ARLINGTON, Texas — Unlikely as it may have been even for the most optimistic of Giants fans, the day had potential (albeit a miniscule chance) to morph into a feel-good story.
There was a little bounce in the team’s step during the week leading up to Sunday’s rematch against the Cowboys at AT&T Stadium, because Tommy DeVito, the 25-year-old rookie from New Jersey who was making his first NFL start, had added some “juice” to an otherwise forgettable season.
DeVito, an undrafted free agent with uncommon swagger for a young player with so few credentials, has endeared himself to his teammates, who seemed genuinely intrigued by what the kid might bring to the table in a game few gave the Giants a chance to win.
As it turned out, there would be no feel-good story.
There was nothing to feel good about at all.
Not for DeVito.
Not for the Giants.
Not for anyone but the Cowboys, who had their way with the Giants yet again in an utterly dominant 49-17 rout.
If the Giants thought they were humiliated by the Cowboys in their 40-0 opening-night loss at home, as it turned out they hadn’t seen anything yet.
The Giants were noncompetitive in this game. Other than quitting, that’s the worst thing you can say about a team. They’ve been outscored by their NFC East rivals 89-17 in the teams’ two meetings this season.
The Giants are 2-8 and have no hope. Sadly, it appears they cannot compete with DeVito behind center. He didn’t look like an NFL-ready quarterback on this day, and he may never be.
But where do the Giants go from here?
With Daniel Jones out for the season with the torn ACL and veteran backup Tyrod Taylor out indefinitely with busted ribs, after DeVito on the depth chart is journeyman Matt Barkley, who hasn’t played an NFL game since 2020, hasn’t started one since 2018 and is just 2-5 as a starter in his career.
Let’s be clear about this, though: This loss was hardly all on DeVito.
Shame on the defense, which was supposed to be the least of the Giants’ worries. Wink Martindale’s group looked overmatched all night.
DeVito barely had a chance. His first offensive series began at his own 1-yard line after the Giants’ defense held Dallas out of the end zone on a fourth-and-goal — its only proud moment of the game.
DeVito lost his left tackle, Andrew Thomas, temporarily to a knee injury on the second offensive possession (Thomas would return later). He was 4 of 9 for 24 yards passing in the first half. By then it was over, the Cowboys taking a 28-0 lead into the locker room while suppressing smiles because this was too easy.
Way too easy.
Through the first half, the Cowboys had amassed 368 net yards of offense to just 26 for the Giants. Dallas had 239 passing yards to 16 for the Giants, 129 rushing yards to 12. The Cowboys had 20 first downs to one for the Giants and were gaining 8.8 yards per play to 1.3 per play for the Giants.
Teams in other sports around the world are relegated to lower divisions for performances as putrid as the one the Giants put forth on Sunday.
We, too, may be reeling toward a meltdown period for the Giants, with running back Saquon Barkley appearing to have words of frustration with head coach Brian Daboll on the sideline after a series in the first half and receiver Darius Slayton expressing his displeasure on the sideline and having to be reprimanded by veteran teammate Sterling Shepard.
The Giants are in a very dangerous place right now, because teams with no hope fracture.
If you’re a Giants fan who wants a pound of flesh for what this season and thinks everything will turn around if Daboll was fired, think again.
First, ask yourself who, with this depleted roster, is going to turn this thing around. This is a long-haul deal, and Giants ownership, beginning with John Mara, is not going to continue with this firing cycle every two years.
The Giants have no choice but to stay the course, hopefully draft a top collegiate quarterback and reboot at that position.
If it’s even possible, the most ridiculous moment of the game came when the Giants scored their first touchdown, a 10-yard DeVito pass to tight end Lawrence Cager in the third quarter. It “cut’’ the Cowboys lead to 28-7 at the time.
And Cager danced the night away in celebration in the end zone.
It was one of many embarrassing moments in the game.
Shame on Cager for not reading the room and realizing how dark it is in there right now.
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