SOMEWHERE OVER THE ATLANTIC – Things are bleak for the local football teams, with the Jets and Giants adding to their low-light reels of embarrassing losses on Sunday. Both teams are staring at off-season house cleanings. Fun! But there is no truth to the rumor that Daniel Jones and Brian Daboll were jettisoned from the plane over the North Atlantic on the flight back, right next to the Titanic, which might have been less of a disaster.
J-E-S-T
As bad and discombobulated as the offense has been, the defense has arguably been more disappointing. They didn’t need peak Aaron Rodgers, we were told, because they had an elite defense. Yeah, no. They got nothing close to peak Rodgers or an elite defense.
That defense let the Cards walk down and score in all 4 first half possessions, with 3 TDs and a FG. They probably would have gotten 4 TDs if the half didn’t end.
The Cards got another TD on their first possession of the second half. The Jets finally forced a punt in the fourth, but the game had long been decided. The Cards looked like they barely broke a sweat.
It would be kind of funny if Rodgers retires and best available free agent is Jets’ draft pick Sam Darnold. Strange days. But I think it’s safe to expect a new GM and head coach next season.
Giant Embarrassment
The Giants proved they can suck on multiple continents, with an OT loss to the lowly Panthers. The Disaster in Ze Deutchland could very well mark the end of the Daniel Jones Era. He’s a good guy, who works hard and does all the right things. But his limitated field vision and decision making were on full display in this one. Two plays perfectly amplified Danny’s limitations.
First, a third and one flee flicker on the Carolina 41 in the first half. Wan’Dale Robinson was wide open and Malik Nabers had a step or two on his defender as well. It was a two man route. Regardless of which receiver Jones was looking at, he should have let it fly. Instead, he hesitated and took a sack.
Again, there were only two receivers running routes, both across the field, so it wasn’t a complicated read. The Giants clearly wanted to take some deep shots in this game, as the first play was a bomb to Jalin Hyatt (remember him?). And they probably called this aggressive play because they planned to go for it on 4th down if it didn’t work. They surely practiced the play all week. Let it go, DJ.
Jones panicking and taking a sack here was inconceivable. Instead of a big play or at least a 4th and 1, they had to punt and ended up scoring zero first half points.
The second play was the interception on the swing pass to Tracy, deep ln Panthers territory. The Giants had just gotten a big turnover on a Hubbard fumble and were in position to at least tie it with a FG. They faced a third and goal from the 9 yard line.
Jones had Nabers on the corner route. He could have put it out there where it would have been a TD or incomplete pass. Instead, as he so often does, Jones quickly took the check down. The ball bounced off Tracy’s hands in tight coverage and was intercepted.
Tracy was not open and was a long way from the end zone. It would have taken a miraculous play for him to catch it, shrug off the defender in his pocket, and get to pay dirt. This was a poor choice, a throwaway would have been better.
The Giants have a bye next week. It’s probably time to take the extra week and give the keys to Tommy DeVito to see what he can do. Though Daboll might want to keep starting Jones for cover to try to buy one more year. “Hey, it’s not my fault, I can’t win with this guy.” But I don’t think he will avoid the axe, and neither will Schoen.
But then again, maybe they shouldn’t start DeVito. It was three meanigless late season DeVito wins last year, vs the Commanders, Patriots, and Packers, that cost the Giants a shot at one of the big three QBs. Two of those teams ended up with guys that look like franchise QBs. If the Giants had Drake Maye or Jayden Daniels right now, things would be looking a lot better for Daboll and Schoen’s futures.
On the bright side, the Giants currently have the top pick in the 2025. They need to hire someone really incompetent as the interim head coach when they fire Daboll. There are probably some Democrats that are free. Don’t screw this up, Giants.
Angry Ward, the opposite of incompetent, is here next.
