Credit: Rich Barnes/USA Today Sports
The New York Giants relied heavily on their run game in the first half of Sunday’s 27-22 loss to the Washington Commanders. Quarterback Daniel Jones ended the half with an unusual stat line: 0 passing yards on 4-of-6 attempts, though he did throw a touchdown. This marked the first time since at least 1978 that an NFL quarterback threw a touchdown pass while finishing a half with zero passing yards.
Daboll Defends Run-First Strategy
The Giants trailed 21-7 at halftime, despite this approach. Giants head coach Brian Daboll explained that the run-heavy game plan wasn’t due to any concerns about Jones but was designed to control the line of scrimmage. “We were averaging 7 yards running the ball. We felt comfortable,” Daboll said. “That was the plan coming into the game. We wanted to run the ball and control the line of scrimmage. It has nothing to do with Daniel throwing it or not throwing it.”
Guard Jon Runyan Jr. felt confident in the plan. “We were going to run it until they stopped us. “They did not stop us at all.”
However, the Giants managed only one touchdown in the first half. They turned to the passing game in the second half, where Jones went 16-of-20 for 174 yards and threw a second touchdown. He also ran in for a 2-yard score.
“I knew we wanted to run the ball in this game, that was part of the game plan. I think the way it played out, maybe didn’t expect to run it that much,” Jones said. “But we were running it really well and effectively moving the ball, controlling the line of scrimmage, and [Daboll] obviously felt that was working for us, and it was. So, we stuck with it and I thought it was pretty good.”
Daboll’s Confidence in the Run Game
The Giants stuck to the run early, but they faced challenges. A first-quarter fumble from Jones on a screen pass set up a Washington score, putting the Giants in an early deficit. “We were productive running the ball. [Our team had] like 7 yards a carry, so we kept doing that,” Daboll said. “We had the one touchdown on a play-action pass on the goal line. We threw two screens. But we were productive moving the football. We turned the ball over on the one screen. So that was part of the plan. I thought the guys did a good job of executing, being physical at the line of scrimmage and controlling the line of scrimmage. That was the reason.”
In total, the Giants tallied seven runs of 10 yards or more, but they never tried a deep pass, instead focusing on screens, quick passes, and slants. Wide receiver Wan’Dale Robinson acknowledged the strategy, saying, “Obviously we would have liked to get passes, but if the running game is working, I’m here to win. “So if that is going to help us win, no problem.”
Late Push Falls Short in Fourth Straight Loss
Ultimately, the Giants couldn’t sustain their momentum. Despite scoring three touchdowns—already more than they had in four previous home games—they dropped their fourth straight game and remain winless at home with an 0-5 record.
“I don’t call the plays, so I mean, I don’t know,” rookie wide receiver Malik Nabers said. “When you run the clock out in the first half, you’re scratching in the second half to try to score points, as many as possible. As an offense, you’ve got to be versatile. You’ve got to be able to run. You’ve got to be able to pass. You can’t pick between half and half what you want to do. But like I said, I’m not the playcaller.”
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This report used information from ESPN.
