Three takeaways from Giants' Week 10 overtime loss to the Carolina Panthers
Giants running back Tyrone Tracy Jr. scores a touchdown during an NFL game against the Carolina Panthers in Munich, Germany, on Sunday. Credit: EPA-EFE/Shutterstock/Anna Szilagyi
1. Giants are living on the edge.
In seasons such as this one, this is the point when folks start taking the emotional and psychological temperature of teams.
After the Giants’ 20-17 overtime loss to the Panthers on Sunday, nose tackle Dexter Lawrence — the biggest man in the locker room both literally and figuratively — had interesting things to say about that.
When asked if coach Brian Daboll’s message is getting through to players, Lawrence said, “I think it is. It just has to be comprehended a little better.
“I think it’s getting through. It’s just critical moments. We’ve got to understand what those critical moments are to be able to win and come out on top.”
Is he troubled by such lack of comprehension?
“Yeah, it’s annoying, for sure,” he said. “But I’m not in other people’s heads or brains. Maybe it’s got to be communicated differently or [they’ve] got to hear it from somebody else.”
It did not appear Lawrence meant hearing it from another head coach. Rather, he seemed to be saying others need to reinforce Daboll’s directions.
But Lawrence’s key message to the 2-8 team remains this: “Just evaluate yourself before you start pointing fingers or starting cliques or stuff like that. It’s a young team, and that can happen really easily if the leaders don’t jump on top of it.”
2. Jones is what he is
You know the drill by now after six years of Daniel Jones. The guy has skills and makes big plays some of the time — just not enough of the time.
On Sunday, he rushed seven times for 26 yards, including a 2-yard touchdown, and expertly executed a drive for the tying field goal with no timeouts in the final 2 ½ minutes, using a series of short completions.
But . . . he threw two interceptions after the Giants had reached the red zone, missed on a couple of other throws, was unable to connect with open receivers Wan’Dale Robinson and Malik Nabers on a flea-flicker before being sacked and, of course, lost the game.
How much longer will Daboll keep sending Jones out there? The bye week will be a test of that resolve.
3. Tracy is a keeper
Not much was expected of rookie Tyrone Tracy Jr., a fifth-round pick who has made himself the No. 1 back and delivered again on Sunday with 103 yards, including an impressive 32-yard scoring run.
He also had two awful moments, first having the ball ripped out of his arms by Josey Jewell for a back-breaking interception, then fumbling the ball on the first play of overtime to set up the Panthers’ winning field goal.
But afterward, Tracy faced the media music like a pro, a task made more difficult by being brought to the elaborate interview lectern used by the German soccer power Bayern Munich and facing a large international contingent of reporters.
Tracy can play, and he will get past this crushing disappointment.
Neil Best first worked at Newsday in 1982, returned in 1985 after a detour to Alaska and has been here since, specializing in high schools, college basketball, the NFL and most recently sports media and business.
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