Giants’ lifeless effort vs. Eagles calls everything into question — QB, coach, all of it

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Giants’ lifeless effort vs. Eagles calls everything into question — QB, coach, all of it

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — There have been plenty of times the New York Giants offense has needed a spark since Brian Daboll took over as coach in 2022. But he had never benched quarterback Daniel Jones based on performance.

That changed Sunday. With the Giants’ listless offense managing just 104 yards and 3 points in the first three quarters, Daboll pulled Jones. It made no difference, as backup quarterback Drew Lock ******* to provide the “spark” Daboll was seeking in a demoralizing 28-3 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles.

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Daboll says QB Jones ‘********’ Giants starter despite benching vs. Eagles

Daboll immediately committed to Jones as the starter “going forward” in the opening statement of his morose postgame news conference. But nothing the coach said in the succeeding eight minutes suggested he believes Jones can turn around an offense that is averaging a pathetic 14.1 points per game.

“I was trying to create some type of juice and maybe make a few plays and swing the momentum a little bit,” Daboll said. “But that didn’t happen.”

Benching Jones on Sunday feels like the beginning of the end of his six-year run as the team’s quarterback.

“I’m just going to prepare, go about my week doing what I need to do to prepare to play good football,” Jones said. “How (Daboll) sees that, the decisions he wants to make, that’s on him. That’s a better question for him. I’m just going to focus on myself.”

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Welcome to John Mara’s nightmare: Eagles’ Saquon Barkley shreds Giants in return to MetLife

Jones mostly stood by himself on the sideline, staring expressionless at the field after he was benched.

“It was frustrating,” Jones said. “You want to be out there playing with your teammates and fighting to score points and move the ball. So, I was frustrated, but not my decision.”

Daniel Jones talks Daboll’s move to pull QB to “create a spark.”

DJ: “It’s his team. Up to him to make those decisions. Obviously I believe in myself and believe in this offense. I’m just going to focus on myself.”

Jones says “wasn’t much of a conversation” on decision

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— Charlotte Carroll (@charlottecrrll)

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There was always a two-year expiration date looming on this partnership after Jones signed a four-year, $160 million contract during the 2023 offseason. The Giants had an escape hatch built into the deal after this season, and it seemed obvious they intended to use it as they pursued quarterbacks in this year’s draft.

But once the Giants ******* to land any of the top three quarterbacks and took wide receiver Malik Nabers with the sixth pick, Jones got a stay of **********. Similar to 2022, he would have an opportunity to convince Daboll and general manager Joe Schoen that he could be a franchise quarterback worth building around.

Jones needed to play even better than in 2022, however, because the taste of last season’s injury-plagued disaster lingered. Jones hasn’t come close to clearing the bar that would give Schoen and Daboll any second thoughts about moving on after this season — assuming the duo will be making that decision.

Sunday’s lifeless effort calls everything into question. Even with Jones’ limitations, Daboll has ******* to conduct a functional offense despite taking over play calling in his third season.

The Giants have scored one touchdown in four home games this season. They’ve averaged 7.8 points in their four losses at MetLife Stadium.

Compounding matters, the Giants were torched by Saquon Barkley for 176 yards and a touchdown on 17 carries in his first game at MetLife Stadium as a member of the Eagles. That’s the same Barkley whose departure caused so much consternation for co-owner John Mara this offseason.

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Mara told Schoen he’d have “a tough time sleeping if Saquon goes to Philadelphia” before the start of free agency. Sunday was the nightmare scenario for Mara.

The day began with Giants fans booing Barkley. But as the game progressed, the scorn from the home fans was redirected at Jones and the Giants.

The Giants are 2-5 and 0-3 against NFC East opponents. Schoen and Daboll are 1-10 in games against the Eagles and Dallas Cowboys during their three seasons, and that lone win came with the Eagles eventually resting their starters. The Giants are 10-21-1 since their 7-2 start to the 2022 season.

It’s hard to find hope after Sunday’s defeat.

“There’s a lot of ups and downs,” Daboll said. “Unfortunately, we’ve had more downs.”

Here are more takeaways from the loss:

Banks account

Eventually, cracks would start to show in the Giants defense with how much of the burden has been placed on that side of the ball. So giving up some explosive plays to an Eagles team loaded with playmakers was understandable.

But a lack of effort can never be excused. Especially not from second-year cornerback Deonte Banks, who already was called out by defensive backs coach Jerome Henderson for not hustling after giving up a 55-yard touchdown catch to Cowboys receiver CeeDee Lamb in Week 4.

Yet, there was Banks,

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for a first down on third-and-7 on the first play of the fourth quarter. This wasn’t the type of loafing that is only revealed after watching film. It was obvious immediately, as evidenced by Henderson’s outburst on the sideline in real time.

But there was no obvious punishment, such as a message-sending benching. Banks remained in the game as the Eagles finished the drive with a fourth-and-goal Hurts sneak to open up a 28-3 lead.

Make that

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— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles)

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“I think I could have made it, but sometimes when you’re in that moment, you just think like, ‘Nah,’” Banks said. “But I think I could’ve made a tackle.”

These are the moments that can start to push a season off the rails. Banks is a young player who is full of talent but hasn’t accomplished anything in the NFL. Public criticism from his position coach didn’t get through, so Daboll needs to figure out how to curtail Banks’ lack of effort before it spreads to other players.

Whatever button Daboll plans to push, he declined to share after Sunday’s game.

“We’ll take a look at all that stuff and whatever we need to address, we’ll address,” Daboll said. “But the guys are putting effort into it each and every week. We’re just, unfortunately, not getting the results and it’s a results business.”

‘Outcoached’ and outclassed

Daboll said the Giants got “outcoached.” He won’t find many arguments.

The Giants came out throwing despite the offensive line missing left tackle Andrew Thomas, who suffered a season-ending foot injury last week. The Giants had seven possessions in the first half and only called three handoffs, which produced just 4 yards.

Philadelphia’s Nick Sirianni has his flaws, but he has established a DNA as an aggressive coach on fourth downs. The Eagles went 3-for-3 on fourth downs, producing an additional 15 points as a result.

Twice, Sirianni went for it on fourth downs inside the Giants’ 5-yard. The Eagles converted both to put touchdowns on the board instead of field goals. A fourth-and-3 gamble from the Giants’ 41-yard line in the second quarter resulted in a touchdown pass to AJ Brown to give the Eagles a 14-0 lead.

JALEN HURTS TO AJ BROWN ON 4TH DOWN. 41-YARD TD.

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