back Christian McCaffrey did not suit up for the game against Notre Dame on Saturday night because

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- The days of the New York Giants defense giving away games is seemingly over.A multimillion dollar infusion in the offseason has transformed Steve Spagnuolos unit from the worst in the NFL to one that is suddenly finding ways to win games.Just look at last weekend. The defense finally got a pass rush against the Los Angeles Rams and intercepted four passes, including one incredible return that Landon Collins turned into a touchdown, in a 17-0 win that gave New York (4-3) a two-game winning streak heading into its bye week.Its a far cry from a year ago when the defense was on the field six times either late in the fourth quarter or in overtime and gave up a winning score as the Giants missed the playoffs for a fourth straight season.It cost Tom Coughlin his job. Not Spagnuolo though. Ben McAdoo retained him after being promoted from offensive coordinator to coach, and general manager Jerry Reese took care of him with a free-agency spending spree in the offseason.Pass-rushing defensive end Olivier Vernon was signed to a five-year, $85 million deal. Shutdown cornerback Janoris Jenkins got a five-year, $62 million contract. Defensive tackle Damon `Snacks Harrison got five years and $46 million.Reese even took a chance on Jason Pierre-Paul a year after his hand injury, giving the defensive end a one-year $9.4 million contract.Add in veteran linebackers Keenan Robinson and Kelvin Sheppard, nickel back Leon Hall and a couple of draft picks -- cornerback Eli Apple and safety Darian Thompson -- and the Giants have a whole new look.Were definitely starting to click and play a lot better, said cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, who like Collins had two interceptions against the Rams. We still have a lot of mistakes that we have to get corrected. Once we do that, its going to be special.After seven games, the Giants are ranked 19th overall in total defense. They are 12th against the run, giving up an average of 93.6 yards, and 22nd against the pass, giving up 267.4 yards.New Yorks 141 points allowed are the sixth fewest in the NFC, and thats not bad for a team that has a minus-7 turnover differential.Defensive captain and linebacker Jonathan Casillas believes the defense has gotten more precise in recent weeks in terms of the coverages and the blitzes.We blew some coverages early in the season that allowed teams to get big plays on us and get into the red zone and missed a couple tackles and I think we have done a lot better with tackling and we are creating turnovers, he said.That is putting people at the ball, having the right people, at the right place, at the right time, and being detailed and I think that is all coming to fruition right now.To be honest, the defense has carried the Giants this season. Eli Manning and the offense have struggled, averaging 19 points. Its not easy to win that way.The Giants have won four games by a total of 15 points. The win in London over the Rams came in a matchup in which New York gained 232 yards and had the ball for less than 25 minutes, something that has happened in four straight games.I dont think we have played as consistent as we want every game, but we have made progress every week in certain ways and continually come into our own, linebacker Devon Kennard said. I think this last game was a good turning point for us and we have to keep it rolling.If there has been a problem for the defense it is getting off the field on third down. Opponents have had a league-high 118 third-down chances and converted on 43.2 percent, which is too high.The bye should help. Safeties Darian Thompson (foot) and Nat Berhe (concussion) are both expected to be back for the game against Philadelphia on Nov. 6, the first of three straight home games.Thompson has missed the past five games and Berhe four, forcing former practice squad player, Andrew Adams, to start.The break also should help Apple, the first-round draft pick who has been bothered by hamstring and groin issues, and Rodgers-Cromartie (groin) get back to 100 percent.Were starting to get on the same page, defensive tackle Jay Bromley said. Its remarkable how good weve played and when look at the film, there are still plays that we wish we had back.Once we continue to work with the communication, and actually do things every single time the way we are supposed to do them, we could be an even better defense.If the defense can do that, and the offense finally gets going, the Giants just may be headed to the playoffs for the first time since 2011.---AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and http://twitter.com/AP-NFL Swell Wood Bottle Sale . What general manager Dave Nonis called "short and productive" negotiations ended with Kessel signing a US$64-million, eight-year contract on Tuesday. Swell Water Bottle Wood . It is a cliché dragged out by fans and pundits regularly when discussions take place around which teams are better than others. http://www.swellbottlesaleclearance.com/ . The next step is a better finish. Bae played bogey-free Friday on another gorgeous day at Riviera for a 5-under 66, giving him a one-shot lead over Aaron Baddeley and Robert Garrigus going into the weekend. Real Wood Water Bottle . Detroit and Boston are deadlocked, 1-1, and Tigers manager Jim Leyland could be forgiven if he was caught rationalizing instead of dissecting how his club could blow a 5-1 lead late in Game 2. Swell Bottle Ombre Canada . -- PGA TOUR Canada member Steve Saunders took a three-stroke lead Saturday in the Web. SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- Stanford running back Christian McCaffrey did not suit up for the game against Notre Dame on Saturday night because of an undisclosed injury.Stanford spokesman Alan George confirmed by email that McCaffrey would not play. Stanford coach David Shaw said earlier in the week that McCaffrey, last years Heisman Trophy runner-up, got banged up against Washington State last week and thats why he didnt play most of the second half in the 42-16 loss. Shaw saaid he would be be cautious with him as with everybody else.ddddddddddddMcCaffrey had rushed for 436 in Stanfords first three games, all wins, but was held to 49 yards on 12 carries in a 44-6 loss to Washington and 35 yards on eight carries in a 42-16 loss to Washington State.McCaffrey is averaging 188.2 all-purpose yards, third in the FBS. ' ' '