EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- In his rookie season as coach, Ben McAdoo has taken the New York Giants into somewhat neglected territory.The Giants (8-3) are in the playoff hunt for the first time since 2012, a year they faltered down the stretch, winning two of their last five games to finish 9-7.Despite riding a six-game winning streak and the second best record in the NFC, New York is going to have to work to make the playoffs for the first time since winning the Super Bowl in February 2012.It has the AFC North co-leading Steelers (6-5) in Pittsburgh on Sunday. NFC East leader Dallas (10-1), whose only loss is to the Giants, is at MetLife Stadium on Dec. 11, followed by NFC North-leading Detroit (7-4) on the 18th.Four days later, the Giants face the rival Eagles on the road, and close out the schedule at Washington on Jan. 1. The Redskins (6-4-1) have the second-best record in the wild-card race, right behind the Giants.For a team that has not put it all together this season, especially on offense, the playoffs are not guaranteed.As a team, where do we go from here? McAdoo asked. Its December football. This is where the real football begins. All our hard work to this point has set the table for December. Its an exciting time against a lot of playoff teams and playoff environments. The margin for error is small. This is where our identity needs to take over.The Giants identity has been that of a team that gets things done. For the most part, it has been star players stepping up and making plays.In the 27-13 decision over the Browns (0-12) on Sunday, defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul led the way with seven tackles, three sacks, a forced fumble and a fumble return for a touchdown. Eli Manning added three touchdown passes, including two to Odell Beckham Jr.The constant in the winning streak has been the play of the defense, which has been led by safety Landon Collins.McAdoo insists the Giants wont be focused on making the playoffs.I think its important to address the elephant in the room, so to speak, McAdoo said. Everything gets cranked up a notch in December with everyone jockeying for position. We just need to make sure we play our best football moving forward.If any group has to step up, its the offense. It has been inconsistent most of the season, especially the running game.While the Giants scored 27 points against the Browns, the defense set up the first touchdown with a turnover at the Cleveland 31 in the second quarter. Pierre-Pauls return got another touchdown.Special teams also need to improve. Cleveland got three points after Bobby Rainey muffed a punt, and a Mark Herzlich holding penalty nullified a punt return for a touchdown by Beckham in the fourth quarter.I think its great that we have players that can change the game in one play, McAdoo said. We need to be mentally dialed-in to play a complete game at all three phases for four-plus quarters. We really need to cash in on that in December.Game notes McAdoo refused to say whether Beckham would continue to return punts down the stretch. ... Herzlich and safety Nat Berhe were hurt in the game and are starting the week in the concussion protocol. Its the second time this season for Berhe. ... Rookie receiver Sterling Shepard not only failed to catch a pass for the first time this season, he also was not targeted. McAdoo called it unfortunate. Were not completing enough balls or moving the chains as much as we need to move the chains for everyone to get involved. ... Its too early to tell whether Gs Justin Pugh (knee), Brett Jones (calf) and Marshall Newhouse (knee) will be able to practice this week, McAdoo said. ... McAdoo did not know if RB Shane Vereen, who has been on injured reserve with a triceps injury since Week 3, would practice this week.---For more NFL coverage: http://www.pro32.ap.org and -http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFL Hydro Flask Dop . A big centre with all the tools to be an elite player, Johansen paced the Blue Jackets with a standout game Saturday night. He had a goal and two assists for a career-high three points as Columbus beat the New York Islanders 5-2 to snap a five-game losing streak. Hydro Flask Korting . Aside from the trilogy main event title fight, there are a number of intriguing matchups in the heavyweight, welterweight and lightweight divisions. http://www.hydroflaskkorting.com/hydro-flask-40-oz.html . The 28-year-old from Calgary matched his career best after missing just one shot in his two rounds of shooting in the mens 10-kilometre sprint competition. Smith finished in 23 minutes 15. Hydro Flask Ombre .Y. -- Marcell Dareus and the Buffalo Bills defence made life miserable for Super Bowl MVP Joe Flacco. Hydro Flask Kinder . PETERSBURG, Fla. BALTIMORE -- Donald Trump was greeted with cheers on his arrival at the annual Army-Navy game, basking in one of the nations most storied football rivalries as he prepares to enter the White House.The future commander in chief, protected by panes of bulletproof glass, waved to the crowd Saturday and pumped his fist as he arrived during the first quarter of the 117th game between the military academies at West Point and Annapolis. The game, on a sunny but chilly day, was being held on relatively neutral ground, at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore.Trump, in an interview with CBS Sports announcers Verne Lundquist and Gary Danielson, said he was totally neutral on the outcome of the game and quipped that he might make Lundquist, who was retiring from the play-by-play booth, his ambassador to Sweden.I just love the armed forces, love the folks. The spirit is so incredible. I mean, I dont know if its necessarily the best football, but its very good. But boy do they have spirit, Trump said. Navy had won 14 straight contests in the rivalry, but Armys underdog Black Knights prevailed, 21-17, in a fourth quarter comeback that came weeks after Trumps stunning victory over Hillary Clinton.Trump spent the first half of the game in the box of David Urban, a West Point graduate and one of his Republican advisers in battleground Pennsylvania, and the second half in the box of retired Marine Lt. Col. Oliver North, a graduate of Annapollis.dddddddddddd During the Ronald Reagan administration, North was the National Security Council aide most directly involved in covertly selling arms to Iran and providing military assistance to the Contras, a group seeking to overthrow Nicaraguas left-leaning government.Taking a break from his deliberations for his Cabinet, Trump was joined at the game by several top advisers, including incoming White House chief of staff Reince Priebus, senior adviser Steve Bannon, former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani and Gen. Mike Flynn, Trumps choice for National Security Adviser. Former Veterans Affairs Secretary Jim Nicholson was also spotted inside the box.Trump did not formally switch sides at halftime in the traditional symbol of commander in chief neutrality -- which President Barack Obama did most recently during the 2011 game -- because Trump is not the sitting president. The incoming president is a 1964 graduate of the New York Military Academy, a private prep school near West Point.Trumps appearance at the football game capped off a week of rolling out Cabinet picks, holding thank you rallies in North Carolina, Iowa and Michigan, and trying to cement his incoming Senate majority with Saturdays runoff election in Louisiana.---Follow Ken Thomas on Twitter at https://twitter.com/KThomasDC. ' ' '
