EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Observed and heard in the locker room after the Giants' 30-17 victory over Houston:
Tom Coughlin said the team talked all week and all day "about being positive, including me," and several players made mention of the coach's effort this past week to keep things light and upbeat in spite of the 0-2 start. He played music during practice and held a punt-catching contest Friday. "That's just a prime example of him being able to adjust to the team that he has," defensive end Mathias Kiwanuka said. "He's constantly making adjustments to try and get his team motivated, and this group responded."
Right tackle Justin Pugh said the offensive line was sick by the end of the week of hearing questions about how great Houston defensive end J.J. Watt was and how the Giants could stop him. "It's more fun with you guys here asking what we did to stop him," Pugh said.
Center J.D. Walton smiled and declined to answer when I asked him what happened with him and Watt after that one play in the second half when they were jawing at each other after the whistle. "Football," Walton said, smiling. I'd never seen him smile before, for what it's worth.
