DE OSI UMENYIORA
Q: What was the difference between the first and second half?
A: We're a veteran team, and we decided that we had to play a lot better than we've been playing. We have veteran leadership, and we came out and played hard.
Q: You were able to contain Vick, but why was it so much trouble for you guys to keep Garrard from running?
A: He's stronger. He's a lot stronger than Vick. We got to him but a couple times we weren't able to wrap him up. At the end of the day, we got the W and that's all that counts.
Q: What was the mindset going into the game as far as your aggressiveness with the blitz?
A: We were just trying to focus on stopping the run. We didn't do a good job of that today, but at the end of the day, we won the game and that's all that counts.
Q: Explain how hard it is to stop Maurice Jones-Drew:
A: He's an outstanding running back, and he's been doing that for a while. He's short, got those big legs. It was hard for us to stop him, but we did a better job of that in the second half.
Q: What does it do the for the pass rush to have that third guy like Pierre-Paul step in and make some plays?
A: Well, he's a good football player and that's what they drafted him for. He was able to come in and make some plays, and we're happy for him.
WR MARIO MANNINGHAM
Q: Talk about the 24-yard touchdown pass, and how you got open on that play:
A: It was cover two, and I converted my route. The safety was falling in, I guess he looked in Eli's eyes the first time, and looked backside. He read his eyes and went to the other wide receiver on the side. I just went around the corner, and just sat there down by the sideline.
Q: You helped set up the game-winning Boss touchdown with a back shoulder catch. What went right on that play?
A: I didn't see the ball until the last minute. I was running a different route, but I had to come back to the ball because he just threw it back shoulder. I just had to make a play.
Q: How different was it for you to be the number one receiver today?
A: I don't really look at it like that. I mean I study film just like Steve, Hakeem, and the other wide receivers. I don't look at it like I'm the number one guy. I practice like I'm the number one guy, even if they're here. I go out and prepare like I'm starting every week.
RB AHMAD BRADSHAW
Q: You and Jacobs split carries more than you had in the past, how'd it work out for you?
A: It worked out good. Like I said, all we can do is run the ball.
Q: Anything you guys worked on in particular as far as ball security?
A: No, nothing different. We don't have a problem with whatever they have for us. It's just about being careless in the game, and we did a good with it today.
S ANTREL ROLLE
Q: Describe what it was like in here at halftime:
A: A lot of up and downs. There was nothing to be up about, but we're a positive team. We stayed positive and we never doubted ourselves. One thing about us is that we're not a team that really flinches. The guys spoke up: Osi spoke up, Tuck spoke up, and they said ‘Cut the B.S., I don't care what's going on, let's go out there and play.' We don't want anyone coming in our house, eat up our food, take our wives, and leave. We're dogs, and we went out there hunting.
Q: Talk about the final series and how you defended the Jaguars offense:
A: It's all about attitude and it's all about heart. That's one thing that no man on this planet can measure, which is heart. Our team has a lot of heart, and it's all about wanting to. We wanted to go out there and make sure we get a win for our team, get a win for our coach, and get a win for ourselves. That's what we did.
S DEON GRANT
Q: You guys were able to rise up, despite the injuries, and win against your former team:
A: You know that we're a true family. We know that when we play together and execute the way we're supposed to execute, we'll come out with a W. When we don't, that's when we come out with losses.
Q: Did you have a sense of how important Jacksonville's final drive was going to be?
A: We were just happy that we had a chance to close the game out at the end of the day. When the offense put the points on the board, we were like ‘Yes, we really have a chance to really close the game out. So, let's see what we stand for.' We went out there, and did our job.
TE KEVIN BOSS
Q: How big of a play was that touchdown?
A: Personally, I felt like I made a few mistakes in the beginning of the game. I had that drop, so I wanted to come back and make a play or two. I'm just glad I had the opportunity to come back and make up for that.
Q: To call the play that gave you the hot-read on a third-and-ten, how important is not only catching it but then turn and see the rest of the field right away?
A: It's important to be on the same page as the quarterback, and Eli and I were both able to see the pressure coming. I was able to read it hot, and he threw me a pretty easy ball and I had some room to run.
Q: How big is that play in terms of the Giants season?
A: The last two weeks have been pretty frustrating, losing a close game down in Philly. We definitely wanted to come in here and get a victory.
Q: What does it mean for this team to show some life and have a pulse after the last two weeks:
A: We wanted to come in here and get back on the winning track, and it was up and down today. Coach Coughlin always talks about winning the fourth quarter, and that's what we were able to do today.
CB TERRELL THOMAS
Q: Was it pretty emotional here at halftime?
A: Definitely, we knew how much this game meant to us. We knew if we lost this game, we might be out of the playoffs. We have to keep pace. In the NFC right now, everybody is crawling. There are some great teams out there, and we're out of the picture right now so we have to win the rest of our season. That's all that matters.
Q: That one down the left side line there that you missed and could have been an interception with a long return:
A: That's going to cost me. I should've caught it. I had it in my hands, got it secured, and he knocked it out at the last minute.
DT BARRY COFIELD
Q: What were the big second half adjustments you guys made? It looked like a different unit:
A: I don't think there were too many. We had to improve our communication, and I think a lot of it was a different level of emotion, a different level of intensity. I give Justin Tuck a lot of credit, he gave a halftime speech for the ages. I was teary-eyed running back on the field. I was just ready to get back out there. I can't repeat it, but a lot of it was about we have to protect our house. You don't let a team come in here and run the ball like that. This was, in the first half, was against everything we've worked for as a Giants defense. The second half was more like it.