Giants grades: 'F' for offense, 'D' for defense, coaching
OFFENSE
FNo touchdowns, three turnovers, and no trips inside the red zone: a tripleheader of ineptitude. Eli Manning managed just 28 passing yards in the first half (9 if you take away the 19 yards lost in sacks). Asked about Manning's progress during the week, Tom Coughlin said he wanted him to go "off the map" not "off the road and into a ditch." The receivers couldn't get open, and when they did, Manning couldn't find them. The running backs getting 54 yards on 15 carries didn't help, either.
DEFENSE
D+The unit showed some grit by forcing the Broncos to kick field goals on their first two possessions and keep the game within reach. But, oh, those missed tackles and missed assignments. And the penalties - two against Corey Webster for 30 yards - didn't help. Terrell Thomas provided a spark with an interception in the second quarter, but the offense stalled again.
SPECIAL TEAMS
B+Lawrence Tynes said the thin air in Denver would give him 5 to 8 extra yards on his kickoffs and field-goal attempts, and he used every one of them to put a 39- and a 52-yarder through the uprights. The 52-yarder was his longest as a Giant and 1 yard shy of his career best. Jeff Feagles averaged 50.2 yards on five punts and put three inside the 20. So why not an A? Domenik Hixon's kickoff returns have gotten no traction since his "breakout" game against the Saints.
COACHING
DEven a day after the game, Tom Coughlin continued to extol the meetings and preparation that went into the contest. Somehow, all of that information was lost in the delivery as the team looked lost on the field. Coughlin must now be careful to keep the team together with Shaun O'Hara questioning the work ethic of teammates, Osi Umenyiora's outbursts on the sideline and Justin Tuck saying it looked like the team was missing "heart."
