Lawrence Taylor calls out Giants defense ahead of Commanders game

New York Giants legend and Hall of Famer Lawrence Taylor has a direct message for the Big Blue defense ahead of Sunday's game against the Washington Commanders. 

"Show me some n---," Taylor challenged New York defensive players while speaking with Steve Serby of the New York Post. 

Taylor and Serby discussed the upcoming clash after the Giants were crushed at home by the division-rival Philadelphia Eagles 48-22 this past Sunday. That score could have been more lopsided had Philadelphia not cruised to the finish line at MetLife Stadium. 

"It’s a prime-time game, the playoffs are on the line," Taylor added about the "Sunday Night Football" matchup between a pair of 7-5-1 NFC East clubs. "You just said everything you need to know about that game. Everything else is just preparation. Let’s do this, OK? Let’s do this. You already know what’s at stake, all right? If you can’t play when everything you ever dreamed of and everything that you want is put into one game, if you can’t rise to that challenge, then what’s left? These games define who you are." 

ESPN shows that the Commanders and Giants began Thursday possessing the conference's final two playoff berths. Washington holds the tiebreaker advantage over New York ahead of Week 15 based on winning percentages in division games.

Per ESPN, the Giants' defense ranks 26th in yards allowed (365.8 yards per game). That unit is 20th with an average of 23.1 points surrendered per contest.

"In the course of the game there’s only seven-10 plays that make a difference," Taylor continued during his makeshift pre-game pep talk. "And you sit there and say, 'Somebody gotta do something, they’re kicking our a--' and s--- like that. You know what? The person that stands up and says, 'Hey, OK, I’ll volunteer. I’ll do it,' those are the guys to make it happen. Those are the guys that’s going to have notoriety in the league and stuff because when there’s a play to be made, they don’t designate it to somebody else. They do it themselves." 

Things get no easier for the Giants after Sunday night, as they'll have to hit the road next week to play at the Minnesota Vikings (10-3) on Christmas Eve. That same afternoon, the Commanders will play at the San Francisco 49ers (9-4).