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Giants - Washington
Mikefan - Gamegirl Reviews

Sept 16, 8:20 PM Giants at Washington
Game 2
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Giants lose to Washington 30-29

"I was disappointed watching the way the Giants played in the season opener. In this second game, the Giants won, and then suddenly they didn't. Washington's kicker had missed on a 48 yard field goal attempt to end the game, but then got another chance from a closer spot and made the kick. This all came about because of an off sides penalty on the Giants.
You always hear that you can't blame any one player for losing a game because there are so many plays that could have gone this way or that, but when it comes down to the very last play of the game, it's really hard to think about it that way.
If you're a long time fan, you know the name Scott Norward for one reason only. In Super Bowl XXV, Norward's missed 'wide right' field goal attempt with seconds left, gave the Giants a win over the Buffalo Bills. This wasn't a Super Bowl game, but still, the loss puts the Giants at 0-2 on the season when 1-1 was right at hand. Some said after the game, it was a bad call by the refs.
The Giants started out real strong tonight. Washington had the ball first, and the Giants defense had them losing 9 yards on a three-and-out. After the punt, Daniel Jones took over at his 21-yard line. During the drive, Jones was sacked once, completed 3 passes for 33 yards, and ran 3 times for 23 yards, including his 6 yard touchdown run.
Things were looking good when the defense once again held Washington to a three-and-out, but the next time, they scored a touchdown for a 7-7 tie. Later in that second quarter, Jones took off again and ran 58 yards for a touchdown, but there was a penalty on the play for holding at the Washington 22-yard line. The Giants finished this drive off with a field goal to take the lead, but Washington came right back with a touchdown. The half ended with them holding a 14-10 lead
The Giants opened the second half with a drive that ended with a field goal. Once again the defense held Washington to a three-and-out. Before long, Jones connected with Darius Slayton for a touchdown, and a 20-14 lead. It seemed like the Giants were in control now. The next four drives had each team kicking field goals. There was only about five minutes left in the game when Washington's quarterback Taylor Heinicke quickly connected with one of his receivers for 56 yards, and his next pass went for a 19 yard touchdown.
That two play drive put Washington up 27-26. It looked like the Giants were done when they had to punt right after that. Then on defense, James Bradberry intercepted Heinicke, and that gave Jones the ball at the Washington 20-yard line. A touchdown would have been nice, but after four plays, they had to settle for another Graham Gano field goal. Now the Giants had a 29-27 lead with two minutes left. Washington used all that time to get into field goal range, and you know the rest. It was all so close, but this is what Giants fans have come to expect. There's nothing more I even want to say about this game."

"The Giants had key players who didn't get much playing time during preseason for one reason or another. You had to look at that first game with Denver as a sort of break in for the Giants offense to get their act together, and the offense played much better this time. After that small break in, you'd hope that things were in place now for this game, and for the most part they were. Still, it didn't help matters when left guard Nick Gates suffered a lower leg fracture, and had to be carted off the field in the first quarter. It took time for the offensive line to adjust, but they did.
Jones took 3 sacks in the first half, but he ran with the ball six times, broke one for 46 yards, and on another, finished his drive with a 6 yard touchdown run. Jones threw only 11 passes in the half, and as usual, Sterling Shepard was his go-to guy, catching all 5 passes for 29 yards. Shepard was targeted 5 more times in the second half, caught 4 and finished up with 94 total yards. The Jones to Kenny Golladay connection still needs some work. Golladay had 3 receptions on 8 targets for 38 total yards.
Tight end Kyle Rudolph caught one pass thrown his way in the first, and one in the second, so he was 2 for 2 for 25 yards. Rudolph was in for a lot of plays in this game, used mostly as a blocker. Tight end Kaden Smith had a nice block for Jones to run 15 yards in the opening drive. Smith caught his two passes in the second half. Darius Slayton wasn't targeted in the first half, but in the second he caught 3 passes on 6 targets, for 54 yards and one touchdown.
That touchdown and the one Jones had, were the only two for the Giants in this game. The rest of the scoring was done by Graham Gano with 5 field goals for 15 points. Saquon Barkley carried the ball 13 times for 57 yards, but 41 of those yards came on one carry. Still, it was a reminder of what Barkley can do when the blocking works. In the end, the Giants totaled 163 yards on the ground, and 95 of them came from Jones, not the running backs.
Washington had Taylor Heinicke in at the quarterback position in place of Ryan Fitzpatrick who was placed on injured reserve after last Sunday's game. Heinicke doesn't have much playing experience, and had little time to prepare to be the starting quarterback, so you would think the Giants defense would have an edge, but that wasn't the case. Heinicke was very effective in his newly appointed role. He finished with 336 passing yards and 2 touchdowns. The defense really let down near the end of the fourth quarter. Heinicke beat them on a two play touchdown drive, that put Washington up 27-26.
The defense sacked Heinicke only once, but cornerback James Bradberry came up with one big interception. Bradberry caught the ball and ran it five yards to the Washington 20-yard line. That enabled the Giants to take the lead back with a field goal, and with only two minutes remaining in the game. The defense needed one stop, but allowed Washington four first downs as they drove for a field goal. Still, the Giants almost escaped with a win, except for a penalty that allowed kicker Dustin Hopkins a second chance. Maybe the Giants will put it all together on both sides of the ball, and get their first win at MetLife Stadium when they play next with the Atlanta Falcons."

First Quarter

GIANTS - TOUCHDOWN
Play: Daniel Jones 6 Yard Rush Graham Gano Made Ex. Pt
Drive info: 11 plays, 79 yards, 5:55
Giants 7-0

Second Quarter

WASHINGTON - TOUCHDOWN
Play: Terry McLaurin Pass From Taylor Heinicke for 11 Yrds, D.Hopkins extra point is GOOD
Drive info: 13 plays, 90 yards, 7:01
Tied 7-7
GIANTS - FIELD GOAL
Play: Graham Gano Made 23 Yrd Field Goal
Drive info: 10 plays, 73 yards, 4:09
Giants 10-7
WASHINGTON - TOUCHDOWN
Play: J.D. McKissic 2 Yard Rush, D.Hopkins extra point is GOOD
Drive info: 12 plays, 84 yards, 3:48
Washington 14-10

Third Quarter

GIANTS - FIELD GOAL
Play: Graham Gano Made 47 Yrd Field Goal
Drive info: 9 plays, 46 yards, 5:53
Washington 14-13

GIANTS - TOUCHDOWN
Play: Darius Slayton Pass From Daniel Jones for 33 Yrds, G.Gano extra point is GOOD
Drive info: 7 plays, 65 yards, 2:50
Giants 20-14
WASHINGTON - FIELD GOAL
Play: Dustin Hopkins Made 49 Yrd Field Goal
Drive info: 7 plays, 44 yards, 3:11
Giants 20-17

Fourth Quarter

GIANTS - FIELD GOAL
Play: Graham Gano Made 52 Yrd Field Goal
Drive info: 6 plays, 41 yards, 2:55
Giants 23-17
WASHINGTON - FIELD GOAL
Play: Dustin Hopkins Made 37 Yrd Field Goal
Drive info: 11 plays, 56 yards, 4:49
Giants 23-20
GIANTS - FIELD GOAL
Play: Graham Gano Made 55 Yrd Field Goal
Drive info: 8 plays, 38 yards, 3:56
Giants 26-20

WASHINGTON - TOUCHDOWN
Play: Ricky Seals-Jones Pass From Taylor Heinicke for 19 Yrds, D.Hopkins extra point is GOOD
Drive info: 2 plays, 75 yards, 0:17
Washington 27-26

GIANTS - FIELD GOAL
Play: Graham Gano Made 35 Yrd Field Goal
Drive info: 4 plays, 3 yards, 0:16
Giants 29-27
WASHINGTON - FIELD GOAL
Play: Dustin Hopkins Made 43 Yrd Field Goal
Drive info: 11 plays, 50 yards, 2:00
Washington 30-29


Notes:

Graham Gano hit on five of five field goals, extending his streak to 35.

Daniel Jones has had a rushing touchdown in each of the first two games.

Rookie Azeez Ojulari sacked Taylor Heinicke for a 16-yard loss, giving him two on the season.

Sterling Shepard led the team in each of the first two games in receptions and receiving yards.

Giants are 0-2 for the fifth straight season, and for the eighth time in nine years.
Next Games:
Sept 26 Falcons at Giants
Oct 3 Giants at New Orleans
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