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No salsa for these 0-3 Giants
Hats off
New York Giants' Keith Rivers (55) loses his helmet as Carolina Panthers' DeAngelo Williams (34) slips by during the first half of an National Football League game in Charlotte, N.C. The Panthers won 38-0. - photo by The Associated Press

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — After a 38-0 loss to the Carolina Panthers, the New York Giants are promising only one change for this weekend's game in Kansas City against the Chiefs.

There is going to be an attitude adjustment.

Win or lose, the Giants (0-3) aren't going to have another no-show performance against the Chiefs (3-0).

"I think the better Giants team is going to show up this week," Giants wide receiver Victor Cruz said. "It's a different mindset. Today's practice was completely different than what we had in the past. The energy was different. The feel was different. We're excited. This is where I think we turn the page and make a good run and get a couple of wins under our belt."

Upbeat Giants head coach Tom Coughlin is promising a more physical team. And if practice was any indication Wednesday, there was a little feistiness to the workout.

"These guys are hungry, being 0-3 and especially the way we lost that game," Giant punter Steve Weatherford said. "We wanted to win that one for Coach, and we didn't play well."

Giants linebacker Mark Herzlich could sense an increased focus in practice, especially on a defense that has given up a league-worst 115 points.

He said there was no carrying on in meetings. If there was a mistake on the practice field, players talked it over with coaches or looked at the play cards to see how they were out of position.

"Something has to change in the way we are playing," Herzlich said. "I think we can do it. I think we all believe we can do, and that belief is the first step."

Coughlin isn't discussing any lineup changes, but there might be some. Center David Baas (neck) and guard Chris Snee (hip) missed practice, forcing the team to use a makeshift line days after giving up seven sacks.

Since Coughlin didn't talk to the media after practice, who played where on the offense line was not public.

One positive for the unit was that veteran David Diehl practiced for the first time since the Giants announced that he had surgery on his right thumb Aug. 21.

New York left guard Kevin Boothe said there is always concern after seeing Eli Manning on his back so much.

"It's not something you ignore and say, 'It's a fluke game,'" Boothe said. "We have to play at a better level and we know that."

The Chiefs' defensive front seven will challenge the Giants. Linebacker Justin Houston had 4½ sacks against the Eagles last week, and he leads the NFL with 7½.

The Giants are a little banged up in the secondary. Starting cornerback Corey Webster, who missed last week's game with a hip injury, is feeling better but did not practice. Cornerback Terrell Thomas, who is playing after missing the last two seasons with ACL injuries, is being used on a limited basis to give him more time to recuperate between games. He expects to play Sunday.

"We are going to fight," Thomas said when asked which Giants team would show up Sunday. "We got socked in our mouths last week, and that's not what the New York Giants are all about and the players. We have players on this team who have won two Super Bowls, and we know about being tough and resilient in the moment and understanding everything. It's disheartening. It's sad, but we're over that now."

Wide receiver Hakeem Nicks insisted the Giants have one of the NFL's top offenses despite being limited to 150 yards last week.

"I think everything is going to be fine," Nicks said. "It's not a time to be negative. I think it's a time where we need to come together as a team, which I feel like we are doing, and we're going to get everything turned around and we will be fine."

2024 NFL standings
CHIEFS
The Kansas City Chiefs have made Arrowhead Stadium their home since 1972. For their second of four preseason games, the Chiefs travel to Baltimore on Friday night to play the Raven in a 6:30 kickoff. - photo by Mack McClure Great Bend Tribune
AFC WEST x-playoff x-Kansas City 15-2 x-LA Chargers 11-6 x-Denver 10-7 Las Vegas 4-13 AFC EAST x-Buffalo 13-4 Miami 8-9 NY Jets 5-12 New England 4-13 AFC SOUTH x-Houston 10-7 Indianapolis 8-9 Jacksonville 4-13 Tennessee 3-14 AFC NORTH x-Baltimore 12-5 Pittsburgh 10-7 Cincinnati 9-8 Cleveland 3-14 NFC EAST x-Philadelphia 14-3 x-Washington 12-5 Dallas 7-10 NY Giants 3-14 NFC CENTRAL x-Detroit 15-2 x-Minnesota 14-3 x-Green Bay 11-6 Chicago 5-12 NFC SOUTH x-Tampa Bay 10-7 Atlanta 8-9 New Orleans 5-12 Carolina 5-12 NFC WEST x-LA Rams 10-7 Seattle 10-7 Arizona 8-9 San Francisco 6-11 1-4—Ravens 35, Browns 10; Bengals 19, Steelers 17 1-5—Colts 26, Jaguars 23; Panthers 44, Falcons 38; Commanders 23, Cowboys 19; Bears 24, Packers 22; Texans 23, Titans 14; Patriots 23, Bills 16; Eagles 20, Giants 13; Bucs 27, Saints 19; Broncos 38, Chiefs 0; Cardinals 47, 49ers 24; Jets 32, Dolphins 20; Seahawks 30, Rams 25; Chargers 34, Raiders 20; Lions 31, Vikings 9 1-11—Chargers at Texans, 3:30; Steelers at Ravens, 7 1-12—Broncos at Bills, 12; Packers at Eagles, 3:30; Commanders at Buccaneers, 7 1-13—Vikings at Rams, 7
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