Entering this season, few believed New York Giants cornerback Deonte Banks could reclaim the talent the team saw when they drafted him in the first round of the 2023 NFL draft.
Banks had lost his starting role, and the Giants had not picked up his fifth-year option, meaning he was playing for his future at training camp this summer. With some hard work and refocusing under a new coaching staff, Banks got back into the good graces of both the club and its fans.
On Sunday, after another solid performance, Banks was on the hook as the Giants faced almost certain defeat after a phantom pass interference call on him gave the Arizona Cardinals a first-and-goal on the Giants' four with 22 seconds remaining.
Head coach John Harbaugh was furious over the
penalty, but not at Banks.
"Tae Banks came through with a huge play after a crazy pass interference penalty. I thought you had to touch the guy for it to be pass interference. I thought that was part of it," Harbaugh told reporters. "I was crying inside about it. I know. Was it crying? Was it rage? Maybe it was rage. It's kind of a mix of those two things, right?"
Cornerback Dru Phillips also felt that rage.
"You look at the ref like, 'You could really sell this game.' I think it was a bad call," Phillips told Greg Johnson, adding that the call was "bulls--t."
The Giants held on the first three downs, and on fourth down, Cardinals quarterback Jacoby Brissett tried Banks again. He got fooled this time. Banks stepped in front of wide receiver Michael Wilson, picked off the pass, and returned it 98 yards for a touchdown to secure the Giants' 36-24 victory. Banks had redeemed himself.
"They didn’t bat an eye. Nobody flinched, nobody blinked, kept bringing the heat," Harbaugh said of the defense. "The pass rush was there all day, forcing that ball out just a little bit early. And that's an accurate thrower. They got some guys that can catch, make some tight, contested plays, which they did on that drive. But our guys kept tackling. I mean, they had four downs from what the four, was it? And we get to stop. That's big."
There were some prayers, though.
"I’m going to just be honest with you, I was praying," admitted Harbaugh. "I was praying, and I guess God came through."
Harbaugh was one of Banks' biggest proponents this past offseason, making him part of his second-chance initiative. On Sunday, that faith paid off. Harbaugh said he knew the talent was there the whole time.
This article originally appeared on Giants Wire: Giants' John Harbaugh felt 'rage' after phantom DPI call on Deonte Banks
