In a hard-fought 27-22 loss to the Washington Commanders at MetLife Stadium, the New York Giants flashed glimpses of potential, yet a few critical moments and untimely errors sealed their fourth consecutive defeat. Despite a career-high passer rating this season for Daniel Jones and an energized ground attack, the Giants slipped to 2-7, leaving Head Coach Brian Daboll and his team with more questions than answers.
Offensive Sparks Amid Struggles
The Giants’ offense managed its highest scoring output at home this season, producing three touchdowns. Jones was instrumental, accounting for all three scores: two touchdown passes to tight ends Chris Manhertz and rookie Theo Johnson, and a 2-yard run. Jones completed 20 of 26 passes for 174 yards and achieved a 76.9% completion rate, his highest of the season.
Jones’ first-half performance was particularly unique, as he threw only six passes, one of which was a 2-yard touchdown to Manhertz, despite racking up no passing yards. According to Elias Sports Bureau, Jones became the first quarterback since Cam Newton in 2021 to throw a touchdown pass with zero or fewer passing yards in a half on at least five attempts. Yet, despite his high efficiency and absence of interceptions, Jones lost a fumble in the first quarter, which Washington converted into a score.
When asked about the turnover, Jones acknowledged its impact, stating, “Obviously, the turnover was critical. We’ll look to see where we can improve in those situations.”
Run-Heavy Strategy Dominates First Half
Daboll’s game plan leaned heavily on the run game, as the Giants compiled 142 rushing yards in the first half and finished with 164 yards on the ground. Rookie Tyrone Tracy led the way with 66 yards on 16 carries, while Jones scrambled for 54 yards, including a season-long 24-yard run. The heavy reliance on the run game raised questions about the team’s confidence in its passing game.
“We knew we wanted to run the ball in this game; that was part of the game plan,” Jones said. “We were running it really well, so we stuck with it.”
Daboll defended the approach, citing the team’s seven yards per carry. “That was the plan coming into the game. We wanted to control the line of scrimmage, and it has nothing to do with Daniel throwing it or not throwing it,” Daboll said.
Missed Opportunities on Defense
Defensively, the Giants continued to struggle with creating game-changing plays. Despite leading the NFL in sacks entering the game, they failed to register a single sack or turnover. This marked the first time since last November they recorded neither in a game, as rookie Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels escaped pressure to throw for 209 yards and two touchdowns without an interception.
“We didn’t end up making [big plays], and that’s the tough part about it,” Daboll admitted. “Those are game-changing plays that we need to make.”
Frustrations Boil Over in Postgame
With a record now at 2-7, frustrations are evident. Jones reflected on the mounting losses: “Very frustrating. We’ve got to find a way to make some more plays and win these games.”
Daboll’s postgame comments reflected a coach grappling with missed opportunities and a season slipping away. “There’s opportunities that we had that we didn’t capitalize on,” he said.
The Giants will need to regroup quickly as they head overseas for their first-ever regular-season game in Germany, facing the Carolina Panthers. As Daboll acknowledged, making big plays and cutting down on mistakes will be paramount to salvaging what has been a challenging season.
Featured Articles
Featured Writers
