‘Things I think’: Giants’ defense didn’t do its part vs. Cowboys

After his historically bad opening drive in Sunday’s overtime loss to the Dallas Cowboys — four penalties committed for 40 yards and one sack allowed — offensive tackle James Hudson III is the most vilified member of the New York Giants. At least among the players on the 53-man roster.

Defensive coordinator Shane Bowen was also an easy target for frustrated fans after the ballyhooed defense allowed 40 points, 478 yards and could not protect a three-point lead in the final 25 seconds of regulation.

Check any post-game story here at Big Blue View, and the comments inevitably turn toward pointing the blame at Bowen. Here are a few samples:

Bowen was a target of fans’ ire mainly because the Giants’ soft defensive shell in the final :25 of regulation allowed the Dallas Cowboys to get into position for a 64-yard game-tying field goal by the amazing Brandon Aubrey.

At issue mostly was a second-and-10 call from the Dallas 33-yard line that saw defensive backs 10 yards off the line of scrimmage and backing up at the snap. FOX analyst Greg Olsen was aghast at the depth of the secondary before the snap. Sure enough, an 18-yard completion from Dak Prescott to Jake Ferguson put the Cowboys in position to let Aubrey work his magic.

“We knew Aubrey had a long leg. Got to play tight coverage,” said head coach Brian Daboll. “Got to do some things rush-wise. Made some good plays. They just made one more play than we did.”

The Giants did not, though, play tight coverage in that instance. And it proved costly as they fell to 0-2.

Expectation does not guarantee results

Throughout the spring and summer expectations for a revamped Giants defense with one of the league’s best front sevens were off the charts. Veteran players like Dexter Lawrence and Brian Burns, though, warned that the Giants had to prove on the field that they deserved the attention.

So far, they have not.

Against the Washington Commanders in Week 1, the Giants gave up 432 total yards (220 rushing) and 21 points. It would have been worse if not for at least four dropped passes by Washington receivers and a myriad of Commanders penalties that cost them opportunities.

In the fourth quarter on Sunday, the Giants offense handed the defense leads three times.

• A Cam Skattebo 1-yard run gave the Giants a 23-20 lead with 12:07 to play. Dallas went 85 yards in 10 plays to re-take the lead, 27-23. The big play on that drive came on a second-and-11. A 25-yard pass to CeeDee Lamb, defended by Dru Phillips, and a debatable roughing the passer penalty on Roy Robertson-Harris moved the ball all the way to the Giants’ 24-yard line. Miles Sanders finished the drive with a 4-yard scoring run.
• A 32-yard pass from Russell Wilson to Wan’Dale Robinson on fourth-and-4 gave the Giants a 30-27 lead with 2:44 to play. Dallas went 71 yards in 11 plays to re-take the...