This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2012, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Despite having a one-game lead in the NFC East with four to go, the New York Giants may need to win out to make the playoffs.
A frustrated Tom Coughlin made that assessment Tuesday, knowing that the Giants' 17-16 loss to the Washington Redskins Monday did more than cut their division lead in half.
The defeat left them at a surprising 2-3 in the NFC East with one division game left — vs. Philadelphia in the season finale. If the Giants (7-5) finish tied with either Washington (6-6) or Dallas (6-6), the second tiebreaker after head-to-head matchups is division record.
The Giants split games with Dallas and Washington, and have already lost to last-place Philadelphia.
The Cowboys and Redskins each already have three wins in the division, and they play each other again. So, one or both stands to have a better division record than New York.
"I am looking at it one game at a time, knowing full well it's a four-game season and we have to win really every one of our games," Coughlin said. "That's how I look at it."
Around the league
Bears • The Chicago Tribune, citing sources, reported linebacker Brian Urlacher, who is nursing a hamstring injury, is expected to miss three games and possibly the rest of the regular season.
Dolphins • Left tackle Jake Long, a perennial Pro Bowl pick and 2008 No. 1 overall choice, was placed on injured reserve because of a left triceps injury, ending his season and perhaps his tenure with the team.
Seahawks • Seattle cut wide receiver Braylon Edwards, who had just eight catches for 74 yards and one touchdown in 10 games.
Steelers • Cornerback Ike Taylor will miss at least two weeks with a fractured right ankle, ending his streak of playing in 135 straight games.
Redskins • Cornerback Cedric Griffin has been suspended four games without pay for violating the NFL's policy on performance enhancing substances. —
Week 14 schedule
Thursday
Denver at Oakland, 6:20 p.m.
Sunday
Chicago at Minnesota, 11 a.m.
Baltimore at Washington, 11 a.m.
Kansas City at Cleveland, 11 a.m.
San Diego at Pittsburgh, 11 a.m.
Tennessee at Indianapolis, 11 a.m.
N.Y. Jets at Jacksonville, 11 a.m.
Atlanta at Carolina, 11 a.m.
Philadelphia at Tampa Bay, 11 a.m.
St. Louis at Buffalo, 11 a.m.
Dallas at Cincinnati, 11 a.m.
Miami at San Francisco, 2:05 p.m.
Arizona at Seattle, 2:25 p.m.
New Orleans at N.Y. Giants, 2:25 p.m.
Detroit at Green Bay, 6:20 p.m.
Monday
Houston at New England, 6:30 p.m.