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Daring Daboll and the Giants earn uplifting Week 1 victory
By JAIME C. HARRIS AmNews Sports Editor
Brian Daboll seized the moment. It was an opportunity for the Giants’ first-year head coach to put his imprint on the team and further establish a culture of fearlessness and trust.
With the Giants trailing 13-0 at halftime versus the Tennessee Titans on the road on Sunday, they came within one point of a tie on a one-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Daniel Jones to tight end Daniel Myarick with 1:06 remaining in the game. Down 20-19, Daboll decided to go for two instead of the much safer extra-point kick to even the score and play for overtime.
The former Buffalo Bills’ offensive coordinator and the Giants’ current OC, Mike Kafka, dialed up a short underhand toss from Jones to a resurgent Saquon Barkley. The running back appeared to be stopped by three Titans defenders but nimbly eluded them and lunged into the end zone for the go-ahead score. The Giants’ defense held the Titans and they came away with an inspiring 21-20 victory.
“Going for the win. We’re going to be aggressive. That’s what we want to do. That’s the mindset I want the players to have,” said Daboll after the Giants went 1-0 to open the 2022 campaign. “I thought that was the right decision. You’re an inch away or whatever it was. I trust Saquon [Barkley].
“I grabbed a couple of defensive players,” Daboll recounted, “and busted their tails out there. I went up to some of the offensive guys that weren’t out there too and I said, ‘Hey, we got the ball, wherever it was.’ I said, ‘If we score, I’m going for two, you guys good with that?’ And they said, ‘F-yeah.’”
Daboll’s daring deservedly earned him a game ball from his team as it was a strong message he sent to an organization and fanbase that has bitterly endured losing for the better part of the past decade. Another memo was transmitted by Barkley. He let the football world know that he is still one of the elite athletes alive and when healthy is as good as there is at his position in the NFL.
After battling injuries and inadequate offensive line over the past two seasons, Barkley looked every bit like the player that came out of Penn State and had a sensational 2018 season that earned him NFL Rookie of the Year honors. Against the Titans, Barkley rushed for 164 yards on 18 carries and had six receptions for 30 yards.
“It’s just one game, to be honest. That’s how I look at it,” said Barkley. “Obviously, at the end of the day, I’m excited to get the win. Personally, just got to keep coming in. Something that just keeps tickling me that Coach [Daboll] says, ‘Just enjoy the process.’
“And that’s something I’ve been battling in the last few years with rehabbing and injuries. That’s been my mindset. No matter what, win, loss, tie,” he continued, “I just want to come here with the same mindset and just keep enjoying the process and come to work every single day. We had a great week of practice and no matter what the result was going to be, we can’t let that alter what happens this week. So we’ve got to keep grinding and keep leaning on each other.”
The Giants host the 0-1 Carolina Panthers at MetLife Stadium on Sunday (1p.m.) in their home opener.
Giants rookie head coach Brian Daboll led his team to a seasoningopening 21-20 road win over the Tennessee Titans (Giants.com photo)
The Jets’ season-opening loss highlights rebuilding challenges
Jets head coach Robert Saleh and quarterback Joe Flacco, filling in for injured starter Zach Wilson, took a 24-9 season-opening loss to the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday (Bill Moore Photos) AMNEWS Robert Saleh 07/07/22 Joe Flacco
AMNEWS 07/14/22
By VINCENT DAVIS
Special to the AmNews
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There is shocking and not so shocking.
The Green Bay Packers’ four-time NFL MVP Aaron Rodgers being sacked four times and losing in Week 1 to the Minnesota Vikings is shocking. So is former Jet and current Seattle Seahawks QB Geno Smith having his name chanted by tens of thousands of football fans as he led his team to a 17-16 victory over the Denver Broncos on Monday night.
The New York Jets losing on opening day? Not so shocking. 01304The Jets’ 24-9 defeat to the Baltimore Ravens at MetLife Stadium on Sunday was their fourth consecutive season opening loss. It is 0-2 for Jets head coach Robert Saleh since he was hired by the franchise. And they haven’t won a home opener since 2015.
With Jets second-year quarterback Zack Wilson recovering from meniscus surgery after suffering an injury to his knee in preseason, 37-year-old Joe Flacco, who led the Ravens to a win in Super Bowl XLVII to end the 2012 season, was his replacement. Wilson is expected to return by Week 4.
His absence highlighted one of the urgent areas of the Jets’ rebuilding plan. Wilson struggled last season in his rookie year and Flacco is near the end of his playing career. On the other hand, the Ravens’ 25-year-old QB Lamar Jackson is one of the best players in the NFL. The 2019 league MVP, who is seeking a new contract from the Ravens exceeding $200 million, passed for 213 yards and threw three touchdowns.
Flacco was 37-59 for 307 yards and threw one TD, a 3-yard pass to tight end Tyler Conklin with a minute left in the game. He averaged just 5.2 yards per attempt.
“From dropped passes to being loose with the football to missed kicks, this is a game, in my opinion, that we absolutely lost,” said Saleh.
“We just never turned the corner and got going off of some of those plays that we did have,” added Flacco.
The Jets went into halftime down just 10-3 as the defense was solid and the Ravens’ offense inconsistent over the first 30 minutes. But on the Jets’ first offensive drive of the second half they went three and out and never were able to threaten the Ravens. They only managed 83 yards on the ground on 17 carries in the game. Second-year back Micheal Carter had 60 yards and rookie Breece Hall 23 on six attempts.
The Jets will face the Cleveland Browns this Sunday on the road. The Browns are 1-1 after a 26-24 win over the Carolina Panthers.
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