By midway through the second quarter Sunday, the New York Giants more than doubled their point total from their season-opening loss, and they finished with 37.
The problem? They allowed Dallas to score 40, blowing a late lead in overtime.
Even though they looked like an entirely different team, from Russell Wilson down, an ill-timed interception marred an otherwise strong performance by the veteran quarterback and a series of mistakes on either side of the ball to 0-2.
鈥淚t鈥檚 never going to come down to one play,鈥 coach Brian Daboll said Monday. 鈥淣ot one player, not one side 鈥 it goes back to the team. We collectively had opportunities and fell short as a collective unit.鈥
Wilson threw for 450 yards and three touchdowns 鈥 after he and the offense in Week 1 at Washington. His final pass was picked off with two minutes left in OT, setting the stage for Brandon Aubrey’s buzzer-beating 46-yard field goal to win it for the Cowboys.
Before that, New York’s defense let Dallas go a mere 21 yards in the final seconds of regulation to get Aubrey in range for the tying kick.
鈥淚t’s on us to really emphasize the details a little bit more,鈥 said Jevon Holland, who along with fellow safety Tyler Nubin and cornerback Paulson Adebo played all 89 snaps on defense. 鈥淲e left a lot on the table, especially as a defense. We had opportunities to close out the games.鈥
Patrick Mahomes and the are up next on Sunday night in the home opener.
What鈥檚 working
The offense put up 506 yards, including 45 on 11 carries from . Jaxson Dart lost a few on his first NFL snap, but his teammates more than made up for that.
鈥淚t was just the explosiveness,鈥 receiver Wan’Dale Robinson said. 鈥淎t the end of the day, for plays to work, usually all 11 have to be working together and doing the right thing.鈥
What needs help
The red zone continues to be an area of concern. The Giants went 1 for 5, with Graham Gano kicking three field goals.
鈥淚t really just comes down to execution, negative plays, penalties, things like that,鈥 Robinson said. 鈥淛ust got to clean those things up and just be better down there.鈥
Stock up
Malik Nabers wasn’t the only receiver making a major impact. Robinson had eight catches for a career-high 142 yards and a TD.
鈥淛ust waiting for my opportunity to showcase (myself and) yesterday was that day,鈥 Robinson said. 鈥淔rom the moment that Russ got here, he was like, 鈥楧ude, I know you can get down the field. I鈥檝e seen it.鈥欌
Nabers’ stock can’t get much higher, but he dazzled again with nine catches for 167 yards and two touchdowns.
Stock down
James Hudson, who has been starting at left tackle in Andrew Thomas’ absence, got benched after committing four penalties on 16 snaps. Rookie Marcus Mbow, a fifth-round pick out of Purdue, took over and could get the nod moving forward if Thomas is not ready to play for the first time since right foot surgery last October.
Injuries
Daboll had no updates Monday on guard Jon Runyan Jr. (back) or linebacker Darius Muasau, who left the Cowboys game because of a concussion. Thomas continues to rehab from foot surgery.
Key number
160 鈥 Penalty yards against the Cowboys, the franchise’s most since 175 on Oct. 19, 1947, against the Boston Yanks.
What鈥檚 next
The Giants opened as 6-point underdogs on BetMGM Sportsbook against the Chiefs, who are coming off at home to reigning Super Bowl champion Philadelphia.
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