Written by James Kratch at NJ.com
The Giants stink.
All the reasons why they stink were condensed into a neat two-minute, 35-second sequence that led to their 25-23 loss to the Buccaneers on Sunday at Raymond James Stadium, dropping them to a point-of-no-return at 0-4.
Here is the chain of disaster that helped put what is almost assuredly the final nail in the Giants’ coffin for 2017. The sequence starts with the Giants leading, 17-16, with 10:19 to go in the game:
THREE AND OUT: The Giants’ defense just threw the Buccaneers for a big turnover on downs, giving their offense the ball back at its own 35-yard line. It was a golden opportunity to give the defense a break and, potentially, drive down to widen the lead – maybe even make it a two-score game.
Instead, the Giants went three-and-out, taking a grand total of 54 seconds off the clock before they had to punt on fourth-and-3 from their own 42. A critical Brandon Marshall drop (sound familiar) on second-and-3 was the killer. Here comes Brad Wing to attempt the punt …
THE SHANK: Wing killed the Giants in last Sunday’s loss to the Eagles with a short punt that helped the Eagles get in position for the game-winning field goal. He shanked it again in a big spot against the Bucs, getting off a horrid 15-yard kick that gave Tampa Bay the ball on its own 43 with 9:25 to go.
BAD TACKLING: On second-and-5 from the Tampa Bay 48, Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston hits wide receiver Adam Humphries across the middle. Cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie attempted to tackle him with a shoulder hit, and no wrap-up. It didn’t work. Instead, Humphries rumbled along for a 38-yard gain, continuing what has been a horrible run of tackling for the Giants’ defense.
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