The New York Giants suffered a one-point loss to the Los Angeles Rams at MetLife Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
The loss could have — or should have — been a win as the Giants blew the two-point conversion try after Gunner Olszewski’s 94-yard punt return for a touchdown drew them to within a point of the Rams, 26-25, with less than four minutes remaining in the fourth quarter.
With his kicking operation faltering, head coach Brian Daboll decided to go for the win on a two-point conversion. Quarterback Tyrod Taylor took the snap and rolled out right. He saw a wide-open Saquon Barkley cutting across the one-yard line. Taylor’s pass was thrown behind Barkley and fell to the turf incomplete.
“Obviously, lack of execution and it started with me,” Taylor told reporters after the game.
“Saquon was open … I kind of got caught in between running it and throwing it and then didn’t do either one of them. I got to be better. It’s a routine throw, something I’ve hit plenty of times before but yeah that moment I didn’t execute.”
Taylor had a fine game, otherwise. He even got the Giants back into position to win after missing that throw, only to have kicker Mason Crosby miss a 54-yard field goal attempt with 34 seconds remaining.
But it was the curious play calling on that final drive that had many scratching their heads. Taylor had gotten the Giants down to the Rams’ 34 after a 31-yard scramble and then spiked the ball to stop the clock with 43 seconds remaining.
The Giants, with no time-outs and seeking to get closer for a winning field goal attempt, decided to run the football up the middle with Barkley. He was stopped two yards in the backfield pushing the Giants further back.
“We called a draw play; thought we could get some extra yardage in that situation,” said Taylor. “Ultimately, they ran a stunt and was able to be better than us in that moment.”
Taylor then threw an incomplete pass to Wan’Dale Robinson which set up the 54-yard attempt by Crosby, who hooked the ball left, and the Giants were done.
