From the desk: DO IT FOR THE DUKE
GIANTS WIN HOME OPENER
WEEK TWO
Panthers 16
GIANTS 19
FINAL
Defense Cages Panthers; Graham Gano Takes Care of the Rest
Two recovered turnovers started the game, and the Giant offense scored six points.
The first fumble occurred during the opening kickoff to Carolina and was recovered by the Giants at the Panther 22-yard line. On their first possession, the offense feebly netted four yards on three plays, then settled for a field goal, albeit for an opportune lead.
Six plays into Carolina's next possession, Andoreé Jackson recovered a Robbie Anderson fumble at Carolina's 40-yard line. One must think the ensuing drive was geared at Daniel Jones taking advantage of Carolina's mistake (lest we forget, this season will likely determine his NYG future). Offensive coordinator Mike Kafka dialed up three initial pass plays for Jones, which only netted nine yards.
This is when Coach Daboll again demonstrated his promised aggressiveness. Jones successfully scrambled around the edge on fourth and one to pick up the first down. Jones was then called upon to execute six of the next eight plays and got the Giants to the Carolina eight-yard line before the offense again sputtered. Graham Gano then kicked his second field goal to give the Giants a 6-0 first-quarter lead.
Big Blue did not score in the second quarter, while the Panthers managed a pair of field goals to end the first half tied at six.
Daniel Jones indeed outplayed Baker Mayfield in the second half. Neither quarterback threw an interception, and each connected for third-quarter scores. After the Giants opened the second half with a three and out, Baker Mayfield threw a touchdown pass to put the Panthers ahead. Big Blue answered right back, as Daniel Jones connected with Daniel Bellinger on a 16-yard score. But whereas Mayfield completed 48.2% of his attempts for 145 yards, Daniel Jones completed 64.7% for 176 yards.
Jones was also sacked three times which makes eight sacks in two weeks. But the Panthers still got another nine QB hits on Jones, and for now, any Giant offensive lineman not named Andrew Thomas is a prime reason.
As such, there was not as much daylight to be found up front as in week one. Saquon Barkley does what he does and often creates his own daylight. But the rushing consistency needed weekly will be regulated by the big guys up front. Barkley rushed 21 times for 72 yards. Take away his long of 16 yards; the math says he rushed 20 times for 56 yards with another 16 yards receiving for 88 overall yards.
The undisputed offensive star of the game was kicker Graham Gano who was 4 for 4 in FG attempts, including the decisive kick from 56-yards out with 3:34 left in regulation.
On Carolina's next possession, the Giants defense held the Panthers to twelve yards on four plays, forcing them to punt and effectively secure the victory.
Much of this game was reminiscent of week one against Tennessee, wherein the offensive performance lagged behind that of the defense (and their competition). And like in week one, the defense remained stalwart throughout the contest while the offense experienced a second-half surge.
Playing without Dak Prescott, the Cowboys have scored a mere 23 points through two games. Meanwhile, Dallas and the Giants have yielded 36 points each. Therefore, I'm looking forward to a defensive struggle and for Daniel Jones to give us something to rave about come Tuesday morning.
