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Giants hope to avoid another Monday night meltdown

Oct 14, 2007 - 10:35 AM NY Giants (3-2) at Atlanta (1-4) Monday 8:30 pm EDT

ATLANTA (Ticker) -- The New York Giants return to the Monday night stage when they visit the Atlanta Falcons - and it should make them wary.

In their previous appearance on Monday night, the Giants suffered a 26-10 loss at Jacksonville on November 20 of last season. That defeat started a second-half collapse in which New York dropped five of six games.

Only a season-ending win at Washington allowed the Giants to sneak into the playoffs at 8-8.

A year later, things are going well for New York, which has reeled off three straights wins following an 0-2 start in which it surrendered 80 points.

Still, the Giants have been fortunate. For the second time in three weeks, they needed a spirited second-half rally to win.

On Sunday, Eli Manning threw touchdown passes to Jeremy Shockey and Plaxico Burress as the Giants rallied from a 10-point deficit to defeat the New York Jets, 35-24. Brandon Jacobs carried 20 times for 100 yards, reaching the century mark for the first time in his career and helping coach Tom Coughlin record his 100th career win.

Two weeks earlier, the Giants spotted the Redskins a 14-point lead before roaring back for a 23-17 victory.

New York will look to avoid another slow start against an Atlanta team that could have an unsettled situation at quarterback.

Joey Harrington passed for a meager 87 yards in last week's 20-13 loss to the Tennessee Titans and was replaced in the fourth quarter by Byron Leftwich. But Atlanta coach Bobby Petrino said he will go back to Harrington this week.

The Falcons had a golden opportunity to tie the game in the final minutes, but could not get into the end zone despite a 1st-and-goal at the 1.

The Giants are visiting the Georgia Dome for the second time in as many season. New York defeated Atlanta, 27-14, last season as the now retired Tiki Barber rushed for 185 yards.