[CBFF] AP - Coughlin wants Giants' focus squarely on Texans

[Jerry Madsen]

Updated: Nov. 1, 2006, 7:00 PM ET
Coughlin wants Giants' focus squarely on Texans
Associated Press

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Mentioning the Chicago Bears to New York
Giants coach Tom Coughlin wasn't the right thing to do Wednesday, not
with the Houston Texans coming to town this weekend.

As soon as Coughlin heard the word "Bears," his tone changed and his
voice conveyed his anger.

"We don't think about that at all," a testy Coughlin said. "This next
game is the most important game of our schedule, OK? I don't even want
to entertain questions about that. The next game is the most important
game that we'll play, and that's against Houston."

The game between the Bears (7-0) and the Giants (5-2) on Nov. 12 has
been getting increased attention in recent weeks with Chicago going
undefeated and the Giants riding a four-game winning streak.

The concern among Giants fans is that this Sunday's game against the
struggling Texans (2-5) is one of those potential trap games, or
letdown games.

Call it what you want, but either way, the fear is that a team is so
focused on the big game, players forget to show up for one against a
team they should beat.

Coughlin was having none of it. He noted the Texans have had 776 yards
in total offense the past two games and that they held Tennessee to
197 yards in an error-plagued 28-22 loss. Not to be overlooked is
Houston's 24-7 win over Jacksonville on Oct. 22.

"They are a talented football team who not only have they made a
change in the coach, but they've also gone out and gotten players
through free agency and through the draft who are contributing
strongly to their team. They've always been a strong special teams
outfit, and nothing has changed that way," Coughlin said.

Only hours earlier, Coughlin delivered the same message to his team.

Almost to a man, players parroted their coach's concerns about Houston.

Rookie defensive end Mathias Kiwanuka said the only piece of advice
Coughlin offered on the Bears game was not to think about it.

"We have to play the game, we just can't overlook Houston," receiver
Plaxico Burress added. "They are a very good opponent, a very good
defensive team from what I've seen."

Had it not been for five turnovers, Burress said the Texans would have
beaten the Titans on Sunday.

Safety Gibril Wilson laughed when told the Coughlin got annoyed when
asked about Chicago.

"Why are you even bringing up Chicago?" Wilson said. "We have to take
it one week at a time. I don't even know who we are playing next week.
This week is Houston and David Carr."

Texans coach Gary Kubiak doesn't expect the Giants to have a letdown
this week, not with Coughlin harping about it and Pro Bowlers such as
Michael Strahan and Tiki Barber providing leadership on both sides of
the ball.

"They're full of veteran guys that you can tell, they know they're on
to something special and they have a great football team," Kubiak
said. "We'll get their best shot."

Veteran offensive tackle Bob Whitfield was one of the few players who
acknowledged that teams do have letdowns. He also said there is a way
to prevent them: just show up ready to play and dominate.

"When you do that, it says these guys aren't overlooking anyone,
they're handling everybody," Whitfield said.

Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press

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