The New York Giants’ latest loss, a 31-13 slopfest against a recently struggling Green Bay Packers team, has all but put the lid on Big Blue’s designs of becoming a competitive team this season.
In front of a large throng of Packer fans, the Giants once again displayed for the whole word that thy are officially one of the NFL’s worst and most poorly run franchises.
Here are three takeaways (click away now if you’re looking for a silver lining).
Numbers don’t lie
At 2-10, the Giants are officially the doormat of the NFC. There is no further to fall. They are it. John Mara and Dave Gettleman can be proud of the mess they’ve made of this franchise. Sure, you can blame Jerry Reese, but Gettleman has had two full offseasons and the team has gotten worse. Only the names have been changed to protect the innocent.
How do you get to 2-10? Easily. The other team scores more than you every week, that’s how. They are averaging 19.2 points per game but have scored only 13 and 14 points respectively in the past two games. That’s not going to get it done when you’re allowing 28.2 points each week.
Who is to blame? Just about everyone. The team is not coached very well, has two many inexperienced players and the veterans who are here are under-performing.
Turnovers kill
Rookie quarterback Daniel Jones fumbled again, but this one the Giants got back. Why in the world they were handing the ball off on a slippery day to Da’Mari Scott, a wide receiver they just elevated from the practice squad, is beyond anyone’s comprehension.
Jones threw three interceptions, which some will attest to be weather-related, but you can chalk it up to him simply trying to make plays because, hey, somebody has to! No one cares why you turn the ball over, they just care that you turned it over. And the giving Aaron Rodgers extra opportunities is a recipe for disaster.
There in the fact that the Giants forced no turnovers in this game and are have a league-leading minus-14 turnover ratio on the season and well, you get 2-10.
Something to build on
Okay, I lied. There were some positives. Placekicker Aldrick Rosas, who had missed a kick in five straight games, made all of his attempts on a miserable day in Northern New Jersey. Go figure. The Giants were led by two rookies — wide receiver Darius Slayton and tight end Kaden Smith — in the passing game. Smith caught six passes for 70 yards and Slayton had six grabs for 44 yards. Slayton’s best grab — a 29-yard fingertip job down the left sideline — was nullified by offsetting penalties.
Rookie Julian Love, a little-used fourth-round draft pick, finally made his first NFL start, filling in at strong safety for the injured Jabrill Peppers (back). Love recorded seven tackles (four solo) and forced a fumble.
Long snapper Zak DeOssie, who was placed on injured reserve (wrist) on Saturday, was replaced by Colin Holba. Holba was signed off the practice squad on Saturday and there were no issues in the “operation” of the kicking game.
