LANDOVER, Md. — With Shane Bowen on the scene as defensive coordinator, the Giants' run defense was supposed to improve.
The Giants fell to 0-2 after a 21-18 loss to the Commanders at Northwest Stadium and looked pretty doomed.
“It's not ideal,” linebacker Bobby Okereke said.
He was referring to the 215 yards he gained on the ground.
Brian Robinson fought with all his might to gain 133 yards on just 17 rushes and averaged 7.8 yards per rush.
Jayden Daniels was actually held in check by his incredible speed and escape ability, gaining just 44 yards on 10 runs.
Austin Ekeler ran eight times for 38 yards.
The threat of Daniels holding the ball on option runs opened lanes for Robinson, who completed a 40-yard pass in the third quarter to assist on one of Austin Seibert's seven field goals.
“Hats off to them. They did a great job,” defensive end Brian Barnes said. “That style of offense, I had to watch the film to know exactly what happened, but with just the read option and the RPOs, they're able to manipulate the defense and everybody has to do their job. If somebody gets out of a gap, they can hit it.”
Okereke recorded eight tackles and one sack against Daniels but was not pleased with his performance.
“We had too many explosive plays defensively, especially on third down, too many missed tackles, and that was my fault,” Okereke said.
Rookie WR Malik Neighbors had a 28-yard catch-and-run in the first quarter, but a blindside hit by LB Frankie Louv tied the score.
An NFL spotter in the booth called onto the field to check Neighbors for a concussion after Luv's helmet made contact with Neighbors' helmet.
“I didn't know what was going on,” Neighbors said. “They told me to get off the field. I was like, 'Why?' Those are their rules. They're trying to keep us safe. I have to follow their rules.”
This is the only division rival the Giants have dealt with for a long time.
They have won three straight games against the Commanders and have eight wins, two losses and one draw since December 2018.
The Commanders signed Seibert last week and released York after Cade York missed two field goals in a 37-20 loss in the season opener at Tampa.
In his Washington debut, Seibert made 7 of 7 field goals (all from within 45 yards), including a 30-yard field goal in the final seconds of the game that sealed the win.
“Oh, no, I haven't,” Seibert said when asked if he'd ever made that many field goals in a game. “Maybe in Little League.”
The Giants became the first team in NFL history to score three touchdowns, allow no touchdowns and lose in regulation.
