Giants-Falcons highlights: 5 plays that mattered in another blowout loss for New York

The New York Giants lost their 10th consecutive game in their centennial season as the Atlanta Falcons defeated Brian Daboll’s hapless squad 34-7 on Sunday. The Giants turned the football over three times; Drew Lock threw two pick-sixes, but the Giants did earn their third interception of the season thanks to Kyle Pitts’ oily fingers and Cor’Dale Flott.

Here are the five plays, or sequence of plays that led to the Giants’ loss:

Play 1: Pick-six No. 1

Leading 7-3, Jessie Bates threw the coldest of water on the Giants’ tepid momentum:

The Giants motioned Malik Nabers to the field, and Bates followed the star receiver. Nabers flared outward; Robinson sat on the quick curl, and Lock failed to see Bates. The veteran safety undercut Robinson’s route and took it to the house for a 10-7 lead. Play 2: Pick-Six 2

New York started the second half with the football, down 17-7. Two plays into the half, Lock threw another pick-six, effectively ending ANY chance the Giants had to mount a comeback:

Evan Neal attempted to land his cut block but missed.

The ball wound up in the hands of Matthew Judon, who took the football to the house. It was a flare screen designed for Tyrone Tracy Jr. to the offensive left side — away from Neal and Greg Van Roten. However, Lock had free access to Nabers in a pre-snap one-on-one matchup to the boundary. Lock turned to Nabers, but the right side of the line of scrimmage could not hold up long enough for the quarterback to pass the football to that side.

Play(s) 3: Lock fumble

Atlanta’s defense had a field day against Drew Lock and the Giants. Linebacker Kaden Elliss beat Daniel Bellinger around the edge for a strip sack one play after Bijan Robinson’s touchdown toward the end of the first half:

Atlanta quickly returned to the two-minute drill with rookie quarterback Michael Penix Jr. Darnell Mooney caught a 14-yard third-and-8 conversion, placing Atlanta at the Giants’ 15-yard line with 30 seconds left in the half. The Falcons found themselves in a third-and-2, and the Giants were able to secure their third interception of the season:

Tight end Kyle Pitts gave Cor’Dale Flott an absolute gift. The Giants have had three interceptions this season; two were tipped in the air. Still, a turnover is a turnover, and the Giants have rarely experienced them this season, so it’s a welcomed sight.

Play 4: Bijan for six

Here is the aforementioned Bijan Robinson touchdown that gave Atlanta the 17-7 lead after Lock’s first pick-six but before Lock’s fumble:

Robinson sifted through the first and second levels of the Giants’ defense. New York surrendered 127 yards on 38 carries (3.3 YPC), which doesn’t seem bad, but that’s with four Michael Penix Jr. rushes that went for 3 yards. The Giants did force Tyler Allgeier to only 22 yards on 11 carries (2.0 YPC). Robinson, however, averaged 4.3 yards per carry with two rushing touchdowns. Here’s his second touchdown:

The Falcons’ motion of Ray-Ray McCloud (34) collapsed the field side and forced Deonte Banks (3) inward. This gave Robinson the necessary space outside as Jason Pinnock (27) attempted to chase the trotting second-year back.

Play 5: Giants’ touchdown!

Look, these don’t occur too frequently, so we’re including it! Not only did the Giants score a touchdown, but they held a lead for approximately seven minutes!

Lock extended the play, and Tyrone Tracy Jr. escaped his defender and worked the back line of the end zone. Lock found him, and the rookie maintained balance on the tight rope for six. Tracy did score later in the game but a penalty negated it.

Part of me believed the Giants could upset the Falcons at this point — was it possible? Could the Giants win games and fall down the draft order in another lost season? It was impossible, as the Giants failed to score for the rest of the game. They’re an undisciplined team with holes on their roster; their plan at quarterback heading into this season tragically failed.