Giants grades vs. Denver Broncos in Week 7
Giants head coach Brian Daboll watches from the sideline during the first half of an NFL game against the Denver Broncos in Denver on Sunday. Credit: AP/David Zalubowski
OFFENSE: B
Jaxson Dart completed 15 of 33 for 283 yards, threw three touchdown passes, and dove for a 1-yard score on a run to give the Giants the lead with 37 seconds left . . . all against one of the top defenses in the league. His one bad play, an interception in the fourth quarter, did turn the momentum. Wan’Dale Robinson caught six passes for 95 drew three penalties (two pass interferences and a facemask), and picked up an “assist” on the 41-yard touchdown that ricocheted off him and into the hands of Theo Johnson.
DEFENSE: D
In the first half they allowed just 102 total yards, had two sacks (both by league-leader Brian Burns), knocked down three passes, and came up with a goal-line stand that was capped by Dane Belton’s big hit at the 1. But they allowed 33 points in the fourth quarter and couldn’t even get a stop on the game-winning field goal drive. Bo Nix completed 27 of 50 for 279 yards with two TD passes and one big TD run.
SPECIAL TEAMS: F
It was only a matter of time before Jude McAtamney’s inexperience bit the Giants and this was the game. The kicker who has replaced Graham Gano the past month missed two extra points that would have been the difference in a one-point game. Jamie Gillan’s punting and kickoffs were solid. The Giants didn’t have any explosives in the return game.
COACHING: F
A second epic collapse this season in which the Giants went ahead with a touchdown and under a minute to play. They held leads of 19-0 and 26-8 but could not hold on. After dominating most of the game the defense could not come up with any answers late and the losses of Paulson Adebo and Jevon Holland to injuries were crippling. The offensive play-calling was at least creative and good enough to engineer that late go-ahead drive but it certainly is very little consolation.
Tom Rock began covering sports for Newsday in 1996 and became its NFL columnist in 2022. He previously was Newsday's Giants beat writer beginning in 2008.
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