Big Blue View
Finding ways to lose
The schedule makers did the New York Giants no favors this season, front-loading them with tough opponents in the first half of the season for the second year in a row. The Pittsburgh Steelers, with one of the NFL’s best defensive lines in the NFL, weren’t exactly what the doctor ordered for a Giants offense that is hurting at both tackle positions and chronically anemic in getting the ball downfield and putting points on the board. The death watch was on for Daniel Jones’ tenure as Giants’ starting quarterback after capital offense performances against Cincinnati and Philadelphia. On the other hand, this week’s game was a potential stay of execution in that it was on the road, where Jones paradoxically has his best games.
What did we learn from the Giants’ 26-18 loss to the Steelers?
We are now almost halfway through the season, and the Giants as a team have exactly one interception...by sixth round draftee linebacker Darius Muasau in Week 1 on a Sam Darnold throw that was tipped and floated like a wounded duck.
Takeaways aren’t everything, though, as long as your defensive backs are contesting passes and sometimes breaking them up. Tonight there was little of that to be seen. Deonte Banks did hustle, unlike his embarrassing efforts covering CeeDee Lamb on a TD pass in the Dallas game and his spectator’s view of teammates’ attempt to tackle Jalen Hurts last week. Still, his ball skills are non-existent. On what should have been a George Pickens TD (had he gotten his second foot down), Banks was there but made little attempt to prevent the catch. Later, coming up on a Najee Harris run, Banks dove at his feet rather than trying to take him on high and watched as Harris hurdled him to pick up more yards. Banks got to watch the second half from the bench after a tongue-lashing by Brian Daboll as Greg Stroman Jr. replaced him.
Meanwhile, previously reliable Dru Phillips was beaten for a long touchdown and gave up seven receptions on seven targets for 125 yards, Nick McCloud gave up four receptions on four targets and 70 yards, and safeties Tyler Nubin and Jason Pinnock seemed out of position all night and really made no plays. The Giants played a lot of two-high safety, middle of the field open defense tonight, but by the fourth quarter Russell Wilson was routinely making big plays against this group.
Look, we know the Giants aren’t going to the playoffs, but there’s room for one good thing that came out of the evening. The Giants weren’t supposed to be able to run the ball against the Steelers’ fierce defensive line. They did manage to open some holes, though, and Tyrone Tracy took full advantage, running 20 times for 145 yards, including a 45-yard touchdown.
Tracy has clearly emerged as RB1, and with good reason. He rarely goes...
