The soul-searching and the looking in the mirror began moments after their 48-22 humbling by the hifalutin Eagles, because now it is Put Up or Shut Up for the Giants. 

Now all that matters is Sunday night on the road against the Commanders, because a season that began with such hope and promise is suddenly teetering on the brink. 

The Giants were exposed in every way, in all three phases of the game, and as 6-1 and 7-2 have devolved into 7-5-1, the line between playoff contender and pretender has been blurred. 

After all their talk about finally getting to play meaningful games in December, the Giants are in grave danger of playing meaningless games in December as they now confront the first true must-win game of the season. 

“We gotta win this f—ing game. That’s all I gotta say,” Jihad Ward said. 

He was seated in front of his locker, and laughed. Maybe to keep from crying. 

“It’s December football, man,” Ward said. “It’s about who the f— wants it more. It’s more to it than just doing your job. … You have to do more. How bad do you want it? Ain’t nobody gonna sit here and give it to us. It’s really how bad do you really, really want it?” 

Rookie or no rookie. 

“We’re not treating these rookies like young bulls, they’re grown f— men out here,” Ward said. “What are you gonna do? Are you gonna sit here and sit back and wait til next year? I want it NOW! That’s the type of mindset that I have, and I expect every single person in the organization to have.” 

Don’t tell us. 

Show us. 

“What better opportunity to after the game get embarrassed on TV in front of everyone and everyone outside of us is, ‘The sky is falling, the sky is falling.’ What better opportunity to come in and go against a division opponent, go to their home and try to come out with a win?” Saquon Barkley said. 

This will be a test of their self-proclaimed resilience, because the Eagles battered and bloodied the Giants from pillar to post, a true mismatch between a heavyweight and a group that resembles a light-heavyweight club fighter. 

“They wanted it more than us,” Ward said. 

The Eagles ran for 253 yards, 192 in the second half. Jalen Hurts (21-for-31, 217 yards, 2 TDs, 77 yards rushing, 1 TD) toyed with the soft Giants defense. Barkley (11 touches) was preserved in part because of his questionable neck. 

The punter dropped a snap and illegally drop-kicked the ball. Kickoff coverage was brutal. The Giants didn’t belong on the same field as the Eagles. It was men versus boys. The 12-1 Eagles wanted the game more, and that’s inexcusable even if human nature whispered to the Giants that their game against the Commanders was more life-and-death. 

“The only thing that matters is what we do now and the time is now,” Jaylon Smith said. “On all levels. Offense, defense, special teams, coaches, all of us — we gotta get this thing right. And that’s something that I look forward to.” 

All is not lost only if you believe all is not lost. 

“When you grow up, as a kid, you want games that are ‘Everything’s on the line.’ So, that’s how we’re treating it,” Julian Love said. 

If it was painful for Giants fans to watch, think of how painful it was for Xavier McKinney (broken fingers) to again watch as he waits for medical clearance. 

“Obviously we don’t want to rush anything. I’m trying my best though. If I could make my own decision, I would been out there the day after surgery,” he said. 

Now we find out, now the Giants find out, what they’re made of. The Little Engine That Could is operating on fumes. 

“We’re going through a rough patch right now,” Barkley said. “We’re not playing well. That’s on us, we gotta play better … if we weren’t talented and we weren’t a good team, we wouldn’t be in this situation and we are. Now we gotta double down, continue to believe in each other.” 

Daniel Jones (18-for-27, 169 yards, 1 TD, 26 yards rushing) again talked about the Giants playing their best game. 

“That hunger and the opportunity that’s in front of us to get to the playoffs and play these meaningful games down the stretch is an awesome opportunity,” Jones said 

They’re blowing the awesome opportunity. 

“You have two choices in life, right?” Kayvon Thibodeaux said. “You either spend more time on the problem or you spend time on the solution. And right now, I think we’re more focused on the solution.” 

A MUST. 

“By any means necessary,” Smith said.