No, it’s not
In a game where the New York Giants’ defense gave them every chance to win, it was the offense that couldn’t deliver. After a disheartening 17-7 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals, head coach Brian Daboll didn’t mince words.
“It’s hard to win football games when you score seven points,” Daboll said. “This one’s on me.”
Despite holding Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow to zero passing touchdowns and limiting his potent group of receivers, the Giants’ offense sputtered. A crucial red zone interception by Daniel Jones and failed third-down conversions were just part of the problem.
“We had some opportunities throughout the game, but we just couldn’t capitalize,” Daboll said. “We turned the ball over on a good drive, walked away with no points.”
Aggressive play-calling, including going for it on fourth down early in the second half, did little to spark the offense. Daboll stood by his decision.
“We didn’t have any points, and I felt good about what we had going,” he said. “But when you score seven points, that’s the reality of it. We’ve got to do better.”
Special teams also faltered, with two missed Greg Joseph field goals adding to the team’s woes.
“We’re not going to make excuses,” Daboll said. “Seven points isn’t enough to win in this league.”
On a night when the defense did everything it could to contain Burrow and the Bengals’ offense, the Giants’ own offensive misfires became their undoing. As Daboll summed it up, “We didn’t execute well, and it starts with me.”
Now sitting at a critical juncture in their season, the Giants will need to find answers fast. “We’ll go back, look at the film, and figure it out,” Daboll said, taking full responsibility for the team’s lackluster offensive performance.
