EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Observed and heard in the New York Giants' locker room after Sunday's 30-20 victory over the Atlanta Falcons:
Defensive end Robert Ayers said the Giants' defensive line "just felt like we had to take over this game" with the Falcons up 20-10 in the third quarter. Jason Pierre-Paul said the key to the pass rush's improvement has been better communication and described a couple of second-half plays on which he and Ayers changed calls at the snap and came up with big stops.
Defensive tackle Johnathan Hankins said he told linebacker Jon Beason that he would get a sack on the Falcons' pivotal fourth-quarter drive, and indeed he did, sacking Matt Ryan on fourth down to seal the Giants' third straight victory.
Running back Rashad Jennings sounded upbeat about his knee injury when talking in a group, but he will have an MRI on Monday. "I'll fight back," he told me. No way to know yet how much time he'll have to miss.
