After watching last Sunday’s Ravens-Bills showdown, I was ready to crown it the unquestioned Game of the Year. Shockingly, the Giants and Cowboys delivered an even more electrifying overtime thriller.
Things started off hot on the opening kick; returner Gunner Olszewski took it back 60 yards, only to have it erased by a holding penalty. And that was just the beginning. Backup left tackle James Hudson, who's in for the injured Andrew Thomas, went on to set an NFL record for most penalties committed by a single player on one drive, each one wiping out positive gains by the offense.
(James Hudson getting in the face of Giants O-line Coach/image via FOX) |
After settling for a field goal, Hudson was yanked in favor of rookie Marcus Mbow, and that’s when the Giants finally found their rhythm. From there, Russell Wilson started cooking. Russ threw his first TD of the season late in the second quarter with Malik Nabers going up and making a miraculous grab in the endzone.
From there, it was a straight-up track meet. Cowboys rushing TD, Giants rushing TD. Cowboys passing TD, Giants passing TD.
Then came the fourth quarter, where chaos truly broke loose. The two teams combined for a remarkable 41 points. Dak Prescott led a surgical drive in the final minute, dropping a perfect strike to George Pickens, who somehow kept both toes in on a highlight-reel grab. But Russ wasn’t done. On the very next possession, he uncorked another moonball, and Nabers climbed the ladder over two defenders to rip it down for what looked like the game-winning score. But this is the Giants, so of course it wasn't.
With the game all but won, Giants defensive coordinator Shane Bowen decided to put the Giants in a “prevent defense.” For those unfamiliar, prevent basically means, “We’ll gladly let you dink and dunk down the middle, just as long as nothing goes over our heads.”
While that would be smart up four, the Giants were up just three, meaning a field goal ties the game. And evidently everyone in AT&T Stadium and every fan back in Jersey yelling at their TV knew exactly this would hand the Cowboys’ kicker a shot, everyone but Bowen of course.
So naturally, the Cowboys marched right to midfield, and Aubrey nailed a 64-yarder to send the game to overtime. And at that point, I knew the game was over.
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image via Julio Cortez/AP |
Right when I thought Russ was back to cooking, he threw a backwards pass to nobody and followed it up with one of the worst interceptions you'll ever see, which led to yet another Cowboys field goal that ended the game. 40-37
With that 64-yard kick, the Giants again broke one of the strangest records in league history, this time becoming the only team ever to allow four game-tying or game-winning field goals of 60+ yards. Here is the heartbreaking list: Jake Elliott (61 yards, Eagles 2017), Graham Gano (63 yards, Panthers 2018), Greg Joseph (61 yards, Vikings 2022), and now Brandon Aubrey, drilling a 64-yarder last night.
I hate to call for people's jobs, but Shane Bowen has to go. His performance scheme-wise the last two weeks has been absolutely horrid, especially considering all the talent and big names the G-Men have across their new look defense, and the way he lost them the game last night. The Giants need to bring in someone who can utilize these guys and not force them into situations where it is impossible for them to succeed, instead of handcuffing these superstars across the d-line.
I feel like I say this after every single Giants game, but I am just sick and tired of losing in the most embarrassing ways possible. Week in and week out, it’s either a 20-point blowout or our hearts get ripped out in the final 30 seconds. At this point, it’s basically psychological warfare.
And the best part? Next week we get Patrick Mahomes on Sunday Night Football. Can’t wait to see how creative we get with losing that one in front of all of America. But hey, at least we scored some touchdowns this week.
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