Giants deserved exactly what they got

The Giants were five yards from a four-game winning streak, from being alone in first place in the NFC East, from a three-game lead over the Eagles' Dream Team, from another feel-good comeback.

But as anyone who has followed the NFL for more than a month knows, middling teams can't get away with middling performances for long.

Such is life in a league in which even a nondescript also-ran such as the Seahawks can travel across the country, turn to Charlie Whitehurst at quarterback and still be competent enough to take advantage of five turnovers and assorted other mistakes to win.

Or, to put it more succinctly: The Giants deserved exactly what they got for letting Seattle hang around long enough to beat them, 36-25, yesterday at MetLife Stadium.

Call Brandon Browner's game-turning 94-yard interception return for a touchdown a fluky play if you want, because it was. But good teams don't let bad teams get into such positions in the first place.

"You know in the NFL every game you have to play well if you expect to win,'' said Eli Manning, who nearly quarterbacked his third straight fourth-quarter comeback, until he didn't.

"You can't just play mediocre. You can't make mistakes . . . There were glimpses, but you just can't afford to be down and keep having to come back.''

Added Tom Coughlin: "We played poorly. When you don't deserve to win, you don't win.''

On the day's biggest play, with less than 1:30 remaining and the Giants poised to take the lead, the ball bounced off receiver Victor Cruz, then off Seahawks safety Kam Chancellor, before landing in the hands of Browner.

But don't forget what preceded it: After securing a first down at the Seattle 5, the Giants promptly were sent back to the 10 by a false-start penalty on tackle Will Beatty.

The defense did its part, too, notably on the go-ahead 27-yard scoring pass from Whitehurst to Doug Baldwin, on which both Aaron Ross and Antrel Rolle chose to cover another receiver, leaving Baldwin alone.

It was a cold, dark finish to a lovely, 81-degree afternoon that began a four-week stretch in which the Giants host the Seahawks and Bills, then have a week off, then host the Dolphins.

In other words, everything was set up perfectly for the Giants, who had earned a share of first place with back-to-back road victories over the Eagles and Cardinals, only to fall to one of the league's lesser lights.

"Maybe New York thought it would be an easier win,'' Baldwin said, "but in the NFL, there are no easy wins.''

Everyone knows that in theory. But in practice, games such as Sunday's serve as a blunt reminder.

"It's a shame you lose a game on that type of play rather than being out-schemed or outplayed,'' said Manning, forgetting for the moment that is precisely the way most NFL games are lost.

At least games such as this one, which began with the Giants' defense looking flummoxed against Seattle's no-huddle attack before settling down and taking a 14-14 tie into halftime.

But then the offense stumbled, including being caught for a pivotal safety on which D.J. Ware, subbing for the injured Brandon Jacobs, was stuffed at the goal line by Anthony Hargrove.

It was part of another atrocious performance by the rushing offense, which managed 69 yards on 25 carries, with no run longer than 13 yards.

That has to change. So does the Giants' penchant for living dangerously. It is a path to late-game drama, which is good for TV ratings and talk radio fodder. Sometimes it even is a path to exciting victories.

Mostly, though, it is the surest path to a .500 record and another January watching TV on the couch.