The New York Giants were slight favorites coming into last week's game against the Washington Redskins, yet ultimately fell to their division rivals in a 20-14 loss. Aside from the brief second half surge, the game was decidedly one sided.
At 5-6, the G-Men are still well within the playoff hunt in the lackluster NFC East. But the team's disappointing performance last week (and this season as a whole) reportedly has head coach Tom Coughlin on the hot seat.
Giants co-owner Steve Tisch told Bart Hubbuch of the New York Post that "it's been a very frustrating season" after New York's loss and criticized the team's inconsistency.
"Under coach Coughlin, we're fighters," Tisch said. "[But] sometimes we fight harder than the previous week. We've got to stay focused and go out there as a team."
New York has been somewhat streaky this season, dropping their first two games of the year before winning three straight. Since then, they have gone just 2-4, leading some to speculate that Coughlin's job may be on the line. Hubbuch specifically asked about Coughlin's status, to which Tisch would not give a definitive answer. However, he did say that "he would not be happy" if the Giants missed out on the playoffs for the fourth straight years.
Though Coughlin will always be remembered for bringing two Super Bowls to New York, the 69-year-old head coach has gone just 27-32 over his last four years. This season, New York ranks 15th in total offense and dead last in total defense.
With five games to go, Coughlin still has time to sneak the Giants into the playoffs thanks to the lousy state of the NFC East. However, his contract is up after this season so it will be important for him to win if he hopes to keep coaching the Giants.
Big Blue will next play the New York Jets this Sunday.
