Brian Daboll should have vetoed ill-advised call

Grading the Giants’ 26-25 home loss to the Rams on Sunday.

Offense

The good, the bad and the ugly all wrapped up in one game for Tyrod Taylor (27 of 41, 319 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT). Some huge plays — a 31-yard run in the closing minute was excellent — but too much indecision on botched 2-point conversion flip way behind Saquon Barkley. Taylor’s 80-yard bomb to Darius Slayton (4-106) was in the air a long, long time. Taylor on fourth-and-1 in the second quarter mishandled the snap for a fumble.

As for Barkley (12-39 rushing, 3-19 receiving) it was a rough outing.

What’s with the dropped passes? Rookie Jalin Hyatt failed to haul in a deep pass on the first series but broke free on the sideline for an 18-yard completion on the first TD drive. Wan’Dale Robinson scored on a 24-yard jet sweep. TE Daniel Bellinger was called for a hold late in the first quarter, his fifth penalty of the season. His sixth, a holding call in the fourth quarter, negated a 47-yard completion to Hyatt. Rough stuff.

Ben Bredeson had a costly holding penalty in the fourth quarter. A holding penalty by rookie C John Michael Schmitz took back a 15-yard gain by Taylor. Only 5 of 16 on third down conversions.

Grade: C

Defense

At times, it seemed as if Matthew Stafford (24 of 34, 317, 1 TD, 2 INTs) was marching up and down the field. Really bad job of tackling by Adoree’ Jackson on what turned into an 80-yard gain by Puka Nacua. CB Cor’Dale Flott was called for holding in the fourth quarter to give the Rams a first down.

Work against the run (23-105) was mostly solid, but Kyren Williams (20-87) ran for three TDs. Nacua (5-118) did damage, as did Demarcus Robinson (6-92), but Cooper Kupp (4-27) was held in check.

Big game for S Dane Belton, filling in after Jason Pinnock was lost to injury. Belton, always around the ball, had two interceptions and one fumble recovery. Jackson forced a fumble on Robinson.

Bobby Okereke had 10 tackles and 1.5 sacks. Isaiah Simmons had a big third-down sack. Kayvon Thibodeaux (no sacks, no quarterback hits) was quiet again.

Grade: C+

Special Teams

This gets complicated. Gunner Olszewski had a brilliant escape job on his 94-yard punt return for a touchdown late in the fourth quarter. He also misplayed a third quarter punt that sailed over his head, hesitating to run after the ball and then getting tripped up for a 3-yard loss, handing Ethan Evans a 70-yard punt.

Good and bad. Mason Crosby hit field goals of 31 and 32 yards but came up way short on a 54-yarder with 30 seconds left to put the Giants into the lead. The 39-year old Crosby also was wide right on an extra point try in the third quarter.

Darnay Holmes was called for a holding penalty on the final punt return. Jamie Gillan showed nice touch on a 39-yard punt that put the Rams back on their 12-yard line.

Grade: C

Coaching

Brian Daboll does not call the plays on offense but he has veto power, so why didn’t he overrule the ill-advised draw play to Barkley that lost two yards before the final field goal miss? That is a game-deciding moment, there.

Daboll won a replay challenge that wiped out a 15-yard completion on the opening Rams series. Two plays later, Daboll won an even bigger replay challenge on what turned out to be a non-catch by Nacua on fourth down.

It looked as if Wink Martindale brought more heat in the second half as the Giants picked up three of their four sacks.

Grade: C