EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Coach Tom Coughlin, trying to address failures that contributed to his team’s missing the playoffs each of the last three seasons, returned to a glorious chapter in the franchise’s past when he hired Steve Spagnuolo as defensive coordinator in January.
Spagnuolo oversaw a staunch defense in 2007 and 2008, and he orchestrated a game plan that allowed the Giants to upset New England, 17-14, in Super Bowl XLII to close the 2007 season, denying the Patriots a perfect record. Although his second stint with the team cannot be assessed so soon, it is fraught with problems as the Giants face the explosive Atlanta Falcons on Sunday at MetLife Stadium.