Kenny Phillips: Once Cowboys made some plays, defense didn’t play like a team

Veteran Giants safety Kenny Phillips, who didn’t practice Monday because of a sore back, said the defense played like it did early last season when everyone wasn’t on the same page.

“Once the game started, I don’t want to say it got away, but once they started to make some plays, everyone wanted to be that guy, be that hero to make the play for the team,” Phillips said of the 24-17 loss to the Cowboys. “We got away from doing our job that way we were supposed to do it, like if you were a corner just being patient, or being a defensive end and staying outside. Everyone tried to win the game each play instead of playing as a team.”

Safety Antrel Rolle said the defense has to start trusting one another again, which was the key to their play late last season.

“I think that was a wake-up call, knowing this league will present new challenges and different threats each and every week,” Rolle said. “Just watching football this past weekend, I think teams are coming out to play. They are coming out fast and playing extremely tough. We definitely have to step up, and we have to step up now.”


(ap.com)