There is nothing like something astonishing happening right in front of everyone’s eyes to get the attention of those who might be in that same situation one day.
“Yeah, I think they’re going to be a lot more focused,’’ Giants defensive coordinator Shane Bowen said.
What the Giants will be more focused on is the way they defend against Hail Mary passes that take place either at the end of the first half or the end of the game.
The Giants, like every other team in the NFL, work on this play in some way, shape or form every week. But after seeing Jayden Daniels connect on a 52-yard Hail Mary touchdown pass to Noah Brown on the final play of last week’s 18-15 victory over the Bears, there is little doubt the reverberations of that you-had-to-see-it highlight will be felt around the league.
Aaron Rodgers and the Jets hit on a Hail Mary for a touchdown at halftime earlier this season.
That was a more traditional version of the desperation heave.
The Commanders made it work thanks to some mindless play by Bears cornerback Tyrique Stevenson, who was taunting the Washington crowd and had his back to the action as Daniels bought time for himself then hurled a pass that traveled nearly 66 yards in the air.
Stevenson finally realized the play was live, and he was late getting into the mass of bodies a few yards short of the goal line.
He leaped into the air and deflected the ball into the end zone, where Brown was standing, alone.
“It’s something we go through every week, make sure we’re on the same page, and we execute at a high level,’’ Bowen said. “This is the second one this year. So, these quarterbacks are buying time, they’re launching it, and there’s a lot of good playmakers out there that are coming down with the ball.’’
It is a ride no team wants to hop on, but once again the Giants are on the kicker carousel.
They are on their fourth placekicker this season, as Jude McAtamney was elevated off the practice squad and will make his NFL debut.
He replaced Greg Joseph, who surprisingly showed up on the injury report Friday with an abdominal injury and was immediately ruled out for the game.
Joseph replaced Graham Gano, who injured a hamstring in the Week 2 loss to the Commanders.
In that game, the Giants used punter Jamie Gillan for an extra-point attempt, which he missed.
Gillan is currently out with a hamstring injury, which is why Matt Haack has been the punter the past three games.
Since he has come back from missing two games in the concussion protocol, rookie WR Malik Nabers has been unable to find any success down the field. His longest reception against the Eagles went for 14 yards, and his longest gain last week in Pittsburgh was 16 yards.
This is the way defenses are playing him.
“I mean, they are just trying to stop the explosives from happening,’’ Nabers said. “That’s what every defense wants. You don’t want no big plays happening. You want the offense to stay on the field as long as possible. Try to make your D-line, defense work. So, it’s better that they stop trying to create the explosives. I mean that’s what they’ve been trying to do. I can’t do nothing about what the defense does, I only can play with the offense.’’
The Giants put Joseph (abdomen) on injured reserve, meaning he will miss at least four games.
With McAtamney elevated from the practice squad, the Giants will go with a novice kicker for this game.
Veteran Graham Gano is not yet ready to return.
OLB Tomon Fox was signed to the active roster, as he was out of practice squad elevations.
FB Jakob Johnson was re-signed to the practice squad.
