BUCCANEERS 25 - GIANTS 23
Another week, another blown opportunity for the New York Giants. What has become a disturbing pattern this year, the Giants came oh-so close to victory only to have the rug pulled out from underneath them.
On Monday it was two-fold.
The Giants not only found themselves on the wrong end of a horrible non-pass interference call on Buccaneers safety Antoine Winfield Jr. when he clearly bumped Dion Lewis in the end zone, but Daniel Jones sunk Big Blue with two huge turnovers.
The question about the viability of Jones as the Giants "franchise quarterback" is only going to come into focus more and more. This was the fourth Giants loss by less than four points this season. And in each case the Giants had a chance to win the game and failed to do so.
On Monday, the Giants could have long avoided their now infamous defeat had they taken advantage of the numerous opportunities that were in front of them to put this game away.
Case number 1: Giants up 7-3, and have just gotten the ball back after Tampa Bay punted away with 2:10 to go in the first quarter. Jones leads the Giants on a lengthy 12-play 55-yard drive that winds up stalling and going backwards at the Bucs' 33 yard line. Instead of getting even three points, the Giants were forced to punt when Jones was sacked on third and seven.
Case number 2: Interception No. 1: The Giants held a 14-6 lead on Tampa coming out of the break. The image of the night up to this point was Tom Brady slamming his Buccaneers helmet into the bench in frustration. The Giants start the third quarter with a 44-yard kick return by Dion Lewis that sets up shop perfectly near midfield.
Instead the Giants blow that shot too. On second and eight, Jones tries to avoid the rush and hurries his throw down the sideline only to have it picked off. The Bucs turn the pick into three points to cut the Giants lead to 14-9.
Case number 3: The Giants trail the Bucs 15-14 late in the third quarter, and again Jones has the Giants moving the football deep into Tampa Bay territory. And, again the Giants choke. On first and ten at the Bucs' 15-yard line, the Giants are called for holding and it completely wrecks the drive. The Giants need four plays to even get back to the original line of scrimmage and by that point it's fourth and ten, and Big Blue had to settle for 3-points instead of 7. Giants lead 17-15, instead of 21-15.
Case number 4: Leading 17-15, the Giants again get a break when Brady and the Bucs go three-and-out on offense. Now the Giants have a shot to put this game away. Things are looking good as the Giants quickly move into Buccaneers territory. However on second and five from the Bucs' 34, Jones tries to roll to his right to avoid pressure and makes an ill advised throw in tight coverage.
You guessed it, it was picked off.
Of course the Giants failed to respond on their ensuing drive, and Tampa tacked on with a field goal that all but put the game away until the final minute.
But the facts are two Giants turnovers led to 10 Buccaneers points. What should have been a Giants upset was a night that got away.
Even when the Giants got that last second touchdown to make it Tampa Bay 25 - New York 23, Jones was too late on his throw to Lewis in the end zone. Had he thrown it sooner, and got the ball to Lewis at the pylon, perhaps there is no contact with Winfield. Perhaps the Giants tie it and force overtime. At that point who knows what would happen.
The facts are though that the Giants grabbed defeat from the jaws of victory, and cost themselves what would have been their most impressive and improbable victory of the year.
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