The Giants blew a 23-0 lead today in Dallas, and only Dallas' 6 turnovers, resulting in 23 of the Giants 29 points, and a Dallas receiver's hand hitting the back line of the end zone on what would have been the winning touchdown for Dallas, saved them.
I will never understand the Giants receivers. Hit them in the hands with the ball on a key 3rd down situation, and they will drop it more often than not. Martellus Bennet dropped one on 3rd and 4 at the one yard line that not only hit him in the hands, when he dropped the ball it landed on his chest, and he knocked it to the ground in his haste to secure it, costing the Giants 4 points. Nicks dropped a back shoulder pass which hit him in the hands on 3rd and 4, costing the Giants another 4 points. Then, on the Giants 1st second half possession, Cruz short-armed a third down out pattern which would have entended the drive at midfield. Instead the Giants punted, and Dallas scored a touchdown to take the lead. So much talent, so much success on 1st and 2nd down, so little concentration and so many drops on 3rd down when it really counts.^&confuse
Because of all the drops, the Giants, who are not a good running team, got ultra conservative, and ran the ball on every first and second down in the third quarter, as well as several third and 3-4 yard situations, converting none of them. The Giants should only run on obvious passing downs, they are a great passing team and a poor rushing team, and can only successfully run when there are fewer than seven in the box.
Still 6-2 is way better than I expected in a first-half season that involved games vs. Dallas, at Carolina, at San Francisco, at Dallas, and versus Washington. If the Giants can manage 4-4 in the second half of the season they will win the NFC East and host a playoff game, something I did not expect when I saw they had the toughest schedule in the NFL.