LANDOVER, Md. — A missed 43-yard field goal in the second quarter last night turned into a kick in the pants for the Giants.
In their 17-16 loss to the Redskins at FedEx Field, a defeat that changed the scope of the NFC East race, one of the Giants’ most critical flubs occurred on special teams. Early in the second quarter, kicker Lawrence Tynes — who’s in the midst of a sensational season — hooked a 43-yard field goal attempt wide left.
If the kick had been good, it would have trimmed the Redskins’ lead to 7-6. But the miss seemed far bigger later on — the Giants had a 16-10 lead in the fourth quarter — when they could have had a 19-10 lead had Tynes hit that field goal.
“I’m paid to make field goals and I didn’t make all of them,” Tynes said. “I’m supposed to make that kick.”
Tynes did make three field goals, and the Giants didn’t help themselves by not converting several of their drives into touchdowns — settling for points from Tynes instead.
It also appeared as if Zak DeOssie’s snap on Tynes’ miss was a bit errant — a little off to the right. But both Tynes and holder Steve Weatherford said the snap was a non-issue.
Both Tynes and Weatherford did say the field wasn’t ideal for kicking.
“The footing was very, very dicey tonight,” Tynes said. “I never really got my plant foot on the ground. … Just kind of yanked it.”
Added Weatherford: “It’s really, really tough conditions. … The footing was really poor.”
Tynes drilled kicks of 39, 40 and 35 yards, and with an extra point on Martellus Bennett’s second-quarter touchdown, he delivered 10 of the Giants’ 16 points. His final field goal put the Giants up 16-10 in the third quarter.
But Robert Griffin III hit Pierre Garcon on an 8-yard, go-ahead TD early in the fourth. The Giants never gave Tynes another shot after that.
In Week 4, Tynes also had a critical field goal miss, this one a potential game-winner against the Eagles. His 54-yard attempt in Philadelphia fell short, and the Giants lost to a division rival. Last night they fell short again.