TE Isaiah Likely on his first game in Giants-Eagles rivalry

SPEAKER_1 (0:00)

What do you expect from your first Giants-Eagles game? You played in a lot of Raven Steelers games.

Isaiah Likely (0:05)

What do you think?

Competitive bunch. I heard it's a great rivalry, a great team that we're going to be faced up against. Just always trying to have the mindset of leaving 1-0.

SPEAKER_3 (0:15)

Did you get the sense from the guys that they really want this win in, and that they haven't won in 13 years? Did you get the sense that the guys really want this win, mainly because they have not won in Philly since 2013?

Isaiah Likely (0:28)

I feel like every win should be the team's mindset, whether you haven't won in Philly in 13 years, whether we beat the opponent earlier this year and you had to play them again. I mean, every mindset, every week should be trying to finish 1-0, whatever record was in the past. I mean, I wasn't here 13 years ago, so my mentality is winning the game at hand.

SPEAKER_3 (0:47)

Do you get the sense that the guys really want to win this game?

Isaiah Likely (0:49)

Every game, every game.

SPEAKER_1 (0:51)

You can see, neighbors was limited. What does that do for you if you're out there without him? The one, two punches, just one.

Isaiah Likely (1:01)

I'd say just being where my feet are. I mean, obviously, you know, neighbors is one of one, knowing that, you know, I still got a job to do, whether he is or isn't out there, but I know most likely we'll know it'll be good.

SPEAKER_4 (1:16)

What do you make of the fact that you guys are now considered favorites in the division?

I know early in the season, the underdog card was something that a lot of guys wanted to play. Does that change now? I mean, the fact that the outside world looks at you guys differently?

Isaiah Likely (1:31)

Not necessarily. I mean, in my mind, I feel like every time we play, we should be favorite, and that's just the mentality I have, because I feel like, you know, the mindset should be winning year 111, snap in, snap out, and if you win year 111, then it means you win in the game. So whether you're underdog, whether they got you winning, it don't really matter.

SPEAKER_3 (1:51)

Say, what did my week break do for you?

SPEAKER_4 (1:54)

Was it a reset?

SPEAKER_3 (1:56)

Whatever.

SPEAKER_4 (1:56)

Absolutely.

Isaiah Likely (1:57)

I mean, probably the most snaps I've got in my career so far, so definitely, you know, trying to be a pros pro, got to be able to get off my feet, get a lot of rehab, treatment, and get ready for this stretch.

SPEAKER_1 (2:10)

How much do players like yourself pay attention to the trade deadline buzz? Everything out there is, Giants are going to have this guy, Giants are going to have that guy.

Isaiah Likely (2:23)

I mean, if I know the player, I'll probably send an eyes emoji to the player, but that's just me just being funny. I don't really necessarily try to get into it. I let people upstairs do their job, and if they're my teammates, great. They're going to help us win games. If they're not, you're lost.

SPEAKER_1 (2:39)

Do you take it as a mode of confidence, though, that the front office or the coaching staff sees a team worth adding to, like, that can make a run?

Isaiah Likely (2:46)

Absolutely. I mean, the more the merrier when it comes to great players, and I feel like, you know, when you're in a position to be, you know, division leaders, you know, with everything in front of you, I feel like the more so that you add to your component of, you know, combat is great.

SPEAKER_4 (3:02)

What changes for you guys, you think, now that there's at least one game of tape on JJ and what your offense is going to look like, would be like, what are your expectations from, you know, opposing defenses and how they're going to sort of react to that?

Isaiah Likely (3:18)

I say, you know, more so, that's a good question. I say really just sticking to what we know about JJ. I mean, obviously not trying to make it about the defense. They have to react to us, and I feel like, you know.

Making the defense react to us as an offense, whether it is JJ, it is whoever it is at skill position, whether it is who has our running back, making them react off us is in our favor.