Rough road for N. Y.
Coming off loss to Minnesota, Giants get Patriots next
The hope rookie sensation Daniel Jones generated for a turnaround season for the New York Giants with wins in his first two starts at quarterback is fading.
The Giants ( 2- 3) were outclassed by the Minnesota Vikings in a 28- 10 loss Sunday, and there were few positives.
The Vikings ( 3- 2) outgained the Giants 490- 211, including 211- 64 on the ground. Jones was punished by Minnesota’s talented front four on almost every pass attempt and running back Wayne Gallman, who was replacing the injured Saquon Barkley, had to leave early with a concussion. The defense did little right.
If that isn’t bad enough, this is a short week. Pat Shurmur’s group is back on the field Thursday to play Tom Brady and the undefeated Super Bowl champion New England Patriots ( 5- 0).
It ’s hard to imagine New York winning the game. A loss would drop it to 2- 4. That would leave 10 reg ular- season games to play, including six with teams who currently have a winning record.
There are two games with the Philadelphia Eagles ( 3- 2), who are tied with Dallas for first place in the NFC East.
The prospects for the playoffs would be slim, especially since the Giants have not beaten a team with a winning record — Tampa Bay ( 2- 3) and Washington ( 0- 5) this season were their victims. It would be a seventh time in eight years without a playoff berth.
If there is a positive, it ’s Jones. The sixth pick overall in the draft is the real thing. He has replaced Eli Manning and transformed the offense with his throwing and ability to extend plays with his legs. He also makes rookie mistakes. Two came Sunday, missing receiver Sterling Shepard on throws that might have been touchdowns.
Make those plays, and Sunday might have been different. It wasn’t though and the 2019 season, which started off 0- 2 under Manning, is again in trouble with Jones running the show.
What’s working
Special teams. Rookie Corey Ballentine had a 52yard kickoff return to set up the Giants’ touchdown. Riley Dixon averaged 44.7 on three punts, with one rolling dead at the Vikings’ 2. The Vikings scored a TD on the ensuing series. Aldrick Rosas hit his only field- goal attempt.
What needs help
The revamped offensive line allowed Jones to be hit or sacked on 12 of 38 pass attempts, and the running game netted 64 yards on 20 carries, or 3.2 yards. The longest run was 11 yards. That might have been the play on which Gallman was hurt. The 211 total yards were the team’s lowest since 170 yards against Washington on Nov. 23, 2017.
Stock up
Wide receiver Darius Slay ton. The fifth- round draft pick caught four passes for 62 yards, including a diving catch on a 35- yard touchdown pass from Jones.
Stock down
Nate Solder. The team’s highest paid lineman was called for two holding penalties and appeared to give up two sacks and at least that many pressures. Through five games, the left tackle has allowed roughly 20 pressures and five sacks.
“Well, none of it has been good enough,” Solder said.
Injured
Gallman left the game with a concussion in the first quarter and Shepard is back in concussion protocol. Their chances of playing Thursday aren’t good. Rookie
Jon
Hilliman and Eli
Penny are the only healthy backs.
Barkley might return from his high ankle sprain, but that might be pushing it for such a valuable piece of the offense. Linebackers Alec Ogletree ( hamstring), Lorenzo Carter ( neck) and Tae Davis ( concussion) were inactive and might return.
Next steps
The defense has to stop blow i ng coverages and missing tack les. The Vik i ngs had 10 plays of 19 yards or more, including t wo of more t han 40. That tota led 259 yards, or an average of 25.9 yards. The other 54 plays netted 231 yards, 4.2 yards per, stil l not good.