Big Blue View
Giants fall short in upset bid
The New York Giants fell to 2-6 on Monday with a 26-18 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers in front of a national television audience on Monday Night Football.
The Steelers are 6-2 and have won 22 straight Monday night games at home.
The game was tied 9-9 at halftime, but two long Calvin Austin touchdowns in the second half were too much for the Giants to overcome. Austin had a 73-yard punt return score and a 29-yard pass reception for a touchdown.
Trailing 26-18, the Giants had an opportunity after Bobby Okereke stripped the ball from Steeler quarterback Russell Wilson and recovered at the Pittsburgh 37-yard line with 4:34 to play.
A T.J. Watt strip/sack of Daniel Jones gave the ball back to Pittsburgh five plays later.
The Giants had a final chance to tie, getting the ball at their own 7-yard line with 1:53 to play. They reached Pittsburgh’s 35-yard line, but an interception of Jones by Beanie Bishop with :42 left sealed the game for the Steelers.
After one ineffective game replacing the injured Andrew Thomas at left tackle, Josh Ezeudu was benched in favor of journeyman offensive lineman Chris Hubbard.
The Giants benched cornerback Tae Banks, whose effort has been questioned several times this season, in the second quarter. [FULL STORY]
The Giants return home, where they are 0-4 this season, to face the NFC-East leading Washington Commanders. The Commanders defeated the Giants, 21-18, in Week 2. Game time is 1 p.m. ET.
