EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- There is something admirable about the typically conservative Tom Coughlin, facing reports that he is coaching for his job at age 69 and after two wins, going for it on fourth-and-2 Alex Claudio Jersey while up 10 late in . This, of course, despite the fact that the ' offense showed no signs of being able to overcome a 13-point deficit, never mind the 17-point difference Coughlin was trying to create.There is also something heartbreaking about the fact that the play resulted in the ' fourth lo s this season that came within the last 13 seconds of a game. It was the team's fifth lo s this year after beginning the fourth quarter with a lead. It was the ' third lo s in a row, and fourth in their last five games. The season-opening debacle in Dallas was a separate matter with its own set of bizarre circumstances on the final drive. The game was a shootout. The were the .This was supposed to be Russell Wilson Jersey the time that Coughlin got it right. Instead, a familiar, noodling play call on fourth-and-2 resulted in a halted route and a logjam at the target where was supposed to throw the ball. picked it off, and Coughlin was left explaining away why he gave his dead-in-the-water opponents the ball back down just 10 points with 8:42 remaining in the fourth quarter.The ' drive, which lasted 22 snaps and took the team from the 5:03 mark of the third quarter to the 8:50 mark in the fourth, yielded zero points. "I went for it on fourth-and-2 thinking that that would certainly give, after the long drive and the amount of time used up in the drive, I thought that was the play at the time," Coughlin said. "I still do. Obviously we didn't score there, we had an interception there. They drove, kicked a field goal and then we didn't do anything with the ball again." Coughlin was asked why a thousand different ways but his answer didn't change. "I thought that was the play," he said. "I thought that was the play." This could all end up being Jurickson Profar Jersey a humorous sidenote if the end up falling into the playoffs. Not even the are eliminated in the NFC East at 3-8. And quite honestly, there are coaches out there who would rather coach against anyone else in the playoffs besides Coughlin, no matter how ravaged the ' roster is. But this could also end up being Coughlin's last stand. "We were all just sitting there waiting to see what the call is going to be," said , who was one of many players on the field waving the kick team off on that fourth down. "We decided to go for it and we didn't get it -- you get on defense, you play defense and you make stops. You can never let plays determine the outcome of a game unle s they are plays that are in the fourth quarter with seconds, no time on the clock. That is the only way." After the game, cornerback talked about the symbolism that accompanies a gesture the make at the beginning of every fourth quarter. They all place their index finger in the air, which means that everyone -- together -- needs to step their game up another level. There is one quarter left.It pairs nicely with Coughlin's most popular mantra, which has Danny Santana Jersey always been "Finish." He says it every single day. "We just believe in each other and just -- take it up another level," Amukamara said. "Why we're not finishing in the second half? I couldn't tell you. That's the coach's job. I mean, of course, I have my opinion but I'm not going to share it with you." Sadly, the inability to do so cost the again. Looking back at the team making the gesture on Sunday was more ironic than anything. Was it more painful than ? Was it worse than ? Did it hurt more Adrian Sampson Jersey than as time was running out ? Maybe, if only because there was so much of a chance to see it coming this time. There was history and knowledge and the inherent awarene s in every staff member that this team has a tendency to crack a little bit when the pre sure mounts. "We have been in position to win games and we haven't won," Coughlin said. "I'm taking full responsibility for that. But still, we're there. As I told the team, we've got to find a way to finish the game, to win a 60-minute game and be in position at the end of the game to win it. It seems like back and forth we do have opportunities, even offensively, to end the game before they get the ball on the final drive and we haven't been able to do that."
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