Giants Struggle to Find Answers Following Fourth Straight Loss
The Giants 31-26 loss to the Detroit Lions marked the fourth-straight time in which the opponent outmuscled New York.
The loss, which drops New York to 2-6 on the season, saw slight improvements in a few of the statistical categories, but it wasn't enough to overcome the most important category of all: the points scored.
Progress or not, the Giants players were visibly frustrated after the game and made few attempts to sugarcoat their feelings.
“Yeah, we’re all frustrated,” said quarterback Daniel Jones. “I think it’s tough losing games like this, and we know we’ve got to play better, we’ve got to make more plays.
"But, we’re certainly frustrated, but like last week, we’re not going to let it affect our preparation into this week. We’re not discouraged, and we are going to make sure that it doesn’t affect our preparation, and we attack this opportunity next week.”
Even though Jones had a strong showing, completing 28 of 41 pass attempts for 322 yards, 4 touchdowns, and no interceptions, he said he was disappointed with his overall performance, which included a turnover in the first quarter when Jarrad Davis hit him, and linebacker Devon Kennard recorded the scoop and score to take a 7-0 lead..
“A turnover in the beginning, it hurt us and dug a hole for ourselves, for our team, and that’s disappointing,” Jones said.
“But you know, I think we didn’t do enough to win. I didn’t do enough to help us win. In a lot of those critical times in the game, we still had a chance to win, and we didn’t make the play.”
This week, Jones had a little better protection than he did last week when he was sacked eight times. This week his pass protection only gave up three sacks, and Jones was under far less duress than he was a week ago.
“We moved the ball up and down the field," he said. "We’ve known we can do that. We’ve got people who can make plays, and as an offense, we’re confident we can do that against anyone. I didn’t do enough, and I think that’s my biggest takeaway.”
Tight end Evan Engram said the Giants developing team identity is still a work in progress, and it includes a great deal of resolve.
“We are going to keep competing until the final whistle blows,” Engram said. “We are a team that has to look in the mirror and get back to work. We are going to keep fighting. I have no doubt and am not second-guessing anybody in this locker room. It’s a long season, we have a lot more opportunities to go out and compete, and we are going to get to work.”
Safety Antoine Bethea spoke about the missed opportunities for the Giants on the defensive side of the ball, such as the touchdown on third-and-15 that he tried to cover.
“That’s soft, just knowing the situation and knowing what they like they do,” Bethea said. “And like you said, third down has been one of our Achilles heels, and to give that third-and-15 up, that was soft.”
Bethea also knows that the defense cannot afford to give up 14 unanswered points in the first quarter like they did this week. Last week, the Giants also went down 17-0 before getting on the scoreboard.
“It’s something that we’ve been continuing to talk about,” Bethea said. “It’s just something that we’ve got to focus in on the details and stop beating ourselves. That’s what we’ve been doing these last couple weeks, just the small things that are creeping in and creating bigger things.”
Although the Giants have an extra day in their schedule thanks to their next game being on Monday, Nov. 4, head coach Pat Shurmur has already turned the page.
“We’re going to get ready to play Dallas on Monday Night – that’s where we’re at,” Shurmur said. “Mentally, that’s where we’re at.”
Despite the losing, Shurmur said that he is not worried about his team feeling down.
“I’m not worried about it because they’re mentally tough, and they’re going to fight,” Shurmur said.
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