Quarterback Jameis Winston took full ownership of the plays he left on the field after the New York Giants’ 34-27 loss to the New Orleans Saints on Sunday at MetLife Stadium.
The Giants led 10-0 late in the second quarter before the game unraveled. Winston finished 14 of 26 for 152 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions before giving way to J.J. McCarthy, who sparked a late rally that fell short. The loss dropped New York to 3-2-1.
“It’s play to play. It’s always about winning the next play, and I, myself personally, just left a lot of plays out there that I could have executed better on,” Winston told reporters, stressing the need for elite operation and avoiding moving backwards.
On the first interception, Winston said the Giants sometimes
“went into turbo.” He intended a ball to the outside that he believed only his receiver could reach, but the defender made a good play.
Winston and wide receiver Darnell Mooney continue working through their connection, which appears to be in disarray over the past two weeks.
“Consistent communication and collaboration leads to success,” he said of the effort to build chemistry.
Winston confirmed his quarterback coach informed him before McCarthy entered and praised the young quarterback for rallying the team.
“Man, he was able to rally us up, and he did a great job. I was proud of him,” Winston said, adding that he still wanted to play. “I would love to play, but the decision was made.”
Asked what he wants head coach John Harbaugh to consider as the coach evaluates next week’s starter, Winston deferred.
“That’s him. That’s the decision that he’ll have to make," he said.
His focus remains putting himself in a better position to execute by controlling what he can control, play by play.
Winston pointed to the team’s resilience as a positive and described the running game as complementary, starting in the trenches. He acknowledged that missing Cam Skattebo is felt, though every player must stay hungry.
“I’m just glad that our guys continue to rally together and find a way to create a spark and stay in the game,” Winston said.
Harbaugh will make the decision on who starts next week as the Giants move forward.
This article originally appeared on Giants Wire: Jameis Winston takes accountability after New York Giants fall to Saints
