EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Tom Coughlin and Eli Manning both apologized to the New York Giants' fans for the team's performance in a blowout loss to the Carolina Panthers in the franchise's final game in Giants Stadium yesterday.

The coach and quarterback on Monday could not explain why the Giants played so poorly in a game that could have kept their playoff hopes alive heading into the final week of the regular season.

Coupled with wins by Green Bay and Dallas, the loss eliminated the Giants (8-7) from the postseason for the first time in five years.

New York, which opened the season with five straight wins, will end the season in Minnesota against the Vikings.

Manning and Coughlin said the Giants would look to redeem themselves in the game.