CRUISE CONTROL: Leaving Giants rookie linebacker Greg Jones in the dust, Tim Hightower eases into the end zone in the Redskins’ 28-14 win yesterday. (AP)
LANDOVER, Md. – They lost more than a game.
Let the record show the Giants yesterday spent three hours doing very little to excite anyone about their prospects for this season and as a result fell hard to the Redskins 28-14 in the opener at FedEx Field. Even worse, though, a player who was designated as the defensive captain for the game believes the Giants let more than themselves down on the 10th anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
“We came down here to get a win on a very important day for this football team, a very important day for the New York metropolitan area and we did not get the job done,’’ defensive tackle Chris Canty said, his voice choked with passion.
PHOTOS: REDSKINS BEAT GIANTS, 28-14
“We don’t live in a bubble as professional athletes. We¹re affected by what happens, we know what 9/11 means to us, what it means to our fans, what it means to our city, what it means to this country. We represent the red, white and blue and to go out there and put that kind of performance out there is just unacceptable for us.
“For us, understanding what we were representing today and to do what we did out there today, it’s embarrassing.’’
By the time he was finished, Canty’s eyes were moist. He filled in for inactive Justin Tuck as a game captain and his defense could not get off the field often enough, could not solve the riddle that is Redskins quarterback Rex Grossman and could not make up for putting too many youngsters on the field as a result of too many injuries.
The real culprit here, though, was a skittish offense directed by Eli Manning that managed 14 points, went scoreless after a 14-14 first half and actually gave up points when Manning’s first interception of the season turned into a pick-six for the Redskins, who are almost universally expected to finish last in the NFC East.
“I did not like the end of our game offensively at all,’’ said coach Tom Coughlin, who called the operation “disorganized.’’
As for losing on this, of all days, Coughlin said, “We knew the significance of the day and we wanted to pay our respects by the way in which we played.’’
The Giants had beaten the Redskins six straight and nine of the past 10 but not this time. They put eight rookies on the field and the youngsters and the veterans all had a hand in the unsavory mix. It was 7-0 Giants after Manning’s 68-yard pass to Hakeem Nicks led to Manning’s roll-out scoring touchdown run and 14-7 Giants when a five-play, 85-yard drive ended on Ahmad Bradshaw’s six-yard run and then 14-14 when coverage lapses by cornerback Aaron Ross helped Grossman hit Anthony Armstrong in the end zone just 37 seconds before halftime.
Two minutes into the second half, the Giants were behind for good. Facing third-and 15 on his own 15, Manning audibled into a quick sideline pass to Nicks – and the Redskins snuffed it out. Right tackle Kareem McKenzie tried and failed to cut-block defensive end Ryan Kerrigan but the rookie from Purdue leaped over McKenzie and deflected Manning’s pass up, snatched it out of the air for an interception and rumbled nine untouched yards for a touchdown.
“They typically don’t [jump], they’re normally trying to protect themselves,’’ McKenzie said. “Kid made a great play, plain and simple. That’s it.’’
Manning didn’t see an alternative on the play.
“We were cutting that guy; he did a good move to avoid the cut, jump up and tip it up,’’ Manning said. “Just a good play by him. Not a whole lot I can do about that.’’
Trailing 21-14, the Giants in the fourth quarter seemed to get a lift when Jason Pierre Paul’s second sack of the game resulted in a Grossman fumble that Michael Boley scooped up and brought to the Washington 27-yard line. Incredibly, the Giants couldn’t muster a first down – former Giants defensive tackle Barry Cofield chased down Bradshaw on third down – and a 38-yard field goal attempt by Lawrence Tynes was blocked with 10:57 remaining.
“Defense put us in tremendous position to score, it’s our job to score, especially from that distance,’’ guard Chris Snee said.
“We just made the mistakes that coach Coughlin continues to tell us that we can’t make,’’ Canty said. “We continue to do the things that he says we can¹t do. At some point, we as a team have got to listen.’’
paul.schwartz@nypost.com