We've reached that part of the season when the New York Giants are already declaring games must win.
"This is like the playoffs for us," defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul said, per Newsday. "We gotta win, basically. We gotta win ... (the playoffs) have started."
Yes, even in Week 9 we've already reached desperation stage for some teams. Others have already been forked.
It's not a new experience for the Giants, who have needed winning streaks to get into the playoffs during their two most recent Super Bowl runs.
At 3-4 the Giantssit two games back in the loss column to both the Dallas Cowboys and Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC East.
"Nine weeks of focus, nine weeks for a season, nine weeks of passion, all of those things," linebacker Jameel McClain added. "We get a chance to show the world who we are, how we finish, and it's a great opportunity for this team to prevail. My mentality is nine weeks to win."
We'll get the "one game at a time" clichés and the like before the season is out, but there is no questioning that Monday night's home tussle with the Indianapolis Colts marks a significant moment in the season's pendulum swing for Big Blue.
The latest Around The NFL Podcast previews every Week 9 game and recaps the Saints' one-sided *TNF win over the Panthers. Find more Around The NFL content on NFL NOW.*
