N.Y. Giants: Week Two Marred by More Mistakes and Another Fourth Quarter Meltdown

From the desk: DO IT FOR THE DUKE

WEEK TWO

Giants   29

D.C.       30

FINAL

Week Two Presents Joe Judge With More Problems Than a Math Book

This was supposed to be the game in which the offense carried the defense.

The Giants held the ball for 31:44 minutes, scored 29 points, and should have finished with considerably more if not for a cacophony of penalties that ultimately lost them the game.  

They defeated themselves due to numerous off-sides penalties on offense and another very costly defensive offsides penalty on what should have been a missed field goal to preserve the victory.  One of the cardinal sins in football is giving a kicker a second chance.

Lest we forget, Daniel Jones' touchdown run in the second quarter also got called back because of a holding call against C.J. Board, and of course, there was that big dropped pass by Darius Slayton.

But, as in Week One, the fourth quarter presented the Giants with numerous scoring opportunities but too many mistakes down the stretch trump the narrative.

An already beleaguered offensive line sustained a big blow in the first quarter when Nick Gates was carted off the field with a broken leg.  Gates was moved over to guard after Shane LeMieux earlier in the week was placed on injured reserve.  Ben Bredeson relieved Gates, and preseason acquisition Billy Price started at center.  Hence, the variables leading to so many pressure-laden late-game penalties are in place.

Daniel Jones threw well, going 22/32 for 249 yards and a touchdown.  If Darius Slayton catches the fourth-quarter pass, Daniel's numbers look far more impressive.  Insofar as protection, Jones was sacked four times (seven QB hits), costing 21 yards.  

But Daniel Jones stood firm, just not in the opinion of Kenny Golladay and rookie Kadarius Toney.  But, whereas the veteran Kenny Golladay took his beef straight to Jones and Jason Garrett, the latter took his issues to social media.  Is this a harbinger of things to come?

Meanwhile, in the eternal search for daylight, the backfield (not including Daniel Jones, CJ. Board, and Sterling Shepard) rushed 16 times for 72 yards.  Saquon Barkley was limited to 13 rushes for 57 yards.  But if you subtract his first quarter romp of 41 yards, then Barkley gained only 16 yards on twelve other carries.

Daniel Jones galloped downfield nine times for 95 yards.  If the yardage presents itself, you take it; no qualms there.  My issue is with Jones continually leading the Giants in rushing, which cycles back to Saquon Barkley and an increasingly problematic offensive line.

The defense does not escape me.  That's coming up next ...