Giants' Jim Harbaugh needs to bring in another kicker to push Dominic Zvada, and clean up mistakes

For a team that prides itself on discipline and not making late-game mistakes, the Giants’ failure in both areas cost them Thursday when they could’ve created more distance between themselves and the rest of the NFC East.

John Harbaugh talked often about mastering details. Yet the Giants had three fumbles - one lost by Malik Nabers - in their 24-21 loss to the Commanders. They had a crucial pass interference penalty called on Deonte Banks on the Commanders’ go-ahead drive.

Worst of all, their kicking situation is shakier than ever. Dominic Zvada missed a 33-yard attempt Thursday, his first miss from under 40 yards all season. He’s 2-for-6 against the Commanders in two games, one that ended in a tie and another a three-point defeat.

Harbaugh said earlier this month he trusted his rookie kicker. He said it again Thursday night.

“As soon as a guy doesn’t make a play, you can’t start firing people left and right. Especially your kicker who’s a rookie,” the coach said. “So I’m confident that he’s going to become a good kicker. If at some point in time it doesn’t happen, it doesn’t happen, but we’re not going to panic halfway through the season when the guy has made a bunch of kicks.”

Yet Harbaugh’s actions didn’t back that up. He took a delay of game penalty on his team’s opening drive at the Commanders’ 37-yard line instead of sending Zvada out for a 55-yard attempt.

Maybe that was wise, since Zvada has missed three attempts from over 50 yards. He’s 8-for-14 since making his first nine attempts overall.

Harbaugh needs to bring in some competition for Zvada. It doesn’t mean give up on him. But Harbaugh disciplined his running backs for fumbling. For someone who prides himself on special teams, he needs to stick to that ethos by bringing in another kicker soon, if not next week.

Banks’ penalty reminded of his past issues tracking the ball. He deserves some grace because of his strong play this season. However, he did the same thing against the Cardinals with a late penalty before his walk-off interception.

Those mistakes won’t cut it against good teams, or against anyone while trying to make the playoffs. The Commanders aren’t good, but it was a taste of what could happen when the Giants’ schedule gets harder.

Now, back to the fumbles.

The Giants recovered their own fumbles by Isaiah Likely and Greg Desrosiers Jr. Nabers’ lost fumble looms large because it came inside the red zone in the third quarter.

Nabers, who left without addressing reporters, had the ball punched out. It’s happened far too often from the Giants, who have fumbled eight times - and lost three - in their last five games. Their 17 total fumbles lead the NFL, with seven lost tying them for third.

“There’s a lot of plays out there where we’re kicking ourselves,” quarterback J.J. McCarthy said. “Could have done this, could have done that. But that’s football. At the end of the day, as players, as coaches, as a whole organization, we’re going to find a way to get better.”

They have to. The Giants have won these one-score games by making plays when they needed to. But they also overcame mistakes that easily could’ve made those wins losses.

They want to seriously push for the playoffs? Those miscues must be cleaned up. It cost them Thursday. It could cost them again.

By Evan Barnes

evan.barnes@newsday.comevan_b

Evan Barnes covers the Giants for Newsday. He previously covered the Brooklyn Nets, Memphis football and the Memphis Grizzlies and also covered prep sports in Los Angeles.