Giants DE Jason Pierre-Paul will certainly test the Eagles makeshift offensive line.

Giants Notebook II

By Michael Eisen

Oct. 6, 2014

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – The Giants will learn in the next two weeks exactly where they stand in what appears to be a much-improved NFC East. Riding a three-game winning streak and owning a 3-2 record, the Giants will travel to Philadelphia and then Dallas before their bye. Both the Eagles and Cowboys are 4-1.

Philadelphia is the defending division champion, but the Giants said that provides no added incentive for them this week.

“We just try to go out and play,” safety Antrel Rolle said today. “We’re just trying to make sure that we come out on top of our division this year. Last year is last year. I don’t feel like there was much to really battle with last year in our division. I felt like it was a weak division last year. I feel like this year it’s definitely up and rising. We didn’t get a lot of credit in the preseason in our division, but I think now the tables are starting to turn a little bit. Dallas is playing good, Philly is playing good right now. I think we’re rising and we’re stepping up to the challenges and we’re playing some good football right now.”

“I think the Philly game is going to be another great test for our team,” cornerback Prince Amukamara said. “They are the defending champions and they have a great team on all three phases of the ball, so it’s going to be a challenge.”

Coach Tom Coughlin responded to questions about the game’s importance as he would in any other week.

“Every game is the most important game of the season,” Coughlin said. “This is a divisional game. Obviously, Philadelphia is playing very, very well. It is a game within the division for us, so we are just excited for that opportunity.

“I think every game in one way, shape, or form is a huge test for your football team and a great challenge. Philadelphia has obviously all kinds of numbers, they have played extremely well. Arguably they could be undefeated right now. We know what that challenge is about and we are excited about preparing and having an opportunity to play against the Eagles in our division. That is what I am embracing, if that is the word. It’s exciting, we look forward to it. We always do.”

*Cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie underwent a medical exam today. DRC has what Coughlin called a “leg injury.”

“The word has come back to me that he thinks he can play with it. It is a leg injury, but pinpointing it is not something that I am going to try to do. It starts with an ankle, but I noticed that he has had some issue way up high in the hip area also from time to time. I am just going to stick with the leg right now. We felt that he could work through it on a couple of occasions, but I think (SVP of Medical Services) Ronnie (Barnes) wanted to shut it down and take a look at whatever was going on there. Hopefully, we can overcome it. He thinks he can play through it as he rehabs and feels better about it.”

Rodgers-Cromartie periodically removed himself from the Giants’ 30-20 victory over Atlanta yesterday and was replaced by Zack Bowman. After the game, DRC explained what happened.

“It tightened up on me a little bit, nothing to worry about though,” he said. “It was the same thing I did last week, but I felt good all through practice. Once you’re out there like that and pounding on that turf, it tends to tighten up a little bit.”

Coughlin was asked if he is “okay” with the cornerback rotation.

“Of course, I am not,” he said. “I would rather that (Rodgers-Cromartie) play and stay out there. Unfortunately, he has felt a need to come off in the last couple of ball games. Guys are ready to go on the field and they have done a good job when he has come out. If that is what we have to play with and have to work with within the system, then we have to do that.”

*Odell Beckham Jr. caught four passes, including a touchdown, and had a fair catch when he went back to return a punt in his first NFL game action. He emerged with no damage done to the hamstring that kept him sidelined for the season’s first month.

“We had a set idea and a plan that he could be used on punt return, how many check-with-me kind of things,” Coughlin said. “We were looking for a particular situation that he would be there if, in fact, he was going to return at all. We will continue that way, we will continue to observe and get the advice from the medical people. He seemed to be very fine today, there wasn’t any issue, we will push him along even further now.”

*Linebacker Jon Beason missed his third consecutive game because the medical staff believed his injured foot/toe would benefit from another week of rest.

*Linebacker Spencer Paysinger, who left the game with a hamstring injury, was also examined today.

“The severity, I don’t know, we will see,” Coughlin said. “We have a couple of those things at the linebacker level that seem to be forever but shouldn’t be. Hopefully that is not the case with Spencer Paysinger.”