Unfortunately for the NY Giants, the preseason showdown vs. the Houston Texans didn't go according to plan. Entering the game, Brian Daboll decided that he was going to let his starters play for the first half, including quarterback Daniel Jones.
This was going to be an opportunity for Danny Dimes and Co. to put on a show and get people even more hyped up for Week 1 to get here. Instead, countless people are even more worried for the contest vs. Minnesota to get here following the 28-10 loss to Houston. In this piece we take a look at some positives, but of course we have to bring up some negatives. We're starting things with the play behind center.
Loser: QB Daniel Jones
We've been pretty critical of Jones and while we hate to pile on him, he really didn't look sharp. The good news for the Giants is that the QB1 looked much better in the second quarter after throwing two rough interceptions in the first quarter, of course including his embarrassing pick-six.
The bad news, though, is that his rough opening 15 minutes of action was not what anyone wanted to see out of him. This was Jones' first game action since tearing his ACL against the Raiders last campaign. He had a chance to make a statement and get plenty of people off his back. That wasn't the case. With Week 1 vs. Minnesota sneaking up on us, there are loads of fans who are having even more doubts about him leading this offense moving forward.
Winner: Carmen Bricillo
One of the main positives for the Giants in this one had to be the play of the offensive line. The majority of the starters up front were able to rock - only starting left guard Jon Runyan Jr. wasn't able to play due to a shoulder injury. In the first half in particular, the big fellas up front looked sharp, giving Jones plenty of time to scan the field. Per Jordan Raanan, only one pressure was allowed on Jones when he was out on the field. That's money right there.
The Giants allowed one pressure on 19 dropbacks with their starting offensive line (sans Jon Runyan Jr.) on the field in the first half. This is the biggest positive to take from this loss to the Texans.
— Jordan Raanan (@JordanRaanan) August 17, 2024
This just goes to show what an incredible difference coaching can make. Bobby Johnson was fired after the season-ending win over Philly last campaign, with Carmen Bricillo being hired to replace him. Bricillo has been praised left and right by players and other coaches. People have been begging for a competent line to be showcased on game days. Luckily, it looks like Bricillo has his guys moving in the right direction.
Loser: Micah McFadden and Ryder Anderson
We're splitting things here between Micah McFadden and Ryder Anderson, with both players going down with injuries against Houston. Unfortunately, McFadden's was the more serious-looking one, as he was carted off with a hip injury. As soon as McFadden went down, you could tell he was in a ton of pain. At first it looked like a groin issue, but then it was announced as a hip injury. The Giants are thin at inside 'backer as is, so losing McFadden for any time will be tough.
Anderson is battling for a 53-man roster spot, though his chances went up with the G-Men trading veteran defensive tackle Jordan Phillips. Unfortunately, Anderson was removed from the game with a hamstring injury vs. Houston. Anderson can't afford to miss action, as he's surely going to want to look to make a statement in the preseason finale, especially with Elijah Chatman looking so strong.
Winner: Malik Nabers
After his rough preseason debut, everyone was hoping to see Malik Nabers showcase some electric play against the Texans, especially with Jones getting the start. Thankfully, that's what happened, as Nabers posted four receptions for 54 yards.
While he's yet to find the end zone, there was a lot to like about Nabers' second game with the G-Men. He just provides a different kind of weapon for Jones to use. His unreal abilities were showcased on one play in particular, as Jones put the ball in a place where only his WR1 could come down with it. Nabers did just that, reminding plenty of people of Odell Beckham Jr. with this sick grab:
Oh my, Malik Nabers 😳
— NFL (@NFL) August 17, 2024
📱: Stream #NYGvsHOU on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/DtWCdOb7Sd
That's the kind of reception that proves why you're taken in the first round. It's hard not to put lofty expectations on the former LSU superstar, but he was brought to East Rutherford to drive opposing defenses crazy. While NY suffered a loss in this contest, Nabers has provided the fanbase with some hope. The more chemistry he and Jones build together, the more fun they'll be fun to watch this fall.