The New York Giants’ Sunday afternoon would make a lot more sense if head coach Brian Daboll’s job is safe.
Spending their Week 18 on the road against the Philadelphia Eagles, the Giants look much like the team that lost 10 games in a row and remained in contention for the No. 1 pick for much of the year. That top pick is out of the question after the Cleveland Browns lost on Saturday, but New York looked like a tanking team early on Sunday.
Through two quarters, the Giants trail 10-0.
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On the first drive of the game, Daboll made an uncharacteristically aggressive decision, going for it on 4th-and-7 from Philadelphia’s 49-yard line. Quarterback Drew Lock’s pass was incomplete.
Lock’s return to earth wasn’t noteworthy or surprising, but it did make the offense much less potent, even with the Eagles resting their best players on both sides of the ball.
After third-string Eagles quarterback Tanner McKee led a touchdown drive, a quick three-and-out gave Philadelphia a chance to extend its lead.
While the offense did enough to make it a two-possession game, one of the active starters – kicker Jake Elliott – did not. He missed a 39-yard field goal, keeping the Giants in the game.
The offense once again worked into enemy territory. Daboll, again, was aggressive on fourth down. On fourth-and-short, Lock aired it out to receiver Malik Nabers for a drive-ending incompletion.
The ensuing drive began with an aborted snap fumble over McKee's head, but Philadelphia delivered a scoring drive by way of a short Elliott field goal. New York was content to get out of the first half as quickly as possible fumbling before punting after another three-and-out. The Eagles returned the favor in the waning seconds of the half.
Philadelphia will receive the second-half kickoff.
