ATLANTA — This record is an important accomplishment, but it's not the way Malik Nabors wanted to accomplish it.
Nabors entered Sunday's game against the Falcons with 90 receptions, one shy of the Giants' single-season rookie catch record.
It didn't take long for Nabors to get what he needed.
He caught a pass for a six-yard gain on the first play of the offense, and on the second series caught another pass for a six-yard gain for the record.
“It's commendable,” Nabers said. “But we didn't win.”
No, the Giants didn't win.
They fell short at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, losing 34-7, marking a team-record 10th consecutive loss.
Nabors had seven receptions for 68 yards and 97 receptions for 969 yards.
He has two games left to reach 100 receptions and 1,000 receiving yards.
Still, the Giants were 2-13, and Neighbors wasn't too happy with the numbers he was putting together.
“So it's really how you look at it,” he said. “Some people say he did everything he was supposed to do, but he was on a losing team. Some people will say that's what he did, that's a pat on my back, but I think he was on a losing team.” The ultimate goal is to win. It's all about celebrating after that.”
Odell Beckham Jr. in 2014 and running back Saquon Barkley in 2018 had 91 receptions as rookies.
Nabors hit his left shoulder hard on his second reception and left the field for a few plays to get checked out before returning.
He said he had a needle.
Nabors was called for two illegal shift penalties, the second for a 23-yard reception, and has been penalized five times this season.
Head coach Brian Daboll said the second goal was not Nabers' fault.
“They often say, especially with motion, that you have to set up the entire attack before the motion,” Nabers said. “So if everyone's not ready, they're going to keep calling.”
Falcons rookie QB Michael Penix Jr. completed 18 of 27 for 202 yards in his first NFL start.
He did not throw a touchdown pass and was intercepted once when the ball was deflected into the air by tight end Kyle Pitts and picked up by cornerback Cordale Flotte on the goal line.
The Giants didn't make any fuss about Penix after that.
“The game was simple for him,” OLB Brian Burns said. “They ran the ball nearly 40 times. A lot of their plays were double-sided chips and boots, rollouts, quick passes. They kept it simple for him and executed at a high level. So my hat is off to them.”
S Jason Pinnock was ejected in the third quarter with an eye injury.
Injuries to John Runyan Jr. and Aaron Stein led to deeper depth on the inside offensive line, with Jake Kubas at left guard making his first NFL start.
Kubas became the first undrafted rookie to start a game for the Giants at guard in a non-strike season since Dick Hanson on December 19, 1971.
