The New York Giants fell to 2-6 on the season after a 26-18 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Monday night. It was another winnable game that got away from them.
Veterans such as Dexter Lawrence, Brian Burns, and Greg Van Roten pushed the younger players during and after the game to step up their efforts. Either their words fell on deaf ears or this team simply isn’t ready to win in its current form.
The latter is likely the answer. The Giants made the same mistakes they’ve been making for years, playing just well enough to fall short.
“The team needs to grow up,” said Burns, a former Pro Bowl edge rusher who the Giants traded for this past offseason, via NJ Advance Media.
Burns chalked up the situation to “frustration.”
“To me, it doesn’t come down to effort,” Burns said of what he felt the team needs. “I feel like guys play hard. I think it just comes down to details and being super detailed in your job… Things not going your way and momentum switches can cause people to lack on their details.”
Lawrence also showed his frustration after the game.
The game was tied at halftime at 9-9 and was within reach had the Giants had their business better buttoned up.
“I’m a passionate dude, and I put a lot into this game,” Lawrence said. “I expect a lot to come back — and for my teammates also to give a lot to the game. I think I’m a little frustrated because we’re a good team and we keep beating ourselves every week.
“We can’t have that — and I addressed it. We’ve just got to be mentally locked in on every play — not just plays here and there. That’s where my frustration comes. On game days, we’ve got to show up.”
The time to show up may have come and gone for the Giants this season. There are nine games remaining and they may need to win all of them to even think about qualifying for the postseason.
But the postseason may have never been a reasonable expectation for this team from the start. They don’t do many things well and anything that has gone well hasn’t lasted very long.
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