Giants Justin Pugh (72), a first round pick out of Syracuse and Council Rock South High School. Photo by T.J. Engler/ contrastphotography.com

EAST RUTHERFORD: Giants starting right tackle Justin Pugh came from successful programs in high school at Council Rock South and in college with Syracuse.

With the Giants success of the last five years – two Super Bowl Championships – there was no reason not to believe the winning would continue as a pro after the 6-foot-4, 301-pound offensive lineman was taken by Big Blue with the 19th overall pick in the 2013 draft.

What happened though was the opposite. The Giants lost their first six games; one of the team’s worst-ever starts. It finally ended this past Monday when the Giants dumped Minnesota 23-7 at MetLife Stadium.

“I have never had a stretch like this before in my career,” Pugh said. “It was definitely good to get the first win. The top team with the most wins in the conference is four. So we are not out of it by any means. We have a huge game this week in Philadelphia and we want to get that one.”

The Giants (1-6) have been as decimated by injuries as any team in the league this year. All pro guard Chris Snee is out for the year. Guard/tackle David Diehl has missed time as has defensive end Jason Pierre Paul and cornerback Corey Webster. Starting middle linebacker Dan Connor is out for the year with a neck injury. Webster participated in limited practice Friday.

Against the Vikings, the Giants were without running backs David Wilson, who had been starting and Brandon Jacobs, who was out of football last year and throughout training camp until the Giants signed him a few weeks ago. Wilson is out this week and Jacobs did not practice Friday.

Also missing games this year for Big Blue were defensive backs Jayron Hosley and Cooper Taylor, tight end Adrien Robinson and center David Baas, who came back against the Giants only to leave the game with a knee injury after the first quarter and has been place on IR and is lost for the season. Hosley participated in limited practice Friday.

At running back the Giants leaned on rookie Michael Cox – the next-to-last player taken in the 2013 draft — and veteran Peyton Hillis who was signed off the street the week before the Vikings game.

This unlikely combo combined for 59 yards on 29 carries. The stats are not very impressive n their own merit, but it was enough to keep the pass rush off Eli Manning who was sacked only twice and did not throw an interception – which is a story unto itself as Manny has hit players on the other team a remarkable 15 times in the first six games.

Pugh said he was glad the running game had some relevance despite a backfield of newcomers.

“I think the mentality we have as a whole team is the next guy is going to step up and make a play,” said Pugh who has started the first seven games of his NFL career. “We’ve had that with the offensive line this whole year….other guys stepping up. I think every position…we have David Wilson and Andre Brown go down and Brendon Jacobs steps up, then he goes down and these guys step up. I think it is really the mentality the coach (Tom Coughlina) has with the team and it’s really showing off.”

Pugh said Coughlin asked the players if six losses was enough. “That’s actually the thing Coach Coughlin said…’when is enough going to be enough?’ We we’re tired of losing and went out there and played a good game.”

Like many players who go back to their home town to play a game, Pugh, who hails from Holland, Bucks County, PA, will have some distractions to go along with the fact his job is beat the team he grew up following as a fan.

The Eagles (3-4) take on the Giants at 1 p.m. (FOX) at the Linc. The Birds want to stay in the race for the NFC East and the Giants want to get back into the race. The Eagles have lost nine in a row at the Linc, The Giants have lost eight in a row on the road. Barring a tie, something has to give.

“It’s a huge game for us, a huge game for them,” Pugh said. “I am going to probably have 20-30 people there that I know of. And now after this win everyone’s going to want more tickets…” Pugh is laughing now…”and if we win, everyone will say ‘well you won with me there, can I come again?’…but I’ll see everyone next week, it’s going to be a good one.”