There are tough ways to lose a football game, and then there are soul-crushing ways to lose a football game. The New York Giants' 40-37 overtime Week 2 loss to the Dallas Cowboys is the latter.
Not only did they squander a perfect opportunity late to steal a victory in Arlington, but they also blew a chance to get Russell Wilson (who turned back the clock) his first win as a Giants quarterback. And if there was ever a game he should have won, it'd have been this one.
In truly one of the most electric and back-and-forth games of the season, coming away with a loss feels wrong. The offense certainly played well enough to win. Everyone else... didn't. The defense was nowhere to be seen, and the discipline all but disappeared. This team has an identity crisis in the worst way. Here are three winners and four losers from a truly gut-wrenching Week 2 loss.
3 winners (and 4 losers) from Giants' heartbreaking Week 2 loss vs Cowboys
Winner No. 1: Russell Wilson's Week 1 redemption
Mr. Unlimited certainly looked unlimited Sunday afternoon. The moonball was on full display. It was deep ball after deep ball, eventually finishing the game with 450 yards and three touchdowns. It wasn't all sunshine for Russ — his ill-advised overtime heave resulted interception all but sealed their loss, but it was still an awesome game for the 36-year-old future Hall of Famer.
Winner No. 2: Brian Burns
Brian Burns is a man on a mission. He's gotten off to a blistering start to the season. In Week 1, he came away with two sacks, and he added another against Dak Prescott, along with two tackles for loss. If the rest of the Giants defense played with half the effort Burns did, they'd have come away with the win.
The 27-year-old was flying around the field, making plays everywhere. The most impressive came late in the third quarter. He seemingly came from out of nowhere to instantly close in on a Javonte Williams check-down for a loss. He was a human missile. This is the intensity and effort this team needs from everyone.
Winner No. 3: Malik Nabers and Wan'Dale Robinson
Nabers and Robinson combined for 17 receptions on 23 targets for 309 yards and all of Wilson's passing TDs:
Malik Nabers | Wan'Dale Robinson | |
|---|---|---|
Receptions | 9 | 8 |
Receiving yards | 167 | 142 |
Receiving touchdowns | 2 | 1 |
Nabers and Robinson did everything they could to carry the G-Men. Nabers hauled in a pair of touchdowns, including a 48-yarder in double coverage with a defender draped across his facemask. Robinson, despite being questionable all week with an ankle injury, turned in a career day capped by a 50-yard score of his own.
This electric duo is going to be dangerous moving forward.
Loser No. 1: James Hudson
These numbers aren't typically indicative of any sort of rankings, but James Hudson's spot at No. 1 might break the mold. Where do we begin? Maybe it's the four penalties in the first six snaps of the opening drive. Or maybe it's the sideline blow-up with Brian Daboll after he was pulled from the game.
Whatever it was, Hudson is running out of time as the team's starter, if it's not already out. After a brutal Week 1 showing, it's clear he isn't the answer they were hoping for when they signed him to a two-year deal this offseason.
Loser No. 2: Laundry crew at AT&T Stadium
Let’s just say the yellow flags were flying early and often. 14 penalties for 160 yards is a nightmare stat line. At some point, it felt like the G-Men were trying to challenge their 1947 selves for the all-time franchise penalty record (they had 175 back then, for those keeping score).
The lack of discipline was outrageous — roughing the passer, pass interference, false starts — you name it, they committed it. It wasn't just sloppy; it’s self-destructive and unacceptable.
Loser No. 3: Red zone offense
Mike Kafka has to figure out how to call plays when the field gets tight. The Giants made five trips inside the red zone on Sunday and turned that into just one touchdown. The other four drives ended in three field goals and a turnover on downs. That’s 12 points just left sitting there.
It’s the same problem they had against Washington in Week 1 — they get close, then fall apart. At some point, Kafka needs a package that actually works inside the 20. Settling for field goals is why this team is 0-2 instead of 1-1.
Loser No. 4: DC Shane Bowen
Shane, Shane, Shane... where to even begin? We'll start with the obvious. All you had to do was not let the Cowboys drive down the field in 52 seconds to tie or win the game. That's it. All you had to do was not waste a 48-yard dime to Nabers that put the team up 37-34 with under a minute remaining. Well, playing prevent defense and not pressuring Prescott was some choice.
Dallas made them pay, and kicker Brandon Aubry drilled a 64-yard field goal to send the game into OT, which they eventually lost on another field goal. They just couldn't make the play. They couldn't stop anything. The Cowboys carved the defense up for 478 yards and 40 points. Don't be surprised if the "fire Bowen" train starts picking up steam.