Giant struggles have Manning and Co. feeling the heat in N.Y.
After defeating the Browns 27-13 at Cleveland on Nov. 27, 2016, the New York Giants have failed to score more than 19 points in six consecutive regular-season games, plus in one NFC playoff game wedged in.
If the Giants fail to crack 20 again Monday night at home against the Detroit Lions, it’ll be eight straight — the equivalent of half a season of such offensive futility.
Why haven’t we heard more about these Giant struggles on offence? Probably because the defence has been so good, at least most of the time.
During the slump, the New York defence has allowed 10 points or fewer three times, all New York wins.
After starting the season last week with an feeble 19-3 loss at Dallas, the Giants need a win, no matter how few points they score. And regardless of whether star receiver Odell Beckham Jr. plays.
Word over the weekend was Beckham will be a game-time decision; he’s officially listed as questionable. He practised, albeit on a limited basis, this past week for the first time in a month after badly spraining an ankle in a mid-August pre-season game.
Blame for long-standing Giants offensive struggles typically gets thrown at the feet of veteran quarterback Eli Manning, which is happening again. Especially for all his quickly dispatched check-down throws Week 1 in Dallas. Is such criticism justified? To a point, yes, said Giants offensive co-ordinator Mike Sullivan on Saturday.
“I would say that Eli, like everyone else on the offensive side of the ball, had a bad night,” Sullivan said.
“Had a night that is not up to our standard.
“(It was) one bad night. And to rush to conclusions (as to) where he’s at or where anybody is after one game would be premature.”
Head coach Ben McAdoo is feeling the heat, too. Remember, he was Tom Coughlin’s last offensive co-ordinator and probably the chief reason McAdoo got to replace Coughlin is because Manning liked him a lot and fit his system too.
This past week McAdoo reportedly blasted his offensive players, Manning included.