Following a huge upset win against the Los Angeles Chargers, New York Giants fans were feeling extremely confident heading into a matchup against the winless New Orleans Saints. Despite their strong start, the Giants lost the game 26-14, primarily due to five consecutive drives that ended in turnovers.
Three of these turnovers came from rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart — fellow rookie Cam Skattebo and veteran Darius Slayton each fumbled as well. These turnovers stemmed from a lack of offensive discipline, but they were not the only self-inflicted mistakes the Giants made in Week 5.
Turnovers Crushed All Giants’ Momentum
The turnovers started at the end of the first half, with Darius Slayton‘s fumble in Saints territory. Slayton’s blunder led to a Saints field goal to end the half and allowed them to take the lead.
Jaxson Dart‘s turnovers were just as painful. He simply lost the ball on a scramble and threw two terrible balls for interceptions.
https://twitter.com/NFLonCBS/status/1974911676991656368
Rookie Cam Skattebo‘s fumble couldn’t have come at a worse time, getting the ball punched out in the redzone and returned for a touchdown.
A five-turnover game is inexcusable for any team, especially when so many of them come from minimal defensive presence.
Defensive Backfield Struggles Once More
The defensive backs’ early-season disappointments continued in this game. Second-year safety Tyler Nubin has been one of the biggest letdowns of the season for the Giants, along with former Saints corner Paulson Adebo. Nubin has consistently allowed huge plays this season, the most recent being an 87-yard touchdown against New Orleans.
Sophomore corner Andru Phillips has shown some elite play this season, but has also had significant struggles. Phillips leads the league in defensive penalties (six) and has given up his fair share of big plays.
The Giants’ other significant backfield issue stems from Deonte Banks. Banks constantly displays a lack of effort and an inability to keep up with his matchup.
Even with their elite pass-rush group, the Giants will continue to give up big plays if the defensive backfield doesn’t improve.
Receiving Core Struggles Mightily in Malik Nabers‘ Absence
With superstar receiver Malik Nabers out for the season, it was no secret that New York’s weapons would be a problem. New responsibilities are going to fall onto the Giants’ receiving core that may bear too much weight.
In this game, the Giants heavily relied on their tight ends, Daniel Bellinger and Theo Johnson, to contribute to the passing game, with Johnson scoring both touchdowns. Although the tight ends did play well, the wide receivers have been providing very little lately.
Along with his fumble, Slayton had a brutal dropped pass on a deep shot. He has always been an inconsistent player for the Giants, and in this game, he showed just how much damage he can do.
This game yet again proved that their current receiving core is insufficient, and they must bring in someone new.
Coaching Only Hurting the Team
After this terrible loss, it’s time to wonder how much time this coaching staff has left. There has been a constant lack of accountability from head coach Brian Daboll. He has shown zero urgency to bolster the offensive weapons, with only two running backs and no wide receivers elevated from the practice squad to the Week 5 game.
Additionally, Daboll’s game decisions have been a source of concern lately. His inconsistent aggressiveness on fourth down left potential points on the board in this game, as well as his decision to give Banks playing time on third downs, which has cost them dearly.
The Giants have 43 penalties this season, the second most in the NFL. The majority of these issues are from a lack of discipline and attention to detail. These sorts of problems are rooted mainly in coaching, and Daboll and defensive coordinator Shane Bowen should take significant responsibility for this.
With this catastrophic start to the season, it seems apparent that this coaching staff will not last the entire season.
The Giants act like they’re trying to improve, but they’re doing nothing but shooting themselves in the foot.
Leave a comment