Giants Country

Big Blue Breakdown Podcast: NY Giants Fall Flat in Opener

Another slow start leaves the team looking uphill again after a 21-6 loss at Washington.
Paul Dottino|
Sep 7, 2025; Landover, Maryland, USA; New York Giants quarterback Russell Wilson (3) runs away from Washington Commanders defensive end Dorance Armstrong (92) during the fourth quarter at Northwest Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Peter Casey-Imagn Images
Sep 7, 2025; Landover, Maryland, USA; New York Giants quarterback Russell Wilson (3) runs away from Washington Commanders defensive end Dorance Armstrong (92) during the fourth quarter at Northwest Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Peter Casey-Imagn Images | Peter Casey-Imagn Images

In this story:

New York Giants

A slow start to the game. And another slow start to the season.

This story has become much too familiar to the New York Giants, who slogged through a 21-6 road loss to the Washington Commanders in the season opener. The Giants are a combined 2-12 in Week 1 since they beat New England in Super Bowl XLI.

The Giants have been outscored in the first half over their past four season openers by a combined 67-6.

They had one golden scoring opportunity on four possessions against Washington in this one - and that resulted in a field goal and a 14-3 halftime deficit. 

Early in the second quarter, the Giants went for it on fourth-and-goal from the 3-yard line, and Commanders lineman Deatrich Wise Jr. got flagged for hands to the face. But two throwaway incompletions sandwiched around Cam Skattebo being hit for a 1-yard loss forced the offense to settle for Graham Gano's 21-yard field goal.

Suffice it to say that a strong preseason didn't have a carryover effect in any aspect of this game. Missed opportunities on offense, shaky line play, and a defense that allowed chunk yardage on the ground and left too many holes in the secondary - none of this was in the forecast.

Looking for bright spots? Outside linebacker Brian Burns put forth another gritty performance, and rookie Abdul Carter's special teams impact was noticeable.

Host Paul Dottino hands out his weekly Game Balls and Gassers as part of the breakdown of the game.

What happens next with the NY Giants? Find out! Follow and like us on Facebook. Visit our YouTube channel for the latest videos. Want to send a question in for our mailbag? You can do so here.

More New York Giants Coverage

Published
Paul Dottino
PAUL DOTTINO

Paul Dottino is an Emmy-award-winning broadcaster who has been a host/reporter on the New York Giants broadcast team since 2009. He has worked on the New York Giants beat for several electronic and print media outlets since 1983, with various roles at NFL Network, WFAN-AM, ESPN New York, WOR-AM, WNEW-AM, and The (N.J.) Record. During that time, he also has been a radio play-by-play voice for New York Giants preseason games and a TV play-by-play voice for Division I college football/basketball/baseball games carried by many national and regional cable outlets, including CBS Sports Network, FS1, YES, MSG, ESPN+, and SNY.

Home/Big Blue+