The Giants’ expectations have modified.
Brian Daboll’s gamers weren’t considering like grateful underdogs who had scored a 3rd straight upset after Sunday’s 23-17 nail-biter over the Jacksonville Jaguars.
They have been carrying themselves like winners who count on to realize a lofty aim past this common season, unhappy with the errors that just about prevented them from enhancing to 6-1.
“Other teams could just be happy right now that they got a win and they’re looking at their record, but that’s not what winning teams do,” heart Jon Feliciano mentioned. “It’s nice to have the win, but really, Jacksonville shoulda, coulda squeaked that out. We’ll come in Monday and work on the things we gotta work on.”
Saquon Barkley, their offensive focus, dedicated the mom of all of Sunday’s miscues: He stepped out of bounds with 1:07 remaining, the Giants up three and the Jaguars out of timeouts. Staying inbounds would have run the clock beneath 30 seconds.
That’s the one cause Fabian Moreau, Xavier McKinney, Julian Love and Landon Collins needed to deal with Jaguars receiver Christian Kirk on the Giants’ 1-yard line as time expired.
“You know you’re the reason they’re even in that situation,” Barkley mentioned, shaking his head, regardless of ending with 110 yards dashing.
Barkley additionally criticized himself for “running soft” whereas “thinking about the wrong things” within the first half — maybe being protecting of his proper shoulder.
The protection was much more upset in themselves as a result of they practically wasted a dynamic day from Daniel Jones (career-high 107 dashing yards, 202 passing yards, two TDs).
McKinney referred to as Sunday “probably our worst defensive performance.” Linebacker Jaylon Smith mentioned “we’re not satisfied at all” after permitting a season-high 452 yards to Trevor Lawrence’s offense.
McKinney did power a Travis Etienne fumble on the Giants’ 5-yard line within the first half, recovered by Julian Love in the long run zone. And Smith and Love jammed up Lawrence on a fourth-down sneak on the Giants’ 21-yard line within the fourth quarter.
“On those stops, we knew we had to make a play for our offense,” Smith mentioned. “Our offense did a hell of a job today, with DJ moving the ball and keeping us in it. We knew it was our time to make a play, to do something, to have an impact on the game.”
Even Jones confirmed frustration and important emotion on Sunday, which was out of character for the usually stoic quarterback however not essentially unwelcome.
Cameras caught Jones yelling “catch the ball” after receiver Marcus Johnson’s fourth-and-2 drop on the Jaguars’ 1-yard line. Another shot confirmed Daboll pushing QB coach Shea Tierney away from Jones to speak with the fired-up QB on the sideline within the fourth.
Jones felt unhealthy if he appeared to point out up Johnson, which was not his intent.
“Heat of the moment, and I wish I could have that situation back,” he mentioned. “I pride myself on being composed in those situations. I wasn’t there. I’ve got full faith and confidence in the world in Marcus, and yeah, I’m disappointed I let that happen.”
It’s OK, although. Because Jones’ frustration, the protection’s frustrations, and Barkley’s frustrations are all coming from the very best place: These Giants assume they are often one thing this season.
Smith, the veteran linebacker, mentioned, “There’s one ultimate goal and we gotta focus week to week on that.”
McKinney mentioned the Giants want to enhance “in order to get where we want to be.”
They’re not saying the phrase “playoffs” out loud. But after overcoming a second-half deficit for the fifth time by way of seven video games, they’re achieved considering they don’t belong.
They see the duty forward: to maintain profitable, to enhance, and to fortify themselves for a run of 5 NFC east video games in seven weeks from Thanksgiving by way of Jan. 8.
McKinney, in truth, didn’t need to hear the weekly query about what number of doubters the Giants nonetheless have. They don’t consider themselves as underdogs. They have increased requirements.
“I don’t even care for that question anymore,” the protection mentioned. “I’m kind of tired of answering it because it’s the same thing every week. Obviously we know that. We really don’t care.”
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Source: www.bostonherald.com