EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — The New York Giants are reinterpreting the saying: “There is no place like home,” as their MetLife Stadium has become a site of disappointment.
After losing all three games played there this season, the Giants (2-4) faced another setback on Sunday night, suffering a 17-7 defeat against the struggling Cincinnati Bengals.
Their performance at home has provided little for fans to celebrate, particularly with the offense stuttering. The Giants have managed to score just 28 points combined in losses to Minnesota, Dallas, and Cincinnati, with their only touchdown coming from rookie Tyrone Tracy on a 1-yard run after a pass interference call in the third quarter.
Coach Brian Daboll, who also serves as the offensive play-caller, acknowledged the team’s struggles, stating, “I’ll go back and watch the tape. I thought we had some opportunities throughout the game. Whether it be run, whether it be pass.”
Mistakes on offense loomed large during the game. Quarterback Daniel Jones advanced the ball to the Bengals’ 14-yard line but was intercepted after being hit by former Giants player B.J. Hill while attempting a pass intended for tight end Theo Johnson.
Another promising drive was halted late in the second quarter when Jones connected with Darius Slayton for a 56-yard gain, only for the play to be called back due to a penalty on left tackle Andrew Thomas for being illegally downfield.
This was the trend for New York that night. They managed to convert only 5 of 15 third-down attempts and 3 of 5 fourth downs, despite outgaining the Bengals in total yards (309 to 304).
“It’s very disappointing — we just couldn’t sustain drives, execute, or get into a rhythm, and it’s frustrating,” Jones commented, completing 22 of 41 passes for 205 yards. “I feel like we’ve taken steps and progressed as an offense. Obviously, we didn’t do that today, so we’ll evaluate what we need to improve and fix it.”
A glaring absence for the Giants has been rookie standout Malik Nabers, who was leading the league with 35 receptions before suffering a concussion against Dallas on September 26. Although the Giants managed to secure a win in Seattle last week, his absence has been felt, and there is hope he could return for the upcoming game against the Eagles at MetLife Stadium.
“He definitely brings out a certain energy and aura when he’s on the field,” said linebacker Brian Burns. “He’s an explosive player, and we would love to have him back, but we’ve seen guys stepping up in his absence, so it’s always next-man-up.”
The Giants’ longest play of the night consisted of four passes that amounted to just 15 yards, failing to create any explosive moments.
“It makes it tough when you have to do that in this league,” remarked Jones, who led the team with 56 rushing yards on 11 attempts. “I think credit goes to their defense for their scheme and plan to limit big plays, but we’ve got to execute and find a way to create some.”
Positively, the Giants’ defense showed resilience during their last two home games, restricting Dallas to 20 points in a narrow 20-15 loss and holding Cincinnati to 17 points, a significant reduction from their recent scoring averages.
However, the special teams also left room for improvement. Kicker Greg Joseph missed two crucial field goals from 47 and 45 yards in the fourth quarter, with the first attempt occurring when New York was trailing 10-7.