CINCINNATI — The Giants didn’t do a whole lot of running the ball in yesterday’s 31-13 loss to the Bengals, which is what happens when a team falls behind 14-0 very early and the deficit continues to grow.
When they did run it, they gave it to Andre Brown (seven carries) nearly as much as they gave it to Ahmad Bradshaw (10).
Bradshaw didn’t seem to see the wisdom of that ball dispersal.
Asked if he thought this were a case of the coaching staff deliberately limiting his attempts to keep the strain off his always-tender foot, Bradshaw said, “Yeah, I think so. Holding me back isn’t going to help. I got a bone bruise, rest isn’t going to help no bone.’’
Brown actually started this game.
The Giants came out in a no-huddle look and Brown caught a 5-yard pass on the first play and stayed on the field the entire series, which lasted only three plays.
“We just had a package in Andre, we wanted to start the game in no-huddle and there was no time for me to get back in,’’ Bradshaw said. “It’s nothing.’’
Clearly, Bradshaw wasn’t pleased with his workload, which wasn’t much at all.
“I don’t know what the plan was,’’ he said. “Just trying to keep together, do the right things.’’
The Giants had 28 plays in the first half and ran only six times for 16 yards. Much of the second half was garbage time as Bradshaw (10-57) and Brown (7-65) put up some numbers that didn’t mean much.
The lowest moment for Bradshaw came with the Giants trailing 17-6 but on the move. He gained 11 yards on a pitchout to the Bengals’ 16-yard line but cornerback Adam Jones reached in and yanked the ball loose for a lost fumble that essentially ended the meager threat.
“Just fighting for more yards, I was able to break a couple tackles and I had like two guys pinned and I just tried to go around them,’’ Bradshaw said. “Just trying to make a play, that’s the nature of the game.’’
Bradshaw hardly practices any more, as there’s a need to rest his feet from any pounding. He’ll get a chance to stay off his feet this week as the reeling Giants finally get their bye.
“We got a lot of guys hurt and this bye week will be very well needed, we’ll come off this break and be ready to roll again,’’ Bradshaw said.
“We got Eli [Manning], we got a great line, this week will be very well needed and we’ll be back to business.’’