Redskins 20, Giants 14: Post-game quotebook

It's never easy for the New York Giants. After a Thanksgiving in which the Dallas Cowboys and the Philadelphia Eagles were blown out, the Giants were in prime position to take control of the division. Instead, sloppy play has led to a 20-14 Washington Redskins victory and the loss of first place for the Giants due to tiebreakers. Here's how the players reacted to the loss.

Eli Manning on offensive struggles

The Giants looked so porous on offense against a mediocre defense for the vast majority of the game. The fourth quarter saw some changes but it came too little, too late. Manning explains why the offense looked so flat in the beginning of the game.

"In the first half, we just didn't win our one-on-one matchups," Manning said. "We just weren't completing the ball. They were playing a good bit of man to man coverage and you know we took some shots down the field, a number of shots down the field, figured we'd hit some of those and we didn't hit any."

A major problem for the offense is the loss of the entire interior line as Geoff Schwartz was hurt with a broken leg. Justin Pugh and Weston Richburg were already hurt to begin with and it proved to be a weakness on offense. Manning however only credited his makeshift offensive line.

"I thought the offensive line played tough," Manning said. But, going against a good front with Washington, that's one of their strengths and had some guys filling in. But guys stepped up, and competed and gave us a shot there to get back in the game so I don't think that was the problem. I think we just, from the offense, I think we didn't complete enough passes and get into a good rhythm."

Odell Beckham Jr: "We came out flat"

The theme of the the 2015 Giants are the collapses that have plagued them in the fourth quarter. In this game, the Giants were the opposite. They were awful for the first three quarters of the game and finding life in the fourth quarter, especially thanks to a beautiful catch by Odell Beckham Jr. Unfortunately it was too late.

"It's not good. We came out flat," Beckham said. Even though he made another highlight worthy catch in the end zone, Beckham isn't satisfied. "The catch doesn't mean much because of the loss."

The one simple truth is this, the Giants are a mediocre team with a losing record. "We're 5-6 for a reason," Beckham said.

More Giants reactions

Prince Amukamara: "The first half it looked like a bye week hangover."

— Paul Schwartz (@NYPost_Schwartz) November 29, 2015

JPP: "We waited til the 4th Q to really start playing. By then it was over." Added that "effort" was the difference. "They wanted it more."

— Kimberly Jones (@KimJonesSports) November 29, 2015

Thank you for the kind words and well wishes. Can't believe this happened again. I'll battle to get back asap, just like before.

— Geoff Schwartz (@geoffschwartz) November 29, 2015

JPP on the Giants defense: "Terrible. As a unit. We had the chance to seal the deal and we didn’t get the job done.’’

— Paul Schwartz (@NYPost_Schwartz) November 29, 2015

JPP: "They wanted it more badly. As a group we didn’t play well at all, special teams, offense, or defense. You see the outcome.’’

— Paul Schwartz (@NYPost_Schwartz) November 29, 2015

DT Cullen Jenkins: "We came out flat. This wasn’t the game for that. This has to be where we come out and play the best game of the year."

— Ralph Vacchiano (@RVacchianoNYDN) November 29, 2015

Devon Kennard: "We had an opportunity today to really grab hold of the division and we didn't do that.''

— Paul Schwartz (@NYPost_Schwartz) November 29, 2015