The New York Giants ought to have been driving excessive after defeating the Seattle Seahawks on the street in hostile territory per week in the past however as a substitute, they got here crashing again all the way down to earth at MetLife Stadium in entrance of a primetime viewers.
Put the Giants in entrance of their very own followers beneath the intense lights and heartache is assured to observe.
Though their protection impressed, the offense as soon as once more let the staff down as Huge Blue fell to the Cincinnati Bengals, 17-7, in what was one other very winnable recreation.
Whose inventory is up and whose is down after the Week 6 loss? Let’s have a look.
The ebbs and flows of quarterback Daniel Jones are gone tiresome. The enigma is way from entertaining at this level and Sunday’s efficiency is one other instance of why. DJ had been one of many NFL’s most effective quarterbacks over the previous month however you’d’ve by no means identified that towards the Bengals. He was again to creating dangerous selections, together with an try to throw whereas being hit within the purple zone resulting in an interception. At a minimal, that price the Giants three factors. It’s maddening.
A wholesome Azeez Ojulari is an excellent participant. He at all times has been and he at all times will probably be as long as he can stay on the soccer area. Within the absence of fellow linebacker Kayvon Thibodeaux (IR), Ojulari stepped as much as the plate and responded together with his finest recreation in years, together with 2.0 sacks and an NFL-leading six complete pressures. He was additionally in on a pressured fumble, though scorers credited that to Bobby Okereke.
Why? Why, why, why can’t the Giants simply discover some degree of consistency at kicker and on particular groups? Greg Joseph, changing the injured Graham Gano, missed two fourth quarter area objectives, together with one that might have tied the sport. His inaccuracy made head coach Brian Daboll uncomfortable sufficient to move on a 54-yard try. Had Joseph made these two kicks and Jones not thrown an unsightly decide, the Giants would have had +9 on the scoreboard (17-16) and that 54-yard kick that wasn’t may have been the distinction within the recreation.
Linebacker Brian Burns was overshadowed by Ojulari on Sunday night time however deserves the exact same reward. In Thibodeaux’s absence, he had his breakout recreation in a Giants uniform, recording two tackles for a loss, two QB hits, one sack, and 4 complete pressures. That is what normal supervisor Joe Schoen had in thoughts when he traded for Burns after which signed him to an enormous contract.
An absence of alternative can not be blamed for Jalin Hyatt’s struggles. The second-year extensive receiver has taken 112 offensive snaps over the previous two weeks, leading to one catch for six yards on 4 targets. Even the argument that he’s not being focused sufficient holds little water as Hyatt has been bullied on the line and bodily faraway from his designed routes. He’s not creating the way in which the Giants had hoped.
This spot may have simply gone to Dexter Lawrence (as soon as once more) or maybe even Cor’Dale Flott, however Tyrone Tracy’s emergence isn’t one thing that ought to be swept beneath the rug. Sure, he averaged simply 2.9 yards per stick with it Sunday night time which is way from sufficient, however that wasn’t fully his burden to shoulder. The offensive line struggled. Extra importantly, Tracy displayed the spectacular versatility that excited the Giants when chosen him within the 2024 NFL draft. He can line up at extensive receiver and exploit mismatches towards linebackers and safeties, and he’s bought certain palms. He hauled in all six of his targets for 57 yards, main the staff. He additionally scored his first NFL landing.