EAST RUTHERFORD — Frustration is understandable. The Giants’ 26-25 loss to the Rams encapsulated everything that’s gone wrong in this miserable year.
Where are the lucky bounces they used to receive? Brian Daboll pulling every correct string? The thrills of victory after New York made their opponents play their brand of football? It’s all evaporated.
The Giants lost on Sunday because penalties erased potential game-changing plays, like Tyrod Taylor’s long run or longer pass to Jalin Hyatt. They lost because Saquon Barkley dropped a would-be, walk-off touchdown on a slant in the fourth quarter. They lost because Taylor and Barkley couldn’t connect on the two-point attempt after Gunner Olszewski miraculous 94-yard return touchdown. They lost because of questionable play calling on the game’s final possession, clocking the ball with 40 seconds left to set up a Barkley run for little gain.
These problems weren’t the Giants’ in 2022. They’ve consumed their 2023 like a plague.
“That’s what it is — the little things,” Barkley said. “That’s what this league comes down to. Whoever can focus on the details and do the little things right, the majority of the time will come out with a win.”
The Giants are among the last talented teams in the NFL. That’s not an insult. It’s their reality. One hamstrung and one full offseason was never going to be enough to erase Dave Getleman’s years of organizational malpractice. Joe Schoen certainly has the Giants in a better place now, but they’re not in the same realm as the NFC’s (let alone NFL’s) good, better or best.
But that didn’t matter a season ago. The Giants went 9-7-1, then beat the Vikings in the first round, because they found a way to make up for their talent disadvantages. They out-grinded, out-coached and out-uglied their opponents. They dragged each of their opponents into the deep end to see if they could swim. Those who could beat New York — exposed them for their lack-of…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/giants-loss-rams-sums-everything-232500823.html
Author : SNY
Publish date : 2023-12-31 23:25:00
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