Giants Make Worst Kind of NFL History in Sunday’s Loss

The New York Giants made the wrong kind of NFL history on Sunday against the Washington Commanders. With their 21-18 loss to the NFC East rival, the Giants became the first team in NFL history to score three touchdowns, allowing zero touchdowns, and still lose the game.

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The Giants’ offense looked much better on Sunday than it did last week in a 28-6 loss to the Minnesota Vikings. Quarterback Daniel Jones was able to lead three touchdown drives — a seven-play, 53-yard drive in the first quarter, a 10-play, 69-yard drive in the second quarter, and a 13-play, 70-yard drive in the fourth quarter.

Unfortunately, kicker Graham Gano injured his hamstring on the opening kickoff and was forced to miss the remainder of the game. Gano was dealing with a groin injury heading into the game, but the Giants elected not to elevate a backup kicker. That decision ended up costing them greatly.

With Gano out after the opening kickoff, it was punter Jamie Gillan who got the first crack at attempting an extra point in the first quarter. He missed it, and the Giants didn’t kick the rest of the way.

The Giants weren’t able to convert either two-point conversation attempt on their other two touchdowns. Then, with just over two minutes to go in in the fourth quarter of an 18-18 game, the Giants went for it on fourth down instead of kicking what would have been a go-ahead 39-yard field goal. They didn’t get it.

The Commanders then marched down the field and kicked the game-winning 30-yard field goal as time expired. It was their seventh made field goal of the game.

Giants head coach Brian Daboll was pressed by reporters about the team’s lack of a contingency plan for Gano entering the game. He didn’t understand the correlation of the injuries.

“He didn’t hurt his groin,” Daboll said. “He hurt his hamstring.”

Gano is now expected to miss a couple of weeks due to the injury. The only other kicker on the Giants practice squad is rookie Jude McAtamney, an undrafted free agent out of Rutgers.

“He’s done a great job. He has a very talented leg,” Gano said of McAtamney, via ESPN. “I think he will play. He has the ability to do that at some point. … He’s been doing a great job. He’s been working really hard and he has a bright future for sure.”

The Giants could also look to sign a kicker in Gano’s absence.

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