MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. – Emotions are running high for the 1-4 New York Giants after Sunday’s 31-16 loss to the Miami Dolphins.
Frustrated by the outcome and not convinced this is where the Giants are.
To deny that things have gotten to this point and to lament the shortcomings we see over and over again on the field – Offensive line, hello? – has an entire team wondering how this could become their reality: a dysfunctional, punch-less offense, a defense that still gives up too many big plays down the stretch and a ball that finds itself among the NFL’s worst teams team, and the calendar just flipped to October.
Now, their starting quarterback Daniel Jones is dealing with the uncertainty of a neck injury that’s set him back in the latest fourth-quarter disaster after being sacked six times over the past six. He was sacked a total of 16 times in two games back in the Giants’ loss to the Seahawks on Monday night.
“It’s unacceptable,” Giants tight end Darren Waller said of his team’s offensive woes. “(Football) To score 24 points in nine halves, that’s unacceptable. I don’t think ‘broken’ is the word, it’s like something is beyond repair. I don’t think that’s the point of view of any of us. “The offense can afford it. We have to keep pushing forward because no matter what people say, our season is not over yet. We can still put out a respectable product on the field and live up to our standards that were set long ago. We have to do something different. “
Here’s the most worrying part of all this:
The Giants didn’t seem angry, at least not at themselves. Maybe it’s just a way of coping with what has happened. Do what Giants coach Brian Daboll did, accept defeat and move on to next week in hopes that next Sunday night’s game against the Bills in Buffalo finally goes smoothly.
That’s not an accusation, though, but a look in the mirror, something the Giants promised they were going to do after getting blown out by the Cowboys in their first game, losing to the Seahawks on “Monday Night Football” and falling short. Watch the Dolphins game at Hard Rock Stadium on Sunday in 88-degree heat.
Man, that’s a reflection of a team still looking for a target, getting further and further away from finishing in the standings. Whatever they were doing, it wasn’t good enough.
Questions surrounding Jones remained largely unanswered Sunday. Giants coach Brian Daboll said Jones told him after the game, “I’m going to be fine.” But considering Jones missed the final six games of Joe Judge’s tenure in 2021 with a neck issue , which may or may not be similar to what he was experiencing at the time – his answers about his status have been somewhat confusing and contradictory – don’t expect much clarification until Monday when a series of tests will be conducted.
“I feel good,” Jones said. “Of course there’s some pain. It’s a physical game, so meet with the doctors and coaches and go from there.”
When asked how he felt when he was hit, Jones responded: “Just my neck. It hurts.”
The Giants’ Joshua Ezeudu has started the past four games at left tackle with Andrew Thomas out with a hamstring injury. He was emotional after Sunday’s game, seemingly because of his continued struggles in that position.
“People care. Obviously, you can’t play this game and not care,” Giants outside linebacker Kevon Thibodeau said. “Guys like Darren, guys like Daniel, even Tyrod (Taylor) stepping up when Daniel was down, these guys want to be better, want to be great. We all want to win The Super Bowl, I think we have to continue to move forward and continue to answer those questions.”
This is it: The Giants continue to fail the test because they can’t have all the answers.
“We’re in a tough situation, but we have the players to do it,” Jones said. “We’re confident we can bounce back. We’ve put in the work and it comes down to what we do on the field.”
What the Giants are doing on the field right now is not nearly enough for a team that is expected to do more. Most of the past five games have been poor. The potential absence of Jones is too bad. future? Well, things have never been cloudier than they are now since Joe Schoen became general manager and Daboll took over as head coach — the fourth consecutive Giants coach in year two. A head coach who was going through major struggles as a team.
The last three coaches lost their jobs after two seasons (Pat Shurmur and Judge) or with games remaining in their second season (Ben McAdoo).
Not saying that’s the path Daboll and these Giants are going to go, but similar stories and the same sad results happen every week. Something has to change quickly. Maybe the return of Thomas and Saquon Barkley can provide a spark for the offense, although we’re not sure if that will happen this week.
Because as Waller insists, this is unacceptable.
If the Giants don’t find a solution, there’s no telling how bad this could get.
