Brian Daboll defends ‘analytics-based’ approach with Giants’ two-point conversions

This is all prearranged.

The coaching staff discusses it during the week and determines that the Giants will go for the two-point conversion if specific time and score situations arise. 

“If we get in that situation, that’s what we’re going to do,’’ head coach Brian Daboll said. “But it’s analytics-based.’’ 

Of course it is.

Number crunching is a big part of how head coaches maneuver through a game.

The Giants on Sunday lost their fourth consecutive game, falling 27-22 to the Commanders at MetLife Stadium, and along the way they tried and failed on a pair of two-point conversion attempts in the fourth quarter. 

“I felt good about what we had and they did a good job of stopping it,’’ Daboll said. 

With 9:25 remaining, the Giants pulled within 24-16 as Daboll went for two — looking to trim the lead to six points.

Daniel Jones looked to throw the ball, found no one open and was dropped. 

With 2:48 left, the Giants were within 27-22 and this time, going for two was really the only option to get them within a field goal.

Jones looked to throw and was sacked. 

The Giants are 0-for-6 this season on two-point conversion attempts.

It is not a high-percentage around the NFL in 2024.

Heading into Week 9, teams converted only 31 percent of their two-point conversion attempts, down significantly from last season’s 55 percent success rate. 

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When Jones hit TE Chris Manhertz for a 2-yard scoring connection in the second quarter, it was Jones’ first touchdown pass at home in 672 days and only the Giants’ second touchdown of any kind in five home games this season.

The last time Jones fired scoring passes at home was late in the 2022 season — Jan. 1, 2023 — when he hit Richie James and Isaiah Hodgins.

Jones played in only two home games last season before he went down with a torn ACL.

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Jude McAtamney, elevated from the practice squad with Greg Joseph going on injured reserve, made his NFL debut with four touchbacks and one extra point. 

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It looked as if the Giants had pulled within 21-14 with 5:31 left in the third quarter when Jones hit Wan’Dale Robinson in the end zone on a 3-yard toss, but WR Darius Slayton was called for what seemed to be a dubious offensive pass interference penalty. 

“When you’re on the two-yard line right there, the rule is you can make contact with them within one yard of the line of scrimmage,’’ Jones said. “So, we’ll see what it looked like on film, but Slay’s pretty good, Wan’Dale’s pretty good in those situations, so we’ll go back and look and see what it looks like.’’ 

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Jayden Daniels became the first rookie quarterback to start and win two games against the Giants since the NFL began tracking such things in 1950. 

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The Commanders won without their leading rusher, Brian Robinson, who was listed as questionable late in the week but declared inactive with a hamstring issue.

Robinson came with 461 rushing yards and six touchdowns.

It did not matter much, as they ran for 149 yards, but averaged only 3.9 yards per attempt.

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The Giants have now failed to intercept a pass in eight consecutive games, extending a franchise record.