Frustrated Giants D not good enough

The Giants have been dreadful, nearing the point of no longer being disappointing, and simply just being labeled as bad. Through two games, it truly isn’t obvious that they are the best team to play home games at MetLife Stadium.

Now, imagine if the defense had been as ugly as the other side of the ball.

Even without top cornerback Janoris Jenkins, and linebacker B.J. Goodson, last year’s much-improved defense was solid for the second straight week, again allowing just 17 points, in the Giants’ 24-10 loss to the Lions on Monday night.

“It’s easy to say the offense only scored 10 points, but what did we do to get off the field when it was time to get off the field at the end of the game to get the ball back to our offense?” defensive captain Jonathan Casillas said.

The defense can only shoulder so much of the blame. The defensive front sustained strong pressure, and recorded three sacks, while holding Lions quarterback Matt Stafford to 122 yards passing.

The points scored against the Giants defense was largely the result of them being on the wrong side of a short field.

The Lions scored their first touchdown — a 27-yard touchdown pass to Marvin Jones Jr., caught over Eli Apple — late in the first quarter after needing to drive just 54 yards, following a 37yard Brad Wing punt.

When Jason Pierre-Paul caused a fumble with a sack early in the second quarter — recovered by Devon Kennard — Eli Manning gave the ball back one play later with an interception, putting the Lions at the Giants’ 29-yard line. Less than three minutes later, the Lions took a 14-7 lead on a 7-yard touchdown pass to Eric Ebron.

“Whether [the defense has been] good or not, we’ve got to find a way to win,” cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie said. “We’re going out there playing good, but I guess we’re not playing good enough.”