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Victor Cruz On The Giants: 'Our Backs Are Against The Wall'

NEW YORK (WFAN) - The Giants suddenly find themselves in a precarious situation after getting drubbed, 34-0, at the hands of the Falcons on Sunday at the Georgia Dome.

Nothing went right for the Giants, who struggled in every facet of the game. With the Redskins defeating the Browns and the Cowboys topping the Steelers, the Giants all of a sudden find themselves in a three-way tie in the NFC East. And while all three teams share an 8-6 record, New York's 2-3 mark in the division puts them behind both Washington and Dallas.

Just like that, the Giants are in ninth place in the NFC.

LISTEN: Quarterback Eli Manning chats with Mike Francesa

Two games remain on the regular-season schedule. The defending Super Bowl champs will take on the Ravens in Baltimore this coming Sunday before finishing up the 16-game schedule against the Eagles at MetLife Stadium.

"I expect us to come back and have a great week of preparation and practice, and we'll be ready to go," quarterback Eli Manning told WFAN host Mike Francesa in his weekly spot on Monday. "We're excited about the opportunity that we're in. There are a number of teams that are in this position. No matter what happened last week, we're in this spot ... These last games are important, they mean something. It's the difference in making the playoffs and not making the playoffs."

If Big Blue plans to return to the playoffs and try to defend its championship, Manning will have to play significantly better than he did against Atlanta.

The two-time Super Bowl MVP struggled mightily, completing 13 of 25 passes for just 161 yards and no touchdowns. He also threw two interceptions and was sacked.

LISTEN: Wide receiver Victor Cruz chats with Mike Francesa

"Our backs are against the wall," wide receiver Victor Cruz told Francesa in his weekly spot. "... As individuals, as players, as athletes (and) as competitors, if we don't want it then nobody else is going to want it. Teams aren't just giving this to us this year anymore. We've gotta go out there and really take it from them."

Cruz was a non-factor against Atlanta's secondary, catching just three passes for 15 yards.

The Cowboys will host the Saints in Week 16 and the Redskins will play the Eagles in Philadelphia. Washington and Dallas will square off at FedExField in the final week of the regular season.

Do you believe that the Giants still have that late-season magic in them? Sound off with your thoughts and comments below...

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