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On Defense, the Giants Are Doing More and Winning More

The narrative has changed over the past three weeks. Safety Antrel Rolle, cornerback Corey Webster and the rest of the secondary have helped the Giants limit their last three opponents to an average of only 218 yards passing per game, providing the defensive backfield with a shot of confidence in time for the playoffs.

“We do some things right back there,” safety Kenny Phillips said with a wry smile. “We have some guys in the secondary that’s playing amazing right now. Just look out for us.”

A season ago, the Giants’ use of three safeties at once frustrated offenses because of the group’s speed and athleticism. Yet, it was not until recently that the secondary has resembled the unit that had the Giants ranked ninth in passing defense last season.

The Giants have been particularly susceptible to big plays. The 60 passing plays of 20 yards or more they have allowed are fourth most in the N.F.L., according to the league. But only four of those plays came in the final three games of the regular season. With the Giants set to face the Atlanta Falcons and their talented receivers Roddy White and Julio Jones in the N.F.C. playoffs Sunday, their secondary is peaking at the right time.

“It was just minor mistakes,” Phillips said. “The big thing was communication and doing what they’re supposed to do. It was easy to fix, and I think we got that accomplished. We weren’t getting beat physically; it was basically knowing the call.”

Part of the explanation for the secondary’s relative resurgence might also trace back to the improved pass rush of the defensive line, which has been able to get such a push toward the quarterback that the Giants have not had to rely on blitzes, allowing for more help in coverage. The pressure on quarterbacks like Rex Grossman of the Washington Redskins or Mark Sanchez of the Jets has also forced poor throws.

Additionally, the rookie cornerback Prince Amukamara has played a reduced role in recent weeks. Amukamara, the Giants’ first-round draft pick last year, has struggled to catch up to the speed of the N.F.L. after missing the first nine games, and most of training camp, because of a broken foot. He has been beaten on several big plays this season.

Yet the renewed focus on individual responsibility and better communication among the defensive backs has had an impact on some of the unit’s leaders, especially Rolle, who had bemoaned being unable to be the ball-hawking player he was before joining the Giants.

The turning point for Rolle, who has been used as a nickel back and at linebacker to give him less of a roving deep presence on the field, came before the Giants’ win against the Jets on Dec. 24. That was when the veteran safety Deon Grant sat him down for a long conversation because he noticed that Rolle was trying to do too much.

“Bro, I understand what you’re trying to do, and I appreciate what you’re trying to do,” Rolle recalled Grant saying. “But be you. Let your play do the talking for you. That’s what you are. That’s what we know you as.”

So Rolle stopped talking too loudly in the locker room. He stopped trying to get all of his teammates lined up before the snap. He stopped barking out routes in the middle of the play. He just played.

The results showed. Rolle recorded , and afterward he told Grant that he “owed him” for their conversation. of Tony Romo against the Dallas Cowboys last Sunday.

The past two weeks could not have been more different from some of the weeks that came before. In fact, in a win over the Cowboys on Dec. 11, the Giants allowed five passing plays of 20 yards or more, and a 50-yard touchdown reception that left two players involved in the play claiming their innocence for the terrible breakdown.

There has been little reason for finger pointing lately. With the postseason only a few days away, the Giants have started to shed the labels that previously defined their struggles this season.

Grant said the Giants were getting back to basics. He said the players had been “out there trying to do too much as individuals. Now we’re back to taking care of our business.”

EXTRA POINTS

Jake Ballard was a limited participant in Wednesday’s practice. He missed the last two games after partly tearing the posterior cruciate ligament in his right knee in the Giants’ loss to the Washington Redskins on Dec. 18. He said that he hoped to play Sunday.

DIVISIONAL MATCHUPS

American Football Conference

6. JETS (Wild Card) at1. NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (East)

This is the first time in N.F.L. history that both divisional-round games in a conference feature matchups ofdivision rivals. But Jets versus Patriots is the N.F.L.’snastiest current feud, and its third installment this seasonis a fitting reprise.The Jets say they wanted this game. They shouldprobably be careful what they wish for. They were humiliatedby the Patriots a month ago, 45-3, a demolitionthat Jets Coach Rex Ryan will need all of his motivationalskills to get his players to erase from their memories.The problem for the Jets is that the Patriots’ multifacetedoffense has not slowed since then, and the Jets’ offense is stillstruggling to score. The Patriots have not scored fewer than 31points since Nov. 7, slicing up the vaunted defenses of the Jets,the Packers and the Bears in that stretch. Danny Woodheadand the Patriots’ tight ends present tough matchups for theJets’ defense.Given Mark Sanchez’s shaky passing for much of the Coltsgame, it is reasonable to assume the Jets will try to runthrough the Patriots. They rushed for 169 yards against theColts and they averaged 4.9 yards a carry against the Patriotsin December. But the Patriots held three of their last four regular-season opponents under 4 yards a carry, and if they getout to a quick lead, the game will be forced into Sanchez’shands — exactly where the big-play Patriots defense wants it.Ryan got the hype started last week with a swipe at Bradywhen he unfavorably compared his study habits with PeytonManning’s. The Jets will need their most complete game –balanced offense, a defense that forces turnovers — to staywith the Patriots.PLAYER TO WATCH Don’t overthink this. Watch Brady, whoprobably heard about Ryan’s slight within minutes of its utterance.His passing has been staggeringly accurate (no interceptionssince Oct. 17, four over all). The Patriots go as Bradygoes, and for most of the last two months it has looked as if that would be to the A.F.C. championship game.

5. BALTIMORE RAVENS (Wild Card) at2. PITTSBURGH STEELERS (North)

Can they please stage this game inside a steel cage? Themost bruising rivalry in football is played by two teams builtaround pounding defenses and a preference for the runninggame. The fascinating thing, as in the Jets-Patriotsgame, is how the teams will change their approachesbecause they are so familiar with each other.The Ravens came out throwing against the Chiefson Sunday, before leaning on Ray Rice. They will probablyhave to try to throw against the Steelers, too, becauseif the Steelers’ defense has a weakness, it’s atthe corners. Much about the Steelers will depend onthe health of safety Troy Polamalu. In the final twomonths of the regular season, the Steelers allowed anopponent to score more than 16 points only once — theJets, in a game that Polamalu did not play.The Steelers’ Rashard Mendenhall rushed for morethan 1,200 yards this season, but his yards per attemptwas just 3.9, and he will have little running room againstthe Ravens. So it will fall to Ben Roethlisberger to attackthe Ravens’ secondary — also their weakness, exceptfor safety Ed Reed. The Ravens will have to be vigilantbecause Roethlisberger’s ability to extend plays by scramblingout of the pocket, and by avoiding interceptions (just fivethis season), makes him dangerous.But the Ravens forced five turnovers against the Chiefs, andthe Steelers will have to guard against that, too. These teamssplit their season series, although the Ravens’ victory came inSeptember, when Roethlisberger was suspended. When theyplayed in December, it was exactly what is expected now: alow-scoring, penalty-laden affair. The Ravens have won five ina row since.PLAYER TO WATCH Make it players — Polamalu and JamesHarrison. Joe Flacco was poised and accurate against theChiefs, but these two have a way of unnerving quarterbackswith their relentless pressure and speed.DIVISIONAL MATCHUPSBy JUDY BATTISTAAmerican Football Conference National Football Conference

National Football Conference

6. GREEN BAY PACKERS (Wild Card) at1. ATLANTA FALCONS (South)

N.F.L. ROUNDUP; Sanchez Is Practicing And Preparing for Cold

Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez on Wednesday returned to practice for the first time since he sprained his right knee against the Buffalo Bills on Dec. 3.

Sanchez said he felt no pain and experienced no immediate swelling. He also said he planned to play Sunday, although the Jets held off on naming him the starter against Atlanta until they evaluated his knee on Thursday.

”It just felt good to be back out there on the field,” Sanchez said. ”It felt like it’s been forever.”

In reality, it has been 13 days, but that is 13 days of treatment and recovery instead of football. Kellen Clemens started in place of Sanchez last weekend at Tampa, and he helped the Jets win their third consecutive game.

Sanchez, who was wearing custom-made braces on his knees, joked that he looked like Forrest Gump. The braces are measured to fit the knee snugly, and Sanchez said they are made from fabric, Velcro and metal.

To prepare for the cold weather Sunday at Giants Stadium, Sanchez said jokingly that he did not wear sleeves to practice to thicken his blood.

He said he also knew how important the game Sunday is. At 7-6, the Jets are still in the playoff race, but they will probably need to win their last three games, and they will still need help with losses by other teams.

”This is huge, each week,” Sanchez said. ”We knew that coming down the stretch here that if we want to have a chance to play longer than Jan. 3, we need to win a few games. That is what we are trying to do and we have another tough team coming into our place.”