The good, the bad, the ugly in loss to Steelers

Daniel Jones was not terrible, but nowhere around fantastic in the New York Giants’ opening-period decline to the Pittsburgh Steelers.

A unique night time in East Rutherford, to say the minimum. To start out a new period of New York Giants football, the business which is won 12 online games in a few several years entered the 2020 campaign with a matchup in opposition to the Pittsburgh Steelers. A fanless matchup at that, specified the instances bordering the lingering COVID-19 pandemic.

It was also a night time to see whether Giants quarterback Daniel Jones would enhance from his promising but turnover-stuffed rookie campaign. A night time that incorporated some flashes of prospective from Jones, but a single that was not all sunshine and rainbows for the 2019 first-round select.

Several of the upward-trending flashes happened in the first fifty percent, headlined by a 41-yard pitch-and-catch from Jones to second-12 months wideout Darius Slayton. It was the first landing connection amongst the two this period right after notching five in 2019, with Jones setting his toes, stepping up in a clean up pocket, and providing a fantastic ball that Slayton reeled in to give the Giants a 10-3 lead.

In direction of the stop of the recreation, with the workforce down 26-10, Jones hit Slayton once more on a slant route in the stop zone, more proving how the Auburn products will be Daniel’s beloved target in 2020. A failed two-point conversion and onside kick try afterward then killed any possibility at a mad Giants comeback, with the last rating ending up at 26-16 in favor of the checking out Steelers.

Jones also showed off what he can do with his legs, exclusively on a 3rd-down engage in in the 3rd quarter when he escaped the hurry en route to functioning out of bounds past the marker. It’s a energy Eli Manning never ever portrayed through his long tenure with the business and a single that offers this workforce and fanbase more hope that their quarterback could benefit from several weapons in his arsenal.

But, as was talked about in advance of, not anything was fantastic in the team’s first defeat of the new period. In the second quarter, right right after the landing toss to Slayton, Jones zipped a ball to the right that was picked off by T.J. Watt in what was an very athletic engage in by the Steelers edge rusher.

There was also the second interception off Jones of the night time, developing in the 3rd quarter right after the Giants executed a long, 19-engage in travel that finished up in zero details to display for it. When attempting to toss the ball absent around the goal line, Jones’ arm was met with the system of edge rusher Bud Dupree. The ball floated in the air till landing in Cameron Heyward’s grasp in the stop zone, with the Steelers having over thereafter.

It’s not like Jones been given a considerable total of aid nevertheless. The offensive line was not wonderful, enabling a few sacks of Jones and not opening up quite a few holes for functioning back again Saquon Barkley, who conjured up just 6 yards on fifteen carries.

Evan Engram was not productive whatsoever, exhibiting off his weak spot (operate blocking) under the vibrant lights of MetLife Stadium although possessing problems in the passing recreation, which incorporated a drop alongside with an offensive go interference get in touch with.

The defense was not absolutely sensational both, a little something that was a disadvantage for a youthful quarterback performing toward a victory. Yeah, it appeared to be an enhanced team from past 12 months, a campaign in which the device ranked twenty fifth in total defense and 28th in go defense. However, the quantities convey to much of the story — the Giants allowed Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger to toss a trio of scores although succumbing to 113 hurrying yards from Benny Snell.

But back again to the authentic point: Jones was not terrible, but nowhere around fantastic on his way to conjuring up 279 yards by way of the air and 22 on the floor. Blunders were being continue to produced and the turnovers were being continue to an challenge, even if fumbling was not the most important problem.

Persistence have to be possessed nevertheless. Most quarterbacks won’t have it all figured out in 12 months No. two, allow alone begin No. 13. Jones will be high-quality, but the issues have to be minimal and his supporting solid have to arrive together. It’s the final workforce activity, but neither that workforce in blue nor its youthful quarterback flourished to the fullest extent on Monday night time.

Subsequent up: Chicago.