A Disgusting and Shameful Performance: Shame on the New York Giants. Shame on their coaches, shame on their players, shame on the entire organization. In the final game the Giants played at Giants Stadium, in a must-win situation with a playoff berth on the line, the Giants were absolutely destroyed by a team with a losing record and nothing to play for. The Giants fell 41-9 to the Carolina Panthers on Sunday.
If the Dallas Cowboys defeat the Washington Redskins later tonight, the 8-7 Giants will officially be eliminated from playoff contention.
It was one of the worst and most embarrassing defeats in franchise history. And all of this with many New York Giant legends of the past on hand, including Lawrence Taylor and Harry Carson.
LT and Harry must have shaken their heads repeatedly as an emotionless Giants’ defense missed tackle after tackle and was shredded for 416 yards, including 247 net yards rushing. The Panthers converted 10-of-15 third-down attempts and no-name reserve QB Matt More finished the game 15-of-20 for 171 yards and 3 touchdowns.
Offensively, the Giants could not run the football at all until the game was out of reach. HB Brandon Jacobs rushed for a total of 1 yard on 6 carries. The Giants turned the football over four times, including two interceptions and two fumbles.
Lowlights of the game are available at NFL.com.
After the game, DE Osi Umenyiora publicly vented his frustration: “I couldn’t really explain what I’m feeling right now, disappointment is an understatement, in everything, the way everything has played out this year has been absolute nonsense, very disappointed, disheartened, discouraged, whatever you want to call it. I feel all those emotions. On a day like this, for us to come out and perform like that is unbelievable to me. I don’t even know what else to say.”
When asked where the game got away from the Giants, Umenyiora responded, “I don’t know, man. What did I play, five snaps today? I don’t know, I don’t know what happened. I thought I was the problem. It’s an unbelievable situation, man. Last game at Giants Stadium, probably as a Giant, just the way everything has unfolded has been unbelievable. I never would have dreamt this in a million years, but it is what it is, we live and we learn.”
When asked if he had ever been part of an up-and-down season, Umenyiora replied, “I can’t even sit here and answer any more questions. I’m about to say something that would get me really messed up, so I’m just going to leave now. You guys have a good day.”
Post-Game Notes: Inactive for the Giants were CB Corey Webster (knee), CB Aaron Ross (hamstring), RT Kareem McKenzie (knee), G Rich Seubert (knee), HB Danny Ware, WR Sinorice Moss, WR Ramses Barden, and TE Scott Chandler.
The Giants lost four of their last six home games.