand, why did you keep QB Eli Manning in the game that long?

A: Well, I planned on taking him out with over nine minutes left in the game, but we didn't get the ball back.

Q: What else is there to do to get this team going?

A: Keep looking. Keep fighting. That's what I ask of the players. That's what I ask of the coaches and that's what I'm going to do myself. I'm going to lead by example. Keep playing. Keep fighting. Keep coaching.

Q: What did you say to them at halftime?

A: Um.

Q: What did you see on the third-and-33 play?

A: Yeah. We just talked about that. It was a quick screen to the receiver – slot receiver – we got to route it to the ball and get them down. Certainly can't let them run for a touchdown in that situation. It's been a problem. We have to address it. We have to get it fixed.

Q: Do you see a lack of effort, especially when it comes to plays like that?

A: It's pursuit. Pursuit angles. It's getting the guy on the ground. Having an anticipation of what could be coming in that down and distance. We had a chance to get them on the ground there – we got to get them on the ground.

Q: What do you make of all the empty seats?

A: I'm focused on the game. Focused on the players. Trying to put them in a position to be successful. I'm not focused on the stands.

Q: What's your assessment of QB Eli Manning's deep ball and not connecting with WR Sterling Shepard or WR Tavarres King?

A: It's disappointing. We had chances down the field. We got to make those throws and make those catches. It's pro football. We got to catch them on all opportunities like that. You don't get many in the game.

Q: Is it anything with his release, his drop back?

A: No. Just incompletions and we got to clean them up.

Q: At what point do you have to start looking ahead since playoffs are out of the question?

A: You really can't look from my chair too far ahead. But, you also have to look at getting some players some reps in the game. So, we'll take a look and see if there's any players that we can give reps to that have a chance to be a part of our future.

Q: Does that include the quarterback?

A: That includes everybody.

Q: Do you have to start dressing three quarterbacks going forward?

A: Again, we'll take that on a week-to-week basis. We'll take it on a week-to-week basis.

Q: Are you worried about your own situation?

A: Not at all.

Q: Are you worried that a lack of effort and caring could happen with a loss like this and the amount of games you have left in the season?

A: No. I think we have eight ball games left. We got to keep fighting. I think it's a great opportunity for some players who didn't think they'd be playing a lot of football at this point to see what they're made of, to see what they're capable of and see if they can be a part of our future. Learn a lot about people in times like this.

Q: How do you think WR Sterling Shepard looked in his first game back?

A: It was good to get him back out there. Made a play down the field, had a couple opportunities down the field. Other than that, I thought he blocked fairly well. It was good to have him back out there.

Q: Do you have any sense to how the team is feeling, the tone, the attitiude?

A: I think guys are disappointed. Obviously, we want to have a better showing at home. That part of it is disappointing coming off of a bye.

Q: Do you think anyone is embarrassed?

A: Embarrassing isn't a word I'd use. We're disappointed.

Q: You're 1-7 and you're not scoring many points. Why do you say you're not worried about your own situation?

A: My situation doesn't have anything to do with it. We have to get ready to play a ball game next week. That's counterproductive.

Q: It does reflect on you, though, correct?

A: Everything falls back on my shoulders.

Q: That's the most points the Giants have given up at home since 1964. What do you tell your team, especially the defense?

A: Again, the defense gave up some plays today. They gave up some points today, but we got to take care of the ball better. We can't give them three balls. You can't have a punt block. Can't let the punt returns come out the gate on us. It's more than just the defense, but the defense deserves their fair share of criticism.

Quarterback Eli Manning

Q: How would you characterize the performance today by the whole team?

A: Well, obviously, not good enough. Offensively, we've got to do a better job protecting the football. We can't give a team short field position and make it easy on them and tough on our defense. So, you know, they've been playing well, they've been scoring a lot of points, they've got a good defense, and you know, they just hit some big plays. Obviously, we had some big turnovers in the first half.

Q: As the team's veteran leader, what's your message to the team?

A: Well, we're just going to keep grinding. We're going to keep fighting. We've got eight games left – we've got a lot of football, and can only get better. We can only go up, but that's going to come with work. I thought we had a good game plan, we just got to execute better. We had some plays we've got to make on offense, you know, we had some opportunities for big plays.

Q: The two deep balls to WR Sterling Shepard and WR Tavarres King, what are you seeing is wrong in terms of timing and execution?

A: No, just really the one to Shep, I've got to hit that. It's quarters, you've got a post route. You know, I haven't thrown many routes to Shep on the outside, so it's been mostly a lot, but you've got to hit that one. You know, with Tavarres, it's more of a scramble, kind of late just trying to put it over the safety, maybe a shot for him to get it or nobody. Obviously, just overshot it a little bit.

Q: WR Tavarres King also had a corner route in the end zone?

A: Yeah, right before half, right before half. You know, tried to take a shot down the field just to try to put it kind of a line drive throw, put it in there. You know, we've got to keep working on it. Sometimes we're getting some of these throws for the first time in games, so we just got to find a way to hit them in the live situations.

Q: You've seen this building rocking in Super Bowl years, how demoralizing is it to you to see the empty seats and booing?

A: Well, we've got a job to do on the field, that's all you can worry about. Obviously, we didn't do it very well today, but we're going to keep working, keep grinding. We want to do it, obviously, for our fans, but we want to do it for each other. We've got a lot of football left, and we want to try to get something out of it and keep playing and get that feeling after a game of a win.

Q: How do you feel the guys in front of you did against number 99, DT Aaron Donald, and how much of the game plan was geared away from him?

A: Well, we obviously wanted to try to get as many bodies going towards him as possible, and some protection. Sometimes you couldn't do it. I think he did have the one sack-fumble early in the game, but I think they did a pretty good job containing him. We ran the ball well, we just got to do a better job converting on some third downs.

Q: No loss ever feels good, does this loss feel worse coming off of a bye?

A: It's all the same. They were coming off of a bye also, and we just got to keep searching, keep finding ways to go out there and just make some more plays on game day.

Q: How difficult has it been dealing with new receivers?

A: Well, we got to keep working. We have some new guys and so you can work some things obviously in practice – what you're expecting, different looks, different coverages, different adjustments. Sometimes you've got to go on the run. Guys know what they're doing, and it's just a matter of getting set in the pocket and trusting in it and making accurate throws.

Q: How would you characterize the feelings of the team right now?

A: Well, obviously, guys are disappointed – it's tough. We'll come back tomorrow, Tuesday, Wednesday, get ready to go to San Francisco, and have a great game plan, prepare, and try to win.

Q: What happened on a couple of those deep balls to WR Sterling Shepard and WR Tavarres King?

A: Yeah, I've got to hit those. I've got to hit that, especially the one to Shep. We've got quarters, just got to step into the throw and hit that for a possible touchdown.

Q: Ben McAdoo mentioned that he might want to play some younger players, would you be comfortable giving them some play time?

A: Hey, I want to be out there, I want to be playing. Yeah, I want to be out there.

Q: Given the expectations of this team, how hard is it to accept 1-7?

A: Well, we don't have an option. We have to accept it, those are the facts, and we just got to keep trying to fix that in the sense of next week and following weeks, getting better and trying to get a win.

Q: How much of this do you put on your shoulders?

A: Yeah, I got to hit Shep on the post. I've got a one-on-one on the post route, I've got to hit those. I've got to make better throws.

Q: Would you understand if the coaches wanted to take a look what QB Davis Webb has, for example, down the line?

A: Well, they've got to do what they've got to do. I want to be out there, I want to keep playing with my teammates and keep working.

Defensive End Jason Pierre-Paul

Q: Do you feel like the effort was there?

A: I felt like the effort was there, just big mistakes. Big mistakes cost us. You can't fumble the ball, you can't turn over the ball, period. Big mistakes cost us the game. At the end of the day, you can't point the finger at nobody. Nobody is trying to point the finger. We just have to come back out here and play some football.

*Q: They weren't grinding out drives. I don't think any of their touchdown drives were over four minutes.
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A: No, just mistakes, man. Mistakes killed us and mistakes will kill any football team.

Q: How tough is it to look up at the scoreboard and see 51 points?

A: I don't even pay attention to the scoreboard. When I'm out there I'm playing, I'm playing. It's not until the end of the game I look at the scoreboard. It's terrible. I don't think I've ever had 51 points put on me ever in my career. But at the same time, we can't look at the score. We got to move on to the next. We're all pro athletes. We know we play the game of football, we get paid to play the game of football as well as possible. I feel like as long as you're doing your best out there individually, you're fine. But at the same time, in order to make this thing work, we all got to come together as a team.

Q: To have this result coming off of the bye, is that any more troublesome?

A: No. We had a great week of preparation. I feel like everybody gave effort in practice and we came out here and things just didn't fall into place like we wanted it to. You could see it in the guys eyes, we really wanted it and we didn't meet those expectations and they put up 51, so we got to go back to the drawing board and you can't feel sorry for ourselves because this is the National Football League. Like I said, we all get paid to do what we do and we're professionals.

*Q: What was (Ben) McAdoo's message after the game?
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A: McAdoo is a straightforward guy and he told us, I mean, you can't put the ball on the ground, and those things we know already. It cost us the game today.

*Q: What was your impression of (Jared) Goff?
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A: He's a young quarterback. He did a pretty good job today and he's going to be pretty well off in this league. For a young quarterback to do what he just did, he's going to be pretty well off.

Q: Why do you think there were so many big pass plays?

A: Mistakes, mistakes, mistakes. Mistakes cost us the game.

*Q: Is it surprising to lose like this?
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A: Mistakes cost us the game and we just got to play great football. We ain't doing it so well right now so we'll get back to the drawing board.

Running Back Orleans Darkwa

*Q: What was going on early that allowed you guys to be so productive?
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A: I feel like we started fast. We were able to run the ball with success. We obviously had a big gain with one of those run plays. Everybody was doing their job and we were able to have some early success, but I think the obvious thing is we got to finish drives and we can't turn the ball over.

*Q: Do you think it just snowballed for you guys real fast today?
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A: Yeah, I mean the score indicates what happened. We just didn't play well in all three phases and they're a good team. Their record shows and we just didn't play well, point blank simple.

Q: When you look at the scoreboard, how shocking is that to you?

A: It's embarrassing. Especially on our home field like that. We don't want to perform like that. But we got to flush this one out. Obviously, we've got a lot of corrections we've got to make so we got to go back to the film room and see what we can do better. But obviously we don't want to perform like that for the fans and especially at our home field.

Q: Did you look up in the stands at all in the second half?

A: No. I'm focused on the game.

*Q: Is there a danger of guys writing off this year?
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A: No. We've got a lot of fighters in this room on this team. I don't think anybody is laying down for anybody. At the end of the day, we're playing the game that we love, so if anybody is trying to lay down for a team then they don't need to be here. But I think we've got the right guys in the room that are going to fight until the end. We have the trust in this coaching staff, so we've got to go out there and fight and I think we will.

*Q: What did Ben (McAdoo) say to you guys afterwards?
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A: Obviously, it's not a good feeling to lay an egg like that. We just didn't play well. We turned the ball over. Like I said, in all three phases, we just didn't play well. We've just got to get back to work. We've got eight games left. We're not going to sit here and pout and moan about whatever it is, calls or whatever it is. We got to go out there and fix it. So at the end of the day, that's what we've got to do.

Q: What were you thinking when you guys got off to the hot start offensively?

A: Obviously, we started fast. We got some good plays and that's the thing we try to emphasize. We ended up getting the ball first and were able to put on a good drive, we've just got to finish. We turned the ball over, we can't do that. Like I said, it stalled the drive. I think we started fast, we've just got to eliminate the turnovers.

TE Evan Engram

Q: Would you use the word embarrassing when you think about what happened out there today?

A: As a competitor with the amount of work we put in, yeah. It was pretty embarrassing, just as the team we know we are and know who we can be. That wasn't us today.

Q: Coming off a bye, does that make this any more troublesome after having two weeks to prepare for this?

A: It is what it is. They played better than we did. It's a loss. A loss after a bye, (or) no bye; it's a loss.

Q: Did you feel like there was effort out there today?

A: There was definitely effort. No question about it. We just didn't execute the way we should have.

Q: This is your first NFL experience and obviously it hasn't gone well. How hard is this personally?

A: It's tough. Definitely learning early how tough it is to win in this league. It is what it is. I come in every day to work. First year, tenth year; it's tough to lose. It's definitely tough.

Q: How does the team rebound and come back from a loss like this?

A: We've got to stick together. We've got to stick together and got to put the work in when we get back on Tuesday. Look ourselves in the mirror and keep working, keep fighting and staying together.

Q: Early on, the team did move the ball up and down the field a little bit. Did you feel a positive impact from having Sterling Shepard back in the lineup?

A: Definitely, definitely. Definitely a burst of energy for us. Another playmaker on the field that we missed, so definitely it was good having him back.

Q: Coach keeps talking about how you guys are practicing well but it's not translating to game day. Do you see that as well?

A: Yeah. We have great weeks of practice. We all have great energy all week but we've got to translate it on Sunday. It's got to show up on the field.

Safety Landon Collins

Q: What do you think went wrong on the wide receiver screen that went for the 52?

A: Everybody just over-pursued. We thought he was going to push to keep it strong. He cut it back. We had nobody playing backdoor on that screen.

Q: Defense has a lot of pride. How tough is it to take giving up 51 today?

A: It's hurtful. Definitely hurtful. Last time that we gave up 50 was two years ago and we didn't like it then, so we still don't like it now.

Q: You obviously never expected a result like this, but having an extra week to prepare, how shocking is it to be in this spot?

A: Yeah, having an extra week of practice and then coming out and putting this on the field, putting this on film, and putting this in your back pocket. It's heartbreaking and we have to really get in the film room, get in the locker room and kind of just figure this stuff out. Something is up and we've got to figure it out.

Q: Do you think it's more about the execution or is there any effort lacking anywhere?

A: I don't know. That's a good question. I have to look at the film on that point of view, because I mean, we have the guys. We have to execute one or two key components that are missing.

DT Jay Bromley

Q: You guys embarrassed by this?

A: I think you should take it to heart. You should take it to heart looking at that scoreboard as far as being a defense. I don't care; we don't have to worry about what the offense does. We really want to put it on our shoulders to carry this team as much as we can. They've given up 50 points—hey, they're never going to get the job done.

Q: You've played a lot of games in this stadium. Was it hard to look around in the second half and see what was going on here with the empty seats and booing?

A: We try to tune that out as much as we can. You know the highs are never too high, the lows are never too low, but we weren't playing good football so the fans were letting us know about it. We were just trying to come out and put one foot in front of the other and try to just win one play at a time and it didn't work out for us today.

Q: Did you guys feel like you had it together coming off the bye and re-setting?

A: We definitely felt confident in the fact that we can compete with this football team. We knew they were a good football team coming in and we knew number 30 [Todd Gurley II] was a great back, we knew they got the passing game going with 16 [Jared Goff]. We knew about all their weapons. We just thought we could do a better job of containing them and we didn't.

Q: People are going to look at the score and look at the record and think you guys quit and what would you say to those people?

A: No, we don't quit, man. Really, things just really didn't fall our way whatsoever. It was just one of those games when it was like okay, okay, and guys just have to watch the film, understand their responsibilities better from myself to the top to the bottom, and we have to do a better job of knowing what we have to do and being in the right places. We don't quit. I don't believe anybody in this locker room quits and if anybody ever has their head down, we know that it's a lot of guys on this team that's going to make sure they pick their head up.

Q: Can you describe what this week is like? You guys are coming back from the bye week. You're supposed to be refreshed and feeling good and then you get the [Janoris Jenkins'] suspension and then you come out here and it's a really tough loss.

A: It's always a horrible feeling to lose, then to lose like this, it's kind of one of those you kind of just want to go to the next game. You know what I'm saying? Burn the film. Go to the next game. That's kind of how we feel. I know that's how I feel. You just want to get on to the next week and get to preparing and, honestly, get us preparing for a W.

Q: What about the week in general when you wanted to come back and attack this second half of the season and feel like a closer-knit team?

A: I don't know what to tell you. We just didn't play well today. I don't think that we're necessarily apart as a team. I think we're still a close-knit team. We just didn't execute today.

Q: Did you ever think anybody could put 50 on this defense?

A: I don't know if I've ever had 50 on—I'm in my fourth year—I think this might be the first time I've ever had 50 on the defense, so especially on this defense I wouldn't think so. I don't think any of you guys thought that, but obviously it's possible. Anything's possible, so you just got to go back to the drawing board.

Q: The Saints a couple of years ago had 50 on you guys and you know what that signifies on a defense.

A: Oh yeah. That was a reminder.  

Q: Is there any kind of dread? A lot of the guys who were there then are here now. Are you guys kind of slipping back into that?

A: A dread?

Q: You know, worried? You know what that was like.

A: Not so much, man. I really couldn't tell you yes or no. I really just have to say we have to watch the film. We have to continue to work better. Like you said, we just made a bunch of mistakes and they capitalized off of them.

Q: People are going to speculate about Ben [McAdoo's] future as a head coach. Do players start to hear that? Do you start to worry you're going to get him fired?

A: No. We don't worry about none of that. You control the "controllables". The only thing we control is how we play and how we prepare and we just got to do that every single week, one day at a time.