--First-time nominee LB Jessie Armstead along with five other former Giants, coaches and executives are included in the 131 nominees for the 2009 Pro Football Hall of Fame voting. The others are QB Phil Simms, RB Ottis Anderson, TE Mark Bavaro, head coach Dan Reeves and general manager George Young. Three others, RB Herschel Walker, OT Lomas Brown and RB Brian Mitchell, were with the team for just a year.

--The Giants lead the NFL in QB sacks with 26 after amassing five last Sunday vs. Pittsburgh. Ironically, even though the Steelers didn't sack QB Eli Manning at all, they are second in the league with the 25 they had going into the game.

--All-Pro DE Osi Umenyiora, who is out for the season following knee surgery after an exhibition game, said his healing process "is about a month ahead of time" and that he thinks he might have been able to help the Giants during the latter part of the schedule and into the playoffs. But that, of course, is not allowed by the rules, which say that a player put on injured reserve prior to the opening of the season must wait until the start of the next one (2009) to play again.

--General manager Jerry Reese regained his perfect draft record when the Giants re-signed QB Andre Woodson, a sixth-round pick in 2008, to the practice squad. He had been released a week ago when a spate of injuries jeopardized the secondary. Woodson was replaced by CB Rashad Barksdale. OT Cliff Louis was dropped to reinstate Woodson. Thus far in two years, all 14 of Reese's draft picks have made the team in one way or another (practice squad, injured reserve or 53-man roster).

--WR Amani Toomer, who made a spectacular 30-yard catch on a fourth-and-6 pass from Manning vs. Pittsburgh to put the ball on the Steelers' 4-yard line and set up the winning TD pass to TE Kevin Boss, was called, "our most reliable player" by head coach Tom Coughlin. Toomer, a veteran of 12 seasons, has caught 22 passes for 277 yards this season and one TD.

--Defensive tackles Fred Robbins and Barry Cofield, have accounted for seven of the team's 26 sacks. Last year Cofield had one and Robbins 51/2, setting a career high.

BY THE NUMBERS: 49 -- The number of points K John Carney has to score with more than half a season remaining to equal the 109 incumbent K Lawrence Tynes (out with a knee injury, but on the active list) had last season. The 44-year-old Carney has made 18 of 19 field goals and all 19 PATs he has attempted.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "It just depends on who is getting open and whether I see them fast enough. I don't start out a play hoping to complete a pass to a specific receiver." --Giants QB Eli Manning.