Brandon Jacobs has four lost fumbles in his seven games this season, including three in his last two games. Tom Coughlin's chief pet peeve is ball security. So what's the solution?

Coughlin and running backs coach Jerald Ingram helped Tiki Barber rid himself of fumbling issues with the "high and tight" carrying style. Coughlin reiterated his desire to see Jacobs do the same.

"I don't really care that it makes a guy a little bit uncomfortable and slows him down a hair," Coughlin said. "That is not significant. What is important is the ball. You see how close these games are, how closely played they are, and how one play here or there can be the difference in a game."

Amazingly, the Giants have managed to win their last two games despite a minus-5 turnover margin. They are minus-7 for the season, among the league's bottom 10 teams, and are the only team in playoff position among that group.

Playing with pain
Coughlin didn't say whether his injured starters came out of Sunday's game any worse for wear, but the play of Plaxico Burress and Antonio Pierce, each of whom played despite a sprained ankle, served as inspiration.

"The huge thing about that is guys look at it and they see he is coming back from an injury and you're certainly in a position where you are trying like heck to win every game," Coughlin said of Pierce, who was a game-time decision. "I think that is a very, very good example."

If the Giants can clinch a playoff spot Sunday night against the Redskins, Coughlin might have a chance to rest Pierce, Burress and Jacobs. "I'm not talking about that now," Coughlin said. "We don't have anything secured."

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