Time Running Out on Giants

 

When the New York Football Giants were cruising during their four game winning streak, they clicked on every aspect of their game. The running game was crisp. The offensive line was solid giving their quarterback’s time to find receivers. Defensively, they stuffed the run and put pressure on the opposing quarterbacks forcing them to attempt passes that were contested. Big Blue thought they established a blueprint after taking down Seattle and Russell Wilson giving them confidence when they faced Arizona. We saw how that turned out as a rusty quarterback Daniel Jones returned from a hamstring injury. New York hoped to get back on track when they hosted the emerging Cleveland Browns last Sunday night at MetLife Stadium. Back-up quarterback Colt McCoy was under center for the second time this year as Jones hamstring/ankle sprain had him holding a clipboard on the sideline. By games end, the Giants reverted to the team that started out 1-7 in the 20-6 loss.

 

Kick returner Dion Lewis gave the Giants great field position when he returned the ball 48 yards. McCoy moved them down to the Browns 8-yard line when head coach Joe Judge gambled on fourth down instead of going for the chip shot field goal. Punter Riley Dixon takes the snap and looks for center Nick Gates who turned up field into the end zone. Dixon’s pass was too high and fell incomplete. Said Judge of the play, Field goals weren’t going to win this game. I’m not afraid to call things aggressively. I’m not afraid if I think we have a good scheme in the kicking game to call a fake. I’m not afraid to run the ball on fourth-and-one.”

 

After the New York defense stopped Cleveland’s fourth down attempt, they would get on the board for their only lead of the game after a Graham Gano 37-yard field goal. Cleveland took a 13-3 halftime lead as quarterback Baker Mayfield completed 12 passes for 135 yards and 2 touchdowns. The Giants offense continued to sputter only putting 3 more points on the board for the rest of the game. Offensive coordinator Jason Garrett tested positive for Covid19. He was replaced by tight end coach Freddie Kitchens. Said Judge if there was any change in the play calling, “I felt Freddie called the game in the right way. He kind of moved the target on them a little bit. We had some opportunities down the field to make some plays. We called it aggressively. We just have to make sure that we put ourselves in better positions to execute and finish drives more often.”

 

 

McCoy finished his day completing 19 of 31 passes for 221 yard and no touchdowns. Of the offensive struggles he said “we had lots of trips down there in the red zone and it was frustrating to only come out with three points in the first half. That was sort of my frustration.” 

 

Things looked very promising during the Giants 4 game winning streak. Looked even better after the stunning upset in Seattle. Two games after that, the post season hopes are bleak. New York travels to Baltimore to face a Ravens team who are also in the playoff hunt especially after the Steelers lost to the Bengals Monday night. Said Judge about the last two games, “our approach is still going to be the same. It’s going to be come back to work on Wednesday and put everything into it. We have two weeks left, but the reality is, the only thing we can do anything about is this week right here.”

 

 

The Giants end their season when they host Dallas who have nothing but pride to play for. Nothing would give the Boys more pleasure than sending the Giants home with a loss knocking them out of the playoffs. If that happens, the loss to Arizona and Cleveland will haunt them all off season.  

 

Editor’s Note: This is the last sports issue of 2020. In a very trying year due to the Pandemic, I would like to acknowledge the entire New York Beacon sports staff that contributed this year. Andrew Gutman, Shara Talia Taylor, Joshua Garcia, Derrel Jonson and Michael Henriquez. All of this would not be possible without the guidance and support of Miatta Smith and the late Walter Smith. All the best to all in 2021!