The New York Giants’ defense surrendered the lead three times in the fourth quarter on Sunday against the Dallas Cowboys. If you count a 13-3 second quarter lead for the Giants turning into a 17-13 third-quarter deficit, the Giants lost the lead four times en route to falling to 0-2.
The Giants’ defense, a revamped group many NFL analysts think has the potential to be among the best in the league, has yet to meet those expectations. Through the small sample size of two games, the Giants are last in the league in yards
and 27th in points allowed.
Safety Jevon Holland wasn’t in the mood on Monday to hear about expectations.
“What expectations are you talking about? Who’s talking?,” Holland asked. “The media, for me, doesn’t really matter. I know I’m disappointed because I know the caliber of players that we have in the room. But any speculation, expectation, media talk, none of that resonates for me. For me, myself, and I know what standard we have of guys in the room, absolutely it’s frustrating. I definitely wanted us to be able to come out on top, no doubt. But there are things that we were met with that the Cowboys’ offense did that we’re going to learn from, and we’re going to be better from it.
“So, am I upset? Absolutely. Am I disappointed that we didn’t come out with the W? 100%. Am I discouraged? Not at all. Because I know that the type of people we have in the room, the individuals we have collectively in our mindset, is only going to create an even better, more successful defense. Yeah, I was upset yesterday, but this morning I woke up, watched the film, and I know what we need to work on, and I know how we’re going to improve, and I’m excited for it.”
Holland said the Giants were defending the 50-yard line during the final :25 of regulation, during which Dallas moved from its 33-yard line to the Giants’ 46-yard line to set up Brandon Aubrey’s overtime-forcing 64-yard field goal.
The back-breaking play was an 18-yard pass from Dak Prescott to tight end Jake Ferguson, which moved the ball to the Giants’ 49-yard line. Holland, Dane Belton and Bobby Okereke were all in the area.
Holland said the Giants could have “just been tighter” on Ferguson.
“They just ran like a vert, kind of seams, three through the middle,” Holland said. “Everybody, like, ran sticks at the goal line or at the kick sticks where they needed to get to for the 50-yard line, which is crazy. I’ve never had kick sticks at the 50-yard line.
“But, yeah, he’s just trying to sit down. (Cowboys’ quarterback) Dak (Prescott) did a good job of throwing them down, catch, tackle, and they were within range at that point.”
Holland hopes the Giants will improve from Sunday’s experience.
“We left a lot on the table, especially as a defense. We had opportunities to close out the games,” Holland said. “I’m proud of the way we fought. Same thing as last week, we played a long game, a lot of snaps on defense and had a lot of opportunities to close out the game. We just have to fall to the level of our training, which is the thing that our DB coach, Coach M (Marquand Manuel) says a lot. Once you’re tired and the situations or stakes are rising, you have to fall to the level of your training. So, I think it’s on us to, to really emphasize the details a little bit more. Not player to coach, but player to player.”
