Jan 2, 2022; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Bears tight end J.P. Holtz (81) tackles New York Giants inside linebacker Tae Crowder (48) after he made an interception during the second half at Soldier Field. — Jon Durr-USA TODAY Sports

Giants Drop Fifth Straight in Embarrassing 29-3 Loss to Bears

With the loss the Giants are guaranteed to finish with fewer games won than last year.

Author:
Patricia Traina
Publish date:
Jan 2, 2022 4:32 PM EST

The Giants are making progress.

Yeah, and unicorns still exist.

That's all that needs to be said about the New York Giants, who every time you think they've sunk as low as they can go, sink even lower.

This week, the Giants, who couldn't throw the ball at all, dropped a 29-3 decision to the Chicago Bears with a performance that included four turnovers, including two right out of the game that spotted the Bears a 14-0 lead within the game's first 40 seconds.

The Giants finished with minus ten net yards passing. Yes, you read that right, minus ten net yards passing as quarterback Mike Glennon went four of 11 for 24 yards with two interceptions for a 5.3 quarterback rating.

The minus 10 yards net passing is the lowest by any team since the 1998 Chargers, when, according to ESPN Stats and Info, quarterback Ryan Leaf finished 1 of 14 for four yards and lost 23 yards on a sack

The Giants, who dropped to 4-11 on the year, are assured of finishing with fewer wins than last year (six). They have also tied their longest consecutive game losing streak under head coach Joe Judge (five), and they have failed to score a touchdown in three of those five losses.

The lone bright spot, if you want to call it such, as that running back Saquon Barkley, who a little more than a year ago tore his ACL on Soldier Field's grass turf, posted his first 100-yard rushing performance since returning this year, running for 102 of the Giants 161 rushing yards on 21 carries with a long of 10 yards.

The showing moved Barkley into a tie with Ahmad Bradshaw (12) for the fifth-most 100-yard rushing games in Giants history.

The loss wasn't all on the turnovers, though. Kickoff returner Pharoh Cooper inexplicably misjudged a Bears kickoff that died at the Giants' 3-yard line, pinning the offense deep in its own territory.

Two plays later, the Bears, knowing that the Giants couldn't pass the ball and constantly stacking the box, tackled Devontae Booker in the end zone despite having two extra offensive linemen on the field run block, the safety making it a 19-3 score.

New York Giants Week 17 Game Coverage

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Sep 19, 2021; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Bears linebacker Robert Quinn (94) celebrates after sacking Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (9) during the first quarter at Soldier Field.

Dec 5, 2021; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Bears quarterback Andy Dalton (14) passes the football in the second half against the Arizona Cardinals at Soldier Field.

Nov 10, 2019; Chicago, IL, USA; A detailed view of the Chicago Bears helmet before the game against the Detroit Lions at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports

Dec 20, 2021; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Bears quarterback Justin Fields (1) reacts in the second half against the Minnesota Vikings at Soldier Field.

New York Giants wide receiver Kadarius Toney (89) on the field for warmups at MetLife Stadium on Sunday, Nov. 7, 2021, in East Rutherford.

New York Giants Week 17 Opponent First Look: Bears Defense

The Bears defense, much like the Giants', has tried to carry an inept offense all season long. Let's find out who's who on the Chicago defense.

Game notes

Giants cornerback James Bradberry, who was called for defensive pass interference in the third quarter on a 2nd-and-8 pass by Bears quarterback Andy Dalton, helped set up a 2-yard touchdown run by David Montgomery. Bradberry finished with two pass breakups, moving him past Corey Webster (13 in 2008) for the most games with a pass defensed by a Giants player in a season.