Big Blue View
The New York Giants seem to find their way into the most creative losses in sports. This team cannot finish; it is unable to make clutch plays, and coach Brian Daboll’s cautious approach bit the team in the rear end once again. The Giants kicked a 19-yard field goal with 10:19 left in the fourth quarter to go up 20-10.
Predictably, with this iteration of the Giants, the Bears remembered how to play football and scored 14 points on their final two drives, defeating the Giants, 24-20. Another catastrophic meltdown. It’s inexcusable at this point.
Excuses will include Dart’s injury; is it viable to a certain extent – sure – but what is one to expect when the team’s rushing attack is the quarterback? Injuries are bound to happen with that approach. The Giants’ offense is uber conservative anytime Russell Wilson is behind center. Jameis Winston should receive future looks in future situations. Here are the grades from the game.
Quarterback
Dart left the game with a concussion. Russell Wilson relieved Dart and led a field goal drive. Wilson did valiantly attempt with his legs on third down from the 4-yard line, but was thrown to the deck by a Bears’ defensive lineman; the Giants kicked a 19-yard field goal.
Wilson looks so uncomfortable when he’s the signal caller. Every time Dart has left play, Wilson has looked overmatched. It would be lovely if the Giants had another reliable option in these situations. Jokes aside, there’s no excuse for dressing Wilson over Winston at this point. Wilson finished 3 of 7 for 45 yards and was sacked twice.
Dart is a football player – and a good one at that. Not only is he tough, but his ability to find answers is a precocious trait that’s been displayed all season. The two-minute drive at the end of the first half was impressive, even with the almost interception that was punched out by Gunner Olszewski.
New York never got going on the ground, other than designed quarterback runs to Dart until late in the second half. The quarterback runs that were so effective did lead to the third-quarter fumble, which gave the Bears the necessary energy to spark an improbable comeback that is seemingly a certainty against this Giants’ team. Dart finished 19/29 for 292 yards with 66 yards on the ground and two rushing touchdowns.
Grade: B
Running Back
The Giants could do nothing on the ground in the first half. The holes were nonexistent and the running backs had little impact on the game. Still, the Giants were employing an effective play action passing attack led by Dart and there were a few quality blocks by the backs in pass protection.
Tyrone Tracy Jr. had 16-yard run after the Giants’ backs gained 6 yards on nine carries. Dart had his second rushing touchdown, the 56 yard untouched BASH scoring play, after that Tracy Jr. run. Other than the ten play, 79-yard drive that ended with a 19-yard field goal...
