3 Lessons Learned From The New York Giants Week 2 Loss To The Washington Commanders

The New York Giants came to life on Sunday against the Washington Commanders after looking like an XFL team in Week 1 against the Minnesota Vikings.

Their offense moved the ball, scoring 3 touchdowns and looking like a functional NFL operation.

Their defense held Washington to zero touchdowns and didn’t allow themselves to become supporting characters in a Jayden Daniels highlight reel.

The Giants were 1 injured kicker away from their first win of the season.

Let’s talk about the 3 biggest lessons we learned from the Giants Week 2 loss to the Washington Commanders:

1. Darius Slayton is Dogshit

Darius Slayton was the New York Giants No. 1 wide receiver the last two seasons.

It’s always been impossible to properly assess Daniel Jones after two straight years of him looking up and seeing Darius Slayton standing hand-in-hand with his defender.

And before Slayton, it was Kenny Golladay. DJ never stood a chance.

Today, when the Giants needed two-point conversions, Darius Slayton bricked two endzone receptions right off his paws.

Meanwhile, first-round draft pick, Malik Nabers, stood in front of the class and introduced himself.

Daniel Jones to Malik Nabers

We. Are. So. Fucking. Back. pic.twitter.com/YlpmDHBIIB

— Dreadlef Schrempf (@TheLesterLee) September 15, 2024

10 catches
127 yards
1 touchdown

Malik Nabers is the most talented receiver Daniel Jones has ever had.

As their chemistry develops, they will form a symbiosis, bordering on dangerous co-dependence, that’ll have opposing defenses in HELL every week.

As long as Darius Slayton stays out of the way.

2. Shane Bowen is a Red Zone Merchant

Defensive Coordinator Shane Bowen came into New York having just led the Tennesee Titans to one of the best defensive seasons. The Titans allowed the fewest yards and had the best red zone defense in the NFL.

Bowen brought the red zone stuffing with him but forgot how to stop teams from casually strolling up and down the field.

The Giants defense gave up 425 yards, including 215 on the ground. They couldn’t get Washington’s offense to the sidelines.

But to Bowen’s credit, Washington was 0-for-6 in the red zone and had to settle for field goals.

This may work against a kid playing in his SECOND career NFL game but most teams aren’t committing 10 penalties like the Commanders did.

Thankfully, the Giants fly into Ohio next week to get some practice reps on Deshaun Watson.

3. Brian Daboll is Getting Fired

Giants kicker, Graham Gano, came into the game injured, before immediately popping his hammy on the opening kickoff, leaving the Giants without the field goal option all game.

I can’t even be hard on Daboll for this. Andy Reid probably makes his injured kicker sit out. Sean McVay most likely sits down his injured kicker.

Those 2 men have the ultimate job security though.

Brian Daboll is coaching like he’ll never get the chance to again. He should have activated Jude McAtamney, the undrafted rookie kicker on the practice squad, but instead, he went to bed Saturday night praying Gano would wake up healed.

Graham Gano can barley walk pic.twitter.com/9QY3T8fBgK

— 𝐂𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧 (@El_Troll_SZN) September 15, 2024

He didn’t wake up healed.

Daboll can’t afford to send an undrafted kicker out there. This would also explain the Daniel Jones direct runs up the middle. Brian Daboll cannot afford to think about the future.

We are about to see wayyyy more short-sighted decisions from Brian Daboll. This season won’t be fun.

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What lessons did you learn from the New York Giants week 2 loss? Leave a comment below. Respond on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram. Or shoot me an email at Deadseriousmailbag@gmail.com. Let’s chat, bay-beeeee.