Grading the Giants’ 26-25 home loss to the Rams on Sunday.
Offense
The good, the bad and the ugly all wrapped up in one game for Tyrod Taylor (27 of 41, 319 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT).
Some huge plays — 31-yard run in the closing minute was excellent — but too much indecision on botched 2-point conversion flip way behind Saquon Barkley.
Taylor’s 80-yard bomb to Darius Slayton (4-106) was in the air a long, long time.
Taylor on fourth-and-1 in the second quarter mishandled the snap for a fumble.
As for Barkley (12-39 rushing, 3-19 receiving) it was a rough outing.
It was a rough day on Sunday for Saquon Barkley. Robert Sabo for NY PostWhat’s with the dropped passes?
Rookie Jalin Hyatt failed to haul in a deep pass on the first series but broke free on the sideline for an 18-yard completion on the first TD drive.
Wan’Dale Robinson scored on a 24-yard jet sweep.
TE Daniel Bellinger was called for a hold late in the first quarter, his fifth penalty of the season.
His sixth, a holding call in the fourth quarter, negated a 47-yard completion to Hyatt.
Rough stuff. Ben Bredeson had a costly holding penalty in the fourth quarter.
A holding penalty by rookie C John Michael Schmitz took back a 15-yard gain by Taylor.
Only 5 of 16 on third down conversions.
Grade: C
Wan’Dale Robinson scored a touchdown for the Giants on Sunday. USA TODAY Sports via Reuters ConDefense
At times, it seemed as if Matthew Stafford(24 of 34, 317, 1 TD, 2 INTs) was marching up and down the field.
Really bad job of tackling by Adoree’ Jackson on what turned into an 80-yard gain by Puka Nacua.
CB Cor’Dale Flott was called for holding in the fourth quarter to give the Rams a first down.
Work against the run (23-105) was mostly solid, but Kyren Williams(20-87) ran for three TDs.
Nacua (5-118) did damage, as did Demarcus Robinson(6-92), but Cooper Kupp(4-27) was held in check.
Big game for S Dane Belton, filling in after Jason Pinnock was lost to injury. Belton, always around the ball, had two interceptions and one fumble recovery.
Jackson forced a fumble on Robinson. Bobby Okereke had 10 tackles and 1.5 sacks.
Isaiah Simmons had a big third-down sack. Kayvon Thibodeaux (no sacks, no quarterback hits) was quiet again.
Grade: C-plus
Special teams
This gets complicated.
Gunner Olszewski had a brilliant escape job on his 94-yard punt return for a touchdown late in the fourth quarter.
He also misplayed a third quarter punt that sailed over his head, hesitating to run after the ball and then getting tripped up for a 3-yard loss, handing Ethan Evansa 70-yard punt. Good and bad.
Mason Crosby hit field goals of 31 and 32 yards but came up way short on a 54-yarder with 30 seconds left to put the Giants into the lead.
Mason Crosby missed a field goal late in the fourth quarter that would’ve given the Giants the lead. Corey Sipkin for the NY PostThe 39-year old Crosby also was wide right on an extra point try in the third quarter.
Darnay Holmes was called for a holding penalty on the final punt return.
Jamie Gillan showed nice touch on a 39-yard punt that put the Rams back on their 12-yard line.
Grade: C
Coaching
Brian Daboll does not call the plays on offense but he has veto power, so why didn’t he overrule the ill-advised draw play to Barkley that lost two yards before the final field goal miss?
That is a game-deciding moment, there.
Daboll won a replay challenge that wiped out a 15-yard completion on the opening Rams series.
Giants coach Brian Daboll on the sidelines against the Rams. Corey Sipkin for the NY POSTTwo plays later, Daboll won an even bigger replay challenge on what turned out to be a non-catch by Nacua on fourth down.
It looked as if Wink Martindale brought more heat in the second half as the Giants picked up three of their four sacks.
Grade: C






