Playoffs?
Odell Beckham Jr. was full of optimism on Friday as the Giants prepare for a Monday night matchup against the 49ers and said his goals for the second half of the season include winning the remainder of their games.
"Win eight games, go 9-7 and get in the playoffs," he told reporters at his locker. "It's not an easy task, but that is the goal. Win every game and do anything I can to help that."
The Giants currently sit at 1-7 and are in play for the top pick in next year's NFL Draft. They have the worst offensive line in the league -- which has allowed 31 sacks -- and an immobile 37-year-old quarterback who has just eight touchdown passes through eight games.
But don't tell Beckham any of that.
"You heard Kevin Garnett. Anything is possible," he said. "It's not impossible to win eight games. It wasn't impossible to lose seven, you know? So anything can happen, honestly."
The Giants entered the season hoping to move beyond last year's 3-13 debacle but it has continued to be another frustrating season -- particularly for Beckham, who is returning from a surgically repaired left ankle he injured in Week 5 last year.
After inking a record five-year, $95 million deal, Beckham has just two touchdowns on 61 catches for 785 yards this season.
His frustrations mounted in a Week 6 loss to the Eagles when he was caughtt head-banging a cooling fan on the sideline in the second half.
Yet Beckham believes that the team was able to use their bye week last week to reset.
"The bye week was good to take a step back and breathe," he said. "Now we have to put our best foot forward the rest of the season."
The Giants schedule is not exactly easy the second half of the season, either.
After going on the road to face the 2-6 49ers, the Giants host the Bucs, are on the road vs. the Eagles, home vs. Bears, road vs. Redskins, home vs. Titans, road vs. Colts and close the season at home against the Cowboys.
"Our main focus is just this one game," Beckham said. "Treat this game like it's last game of the season and we wanna go out with a win. You win that game, alright, now you focus on the next one. This is the last game, you gotta win it."
Beckham, who turned 26 on Monday, is confident and believes he will come through with a big game because he usually shines following his birthday.
"I don't know what it is, the universe, the energy whatever it is, I just play better," he said. "It's still Scorpio season, it's time to turn it up."
This Monday will actually be Victor Cruz's birthday, though, but Beckham will keep that in mind.
"Hopefully I can score and do the salsa for him or something," he added.