The New York Giants were beaten 30-7 by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at MetLife Stadium on Sunday afternoon, a lackluster performance that showed there's a lot more wrong with this team than just Daniel Jones.
Fans booed — and many even walked out at halftime — as the Giants lost their sixth straight game, falling to 2-9. They have the worst record in the NFL, tied with the Jacksonville Jaguars, and are currently on track to take second overall in next year's NFL Draft.
But fans weren't the only ones who appreciated the Giants' performance. They know it stinks right now and weren't afraid to tell reporters that after the game.
Rookie wide receiver Malik Nabers said he was “sick of losing” and the reason for the loss wasn’t the quarterback.
“Same result as when DJ was the quarterback. It’s not the quarterback.”
— TheGiantsWire (@TheGiantsWire)
“I don’t know what it is,” he said. “Everyone knows better than me.”
Nabers, the team's electric first-round pick, was not targeted in the first half. He wasn't happy, and neither were the Giant fans. He also called the team “soft as (expletive).”
“I started getting the ball when it was 30-0. What should I do?”
When asked why he didn't have a catch until the second half, Malik Nabers added: “Talk to Dabs about it.”
— Giants Videos (@SNYGiants)
defense captain Dexter Lawrence also said the team played “softly” and admitted: “They beat the (expletive) out of us.” Nabers also called the team “soft.”
Offensive tackle Jermaine Eluemunor said he personally doesn't think everyone “Give 100 percent.”
It seems like this team isn't functioning as a whole at the moment. The players I don't seem to trust the coaches no longer. This is a very dangerous situation.
Even linebacker Brian Burns had to take a moment to compose himself before saying anything negative about the coaching staff.
“Um (long pause) That’s what I’d like to think” – Brian Burns, when the message from the coaching staff gets through.
Said team still believes in the coaching staff.
— Connor Hughes (@Connor_J_Hughes)
There is only one solution to this dilemma, but we probably won't see anyone released until after the season, if at all.
As someone who has followed this franchise since the mid-1960s, I've been through some low periods, but this may be the ugliest. The problems could simply start with the ownership group and then spread downward.