Saquon Barkley can’t elevate Daniel Jones-less Giants’ offense in pathetic loss to Dolphins
There is no reason to consider Saquon Barkley a star if he can’t elevate the Giants offense even a fraction when they need him most.
Joe Judge and play-caller Freddie Kitchens tried to make Barkley the focal point of Sunday’s offense in Miami with Daniel Jones (neck) on the sideline in street clothes.
But Barkley dropped two first-half passes and presented minimal threat as a runner, helping Mike Glennon’s offense devolve into a pathetic mess in a 20-9 loss to the offensively-limited Dolphins.
Pat Graham’s defense gave the team a chance but broke down in the red zone, with corner James Bradberry and free safety Xavier McKinney delinquent on Tua Tagovailoa touchdown passes to Mack Hollins and Isaiah Ford.
Down 17-9 with five minutes to play, the defense also surrendered a game-sealing, 45-yard Dolphins field goal drive, with killer third down conversions to DeVante Parker and Mike Gesicki against Bradberry and Julian Love, respectively.
Bad body language crept into the second half. Right guard Will Hernandez barely moved toward Dolphins pass rusher Jaelen Phillips on the first of back-to-back sacks.
Neither Bradberry or McKinney touched Dolphins receiver Jaylen Waddle down after a catch over the middle, either. If safety Logan Ryan hadn’t stepped in, Waddle would have just stood up and scored.
The Giants (4-8) were averaging 18.9 points per game when they fired offensive coordinator Jason Garrett on Nov. 23. They are averaging 11 points per game with a 1-1 record since. They have scored one touchdown in those two games.
Needing to start Glennon on Sunday with Jones’ season in jeopardy didn’t help the cause.
The immobile career backup threw a first-half interception into double coverage, looking for Darius Slayton. And Glennon was helpless when the Giants’ pathetic offensive line caved in and he was bombarded by Miami rushers in the second half.
Giants 2020 backup quarterbacks Colt McCoy (Cardinals) and Cooper Rush (Cowboys) have a 3-1 record as starters this season. Glennon fell to 6-22 in his career.
His .214 career winning percentage is the lowest among active quarterbacks who have started at least 25 NFL games, according to Stats Perform.
The rest of the offense didn’t help Glennon much at all, either.
Evan Engram and Darius Slayton both dropped passes. Judge benched left guard Matt Skura for Ben Bredeson, who saw his first action on offense since Week 3. Center Billy Price and right guard Will Hernandez were brutal.
The Giants left Hard Rock Stadium with little mojo to board a plane for Tucson, Ariz., where they will practice this week for next Sunday’s game at the Los Angeles Chargers.