EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- The New York Giants are 0-4, but Antrel Rolle thinks they can still make the playoffs.

In fact, Rolle thinks the Giants can do much better than that.

"I believe we can go 12-0 from this point on," Rolle said Monday. "People can look at me like I'm crazy, but you know, I could really give a damn at this point. This is what I truly believe. I know the talent of this team, I know the mindset of this team, we just have to go out there and put it all together."

The Giants regrouped Monday, a day after a 31-7 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. New York has been outscored 68-7 over the past two weeks, but coach Tom Coughlin saw progress in Sunday's game, which was close (10-7) until late in the third quarter.

"I felt good, as I told you last night, about the effort," Coughlin said. "There were good things in all phases. I liked the position that our defense put us in the majority of the day."

Coughlin also said he began his team meeting Monday by talking about the standings and the fact that the Giants are just two games out of first place in the NFC East despite their 0-4 record.

"Obviously it doesn't mean a whole lot unless you win," Coughlin said. "But we are aware of the circumstances in the NFC East."

Rolle, one of the team's captains, asked Coughlin whether he could address the team.

"He's had a couple of messages today," Coughlin said. "One is that he feels tighter and more connected to these players right now than he ever has -- that he knows our back is against the wall. He's not afraid of that circumstance; he's kind of put his arms around this team and asked the members of this team to accept and understand that as well.

"And they know full well that when you take the field as a unit and you really do feel as if you represent one another and have each other's back, you gotta totally believe that you have the ability to succeed. And I thought that was a good message today."

Rolle emphasized that the Giants should look at their next game as a fresh start to what has been a dreadful beginning to the season.