A look back at the Giants’ 33-32 defeat against the Broncos on Sunday:
1. This isn’t about kicking a downed player, but when Graham Gano went down with a groin injury, it seemed pretty clear the Giants were lacking a reliable NFL kicker. They just pulled Jude McAtamny from the practice squad, which didn’t give off the impression that the front office and coaching staff were striving to optimize the team’s chances of winning. These days, there are plenty of players who can effortlessly nail 55- and 60-yard field goals, yet the Giants opted for someone who struggled with place-kicking at Rutgers. Unfortunately, the decision really backfired on McAtamny. He missed two extra-point attempts, including a significant one pushed wide right with just 37 seconds left. This is just not acceptable. They have Yonghoe Koo on their practice squad, a proven NFL kicker, but instead went with the inexperienced McAtamny, leading to their downfall.
2. The Giants have now lost nine consecutive road games. It’s been over a year since they left Seattle with a win, and this season has showcased two major issues head coach Brian Daboll hasn’t been able to remedy: the team’s poor home record and their abysmal road performance. Although they have recently managed to win two at MetLife Stadium, their away games have seen them struggle immensely. They are 0-4 on the road this year, suffering humiliating losses, like the one against Dallas where they lost the lead in overtime and committed five turnovers. Then there was the heartbreaking loss to the winless Saints, and now this debacle in Denver.
3. And how about Daniel Bellinger? It seemed likely he would lose his role last season with the addition of Theo Johnson. However, Bellinger kept to himself, fulfilled his responsibilities, and now look at him. He entered the game with seven targets and caught them all. He had a perfect 8-for-8 start with a 15-yard catch on the first drive. Later, when Jackson Dart evaded pressure, the Broncos overlooked Bellinger, allowing him to catch a 44-yard scoring pass, marking his first touchdown reception since his rookie year in 2022. In total, he had three catches for 88 yards. This is a crucial contract year for him, and if the Giants don’t see him in their future, he’ll likely find another team that will.
