After the Giants had scored a last-minute touchdown and game-tying two-point conversion, they were just a stop away from overtime. All that stood between Big Blue and a chance to knock off the undefeated Packers and vault to the top of the NFC East was a single defensive stand. What they got was a defensive collapse.
The Giants let Green Bay drive for the winning field goal with no time left on the clock, their pass defense coming up small in the biggest spot. And the 38-35 loss to the Packers that left them with four straight defeats going into next Sunday’s huge NFC East game against the division-leading Cowboys.
“It was matchups. They just picked one person out and threw the ball; that’s it. We can’t do nothing in the front line about that; our secondary’s just got to cover,’’ said Jason Pierre-Paul, after the pass defense let the Packers march 68 yards in five plays and just 58 seconds for the winning kick.
The Giants already had allowing four TD passes to Aaron Rodgers, but now the defense let him mount the most crushing drive of the game, starting on the Packers’ 20.
On the first play, rookie linebacker Jacquian Williams went for an interception or a knock-down and got beat by tight end Jermichael Finley, allowing a 24-yard catch-and-turn up the right sideline.
“I thought it was mine,’’ Williams said. “He made tough throws, good throws.’’
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On the ensuing play, Rodgers feathered a ball off his back foot over cornerback Will Blackmon to a streaking Jordy Nelson on the left sideline for 27 yards down to the Giants’ 29. Two more passes, two more completions down to the Giants 12, and kicker Mason Crosby drilled a 31-yarder that handed Big Blue yet another loss.
“It hurt, and it should not have happened,’’ coach Tom Coughlin said. “You try to play coverage and you don’t get enough pressure on him; you try to put pressure on him and you leave holes in your coverage. We should’ve got this thing into overtime.’’
To a man, the defense said that drive shouldn’t have happened, no matter what Coughlin or coordinator Perry Fewell called.
“He could call kindergarten defenses and we’ve got to stop them. We’re pros,’’ said defensive end Dave Tollefson.
“It shouldn’t have happened,’’ said defensive back Deon Grant. “We had the calls; at the end of the day we’ve got to play defense, make some stops and get off the field, take it to overtime. We didn’t do that.’’