The New York Giants opened the 2023 regular season with an absolute stinker on Sunday night, falling to the Dallas Cowboys, 40-0, in their worst Week 1 loss in franchise history.
Not only was it an all-time franchise mark in futility, it was one of the worst statistical performances (in some aspects) in the NFL’s long lifespan.
Buy Giants TicketsHere’s a look at some studs and quite a few duds from the humiliating beatdown at MetLife Stadium.
DUD: Brian Daboll
The Giants were completely unprepared for the Cowboys on Sunday night and that falls squarely on the shoulders of their head coach, Brian Daboll.
Whether it was Daboll’s decisions leading up to the game or his decisions during the game itself, things were a disaster from the jump. And while quarterback Daniel Jones accepted blame for staying on the field down big in the rain, that was a completely unnecessary risk Daboll should never have taken. Ditto leaving Andrew Thomas (hamstring) in the game.
It’s rare that Daboll takes an L but that was a big one to start the season.
DUD: Evan Neal
Leading up to kickoff, right tackle Evan Neal was anxious for some redemption against the Cowboys, who dominated him during his rookie season.
Neal said that his rookie performance against Dallas was the worst of his entire life.
On the plus side, that’s no longer the case. Neal’s worst-ever performance actually came on Sunday night.
DUD: Kayvon Thibodeaux
Kayvon Thibodeaux swears that the prime-time light loves him but with the exception of one moment against the Washington Commanders last season, we haven’t seen it.
Against the Cowboys, Thibodeaux recorded just four tackles (one solo) and that was it. He routinely overpursued against the run and had no impact whatsoever as a pass rusher.
STUD: Xavier McKinney
On a night when it was difficult to pinpoint a single positive, we’ll give a very small tip of the cap to Xavier McKinney.
Yes, McKinney did miss a tackle or two — one leading to a big play — but we can’t nitpick here. Someone has to go in the “stud” category and he had more good plays than bad. That’s something, right?
DUD: Graham Gano
Fresh off a significant contract extension, the always-automatic Graham Gano missed two field goals. One was blocked — hardly his fault — and the other was pushed wide from just 36 yards out.
When Gano misses a chipshot, you know things are spiraling out of control.
STUD: Giants fans
Giants fans are becoming more and more difficult to deal with on a weekly basis due to rapidly growing frustrations. That’s been the case for many years despite a brief reprieve in 2022.
The fact that Giants fans were so loving during a 10-8-1 season (including playoffs) shows just how far this organization has fallen.
On Sunday night, they booed and many left the stadium early. Even still, they showed up in larger numbers than usual and did their part in the pouring rain. Daboll & Co. called on them, they answered and then they were sent home humiliated and soggy.
Credit to Giants fans for continuing to pack the worst stadium in the NFL when the team simply doesn’t deserve it.
DUDS: Everyone else on the team
We could spend all day and 50-plus slides listing the duds from this game. Everyone from Daniel Jones to Jalin Hyatt and from Leonard Williams to Deonte Banks is to blame. There is really no one player who escapes that reality (the Xavier McKinney pity addition aside).
It was a pathetic display and the Giants organization should be embarrassed, ashamed and angry with the futility.
