A week off, some rest and a poignant plea from a 15-year-old cancer patient got the New York Giants back on track.
Now the rest of the NFL has something to worry about. The Giants are playing like champions again.
A refreshed Eli Manning came back from the bye week and threw three touchdown passes as the Giants embarrassed Aaron Rodgers and the streaking Green Bay Packers 38-10.
The win snapped a two-game losing streak and gave the Giants (7-4) a two-game lead in the NFC East with five games left in the regular season. The dominating performance also ended a five-game winning streak for the Packers (7-4), who fell a game behind Chicago in the NFC North.
"We just had to go out there with a lot of confidence and play like we are capable," Giants centre David Baas said. "I felt we did that. We showed everybody. People that counted us out, they better wake up."
No one was more pleased with the Giants than Adam Merchant. The 15-year-old fan attended last Friday's practice and the game, thanks to the Make-A-Wish Foundation.