Giants have no chance for upset without dramatic O-line improvement

PITTSBURGH — The tape doesn’t lie. 

If, after watching tape of the Giants’ 28-3 home loss last week to the Eagles, the Steelers defensive players aren’t foaming at the mouth at the chance to face a compromised Giants offensive line and hunt quarterback Daniel Jones, someone should check their collective pulse. 

The Giants allowed eight sacks and 17 quarterback pressures against the Eagles. Jones was sacked seven times, with five of those coming in the first half as the Eagles established the rout of their rivals. 

The most damning element to this? 

The Eagles, who entered the game having recorded just 11 sacks in five games, produced all eight against the Giants deploying a four-man rush, not an array of exotic blitzes. 

“Last week was, obviously, an embarrassing show for us,’’ Giants right tackle Jermaine Eluemunor said. “We know the product we need to put on the field.’’ 

If that product isn’t light years better against the Steelers (5-2) on Monday night at Acrisure Stadium, the Giants will limp home with a 2-6 record and their season in full spiral and Jones in search of medical care. 

There are a number of things the Giants must to do well if they’re going to upset a Steelers team on the rise, but the top task is absolutely, positively protecting Jones. 

Asked if, after watching the Eagles tape, he expects the Steelers defensive front to be salivating at the chance to have a go at the Giants offensive line, Eluemunor said, “One hundred percent.’’ 

“When they see what we weren’t able to do in the last game, and saw our offense was kind of one-dimensional, as a team that thrives on rushing the passer as they do, they’re thinking that they can do whatever they want to us,’’ Eluemunor said. “It’s up to us to make sure that doesn’t happen and to control that. Our offensive line didn’t play up to our standards last week and we need to do more this week.’’ 

That task figures to be difficult considering the health issues on the line. 

First and foremost, left tackle Andrew Thomas, the best player on the line and the second-best player on the team after Dexter Lawrence, is out for the season with a foot injury. 

That left second-year, third-round pick Joshua Ezeudu replacing Thomas last week and he struggled mightily. Chris Hubbard, whom the Giants signed off the 49ers practice squad last week, worked at left tackle all week and is a possible starter there for the game. The 33-year-old Hubbard brings experience Ezeudu doesn’t have, having played in 100 NFL games. 

Eluemunor, who’s been the team’s most consistent lineman remaining this season, enters the game questionable with a hip injury. If Eluemunor can’t play, maligned tackle Evan Neal, who’s been out of the lineup for performance reasons, would start in his place. 

Regardless of who plays, the Giants line must protect Jones or the team has no chance to win with the likes of Steelers superman edge rusher T.J. Watt, stout veteran defensive tackle Cam Heyward and linebacker Alex Highsmith looming. 

Watt has 4.5 sacks, 12 quarterback hits, eight tackles for losses, three forced fumbles and two batted passes, one of which came against Aaron Rodgers in last week’s win over the Jets. Heyward has three sacks, 10 quarterback hits and four tackles for loss. 

“In the Philly game, we gave up too much pressure early on and that kind of threw off Daniel’s rhythm back there,’’ Giants left guard Jon Runyan Jr. said. “You could tell he didn’t feel as comfortable as he has his previous games when he was protected really well. [The Eagles] kind of got after us up front. 

“It’s not time to freak out. It’s just time to hunker down and come together as a team, as an offense, and figure this thing out. We lose about five more games, we’re probably out of the playoffs. The margin for error is getting smaller every week.’’ 

Runyan said the Steelers run “a completely different type of defense from Philly with different types of players,’’ adding, “They’re not the penetrating, moving style defense. They’re big, heavy, two-gappers that kind of try to read what you’re doing first. So, there are different ways to take advantage of that. 

“I’m sure they’re watching the tape [of last week] and trying to take some things out of there. But this is the defense I feel comfortable going against. I think we have a good game plan going this week.’’ 

They’ll need it.