The New York Giants are already in must-win territory when they visit the Cleveland Browns on Sunday. The Giants (0-2) lost their first two games of the season to the Minnesota Vikings and Washington Commanders. If they lose to the Browns (1-1), things really get dicey.
New York then has a short week before hosting the Dallas Cowboys next Thursday. "I'm pissed because I hate losing with a passion," Giants nose tackle Dexter Lawrence II said Wednesday. "I take that hard -- losing.
I really don't like it. For me, it's just something that I'm not going to keep accepting." The anxiety is growing as only two teams (out of 32) that started 0-2 over the past four seasons made the playoffs.
That 6.3 success rate raises the urgency. But Giants coach Brian Daboll said he doesn't think desperation has set in.
"I want to see consistency like we talk about every week," Daboll said. "Go in, prepare the right way, come out, play a good football game, do good in situations, play together. Each week is its own week, and we'll just focus on the Browns this week.
" Cleveland split its first two games, getting routed by the Cowboys in its opener before posting an 18-13 road win over the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday. "It wasn't perfect, wasn't always pretty, but it was gritty," Browns coach Kevin Stefanski said of the victory. "And I thought the guys found a way there.
And it's certainly a learning experience. I think win, lose or draw, you gotta learn from these things." One area the Browns nee.