The NY Giants were outclassed in every facet of a blowout loss to the Chicago Bears in Week 17 of the 2021 NFL season
The NY Giants were completely unable to stage a passing game in a blowout loss to the Chicago Bears Sunday afternoon in Soldier Field.
From the first offensive snap of the game, through the final whistle, the Giants’ offensive line physically could not block the Chicago Bears’ front-seven, and New York would have been more productive running the ball on every play.
It’s little surprise that the Bears pulled away in a 29-3 win.
Through the first half, Mike Glennon had negative-12 passing yards, one fumble lost, and one interception. Glennon finished four-of-11 passing for 24 yards with two interceptions, four sacks, and two fumbles lost.
New York managed only 151 yards of total offense, with Saquon Barkley rushing for a season-high 102 yards.
The NY Giants’ offensive line was simply not prepared to play an NFL defense Sunday.
All told, the game Sunday mattered little for the now 4-12 NY Giants, who were eliminated from postseason contention in a blowout loss to the Philadelphia Eagles last Sunday. But, some players left an impression on their status with the team in 2022 during Sunday’s game.
Here are the NY Giants players who helped, and hurt their 2022 stock against the Bears:
NY Giants OT Nate Solder – Stock plummeting
In all likelihood, Nate Solder’s career with the NY Giants will end after next Sunday’s finale against the Washington Football Team. Performances like Sunday’s against the Chicago Bears are further evidence why that end may be overdue.
On the very first play from scrimmage, the Bears ran a stunt, sending Travis Gipson on a blitz against Solder, resulting in a strip-sack of Mike Glennon. Chicago ultimately punched it in for a David Montgomery touchdown two plays later.
The NY Giants have no long-term solution at right tackle, it would seem, but Solder’s stock is scraping rock-bottom.
NY Giants LB Lorenzo Carter – Stock rising
The final month of this season might be the strongest stretch of Lorenzo Carter’s career, and he might be playing at a level dominant enough to potentially return in 2022 … if the NY Giants can get him on a bargain contract (it’s likely all they can afford).
Sunday, on the Bears’ first possession, Carter emerged unblocked, sacking Andy Dalton. Carter finished with five tackles, one sack, and one tackle for loss.
Over the past three games, Carter has produced 13 tackles, four sacks, and a pair of forced fumbles.
Carter’s stock is rising, and if the NY Giants can afford him, might try to bring him back after his strong finish to this season.
NY Giants returner Pharoh Cooper: Stuck plummeting
Cooper’s blunder late in the first half defines the 2021 NY Giants, and in a lot of ways the organization’s decade of futility since its most recent Super Bowl championship in 2011.
With under 1:00 remaining in the first half, Cooper spread his arms, believing a Bears kickoff would bounce into the end zone, only to have the ball bounce and land short of the two-yard line. While the NY Giants recovered the fumble/live-ball, it merely prolonged disaster.
On the ensuing NY Giants possession, running back Devontae Booker was stopped in the end zone for a safety.
Cooper is a bottom-of-the-roster player, in the kickoff return role largely because of injuries at the top of the depth chart, but plays like Sunday’s are an easy way to wind up off the roster in 2022.
NY Giants CB Jarren Williams – Stock rising
A silver-lining to the disappointing second half of the season for the NY Giants is the defense may have discovered a young contributor in the secondary.
Jarren Williams, making his fifth appearance on Sunday afternoon, broke up an Andy Dalton pass in the end zone that prevented a Bears touchdown that would have extended Chicago’s lead to 21-3 just before halftime.
Williams is a cheap alternative to Adoree’ Jackson and might wind up being the better player to get on the field, especially for a rebuilding team. So far this season, Williams has allowed only seven completions on 14 targets and made 15 total tackles.