To say things could have gone better in the New York Giants’ season opener would be the understatement of the century. After coming off a promising summer filled with supposed roster upgrades and an incredible preseason, it’s already at risk of completely falling apart.
The G-Men fell to Washington to the uninspiring tune of 21 to 6. The offensive line was atrocious, and the ground game couldn’t get going, which ultimately led to one miserable performance from one Russell Wilson.
The new starting quarterback looked anything but, and his future in East Rutherford is already on thin ice. Things were supposed to be different this year, but it’s looking like more of the same from Big Blue, who are still trying to climb their way out of the basement. Wilson looked rough in Week 1. Here are three observations from his underwhelming first start.
3 telling Russell Wilson observations from Giants miserable opener vs Commanders
Russell Wilson can still use his legs
Big Blue couldn’t run the ball to save its life, but Wilson was at least able to turn back the clock at times, leading the team in rushing with 44 yards. Let’s be clear — these runs were not by design, they were by default. It was the only way he could remotely escape the pressure he was constantly facing, sometimes resulting in a positive play. If there’s a silver lining, it’s that he can still run when needed.
Time in the pocket will be limited
Terrible. Just terrible. The offensive line should be ashamed of itself. Have these guys ever played football before? It’s actually crazy how little blocking took place Sunday afternoon. It was almost as if Wilson had wronged his linemen before the game, and to get back at him, they thought not blocking would serve as the optimal punishment.
There wasn’t a single play where the 36-year-old didn’t take a snap and immediately fall under duress. Without Andrew Thomas, this line is a mess, and it’ll be a mess for anyone who goes under center. Shocking that the team’s biggest weakness for years reared its ugly head again due to a complete lack of offseason attention. It’s a joke.
He's not the savior
Let’s not spend too much time on this, because it’s obvious. Russell Wilson is not going to save this franchise. Not this team. Not this season. There are fundamental problems baked into the DNA of this roster, and Wilson isn’t nearly enough. I’m not calling for Dart — he’d get obliterated behind this line — but it’s very apparent Wilson isn’t going to change the outlook of this team.