The hapless Giants will have one last chance to win at home when the Colts visit Sunday

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — For a team with that's 2-13 and currently holds the No. 1 overall pick in the NFL draft, the New York Giants are as motivated to win Sunday as the Indianapolis Colts, who are fighting for a winning season and possible playoff berth.

It's simple.

The Giants are sick of losing heading into the penultimate game of a disastrous season. They have dropped a franchise-record 10 straight games and have lost all eight of their home games at MetLife Stadium. They don't want the Colts (7-8) to make it a clean sweep.

The only time the Giants were winless at home in their 100-year history was in 1974, when they played a season at the Yale Bowl in New Haven, Connecticut, while Giants Stadium was being built.

“You definitely don’t want to have lowlights, you know, so this year hasn’t gone as planned,” Giants outside linebacker Kayvon Thibodeaux said. "But I think we just continue to give it our best foot forward and making sure we go out there and try to get a win.”

Drew Lock, who's getting his second straight start despite throwing two pick-6s in a 34-7 loss to the Falcons, said players don't like losing.

“It’s not extra emphasis whether it’s at home or away,” he said. “When you’re on a losing streak, you want to get that win. Like I said, whether it’s at home or away, you’re fighting every week for a win. And if you do lose, flush it and learn from it and move on.”

Indianapolis has a slim chance of making the playoffs. The Colts need to win out and get help. They could be eliminated Saturday if the Los Angeles Chargers (9-6) win at New England (3-12) and the Denver Broncos (9-6) beat the Bengals (7-8) in Cincinnati.

"We’ve got to control what we can control, and that’s what matters,” said Colts coach Shane Steichen, whose team is coming off a 38-30 win over the Titans.

Indy is making its third trip to the Northeast in six weeks and a rare second visit to MetLife Stadium. The Colts hope this weekend proves as successful as the first two.

Quarterback Anthony Richardson scored on a 4-yard run with 46 seconds left to rally the Colts past the Jets 28-27 on Nov. 17. Two weeks later, at New England, he was it again with a 3-yard TD pass to Alec Pierce with 12 seconds left before plowing in on a 2-point conversion run for a 25-24 victory.

Steichen believes in Richardson's late-game magic.

“I think that’s a special trait — obviously as a young player, that he doesn’t flinch in those times," Steichen said.

Jonathan Taylor delivered an unforgettable performance last week — 218 yards rushing and three TDs. It was the second-highest single-game rushing in the NFL this season and also of Taylor's career.

He's now two total TDs away from matching Hall of Famer Lenny Moore (55) for the most by for a Colts player over the first five seasons of their career.

“It’s fascinating, honestly, just to see him hit a gap and just take it to the house,” Richardson said. “That’s the type of player he is, the type of person he is.”

New York's offensive line could be in flux this week with center John Michael Schmitz walking around the locker room with a boot on his right ankle.

Greg Van Roten finished at center last week, but he has been bothered by a knee ailment. If he starts at center, expect Aaron Stinnie to take over at left guard and rookie Jake Kubas to move from left guard to right for his second career start. Jermaine Eluemunor and Evan Neal will probably start at the tackle spots.

If Van Roten can't go, Austin Schlottmann may come off injured reserve and play center.

The Colts have been ranked near the bottom of the league in total yards allowed, yards rushing allowed and yards passing allowed most of this season.

Yet, the unit still ranks among the league's best in several categories, including points allowed on opening possessions (12) and red-zone takeaways (five). Linebacker Zaire Franklin, who leads the NFL with 151 tackles, thinks the Colts have been better largely because of their focus to stop the run.

“I think us playing better against the run has allowed us to be in just better position versus the pass,” he said. “Obviously, we are an opportunistic defense. We're hungry. We preach taking the ball away. That’s something that’s big here.”

For the last two home games, a small plane has circled MetLife Stadium roughly two hours before the opening kickoff, urging co-owner John Mara with to fix the “dumpster fire” that has seen the franchise have losing seasons in seven of the last eight years, followed by the suggestion that he fire everyone.

AP Sport Writer Mike Marot contributed to this report.

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. (9) tackled by New York Giants linebacker Kayvon Thibodeaux (5) short of the first down in the first half of an NFL football game in Atlanta, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)

Indianapolis Colts linebacker Zaire Franklin (44) talks with Tennessee Titans cornerback Daryl Worley (35) after an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

New York Giants quarterback Drew Lock (2) sets back to pass in the first half of an NFL football game against the Atlanta Falcons in Atlanta, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)

Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor (28) celebrates the team's win against the Tennessee Titans after an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

Indianapolis Colts head coach Shane Steichen, left, congratulates quarterback Anthony Richardson (5) after a touchdown during the first half of an NFL football game against the Tennessee Titans, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

New York Giants head coach Brian Daboll speaks during a news condference after an NFL football game against the Atlanta Falcons, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)

WASHINGTON (AP) — Most Americans believe health insurance profits and coverage denials share responsibility for the killing of UnitedHealthcare's CEO — although not as much as the person who pulled the trigger, according to a new poll.

In the survey from NORC at the University of Chicago, about 8 in 10 U.S. adults said the person who committed the killing has “a great deal” or “a moderate amount” of responsibility for the Dec. 4 shooting of Brian Thompson.

Despite that, some have cast Luigi Mangione, the 26-year-old suspect charged with Thompson’s murder, as a heroic figure in the aftermath of his arrest, which gave rise to an outpouring of grievances about insurance companies. Police say the words “delay,” “deny” and “depose” were scrawled on the ammunition investigators found at the scene, echoing a phrase commonly used to describe insurer tactics to avoid paying claims.

UnitedHealthcare has said Mangione was not a client.

About 7 in 10 adults say that denials for health care coverage by insurance companies, or the profits made by health insurance companies, also bear at least “a moderate amount” of responsibility for Thompson’s death. Younger Americans are particularly likely to see the murder as the result of a confluence of forces rather than just one person's action.

The poll finds hat the story of the slaying is being followed widely. About 7 in 10 said they had heard or read “a lot” or “some” about Thompson’s death.

Multiple factors were seen as responsible. About half in the poll believe that at least “a moderate amount” of blame is rooted in wealth or income inequality, although they did not think other factors like political divisions in the U.S. held the same level of responsibility.

Patients and doctors often complain about coverage denials and other complications interfering with care, especially for serious illnesses like cancer and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS. Insurance industry critics frequently point to company profits in questioning whether the interests of patients are their top focus.

UnitedHealthcare made more than $16 billion in profit last year, before interest and taxes, on $281 billion in revenue. Insurers frequently note that most of the revenue they bring in goes back out the door to pay for care. UnitedHealthcare said this month that it pays about 90% of medical claims when they are submitted. The insurer has not provided details about how many claims that involves.

Americans under 30 are especially likely to think a mix of factors is to blame for Thompson’s death. They say that insurance company denials and profits are about as responsible as Thompson’s killer for his death. About 7 in 10 U.S. adults between 18 and 29 say “a great deal” or “a moderate amount” of responsibility falls on profits made by health insurance companies, denials for health care coverage by health insurance companies or the person who committed the killing.

Young people are also the least likely age group to say “a great deal” of responsibility falls on the person who committed the killing. Only about 4 in 10 say that, compared with about 6 in 10 between 30 and 59. Roughly 8 in 10 adults over 60 say that person deserves “a great deal” of responsibility.

About two-thirds of young people place at least a moderate level of blame on wealth or income inequality, in general.

People under 30 are more likely to place blame on the media, with 54% saying that compared with about one-third of older adults.

Frustrations with health insurers, coverage and the complicated U.S. health care system have been simmering for years among patients.

About 3 in 10 Americans say they have had a problem getting coverage from their health insurer in the last year, whether those involved problems finding a suitable provider in-network, a claim getting denied or issues getting prior authorization or insurer approval before care happens. These struggles are more prevalent among Americans under 60.

Insurers say prior authorizations help eliminate waste in the system and let people know whether care will be covered before it is delivered.

Roughly 3 in 10 in the poll say immediate family or close friends have experienced problems getting coverage from their health insurer in the last year. Americans under 30 are among the most likely to say they don’t have health insurance.

Most Americans get health coverage through their job or by purchasing individual policies. Separate, government-funded programs provide coverage for people with low incomes or those who are age 65 and over or have severe illnesses or disabilities.

—-

The poll of 1,001 adults was conducted Dec. 12-16, 2024, using a sample drawn from NORC’s probability-based AmeriSpeak Panel, which is designed to be representative of the U.S. population. The margin of sampling error for adults overall is plus or minus 4.2 percentage points.

Associated Press writer Tom Murphy reported from Indianapolis.

Demonstrators hold up signs while waiting for the arrival of Luigi Mangione for his arraignment in Manhattan Criminal Court, Monday, Dec. 23, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Stefan Jeremiah)

A demonstrator holds up a sign while waiting for the arrival of Luigi Mangione for his arraignment at Manhattan Criminal Court, Monday, Dec. 23, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Stefan Jeremiah)