The New York Giants have opened the season 1-0 for the first time since 2016 and for only the second time since 2011. In fact, it is the first time they’ve had a winning record since they finished 11-5 in 2016.
Their exciting 21-20 victory over the Tennessee Titans in Nashville on Sunday have left them in a peculiar place. And it’s not just the fact that they won to open a season, its the way in which they did it.
First-year head coach Brian Daboll decided to go for the win with a two-point conversion after the Giants scored a touchdown late in the fourth quarter to narrow the Titans’ lead to 20-19.
The Giants converted the two-point conversion when quarterback Daniel Jones lateraled the ball forward to running back Saquon Barkley, who evaded a tackle and then barreled his way through a cluster of Titans defenders into the end zone.
The Titans managed to drive down in the final seconds to attempt a 47-yard filed goal which kicker Randy Bullock hooked left, giving the Giants the victory.
“Going for the win. We’re going to be aggressive,” Daboll explained of his decision after the game. “That’s what we want to do. That’s the mindset I want the players to have. If it didn’t work, I could (live) with it. I thought that was the right decision. You’re an inch away or whatever it was. I trust Saquon.
“I went up to some of the offensive guys that weren’t out there too and I said, ‘Hey,’ we got the ball, wherever it was. I said, ‘If we score, I’m going for two, you guys good with that?’ And they said, ‘F-yeah.'”
Daboll said he has been humbled during his career and he knows that it’s only one game. He said he would approach next week’s game the same, “1-0 or 0-1.”
“It’s important to get a win. But I really appreciate those guys for the work they’ve put in since we’ve got here,” he said. “Now we’re trying to build something. We’re a long way away, but it was nice to get the first W.”
