In entrance of legends celebrating the workforce’s a centesimal season, the New York Giants have been completely embarrassed on Sunday afternoon in East Rutherford, falling to Sam Darnold and the Minnesota Vikings, 28-6.
The loss got here after Vikings defenders actually laughed at any notion the Giants would problem them offensively.
Issues received so unhealthy that followers waited an hour after the sport — having left the stadium within the third quarter — simply to heckle quarterback Daniel Jones on the way in which to his automobile.
It was a rock-bottom second for a franchise that has had solely too many rock-bottom moments over the previous decade-plus. However Sunday’s failure started lengthy earlier than anybody took the sector.
Coming into the sport, the Giants had simply 51 gamers on their 53-man roster, leaving them shorthanded out of the gate.
“It was roster administration relative to a few of the guys that we launched or placed on the follow squad. We’ll revisit that (on Monday),” head coach Brian Daboll informed reporters after the sport.
Issues received even worse for the Giants throughout pre-game warmups when vast receiver Gunner Olszewski, who was already nursing a groin damage, suffered a setback and was unable to play. That left the workforce with simply 50 gamers plus their two follow squad elevations.
Figuring out that Olszewski had been restricted all week and was damage, one would assume Daboll had a backup plan. He didn’t.
With Olszewski out, the Giants thrust vast receiver Darius Slayton into the position of punt returner. He responded with a fumble.
Then got here one thing much more weird — the snap counts.
Offensive snaps: 71
Defensive snaps: 55
Particular groups snaps: 24
Large receiver Jalin Hyatt took simply 4 snaps via the primary three quarters and completed with 16. He was focused simply as soon as, leaving his field-stretching skill on the chopping room ground.
And the way about “cash backer” Isaiah Simmons? After serving as a defensive point of interest and influence participant all summer time, he took a grand whole of zero defensive snaps within the sport.
Rookie linebacker Darius Muasau drew the beginning over Micah McFadden, who had a breakout marketing campaign in 2023, whereas Cor’Dale Flott was shifted into the slot the place he noticed no motion all through coaching camp and the preseason.
Then there was Dexter Lawrence. After weeks of hypothesis that he would play near 100% of the snaps, he took simply 37 on Sunday — three greater than Rakeem Nunez-Roches. Every time he left the sport, the Giants have been dashed.
Perhaps the Giants are attempting to tank. What different rationalization may there be?