Giants vs. Saints: 'Four-game season' for reeling Giants

A few weeks ago the defending Super Bowl champion New York Giants were 6-2 and looking like they would cruise to a second straight NFC East title. Now, following Monday's loss to the resurgent Washington Redskins the Giants have lost three of four. At 7-5, they have both the 6-6 Redskins and Dallas Cowboys right on their heels.

"It's a four-game season and we have to win, literally, every one of our games. That's how I look at it," Coughlin said.

That four-game season begins Sunday at MetLife Stadium (4:25 p.m. ET/FOX) with a game against the 5-7 New Orleans Saints..

New Orleans is having a frustrating, season and appears likely to miss the playoffs. A little bit like the Redskins, though, the Saints are a team the Giants have been unable to figure out in recent meetings. Last season the Saints laid a 49-24 beating on the Giants. In 2009, New Orleans dropped a similar 48-17 whooping on the Giants, who entered that game 5-0. That began a tailspin that saw the Giants end up 8-8 and missing the playoffs.

The Saints are, of course, led by quarterback Drew Brees (3,674 yards passing, 61.8 percent completions, 31 touchdowns, 616 interceptions). His favorite target is Hofstra grad Marques Colston, who leads New Orleans with 61 catches for 828 yards.

The Giants and Saints have scored an identical 321 points this season. New Orleans, however, is last in the league defensively. The Saints have surrendered 327 points and a league-worst 440.5 yards per game. The Giants have surrendered 243 points.

"We know what it’s going to take for us to get where we want to go. Hopefully that happens. Hopefully we put things back together," defensive end Justin Tuck said. "But we can’t continue to play inconsistent football like we have. We had a great week last week against Green Bay. We had a decent week this week, but obviously everything is kind of dumbed down because you lose the football game. So hopefully we get back in happier spirits after next week’s game."

The Giants open the week at five-point favorites.