Giants-Commanders ‘Kudos & Wet Willies’: Giants winners and losers from Week 2

Which Giants deserve praise? Which deserve criticism?

The New York Giants made history in an ignominious way in Sunday’s 21-18 loss to the Washington Commanders. Let’s review this odd football game in our traditional ‘Kudos & Wet Willies’ style.

Kudos to …

Malik Nabers — Yes, he had a crucial fourth-quarter drop that contributed heavily to the loss. Considering how much he did on Sunday, though, I can’t take this ‘Kudos’ away from the rookie wide receiver.

Ten catches on a ridiculous 18 targets for 128 yards, a touchdown, three plays of more than 20 yards, and a number of dazzling moves in the open field.

Nabers, 21, is the youngest player in NFL history with at least 10 receptions, 100 receiving yards and a touchdown catch in a game.

Dru Phillips — Watching the way Phillips played on Sunday I am still left scratching my head over the idea that the Giants thought Cor’Dale Flott was a better option in Week 1 against the Minnesota Vikings.

Phillips had 12 tackles, including two for loss, and many of them impressive, aggressive hits. He had a sack and a quarterback hit.

Phillips earned the Ryan Clark seal of approval:

That’s good enough for me.

Offensive line — A week ago, the Giants gave up five sacks (even if some were Jones’ fault) and were graded as the worst run-blocking line in the league by Pro Football Focus. It is hard to find fault with the line’s work in Week 2.

Jones was sacked just once and hit only four times while throwing 28 passes. That is uncommonly good protection for a Giant quarterback. The Giants also ran the ball impressively. There were consistently lanes for Devin Singletary (16 carries, 95 yards) to run in, and the Giants averaged 5.9 yards per rush (22 carries, 129 yards).

Daniel Jones — Yes, I am going to put Jones here. This was a huge improvement from Week 1 when Jones was both indecisive and inaccurate. Jones did not hit on any of the three truly deep shots he took. He was, though, decisive. He was accurate, though you can quibble with a couple of throws. He threw two touchdown passes. He never put the ball in harm’s way. You can say he only threw for 178 yards, but he can’t play quarterback and defense, too. It’s not his fault the defense couldn’t get Washington’s offense off the field.

The lack of a kicker, miscues other offensive players, and defensive shortcomings led to this loss. Jones, in my view, did more than enough for the Giants to win.

Micah McFadden — The third-year linebacker did not play in Week 1. He was available, but only for a limited number of snaps due to a preseason hip injury. As I watched the game it didn’t feel like McFadden was a major factor, but he did end up with a team-high 13 tackles, along with a sack and a quarterback hit. It’s hard to argue with that kind of production.

Wet Willies to …

NYG roster management — Maybe this is all on head coach Brian Daboll. Maybe, and more likely considering how the Giants operate, it is on both Daboll and GM Joe Schoen. The placekicker fiasco on Sunday, losing Graham Gano to a hamstring injury after just one play, was the latest questionable, head-scratching game day roster management decision by the Giants.

With Gano already on the injury report with a groin issue, the Giants made the risky, highly questionable choice not to elevate placekicker Jude McAtamney to the active roster for the game. Daboll said they thought Gano was “good.” Still, for the second time in as many games the Giants counted on an injured player without protecting themselves. That continues a disturbing patten of head-scratching roster and playing time decisions over the past two seasons.

Giants’ defense — Yes the Commanders went 0 for 6 in the red zone and 0 for 3 in goal-to-go situations. That, though, was mostly due to Washington’s ineptitude rather than anything special the Giants did on defense.

The Giants gave up points every time Washington had the ball. Every Commanders drive lasted at least nine plays, with with three going for 10 or more. Washington ran for 215 yards. The Giants failed time and again to get off the field on third downs, with penalties extending Washington drives several times.

The Giants did sack Daniels five times, most when he tried to break the pocket and run.

Kwillies to …

Devin Singletary — The veteran running back had a nice game, except for a costly third-quarter fumble that ended a promising drive just outside the Washington 30-yard line. Singletary showed a one-cut and get up the field style, and the ability to make defenders miss. He finished with 16 carries for 95 yards, an average of 5.9 yards per carry.

If not for a fumble that took away an opportunity for the Giants to increase a 12-9 lead to a two-score advantage, this would be an easy ‘Kudos’.

Jason Pinnock — With two sacks, nine tackles (two for loss) and a quarterback hit, you would think Pinnock would have earned a ‘Kudos’. But, it was that kind of mystifying, hard to explain game for the Giants.

Pinnock had a third-and-9 holding penalty on Washington’s first drive. Instead of forcing a punt, the Giants ended up allowing one of seven Austin Seibert field goals.

In the second quarter, Pinnock should have intercepted a Jayden Daniels pass. Instead, he gave up a 21-yard completion to Zach Ertz that led to three more Washington points.

Pinnock also committed a declined defensive holding penalty.