[ad_1]
By Ryan Dunleavy | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com | Posted October 22, 2018 at 11:13 PM | Updated October 22, 2018 at 11:26 PM
By Ryan Dunleavy I NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
ATLANTA — The Giants ran 62 offensive plays Monday night against the previously hapless Falcons defense, but one summed up the struggles more than any other.
Actually, it captures the entire frustrating season for this Giants offense.
On a third-and-2 early in the fourth quarter, Eli Manning completed a pass to Saquon Barkley for an eight-yard loss. Trailing by seven points, the Giants punted on the next play from their own 25-yard line.
There it is: High-percentage throws, over-reliance on their rookie running back and going nowhere all wrapped into one.
The Giants wasted a really strong performance from the defense against a high-powered offense and fell 23-20 to the Falcons at cavernous Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Both of the Giants touchdowns were scored in the final five minutes, which seems to be the repeat time this offense comes alive.
Kevin C. Cox | Getty
The Falcons defense entered the game allowing 32 points per game and ranked last in the NFL in offensive points allowed, touchdown drives allowed and third-down success rate.
But they recorded sacks on each of their first three drives against the porous Giants’ offensive line, including two allowed by high-priced left tackle Nate Solder.
And the Giants managed just three first-half points, as you might expect from the No. 28 offense in red zone touchdown efficiency. The Giants did not score a touchdown on any of their first three trips into the red zone, while the Falcons managed 13 points without ever getting into the red zone.
The Giants’ two scores in the red zone were matched by field goals from the Falcons on the next possession each time.
Manning was sacked four times, including two allowed by high-paid left tackle Nate Solder, but also contributed to the dullness with rushed and inaccurate throws when given time.
Manning’s final stat line was 26-of-37 for 398 yards and a touchdown, which is about as empty as those eye-popping numbers can possibly look. The touchdown was a one-yarder to Beckham with five seconds left, followed up by a two-point conversion run by Barkley.
After a leaping 38-yard catch by Sterling Shepard set up the Giants at the 13-yard line late in the first half, the next four downs were a study in the Giants problems other than the offensive line.
Manning threw a four-yard pass to tight end Rhett Ellison in the small-ball offense.
Then Manning made a poor throw that landed out of bounds and was rushed despite good protection before Odell Beckham could break to the corner of the end zone. It was only his second incompletion on 16 first-half throws.
Then Manning held the ball for far too long as he was given adequate time but his two primary options were covered. He did not look for a third option or throw a receiver open or even throw the ball out of bounds to avoid the risk of a strip sack.
Manning took the sack and the Giants settled for a field goal as is consistent with an offense scoring touchdowns on only 43 percent of its red-zone trips . Aldrick Rosas improved to 14-for-15 on field goals, but the Falcons got the three points back just before the half to go up 10-3.
The Giants trailed 13-6 at the time of that disastrous third-and-short play.
The Falcons turned the ensuing punt into an insurance touchdown when Tevin Coleman broke off a 30-yard touchdown run with just less than eight minutes to go in the half.
The Giants (1-6) have now lost 19 of their last 23 games and are sprinting toward the No. 1 overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft, along with the one-win Cardinals and Raiders. With one game left before the bye week, the focus of the season should turn to developing young talent, including rookie quarterback Kyle Lauletta … if the Giants really have learned from the mistakes of their past.
Their offense has failed to score 30 points in all but one game since the start of the 2016 season, but even scoring 20 is becoming a problem as the Giants have only reached the number twice in seven games with coach Pat Shurmur calling the plays.
Trailing by two scores, the Giants finally drove the field for a soft touchdown — a common theme in their losses this season — but Shurmur then made his most head-scratching call yet. After Barkley powered his way in from two yards out, the Giants trailed 20-12 with 4:47 on the clock.
A PAT would have made it a seven-point game, but the Giants went for the two-point conversion and Manning threw an incompletion to Beckham. It was ironic since the Giants didn’t throw to Beckham when he had a step on coverage on a fourth-and-goal from the 1-yard line that became a turnover on downs.
It’s one thing to go for two to win a game at the end like the Titans (who failed) against the Chargers one day ago. But this? Some analytics say Shurmur gave the Giants a better chance to win with his unconventional idea. But this?
It all became moot when Giorgio Tavecchio — the Falcons backup kicker, in for the injured Matt Bryant — drilled a 56-yard field goal to go up 23-12 with less two minutes remaining. Had he missed, the GIants would have been set up with great field position, but this is the same team that lost on a walk-off 63-yard field goal by the Panthers.
Here are takeaways from the game:
Source link
