​Since Giants tight end Chris Manhertz entered the NFL in 2015, he has seen plenty of different coaching styles while playing for six franchises. He knows the best coaches in this league — like John Harbaugh — constantly emphasize late-game situations during practice. That is why the Giants have thrived in those settings this year under Harbaugh. Manhertz loves that Harbaugh leans into practice scenarios “that put a little stress on us, so that we’re accustomed to it,” he told NJ.com. That approach is paying off in a big way. “Once the game time comes, we’ve seen it before,” Manhertz said. “It gives us a boost of confidence that no matter what happens throughout these games, we have the ability to finish. “It gives us confidence that we can pull ourselves out of anything, if we do what we’re supposed to do. When certain things happen, no matter what, we don’t blink — because we know that we have the ability to finish.” So much of thriving in the NFL comes down to that — finishing games. It’s not just that the Giants are 5-2-1 and securely alone atop the NFC East heading into Thursday night’s home game against the Commanders. RELATED:NFL predictions prices on Polymarket: Commanders vs. Giants on Thursday Night FootballIt’s not just that they are 4-1-1 without their starting quarterback, Jaxson Dart, who was supposed to ascend to face-of-the-franchise status this season. No, this has been the singular magical stat for Harbaugh’s remarkable, resilient first season: Excluding their 27-27 tie in Washington in Week 5, these Giants are 4-1 in one-score games (decided by eight points or fewer). They beat Dallas by eight in Week 1, Tennessee by five in Week 3, Houston by six in overtime in Week 7 and Philadelphia by eight in Week 9. Plus, their 12-point win over Arizona in Week 4 would’ve been a six-point victory if not for a last-second pick-six.Bottom line: They are thriving in tense, late-game situations — spots they wilted in last season under Brian Daboll’s staff. Yes, this year’s Giants have lost by seven to the Saints (and 22 to the Rams after Dart’s season-ending knee injury). But the New Orleans game was essentially a blowout loss that replacement quarterback J.J. McCarthy made close at the end, earning himself the starting job for the Houston trip. So all five of the Giants’ wins have come via strong play in the final moments, with four officially counting as one-score victories. The past two years, the Giants went 7-27 overall — including 2-15 in one-score games (1-8 and then 1-7). That’s the difference competent coaching makes. “It’s more from top to bottom being on the same accord,” safety Jason Pinnock told NJ.com, as he pondered how things have changed in East Rutherford. Pinnock was with Daboll from 2022-24, before spending last season with a much better head coach — the 49ers’ Kyle Shanahan. “Kyle is big on that, too,” Pinnock said of the emphasis on working late-game situ