Who would have thought the loss of Trumaine McBride in the third quarter to a strained groin would completely unravel the Giants’ defense on the fateful final drive in Sunday’s 24-21 loss to the Cowboys?
“I think McBride going down really hurt us,’’ Terrell Thomas said.
No kidding. McBride had filled in as a starting cornerback for injured Corey Webster and injured Aaron Ross. When he went down, Thomas had to move from nickel back to corner and Antrel Rolle had to move from safety to nickel corner. In the past, Rolle has filled in at nickel corner and done a solid job but this time, he did not rise to the occasion. Tony Romo seemed to be saying “Where ‘Trel At?’’ as he completed four of his six passes on the game-winning drive on Rolle.
“Early in the season when we had a lot of injuries I did work at it, I take pride in my press technique, I feel I’m very, very good at it,’’ Rolle said “I haven’t been down there in five weeks and I was a little rusty at it. There’s no excuses. You get your number called you got to go out there and make those plays.
“Maybe they were finding me. If I was a quarterback I would do the same thing.’’
Hakeem Nicks (strained abdominal muscle) was inactive, missing his first game of the season. He has never played a full 16-game schedule in his five years with the Giants. … C Jim Cordle went out with a left knee injury in the second quarter. That forced an in-game adjustment, with Kevin Boothe moving from left guard to center and James Brewer coming off the bench to play left guard. “Hopefully it’s just pain,’’ Cordle said. “I’ll get an MRI tomorrow morning. It’s hurting pretty good.’’
Someone please tell coach Tom Coughlin to stop deferring when the Giants win the toss. They did it again Sunday and are now 0-4 this season when they defer and take the ball in the second half. … The strip and fumble on Victor Cruz in the first quarter that gave the Cowboys their first touchdown was a rarity for Cruz. It was only the second lost fumble of his career. The first came in 2011.
Rolle’s first-quarter interception off the hands of Dez Bryant was Rolle’s fifth interception of the season, tying his career high, which he had in 2007 with the Cardinals. … Josh Brown’s 23-yard field goal in the second quarter was the 13th straight kick he has made this season.