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Resurgent Giants seek third straight victory

Oct 7, 2007 - 10:29 AM NY Jets (1-3) at NY Giants (2-2) Sunday 1:00 pm EDT

EAST RUTHERFORD, New Jersey (Ticker) -- For the last six quarters, the New York Giants' defense has shown no resemblence to the unit that was torched in the first two games of the season.

The Giants look to continue their suddenly stellar defense Sunday when they host the New York Jets in the "Battle of the Meadowlands."

In season-opening losses to the Dallas Cowboys and Green Bay Packers, the Giants surrenderd 80 points - the most points they have allowed in the first two games of the season since 1966.

The Giants continued to struggle in the first half against the Washington Redskins two weeks ago, falling behind 17-3 at halftime.

But since then, the Giants' defense has enjoyed a dramatic reversal, allowing just three points. It started with a late goal-line stand that preserved a 24-17 victory over the Redskins.

The Giants carried that momentum into last week, when they tied an NFL record with 12 sacks in a 16-3 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles.

Osi Umenyiora set a franchise mark with six sacks as the Giants frustrated an Eagles team that had scored 56 points the previous week against the Detroit Lions.

In the first 10 quarters of the season, the defense was on the field for 31 possessions, allowing 1,025 yards and 13 touchdowns.

In the last six quarters, the unit has yielded only 271 yards in 18 possessions and no touchdowns.

"It is just the ongoing process," coach Tom Coughlin said of the improved defensive play. "That was something that was in its infant stages as we were coming along in terms of some of the utilization of personnel in different spots. At one point we were able to go and advance that a little bit more and we will continue to do that."

While the Giants have won two in a row to climb back to .500, the Jets are searching for answers after a disappointing 17-14 loss in Buffalo.

The Jets may be looking to open up their offense. They were held to 14 points last week, even though Chad Pennington completed 32-of-39 passes for 290 yards.

The co-tenants of Giants Stadium are meeting for the first time since 2003, when they Giants posted a 31-28 overtime victory. The Giants have won three straight against the Jets to take a 6-4 lead in the series.