Giants grades: Mostly failing marks vs. Lions

OFFENSE: D 

Up until a few weeks ago, Bills quarterback Josh Allen was the odds-on favorite to win the league Most Valuable Player award because the Bills are very dependent on him. An argument can be made that the Giants have become equally dependent on Daniel Jones and Saquon Barkley in order to win. Because look what happens when they don’t play well, even against the NFL’s worst defense. Jones was picked off twice Sunday and Barkley rushed for only 22 yards on 15 carries. Wan’Dale Robinson’s career day (nine catches for 100 yards) and two Kenny Golladay sightings (two catches for 15 yards) were bright spots for the Giants. 

DEFENSE: F 

Burn the film. It’s for the best. Jared Goff (17-for-26, 165 yards) spent the afternoon standing in the pocket and taking his time deciding which skill position teammate he should deliver the ball to, when Justin Jackson (66 yards on nine carries), Jamaal Williams (64 yards and three TDs on 17 carries) and D’Andre Swift (20 yards on five carries) weren’t busy gaining a lot of yards on the ground.     

SPECIAL TEAMS: F 

In retrospect, perhaps Graham Gano missing an extra point wide right due to 16 MPH winds was an omen for how the rest of the afternoon was going to go. After Matt Breida’s three-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter, Gano banged an extra point attempt off the right cross bar. Certainly, losing starter cornerback and punt returner Adoree’ Jackson for the game with a knee injury after a second quarter punt return was unhelpful. 

COACHING: F

There hadn’t been anything to complain about in the first year of the Brian Daboll Era. Until Sunday’s loss, that is. The Giants were outclassed in every facet of the game by a Lions squad which came into Sunday with a less-than-stellar 3-6 record. And it is fair to wonder about the rationale of using Jackson, he of the three-year, $39 million free agent contract, as a punt returner.