The Giants’ surprisingly impressive 29-20 road win against the Seattle Seahawks in Week 5 seems like much longer than just a little under two weeks ago. The memory and momentum dissipated after Sunday’s figurative and literal hurtful 17-7 loss to the previously 1-4 Cincinnati Bengals at MetLife Stadium.
There is a fine line between wins and losses in the NFL. Two or three plays over a 60-minute game can be the difference in success or hardship. During stretches this season, the Giants have shown promise as a potential playoff contender, including when the Giants’ defense by and large contained Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow with the exception of a 47-yard first quarter touchdown run by the QB on a missed assignment by the Giants.
They held one of the sport’s best signal callers to 208 yards passing and sacked him four times. But complementary football eluded the Giants as the offense produced just one score, a one-yard TD by running back Tyrone Tracy at 5:49 of the third quarter to cap off a 16-play, 79-yard drive.
The 2-4 Giants went into the matchup without star rookie wide receiver Malik Nabers, who sat out his second straight game in concussion protocol, and starting running back Devin Singletary, who also was sidelined for a second consecutive game with a groin injury.
Following the defeat, the Giants learned they will be without 2022 All-Pro left tackle Andrew Thomas indefinitely due to a Lisfranc injury. The 25-year-old Thomas sustained the damage in the third quarter. Lisfranc is an injury to the bones and or ligaments in the middle part of the foot. There is deep concern from the Giants that Thomas could be out for the rest of this season.
It would be a monumental absence given Thomas is the Giants’ best offensive lineman and protects right handed quarterback Daniel Jones’ blindside. Giants head coach Brian Daboll gave the media terse reply on Monday when asked about Thomas’s status.
“…I’ll get all that stuff later today and then fill you guys in on Wednesday… I still have to meet with the doctors and the trainers.” Daboll’s tone reflected the significance of not having Thomas in the lineup. Last summer, the Giants signed him to a five-year, $117 million contract extension to anchor a much improved offensive front, a unit which had been in flux and a team weakness in recent seasons.
Thomas’s injury also further illuminates the unforeseen snaillike development of tackle Evan Neal, whom the Giants selected with the No.7 overall pick out of Alabama in the 2022 draft to bookend with Thomas. Since entering the league, the 6-7, 340 pounder has labored with being consistent in his technique and countering the speed, power and agility of NFL edge rushers.
The Giants will play an NFC East division rival when they take on the 3-2 Philadelphia Eagles this Sunday (1:00 p.m.) at MetLife. The Giants are 0-2 in division games this season, having been beaten 21-18 in Week 2 by the Washington Commanders and 20-15 by the Dallas Cowboys in Week 4.
