Instant Analysis: Giants fall to Steelers, 26-18

2 days ago

Giants.com

AT A GLANCE

The New York Giants fell to the Steelers 26-18 in Pittsburgh, where the AFC North leaders have won 22 consecutive home games on Monday Night Football. The Giants dropped to 2-6 on the season while the Steelers improved to 6-2.

UP NEXT

The Giants host the NFC East-leading Washington Commanders, who are 6-2 after defeating the Chicago Bears on a Hail Mary touchdown pass as time expired on Sunday. Then the Giants are off to Munich for an international game against the Carolina Panthers.

WHAT WE LEARNED ABOUT THE OFFENSE

Four-fifths of the Giants' starting offensive line has stayed the same for eight weeks. The only exception is at left tackle, where there has been a void to fill after Andrew Thomas was placed on injured reserve after a season-ending foot surgery. Joshua Ezeudu manned the position last week, but newcomer Chris Hubbard took over on Monday night.

Signed off the 49ers' practice squad on Oct. 18, the 6-foot-4 and 295-pound Hubbard had exactly 100 games of NFL experience entering Monday, including six in the postseason. He played his first four seasons with the Steelers (2014-2017), the next five with the Browns (2018-2022), and one with the Titans (2023). Hubbard had started 58 games, 51 of which were at right tackle.

The Giants ran the ball three consecutive times for 11 yards and a first down to start the game, opening an opportunity for Daniel Jones to hit Darius Slayton for a 43-yard pass. It was the longest completion of the season for the Giants, whose longest play of the previous two weeks – run or pass – had been 15 yards.

Slayton also had a 36-yard reception as he finished with 108 yards on four catches.

Rookie Tyrone Tracy Jr. made his fourth consecutive start and led the team with 20 carries for a career-high 145 yards, including a 45-yard touchdown run (Giants' longest play of the season).

The Giants gained 183 yards in the first half – 64 yards more than they had in all of Week 7 – but settled for three field goals. Overall, they went 0-3 in the red zone.

A week after they allowed a season-high eight sacks, the Giants gave up four on Monday night, including a strip-sack by T.J. Watt that the former Defensive Player of the Year also recovered late in the game. The Steelers then sealed the deal with an interception in the final minute of the game.

The Giants committed 11 penalties for 65 yards.

WHAT WE LEARNED ABOUT THE DEFENSE

Three cornerbacks appeared on the Giants' final injury report of the week, and two were eventually ruled out. Adoree' Jackson (neck) missed his second straight game. Cor'Dale Flott, who started last week vs. Philadelphia but left the game with an injured groin, was also inactive. Meanwhile, Tre Hawkins III (ankle) suited up after being listed as questionable.

That left just Deonte Banks, Nick McCloud, and rookie Dru Phillips (nickel) as the only healthy cornerbacks entering Week 8. The Giants also elevated veteran Greg Stroman, who saw extensive time opposite McCloud in the second half.

Despite playing in the final game of the week, the Giants still entered Monday night as the NFL's leader in sacks. Dexter Lawrence held the same honor individually as he seeks to become just the fourth interior lineman to win the sack title and possibly break Aaron Donald's record of 20.5 in that category. The Giants added three to their tally in Pittsburgh thanks to Azeez Ojulari (2.0) and Brian Burns (1.0).

Ojulari notched his fifth sack in three games (sixth of the season) while replacing the injured Kayvon Thibodeaux. Burns now has a sack in four consecutive games.

Linebacker Bobby Okereke breathed late life into the Giants with a forced fumble and recovery on a Russell Wilson scramble. Down 26-18, the Giants took over at the Steelers 37 with 4:30 remaining in the game.

The Giants allowed 269 rushing yards last week, their most since 2014. The Steelers picked up where the Eagles left off and ran for 81 yards on nine carries in the first quarter alone. Pittsburgh finished with 167 yards on 31 rushes (5.4 yards per carry).

The Steelers moved the ball, but the Giants held them out of the end zone on all four of their trips inside the 20-yard line.

WHAT WE LEARNED ABOUT SPECIAL TEAMS

The Steelers scored the first touchdown of the game on a 73-yard punt return by Calvin Austin III with 4:38 left in the third quarter.

Greg Joseph made all four of his field goal attempts from 29, 39, 44, and 48 yards.

Left-footed punter Jamie Gillan missed his third consecutive game with a hamstring injury on his kicking leg.

IN-GAME INJURY REPORT

NYG: RB Tyrone Tracy Jr. (shoulder)

INACTIVES

NYG: P Jamie Gillan (left hamstring), CB Adoree' Jackson (neck), CB Cor'Dale Flott (groin), LB Ty Summers (ankle), G Jake Kubas, DL Jordon Riley, QB Tommy DeVito (emergency 3rd QB)

PIT: CB C.J. Henderson, OLB Nick Herbig (hamstring), C Zach Frazier (ankle), RB Cordarrelle Patterson (ankle), QB Justin Fields (hamstring/emergency 3rd QB)

ROSTER MOVES

NYG: OLB Tomon Fox, DB Greg Stroman (standard elevations from practice squad)

PIT: WR Roman Wilson (placed on Reserve/Injured), RB Jonathan Ward (signed from practice squad), WR Brandon Johnson (standard elevation from practice squad), RB Aaron Shampklin (released)

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