The Giants dominated on the field but not on the scoreboard last night while their starters were in action against the Jets. It was a 12-6 Giants lead at halftime before the reserves finished up and faltered in a 20-12 preseason loss to the Jets at humid and sweaty Giants Stadium.
After the Jets struck suddenly for a 79-yard touchdown on the very first play, the Giants dominated the remainder of the first half, outgaining the Jets 201 to minus-13 in yardage. Playing the first half, Eli Manning (17 of 35, 146 yards, 1 TD) was solid but not especially productive.
“As an offense, we have to find a way to keep the ball alive and drive down there and get touchdowns,” Manning said. “Coming into tonight, we knew the Jets had been a kind of ‘bend but don’t break’ defense and that’s exactly what happened.”
On defense, the Giants figure to have Michael Strahan back this coming week, as he’s finally expected to end his holdout. Without him, the starting defense last night had one monumental lapse and then was rock-solid. Running back Leon Washington breezed out of the backfield and when Chad Pennington pump-faked, cornerback R.W. McQuarters bit big-time, leaving Washington free on the right sideline. Not only did Washington make the catch, but he cut inside past lunging safety James Butler and was gone. One play, 79 yards, one touchdown and a 6-0 Jets lead after Mike Nugent’s extra point failed.
“I’m not sure exactly what happened on that first play, but it was ugly,” linebacker Antonio Pierce said.
“The quarterback got me on the pump fake,” McQuarters said. “I thought he was going to throw, so I tried to jump it, but I should have stayed down and fell back deep. It was just one of those things and I messed it up.”
After that, the defense went seven consecutive series without allowing a first down and Strahan this week will be added to the mix.
“It’s definitely a void missing without his experience and leadership,” said defensive end Justin Tuck, who excelled filling in for Strahan with four tackles and one sack. “I expect to see him [today] but who knows with Stray. He’s a man of surprises.”
The Giants reserves could not muster a point after halftime and the second-team defense allowed 14 third-quarter points to allow the Jets to pull ahead. “Our second group has got to play better,” Tom Coughlin said.
No one had a worse first half than Lawrence Tynes, acquired from the Chiefs and who by now was supposed to have nailed down the kicker job. Guess again.
Tynes missed field goals of 40 and 43 yards, the first wide right, the second wide left. On the second miss, the snap by rookie Jay Alford was low and holder Cory Ohnesorge – filling in for Jeff Feagles (back spasms) – had to rush to place the ball down without the laces in the proper alignment. Tynes in the second quarter was able to hit a 40-yarder.
“It’s not impossible, but it’s tough,” Tynes said of working with a new snapper and holder. “It’s not a great situation but I don’t have any excuses. I missed the kicks.”
Tynes’ competition, Josh Huston, was impressive in sending a kickoff late in the second quarter sailing out of the end zone for a touchback. Huston, though, missed a 42-yard attempt in the fourth quarter.
A crisp two-minute drill engineered by Manning started with an 11-yard pass to first-year receiver Anthony Mix and ended with Manning tossing a fade into the right corner of the end zone – a pass usually thrown to Plaxico Burress. The 6-foot-5 Mix made like Burress, leaping over the reach of 5-10 cornerback Manny Collins for a 5-yard touchdown catch. Coughlin might as well inform Mix (7-45) in the first half) that he’s won himself a roster spot.