Time was running short and the offense was nearly running on empty.
If Eli Manning and his offensive mates were going to squeeze anything positive out of Friday night’s preseason showing against the Jets, it would have to be late in the second quarter, backed up on their own 9-yard line. The previous five possessions had ended with punts and no points, not as sorry as the past two games, but not nearly good enough.
“OK, we have to get it with the ones before we get out of there,’’ left tackle Will Beatty recalled thinking. “We definitely needed it, we needed to put points on the board as the first offense.’’
Finally, Manning looked as if he could operate this new West Coast offense without it coming apart at the seams. Operating out of the two-minute offense he runs so well, he completed 7 of 10 passes for 89 yards on an 11-play, 91-yard drive, finishing off with some improvisation on a 15-yard touchdown strike to Rueben Randle just five seconds before halftime. It pulled Eli and the starters within 10-7 and, thanks to another big performance by backup Ryan Nassib, the Giants beat the Jets 35-24 at MetLife Stadium to remain undefeated in the preseason.
“It is good to finish it off with a good two-minute drive,’’ Manning said. “That is something that we have been really good at here in the past. We had some decent drives going and then we would do something to set us back. We had a good finish.’’
Manning went 12 of 21 for 139 yards for a quarterback rating of 93.2, with most of his success coming on his final drive. Considering he completed one of his nine passes in the previous two games, this was an improvement. But seven points and one impressive possession is far from enough to infuse anyone around the Giants with confidence they are ready for the season to begin.
“I thought we started off a little rough,’’ said Victor Cruz, who did not have a reception in the first three games before catching four for 61 yards against the Jets. “But once were able to get into a rhythm and complete some plays down field and give Eli some time to make some decisions, we started to get a little bit of our mojo back.’’
That it took until the sixth series of the night for that mojo to arise was not a good sign, unless the Giants are in a better-late-than-never mindset. In four preseason games, Manning has directed three touchdown drives in 17 possessions.
“I think it was progress, I definitely do,’’ coach Tom Coughlin said. “I think it’s a good step.’’
The offensive line was shaky once again and now will have to deal with the loss of left guard Geoff Schwartz, who was forced out in the second quarter with a dislocated toe that figures to keep him out of action for several weeks, perhaps making him a candidate for short-term (six week) injured reserve.
Coughlin said his starters will play one or two series in the preseason finale against the Patriots.
For a long stretch Friday, it looked as if it would be a pointless exercise against the Jets. Manning should have had a big play on the first series, and very possibly a 55 yard touchdown, but he overthrew Randle. The second series was ruined by a sack by Jason Babin — who totally abused Beatty — and a fumble by Manning that was recovered by Schwartz. The third offensive series was short and sour, a tidy three-and-out, a possession ruined by a 4-yard loss by Rashad Jennings on a tackle by Quinton Coples, who was not blocked at all by tight end Kellen Davis. Offensive series No. 4 was full of follies, while series No. 5 was another three-and-out, as Wilkerson sacked Manning for a 14-yard loss and knocked the ball out of Eli’s hand and, fortunately for the Giants, out of bounds.
Eli and the Giants finally cashed in on the sixth and final possession of the half.
“We needed it, man,’’ Randle said.
“Yes, it is definitely a sign of progress,’’ Manning said. “I thought there were some good things. We still have to get better.’’
Once again, the Giants reserves finished in solid fashion. Nassib clinched the No. 2 quarterback job with another solid performance, tossing touchdown passes to Preston Parker and yet another to rookie Corey Washington, who has four fourth-quarter touchdown catches in the first four games.