Notebook: Giants unable to overcome slow start

The players refused to use the Jones episode as an excuse for their subpar play.

“I don’t think that that’s the reason why we came out here today and got beat the way we did,” wide receiver Darius Slayton said. “At the end of the day, D.J. wasn’t on the field today. So, he had no effect on how well the people that were out there did their jobs. And at the end of the day, the people who did play today did a terrible job and that’s why we got beat the way we got beat.”

The Giants won’t have to wait long for an opportunity to redeem themselves. They play Thanksgiving Day in Dallas, where they will face the Cowboys, who Sunday defeated a Washington team that has twice beaten the Giants.

Daboll said DeVito will start that game, “if he’s healthy and ready to go.”

Like the rest of the team, DeVito struggled early, throwing for only 31 yards in the first half. But he finished with 21 completions on 31 attempts for 189 and did not throw an interception. Nor did he throw a touchdown pass. DeVito was sacked four times. He led just one scoring drive, early in the fourth quarter. Devin Singletary got the touchdown on a one-yard run.

“It was tough in the first half,” DeVito said. “Just figuring out what they were doing, just know it sounds cliché but just coming down to execution. Started to get a little bit fast in the third quarter, we finally got things clicking, and the run and pass game, the run game we got going, passes opened up, vice versa. Kind of slowed them down a little bit defensively, because they were bringing a lot of pressure early on. I was just starting to figure that out and just let everybody just play. We started to get going, but it was too late.”

The Giants trailed at halftime, 23-0, But they had a glimmer of hope when they opened the second half by driving 65 yards to the Tampa Bay 5-yard line, where they had first-and-goal. Lined up in a wildcat formation, running back Tyrone Tracy caught the shotgun snap and ran to his left. But Lavonte David forced Tracy to fumble, and the ball was recovered at the five by defensive lineman Calijah Kancey. The Bucs then drove 95 yards in 12 plays to extend their lead to 30-0, effectively ending the game.

Two weeks ago in Munich, Tracy lost a fumble on the first play of overtime, enabling the Panthers to kick the game-winning field goal in a 20-17 Giants loss.

“I just had the ball in the wrong hand, had it in the right hand, closer to the defenders who were trying to tackle me,” Tracy said. “When that happens, you put the ball at risk. I just gotta have a higher emphasis throughout the week in practice and in the game as well.”

Tracy was briefly benched after the turnover but returned to the game.

“It’s something we got to continue to stress and work on,” Daboll said. “I have a lot of confidence in Tracy. But we can’t turn the ball over to the other team.”

Tampa Bay rushed for 156 yards and four touchdowns. The scores, in order, were by Sean Tucker (one yard), Bucky Irving (six), Baker Mayfield (10) and Rachaad White (one). Mayfield completed 24 of 30 passes to 11 different receivers for 294 yards. Irving, a rookie, led the ground attack with 87 yards on 12 carries, including a 56-yarder.

So, what do the Giants do now, after six straight losses have left them at 2-9?

“I think it always can get better,” Lawrence said. “It’s a process. Right now, it’s a long process that I’m here for. I’m going to keep leading, doing all I can on the field to lead. Talking to the guys I need to talk to, the defense, the guys on the offense, whoever.”

“You get beat like this, there’s no one person, two people, it’s everybody,” Slayton said. “It’s all 22 people that play on offense and defense, special teams – everybody. I’s been six long years for me. I do my best at the end of the day. I try not to be selfish. I try to be a good teammate. … I just want to compete, play football, and win. That hasn’t changed. We just got to do better.”