Giants fail to score a touchdown and are booed off the field in Week 1

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – It didn’t take long for New York Giants fans to reach boiling point – after just two plays of the season opener, in fact.

Then the boos started, continuing sporadically for four quarters as Sam Darnold and the Minnesota Vikings suffered a 28-6 loss at MetLife Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

The Giants were booed at halftime and later from the field when quarterback Daniel Jones threw two interceptions, including one that was returned 10 yards for a touchdown.

In the final minutes of the landslide victory, the only thing that could be heard was the Vikings fans’ chant of “Skol”, which echoed throughout the stadium.

In New York it is only week 1. Not everyone liked the boos.

“I honestly don’t respect it,” said Dexter Lawrence, the Giants’ defensive captain. “I get it. They want their team to win. It’s a tough stretch. It’s just what it is.”

The problem is that the Giants’ problems seem to be a continuation of last season and what fans have had to endure for most of the last twelve years, during which time they have only had two winning seasons.

Right now, Jones seems to be the focus of fan discontent. He is already in his sixth season as a starter for the Giants and has become a symbol of their failure.

Nothing that happened against the Vikings defense on Sunday will change that.

The $160 million quarterback was the source of many boos. It started when running back Devin Singletary caught a pass in the flat and slipped on the second play of the game, causing a 6-yard loss. On their first drive, the Giants faced a third-and-14 attempt at their own 26-yard line and were assessed a delay of game penalty.

Then the boos started raining down on them. It was a harbinger of what was to come. The Giants failed to reach the end zone against the Vikings.

“It’s our job to give them something to cheer about and play well to make that happen. And we take that seriously,” Jones said. “They expect us to play well. We expect us to play well. That’s what we have to do.”

This all happened on an afternoon when the Giants celebrated their 100th season with most of their all-time living players in the building, including Lawrence Taylor, Eli Manning and Phil Simms, who were honored for their accomplishments during a halftime ceremony.

It was one of the few reasons for the fans to cheer.

Before some of the legends had even returned to their suites at MetLife Stadium, New York edge rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux committed a costly face mask violation penalty and the Vikings ran 70 yards and scored a touchdown in less than three minutes, making the score 21-3. The Giants were unable to mount a comeback.

Such blows have become all too common for Giants fans, especially in Week 1. The Giants are 1-7 in their last eight season openers, second only to the Indianapolis Colts (0-7-1). New York has been outscored 68-6 in its last two season openers alone.

“We can do everything better, but it all starts with me,” said coach Brian Daboll.

Daboll called plays on Sunday for the first time since taking over as the Giants’ head coach in 2022. The results were only slightly better than the Dallas Cowboys’ 40-0 prime-time loss in last year’s season opener.

That was little consolation for this group.

“We will look at everything. [Considering a quarterback change] that is not what I mean.”

Giants coach Brian Daboll

“We lost clearly and didn’t score a goal [a touchdown]said Daboll. “So it wasn’t good enough.”

A change at the quarterback position would likely appease some of the disgruntled fans. However, it still seems unlikely after Jones played every first-team snap this summer and finished this game despite the lopsided result.

Jones completed 22 of 42 passes for 186 yards, no touchdowns and two interceptions. He was sacked five times. His self-assessment was similar to Daboll’s.

“Obviously not good enough,” Jones said. “We didn’t get in the end zone, scored six points. We didn’t create much rhythm and flow for ourselves.”

“I have to get better, definitely play better, give myself more chances to make plays and implement them more consistently.”

It doesn’t look like the Giants are ready to sign a quarterback. Drew Lock was the backup on Sunday. Tommy DeVito, last year’s phenom who came out of nowhere, was the backup quarterback.

“We will monitor everything,” said Daboll.[Considering a quarterback change] that is not what I mean.”