Giants Q&A: Hold on! What happened on Blake Bortles' run?
Blake Bortles of the Jacksonville Jaguars carries while defended by Antrel Rolle of the New York Giants during an NFL game at EverBank Field on Nov. 30, 2014, in Jacksonville, Fla. Credit: Getty Images / Rob Foldy
Where was the containment on Blake Bortles' 20-yard keeper on the winning drive?
Being held. Linebacker Spencer Paysinger was supposed to be following the rookie quarterback, but he was drawn inside a bit by the fake handoff up the middle and then, as he tried to get outside to chase Bortles, he was blatantly held.
"I definitely was,'' Paysinger said of being grabbed on a play that allowed the Jaguars to convert a second-and-15 and set up the winning field goal in the Jaguars' 25-24 victory over the Giants on Sunday. "At the end of the day, though, I have to get off the blocker . . . You can't rely on the refs to put the game in your hands, so you have to get off and make a play.''
Were the Giants prepared for Bortles to run with the ball?
Sure. He wound up the team's leading rusher with 68 yards on five carries but had 31 rushing yards on the deciding drive. The Giants said they were ready for him to use the keepers and options.
"We had an answer for it all game,'' safety Antrel Rolle said. "We had calls that are absolutely great for that, but we weren't in those calls at the end of the game.''
So for the second straight week, the Giants' defensive play-calling on the final drive of the game comes into question?
Yup.
At least they were blitzing, though. Right?
A week after watching the Giants fail to put pressure on Tony Romo with a four-man pass rush, defensive coordinator Perry Fewell threw the blitz book at Bortles. The Giants wound up with seven sacks after entering the game with 19 in 11 games. Four of Sunday's sacks were by blitzing linebackers or defensive backs.
Why was Rueben Randle on the sideline for the first quarter?
The starting wide receiver said he was benched for being late to a meeting Friday.
"I understood,'' he said of his punishment. "Whenever I got on the field, I just tried to go out and make plays.''
Randle finished with three catches for 52 yards. Preston Parker, who started in his place, had two catches for 6 yards, including a 3-yard touchdown.
Do the Giants have any offensive linemen left?
They used all of the ones available to them Sunday. Justin Pugh (calf) was inactive, so Geoff Schwartz started at right tackle, but Schwartz was carted off in the first quarter when he rolled his left ankle. Tom Coughlin said X-rays were negative but there was "tendon damage'' to the joint.
James Brewer replaced Schwartz but left with a concussion in the fourth quarter. That required the Giants to move guard John Jerry to tackle and put Dallas Reynolds in at guard.
Is Jerry a better tackle than guard?
He might be. After a shaky season inside, he seemed to adjust well at tackle, even though it was a change on the fly.
"John had told me in the past that he played tackle and I didn't really believe him,'' Schwartz said, "but he looked really good doing it . . . I was pretty impressed.''
Any other injuries besides the offensive line?
Robert Ayers Jr. left with a pectoral injury. Coughlin said he was unsure if it was a tear or a strain. If it's the former, it will be season-ending.
Running back Rashad Jennings also was unable to finish the game with a right ankle injury. Wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. had to come out for a few plays after aggravating a bone bruise in his back, but he returned.
Tom Rock began covering sports for Newsday in 1996 and became its NFL columnist in 2022. He previously was Newsday's Giants beat writer beginning in 2008.
