Jameis Winston did not blame a surprise Los Angeles Rams pressure package after the New York Giants' 28-6 loss on Monday night. He blamed downs and distance.
Winston said Los Angeles got ahead and then knew a pass was coming, making the passing game difficult.
"They knew a pass was coming. When you know a pass is coming -- it's very challenging to throw the ball when (they) know that a pass is coming," he told reporters.
The Giants spent too much of the evening in third-and-long. Winston said the offense has to execute better on first and second down so the Rams cannot sit in outside leverage and take away the attack.
"We have just got to execute better. We are focusing on being in better down the distance. We went in third-and-long a lot, so I
have to execute better on first and second down," Winston said.
Addressing his interception on third down with one-on-one coverage outside and pressure up the middle, Winston said he gave his receiver a chance. The cornerback slipped underneath.
"They got some pressure up the middle. I gave our guy a chance, and the cornerback slipped underneath. He saw the ball coming out of my hand before our receiver saw the ball. He made a play on it," he said.
Winston completed 11 of 27 passes for 111 yards after Jaxson Dart left with a knee injury on the opening drive. He said Matt Nagy did not overhaul the playbook and that the Giants have run the same offense since this staff arrived.
Whether Winston starts Sunday against the Tennessee Titans depends on Dart's MRI. Winston is not treating that possibility as a burden.
"Pressure is for the unprepared. You keep preparing. You be ready. So, whatever happens, happens," he said.
Winston says his role this week is to keep Dart uplifted, keep the team motivated, and put the loss behind them. The next opponent does not care what happened at SoFi Stadium. The task is a better week of preparation, a more efficient game, and a win.
This article originally appeared on Giants Wire: Jameis Winston pins Giants' passing woes on early-down failures
