3 takeaways from the Giants' Week 8 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles
The Giants' Graham Gano kicks for an extra point during the first half of an NFL game against the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday in Philadelphia. Credit: AP/Matt Rourke
PHILADELPHIA — The Giants’ 38-20 loss to the Eagles on Sunday was a thrashing. They not only lost running back Cam Skattebo to injury but have gone 3-17 in their last 20 games.
Here are three takeaways from Lincoln Financial Field:
1. The Giants’ run defense is broken
Defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence said last week that stopping the run is a priority every week. It’s become a liability now.
It’s one thing to let Saquon Barkley dominate with 150 rushing yards. It’s another to let backup Tank Bigsby go for 104 yards on nine carries. Consider this fourth-quarter play: The Eagles faced second-and-26 after Brian Burns sacked Jalen Hurts. Bigsby ran for 29 yards and the drive continued until Dallas Goedert caught his second touchdown pass.
It was an unacceptable play, but par for the course. The defense allowed 5.2 yards per carry.
The Giants gave up a season-high eight runs of at least 10 yards. The last time they allowed two players to rush for at least 100 yards? That was 2014, with Marshawn Lynch and current Giants quarterback Russell Wilson on the Seahawks.
“It’s real frustrating, but we just got to do better as a whole, as a unit,” Lawrence said. “It’s not just the front guys who stop the run, it’s everybody. It’s a collective whole who stops the run, and we didn’t get the job done.”
2. The “tush push” needs to be evaluated
Regardless of how fans feel about the Eagles’ signature play, it’s becoming difficult to officiate. Kayvon Thibodeaux stripped Hurts before the play was whistled over, but the Giants weren’t awarded a fumble.
It begs these questions: How can forward progress be judged before the push is whistled dead? Does that mean teams have to strip the runner immediately on the surge? Does that mean the Eagles can just lean on teams without a play on the ball?
“Thibs had a heads-up play by getting the ball out,” linebacker Brian Burns said. “I really feel like that should’ve been a turnover. But it’s just weird. Weird play, weird call.”
Thibodeaux was right, though. That play didn’t cost the Giants the game. Giving up 38 points did, a week after giving up 33 fourth-quarter points in Denver. But rest assured, folks around the NFL will use that play to further evaluate the “tush push” this offseason, and it could be banned.
3. Graham Gano returned with a clean kicking game
If there was a bright spot for the Giants, it was Gano. He returned after missing four games with a groin injury and resumed his perfect start to the season.
He was 2-for-2 on field goals, converting from 47 and 34 yards. He was 2-for-2 on extra points, something that matters after Jude McAtamney missed two PATs the previous week in a one-point loss at Denver.
Gano, 38, is at risk of suffering another injury after missing time the last two seasons. For now, he didn’t do anything to make the Giants worry about his effectiveness.
That makes him their best option at kicker even though it’s a tricky bet on somebody in their 16th season.
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.
