Giants running back Sequon Barkley had over 100 combined yards but did not have an impact on the game. Photo from giants.com

EAST RUTHERFORD: Another loss for Big Blue and another week goes by where Giants fans muct be asking…what happened with all the moves out team made in the off season and why haven’t they worked?
Sunday, the Giants dropped a 20-13 decision to the Washington Redskins (5-2) at three-quarters full MetLife Stadium in a game that was not as competitive as the score might indicate.

It is hard to believe the Giants have some talented receivers in Odell Beckham, Jr. and Sterling Shepard, plus a terrific tight end in Evan Engram and a gifted running back in Sequon Barkley. How is it that and they can only muster up six measly measly points against the Washington Redskins until there was just 17 seconds left in the game.

It’s hard to believe that on March 14, 2018, the Giants would sign guard former Jacksonville Jaguar Patrick Omameh to a three-year, $15 million contract with $5.5 million guaranteed and then see him play so poorly.

It’s hard to believe that on March 15, 2018, the Giants would sign New England Patriots tackle Nate Solder to a four-year, $62 million contract with $35 million of it guaranteed, making him the highest-paid offensive lineman in the league

Solder is a team captain who was part of a Giants offensive line that was of not productive in any area of the game. Eli Manning was sacked seven times and hit 10 more times. The sacks resulted in 50 negative yards.

Manning, who was 30 of 47 for 316 yards, one touchdown pass and two interceptions, would not criticize his line.

“Each [interception] has its own story,” Manning said after the game. “Some of them were coverage things, some of them were getting beat and some were that I have to do a better job getting the ball out. Each one has its own reason. We will look at it and see where we can improve.”

The Giants rushed 14 times for 37 yards…for the entire game.
Solder, at his locker after the game, admitted the offensive line is having problems.

“We are not the dependable, reliable O-line that we’d like to be,” He said. “We are going to keep working at that until we hold up our end of the bargain.”

Redskins linebacker Mason Foster, who led his team with 13 total tackles (nine solo), was a big reason running back Sequon Barkley was limited to 38 yards rushing on 13 carries, nine catches for 73 yards and zero trips to the end zone.

“He’s a big time back,” Foster said. “It’s a big challenge, and from the first quarter on we wanted to be physical, impose our will on him. But he’s a great back, a great kid. He was running great routes but we wanted to be physical and let him know what time it was.”

The Giants (1-7) lone bright spot on offense hauling in eight catches for 136 yards including several high reel receptions. But no touchdowns.

The Giants lone TD came from a two-yard toss from Manning to Engram with 17 second left in the game. Too little too late.

The Giants defense did their job veteran quarterback holding Alex Smith, Adrian Peterson and company to just 13 points until the future Hall of Fame running back burst past his offensive line in the fourth quarter for a 64-yard touchdown that effectively ended the game. Peterson finished with 26 carries for 149 yards.

Redskins All Pro offensive guard Brendon Scherff said he has marveled at the play of Peterson since he was signed this season.

“It’s incredible seeing what he sees before the play even happens,” Scherff said at his locker after the game. “We watched him on film said ‘oh my gosh,’ how did that happen. He says he sees it. It’s all for a reason that he’s up there at the top of pretty much every category. I’m glad he’s behind us.”

Scherff said he expected the Giants to make the game a physical, grinder of a game.
“It’s a divisional game and they’ve had our number the last couple of years,” Scherff said at his locker after the game. “We knew they were going to try and punch us in the mouth. But we just kept fighting, fighting and fighting. They did a great job.”

Scheriff, knowing the Eagles will likely make a run to defend their Eastern Division title, said this victory meant a lot on many levels. He also thanked his defense.

“It’s always important any time you can get a win within the division as well,” Scherff said. “Credit our defense, they did a heck of a job. Every game, they’ve kept us in the game. We just found a way to finish.”

It was not a great day for quarterback Alex Smith, just enough. The veteran was 20 of 32 for 178 yards, one touchdown pass and no interceptions.

Smith was asked about his stat line. He said pass interference calls he team benefited from take away from the stat line but he didn’t really care as long as the Redskins win.

“I think a little bit what you said. It’s hard, the stats don’t…you get a 50-yard pass interference and some things like that that don’t show up on the stat sheet, and things like that in the pass game,”
Smith said after the game. “I thought there were some things we did really well, especially in the first half mixing it up. In the second half, I thought certainly there were some things there that were self-inflicted, putting ourselves at third and long, self-inflicted on third down and had some chances to make more plays. Also, obviously in the red zone having first and ten and then a turnover. Definitely things to correct. I thought some good things to build on as well, though.”

Manning made it clear he will not waive his no trade clause for this Tuesday’s trade deadline. He wants to stay a Giant. He said he is not giving up despite his team’s last-place-in-the-NFL record.

“Just have to keep fighting,” Manning said. “The defense gave us a chance today and played outstanding. Offensively, we have to do our part. We are not scoring enough points. We are playing in close games and we are just not finding ways to win them, unfortunately. We have to be able to move the ball more consistently and we have to control the clock to help out our defense. We are just getting down. Down too many points in games. Not scoring enough points and not doing enough in the red zone. We can look at it, practice better and play better.”