Among Big Blue’s
OTHE BALL belonged to Eli Manning in the final two minutes, which is a comforting place for The Duke to take up residence. So, strip away the Odell Beckham-Josh Norman battle for attention that always seemed one outburst from exploding again, Weston Richburg becoming the first player tossed out with two personal fouls under the new OBJ rule, some practice squad guy named Andrew Adams picking up a crucial dumb foul for a needless vicious hit negating a blocked punt deep in Washington’s end, even overlook an embarrassing 31-yard completion by the punter off a fake that sure had the Giants faked.
“As sloppy as it was at times, we still had a chance at the end,” Manning said.
The Giants were so undisciplined despite knowing the officials would have no patience for the slightest bit of nonsense after the OBJ-Norman theatrics last year — and they still were so out of control they allowed the zebras to throw a party with 11 penalties for 128 yards, which is the first bad reflection on rookie coach Ben McAdoo. Even so, the heartbreaking 29-27 loss ending their undefeated season after a 2-0 start, came down to something really painful for the Giants to accept: Manning melted down with two of the worst fourth-quarter throws he’s made in years.
The first came with 13:35 remaining and the Giants down 26-24. They had a first down at the Washington 15, the Giants picked up a blitz, tight end Will Tye was the hot read but Manning threw the ball too far out in front down the middle, Tye didn’t fight hard enough to get there and Quinton Dunbar reached with his left hand to make a terrific interception at the goal line.
In that situation Manning has to go to OBJ, Victor Cruz or Sterling Shepard or he has to toss it into the second deck. Forget about progressions and reads, get the ball to the playmakers. Beckham did have a 24-yard catch on the drive to get the ball to the 5 but Richburg’s crunching block to Norman’s back got him ejected and cost the Giants 15 yards and preceded the interception.
Beckham was so ticked off he went to the sidelines and got into a fight with the kicking net. He lost. He unleashed a vicious right cross at the net and the bar