New York Giants head coach Brian Daboll expressed his disappointment following the team’s season-opening 34-10 loss to the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday night. Speaking in the postgame press conference, Daboll acknowledged that the Giants have a lot of work ahead of them, admitting that the game was not the performance he expected from his squad.
“Obviously not the way we wanted to start. Disappointing game. A lot to clean up, and that’s what we will do,” Daboll said, summing up the team’s struggles after the defeat.
The Giants faced multiple issues throughout the game, including penalties, poor offensive execution, and a lack of deep throws. Quarterback Daniel Jones struggled, throwing two interceptions, include a costly pick-six. Daboll noted that Vikings linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel made a key play on the pick-six, jumping to deflect a pass intended for wide receiver Wan’Dale Robinson.
While Daboll was reluctant to offer detailed evaluations without reviewing the game tape, he did acknowledge that the offensive play was subpar and that it all starts with him. “I’d say that we’ll go back, watch the tape, and see what we can do better. Obviously, there’s a lot. So, that’s what we’ll do. It starts with me,” Daboll emphasized.
Jones’ performance raised questions about his confidence and execution, as he seemed unsettled throughout the game. Daboll dismissed the idea of pulling Jones from the game, but admitted the team needs to improve across the board. “We’ve got to do a better job all the way around, and that starts with me,” Daboll reiterated when asked about Jones’ confidence.
The Vikings’ defensive scheme, which featured a “soft shell” coverage, limited the Giants’ ability to take shots down the field. Daboll acknowledged that while deep passes were part of the game plan, the team failed to execute. “We certainly called the plays. Sometimes they take them away. We’ve got to do a better job all the way around. It starts with me,” he said.
Penalties also proved to be a major setback for the Giants, with nine infractions that stymied offensive drives and prolonged Minnesota’s possessions. “The penalties hurt. They keep drives alive, back you up on offense or put you in unfavorable situations. A lot to clean up,” Daboll said.
Despite the team’s preparation leading into the game, Daboll lamented that they were unable to deliver the desired result on the field. He emphasized that the coaching staff, himself included, bears responsibility for the team’s struggles. “I thought we prepared well. I thought they gave good effort. I thought the defense played hard. We gave up a pick-six down there. But, there’s a lot of things to clean up. Again, I’ve got to do a better job all the way around, and that’s what I’ll do,” Daboll concluded.
As the Giants look to bounce back from the tough loss, Daboll maintained his focus on improvement and getting the team ready for Week 2. While the season opener didn’t go as planned, Daboll’s message was clear: it’s back to work to correct the mistakes and move forward.
“We’re going to come back in tomorrow morning, go to work, learn, have a good week of practice, and do everything we can to get ready for Week 2,” he said.
There really wasn’t much more he could say.
