of New York Giants versus Washington CommandersThe Week 2 matchup was a showdown between two of the weakest teams in the NFL. Carolina Panthers The Giants and Commanders are already clearly the worst teams in the league, but they're also not expected to be strong teams. Both teams desperately needed to win Sunday's game, as they likely won't have many chances to win this year.
Giants kicker Graham Gano was placed on injured reserve Saturday with a groin injury. Gano made his discomfort clear during warm-ups.However, New York did not promote their other kicker to the active roster.
Gano limped off the field on the opening kickoff and was ultimately not allowed to play. The Giants had punter Jamie Gillan to kick the ball, but he had only attempted three field goals in his career. New York didn't trust him enough to actually kick a field goal in the game, which cost the team.
The Commanders beat the Giants 21-18 without a touchdown. Washington scored all of its points on seven field goals just five days after signing kicker Austin Seibert.
The Giants had a chance to kick a turnaround field goal with about two minutes left in the game. With the ball at Washington's 22-yard line, the Giants decided they couldn't trust Gillan's field goal and decided to go for it. QB Daniel Jones found an open Malik Neighbors for what would have been a first down, but he dropped it.
The Giants couldn't convert on a fourth down, and Jayden Daniels would receive the tying ball with two minutes left in the game.
Didn't you have fun? pic.twitter.com/Lalrpz5nWW
— Chad Ryan (@ChadwikoTWW) September 15, 2024
It would have been an easy field goal opportunity if Gano had been healthy, especially considering it was a major mistake by Giants management not to have another kicker on the active roster. New York had just 52 active players on Sunday.That's one short of the NFL limit.
Giants fans were infuriated by the poor management of the roster.
Graham Gano was placed on injured reserve on Saturday. The Giants did not promote Jude McAtamney. Now, with Gano injured, the Giants are without a kicker.
The Giants have 52 players (plus two elevations) on their active roster today and are already one short.
How? How?
— TheGiantsWire (@TheGiantsWire) September 15, 2024
Graham Gano was on injured reserve long before this game, and we see what happened last year when Gano tried to play through an injury. It would be inexcusable for Brian Daboll to not have a legitimate backup kicker on the roster today.
— The Entertainer (@TheEntertainah) September 15, 2024
The Giants have 52 players on the roster but are without a kicker, which could cost them games on its own.
Terrible roster management by Sean
— Metman▫️#NYMWSC24 (@WILPONSmustSELL) September 15, 2024
Imagine playing this game with 52 players, knowing they are in financial difficulty due to the salary cap and their kicker is injured.
Best Roster Management— Mike C (@GiantsMC66) September 15, 2024
Whoever was responsible for not putting a backup kicker on the active roster when they knew Gano was injured all week should be fired. The roster for the game only had 52 players instead of 53. Utter disgrace. Cheating and incompetence. Utterly. Pathetic.
— Sky Luque (@LuqueMeatSauce) September 15, 2024
Gano was injured during the opening kickoff and could barely walk.
At least this is cute:
The Giants might have won this game if they'd cared enough to add another kicker, but New York missed a golden opportunity to win one of the few games this season.
Remember this moment when everyone in charge of the Giants was finally fired.
