Tired was not an option.
Playing every single snap in a game is not easy. Most games, the entire offensive line stays in every play, if possible. On defense, a player or two in the secondary never comes off the field. The Giants were desperate to win Sunday and, as a result, five of their starters on defense played all 68 snaps, going in and staying in during the 27-22 victory over the Texans inside climate-controlled NRG Stadium.
Defensive coordinator James Bettcher clearly did not want to make a bunch of moves but he was short-handed, with Eli Apple out with a strained groin.