GIANTS 0
In one of the most dismal showings in their history, the New York Giants were not only shutout they were absolutely humiliated by a Carolina Panthers team that clearly was playing for the job of their head coach Ron Rivera.
As a result, the Panthers saved their coach's job, while basically ending the Giants season in September on the first day of fall.
The Giants offense was terrible. In the first half alone, New York managed only 13 yards of offense, with one single yard passing. In fact, the only offense for Big Blue in the first half was a 14 yard scramble by quarterback Eli Manning.
That is how dominant the Panthers were on Sunday against the Giants. New York was held to only 10 first downs, 150 yards of offense, 90 yards passing and an abysmal 60 yards rushing.
The Giants showed little life, and worse off, little heart in this shellacking.
If there were any questions about the job security of Giants offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride and defensive coordinator Perry Fewell, there is now. Both coordinators were the ire of Giants fans discontent last year, and they will be under the microscope again, especially Fewell.
Fewell's defense was one of the worst in the NFL last year, and it hasn't changed this year. Against a Panthers team that struggled the past two weeks, they allowed D'Angelo Williams and Cam Newton run all over the field on Sunday.
Newton had 223 yards through the air with three touchdowns, and 45 more yards and touchdown on the ground. Williams paced the second half for Carolina with 120 yards on 23 carries.
The defense didn't bring any pressure, and took punches like a worn punching bag.
Offensively, the Giants offensive line continues to stink it up. They didn't protect Manning at all. The former Super Bowl MVP was sacked a total of seven times, and he never had a chance to sit back and deliver the football.And did I mention the running attack? The Giants running game, which had been so bad for so long was terrible again. David Wilson had only 39 yards rushing; it would have been more if a 15-yard touchdown was not called back for holding. Wilson has failed to provide the necessary spark in the backfield, and Brandon Jacobs was nonexistent on Sunday.
At 0-3 the Giants playoff hopes are next to zero. The last 0-3 team to make the postseason was the 1998 Buffalo Bills which, in fact, was the last time Buffalo even made the playoffs.
In short the 2013 season is likely over for the Giants. Dallas won impressively over St. Louis to take a 2-1 stranglehold on the East, while both Washington (0-3) and Philadelphia (1-2) aren't going anywhere either.
Glass half full, one can say that the division is weak enough for the Giants to get back into it, but the fact is there is nothing from this year's Giants squad that offers any glimmer that things will turn around.
The Giants will face the Kansas City Chiefs (3-0) in KC next week. This could get rough.
The last time the Giants started 0-3 on a season was 1996. The '96 Giants under Dan Reeves opened 0-3 with losses to Buffao, Dallas and Washington. The Giants finished 6-10 that season.
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