The Giants.com crew breaks down the 37-21 loss to the Chargers in Los Angeles:
John Schmeelk: The Giants have four games left this season to show they can play a better brand of football than they have played in two consecutive losses to the Dolphins and Chargers. At 4-9, all the Giants can do is look themselves in the mirror and figure out how they can do their job better. Personal pride in their own performance is something that should be seizing these players right now. Until the Giants can more consistently win their matchups at every level of the offense and defense, the results are not going to be significantly better. Whatever gets put down on tape lives forever, and the next four weeks needs to be better than the previous four if expectations are going to be met and losses are going to turn into wins.
Dan Salomone: Mike Glennon started for a second consecutive game in place of Daniel Jones, who is dealing with a neck injury. The question now becomes will it be three in a row with a visit from the NFC East-leading Cowboys looming. Joe Judge spoke to reporters Monday morning on a conference call from Los Angeles at the same time Jones was undergoing scans on his injured neck in New Jersey. By the time the team lands, they hope to have more information.
Judge was asked if he was any more or less optimistic about Jones, who flew back early Senior Vice President of Medical Services/Head Athletic Trainer Ronnie Barnes.
"I wouldn't say – I have nothing negative, nothing less optimistic about it, if that makes sense? I have no information to tell me that anything's going in a different direction," Judge said. "We're waiting eagerly like you guys are to hear what the doctors say, and we'll see where it is for this week."
Lance Medow: We've seen multiple teams this season that the Giants have struggled showcasing complementary football and it was in the forefront of Sunday's loss to the Chargers. Near the end of the second quarter, the Chargers had a 17-7 lead but New York pinned them at their own 4 and forced a three-and-out to give the Giants the ball at the Los Angeles 41. However, the Giants also went three-and-out and wound up losing two yards before punting with less than a minute left. To make matters worse, the Chargers' Justin Herbert needed only a few plays before connecting with Jalen Guyton for a 59-yard touchdown.
When special teams and the defense come through, the offense can't capitalize and vice-versa. Although that series of events proved to be a huge turning point in the game, Sunday's biggest issue was the inability for the defense to stop the run and get off the field. Los Angeles ran the ball 37 times for 152 yards and scored on seven of their eight possessions during one stretch from midway through the first quarter to early in the fourth. The Chargers faced very few third downs and when they were put in that position, the majority of them were reasonable distances. The longest third down they faced was for 11 yards – when Herbert found Guyton for a score. The Chargers dictated the tone of the game up front and that enabled them to build a sizeable lead and force New York to play from behind for the majority of the contest.
