Biggest Takeaways from New York Giants' Week 15 Loss
By now, the New York Giants must feel like they’re stuck in Groundhog Day.
How could they not after losing yet another game in the final two minutes, this one a 38-35 decision to the Carolina Panthers?
It boggles the mind, it really does. Here was a Giants team that was down 35-7 as late as the third quarter but somehow had what it takes to stand toe-to-toe with the league’s lone remaining undefeated team.
Yet, as the Giants have done all too often this season, they ran out of steam just short of the finish line as Panthers kicker Graham Gano kicked the game-winning field goal as time expired—a kick the Giants felt in their collective derrieres.
As usual, let's run down what we learned about the Giants this week, good and bad.
The Secret to Defending Odell Beckham Jr. is Out
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For two years, defensive coordinators have spent many sleepless nights trying to figure out how to contain the talent that is Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr.
Panthers cornerback Josh Norman finally figured it out, and it was simple: Make Beckham mad.
In June, Beckham admitted to ESPN’s Dan Graziano that making him mad was the one thing he would do if he were a defensive coordinator trying to stop him.
Norman succeeded. He got underneath Beckham’s skin via trash talk and extracurricular activities. Had Beckham simply walked away from Norman instead of retaliating or instigating at the next available opportunity, he might have helped instead of hurt his team.
Yes, Beckham is young, and yes, he’s passionate about the game. But what the 23-year-old has to understand and practice is that the hardest punch in the gut he can throw is with his play, which by itself is spectacular. The other stuff puts him on the same level as so many others who aren’t blessed with the talent he has.
The Running Back Committee Approach Is (Hopefully) Dead
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For the second week in a row, the Giants went with a streamlined running game in which they designated one running back, Rashad Jennings, as the workhorse.
Once again, the commitment paid off as Jennings became the team’s first 100-yard back this season and the Giants rushed for a season-high 161 yards.
What’s more, each back had his role, including Shane Vereen, who was targeted a season-high 10 times, catching a team-leading eight passes for 43 yards and a touchdown.
Normally I’d say better late than never, but with the Giants' playoff hopes all but gone, it’s hard not to imagine what might have been had the coaching staff tried this streamlined approach a lot sooner this year.
Tom Coughlin Sounds Defeated
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Head coach Tom Coughlin paused a long time—longer than usual—when he was first grilled about why he didn’t take action after Odell Beckham Jr. committed three personal fouls.
“How many did he get?” Coughlin asked.
When told it was three, he paused, trying to find the right words.
“Well, that just goes to show you again he lost his composure.”
And in other news, the earth is round, but let’s get back to the second part of Coughlin’s press conference when he finally admitted that the thought of sitting Beckham did cross his mind.
So why not do it then?
“Because I wanted him to play the game,” Coughlin said. “He’s got to learn at some point how to deal with some things on the field.”
Sorry coach, but the way Beckham would have learned was to take what he loves—the game—away from him. You don’t reward bad behavior with the chance to continue said bad behavior and just hope that if you close your eyes, it goes away.
Coughlin always preaches about "team" and yet by not sitting Beckham down, even if just for a series, he pretty much sent the message that if you're a key player with talent, you'll get a longer leash than a marginal player.
If that's what he's preaching, be it purposely or otherwise, that's just flat out wrong.
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The Defense Needs Another Serious Overhaul
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In retrospect, you wonder if defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo knew more than he was letting on when he spoke to the media for the first time after being rehired and reminded everyone that he wasn’t a magician when it came to fixing the defense.
It’s certainly feasible, as Spagnuolo’s defense, which has partially been wrecked by injuries and partially wrecked by a lack of talent at key spots, has struggled to make key stops all season long.
The latest shortcomings included Panthers tight end Greg Olsen slipping past the safeties in coverage for a 37-yard touchdown and quarterback Cam Newton catching the Giants linebackers napping during his first-quarter 47-yard run that set up Carolina's first score.
There are other instances—way too many to list in the time allotted to write this slideshow—but you hopefully get the point, which is that the personnel on defense needs to be upgraded in certain spots.
The Offensive Line Played Well Again
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Lost in the melee of the day is the fact that the Giants offensive line quietly had another solid game.
That’s right, the unit gave up no sacks and allowed just four quarterback hits, according to the official game book. Also, the Panthers defense managed just one tackle for a loss.
That’s a big, big improvement for the offensive line, which in the last two weeks in particular has been more than effective.
When you consider that one of the members of that unit, rookie Ereck Flowers, is playing with a bad ankle, that makes one appreciate the accomplishment even more.
Patricia Traina covers the Giants for Inside Football, the Journal Inquirer and Sports Xchange. All quotes and information were obtained firsthand unless otherwise sourced.
Follow me on Twitter @Patricia_Traina.
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