Grading the Giants’ 26-18 loss to the Steelers Monday night:
The good was outweighed by far too many penalties and mistakes that turned opportunities to dust. Daniel Jones (24 of 38, 264 yards) lost a fumble on a strip-sack (Jones messed up the protection call) and tossed an interception in the final three minutes. He finally got the ball downfield to Darius Slayton (4-108), but his connection with Malik Nabers (seven catches on 13 targets) was spotty. Rookie RB Tyrone Tracy (20-145) busted out on a 45-yard TD run, and he looks the part. Tackles Jermaine Eluemunor and Chris Hubbard had a tough evening against T.J. Watt (two sacks) and Alex Highsmith (two sacks). Jon Runyan Jr., Hubbard, Eluemunor and Greg Van Roten were all called for penalties. Two-point conversion try was botched. There was an illegal shift penalty and delay of game penalty on back-to-back plays in the third quarter. Yuck.
Grade: C-
This unit allowed 19 points, and sometimes, that is supposed to be enough. Still, there was no domination at all. Najee Harris (19-114) averaged six yards a carry. Russell Wilson (20 of 28, 278 yards, 1 TD) did enough. Rough outing for rookie CB Dru Phillips, who was beat by Calvin Austin III on a 19-yard TD reception. Nick McCloud was beat by Van Jefferson on a 36-yard catch. Bobby Okereke had his most active game this season with 14 tackles. Azeez Ojulari had two sacks and Brian Burns had one. Armon Watts dropped Jaylen Warren for a 3-yard loss. Micah McFadden forced a fumble on Wilson that Okereke recovered.
Grade: C
Matt Haack outkicked his coverage, and there were four missed tackle attempts on an extremely damaging 73-yard punt return for a touchdown by Austin. Greg Joseph went 4 of 4 on field goals from 29, 39, 44 and 48 yards. Ihmir Smith-Marsette had a 45-yard kickoff return in the fourth quarter. Dane Belton made a tackle on punt coverage on the Pittsburgh 16-yard line. Punt return was a killer.
Grade: D
This time around, the little things hurt the Giants, and Brian Daboll has to clean some of this stuff up. Pre-snap penalties and guys not getting set cannot continue. Didn’t love him going for the two-point conversion so early (11:07 remaining), but that’s what the book and the analytics say to do, so whatever. Daboll benching Deonte Banks was something. Shane Bowen’s defense allowed 167 rushing yards, and that is unacceptable, again.
Grade: D