There was the sound of finality in his words. Defensive end Brian Robison sacked Manning on first down and the Giants lost another 13 yards on third down when Manning couldn't handle a shotgun snap he might not have been expecting. It was not a good look and nearly definitely the last gasp.

"I have great respect for (Coughlin), I wanted to do my job and do my job well, and get into the playoffs and have a big season, so he could continue to be the head coach", Manning said, via the New York Daily News.

NY will travel to Lambeau Field to take on the Packers, Minnesota to take on the Vikings, FirstEnergy Stadium to take on the Browns, Pittsburgh to take on the Steelers and either Seattle to take on the Seahawks or London to meet the Rams. "I'm the head coach". After Saturday night's Redskins win, the Giants were eliminated from the playoffs. I believe Coughlin knows this (he said, "I'm not going down that road" when asked about the talent on the roster Sunday) and that he knows how far this team is from contending. "It is my responsibility and I accept that". This time, it was all about the crumbling status of longtime NY coach Tom Coughlin, a two-time Super Bowl victor with the club.

This may be seen through the large number of Vikings rookies who have contributed this season in varying degrees; Spielman has drafted players-likely with Zimmer and Turner's advice in mind-that play directly into the current direction and playing style of this team.

This rare top-to-bottom organizational harmony is potentially the most dominant piece of an extremely complex and differently interpreted viewpoint that may only be encapsulated through the simple statement: This team feels different. "You know, usually when they keep keeping all of those people in there against the run you have a chance to pop some long runs and it took a long time before we were able to get a couple of them". They would much prefer it is portrayed as a parting of the ways, an amicable separation. Will he tell the Giants he isn't ready to go, setting up the possibility that ownership - if they want to make a change - would be in the uncomfortable position of having to push the future Hall of Fame coach out the door?

"Last year, we played our last five games with no playoff implications", center Weston Richburg said.

"I feel badly that they feel that way", Coughlin said Monday afternoon.

"Certainly you miss Odell on the field, but I don't think that was the reason we didn't play well in support of each other", Coughlin said.

"We like to handle business ourselves. I felt embarrassed for myself and I feel embarrassed for this organization". They are 12-19 in the last two years. There is no one left to jettison.

It leaves co-owners John Mara and Steve Tisch with decisions, not only with Coughlin, but also general manager Jerry Reese.

The speculation about job security is something to which Coughlin and the Giants have gotten accustomed, although the circumstances would appear to make the current situation more tenuous than any of the other times he has been on the perceived hot seat.

Without Beckham, the Giants' wide receivers in the first half combined for three catches (one apiece for Randle, Nicks and White) and two glaring drops (Randle, Dwayne Harris), and managed to play two Manning passes into interceptions.

The Vikings have diversified their passing attack to involve all three tight ends, plus fullbacks Matt Asiata and Zach Line.

"It's not going to affect anything in terms of how I go about my business this week. But I'd like to finish this year strong with a win".