Giants offense at risk of causing friction amid defensive dominance

Let us play a game that serves no real purpose, other than to compromise the already-frayed mental health of Giants fans: What if safety Jason Pinnock on Sunday night had recovered the fumble that was forced by linebacker Micah McFadden? The ball was sitting right there, and Pinnock was the closest player in the vicinity.What if the Giants put an accent on their fine defensive showing with Pinnock securing the ball, rather than failing to do so? The Giants could have taken over on their own 21-yard line, with 1:58 remaining, trailing 10-7 to the Bengals.

The Giants had one of their timeouts remaining and certainly had plenty of time to get in position for a game-tying field goal or, better yet for them, perhaps a game-winning touchdown. Is there any reason to believe that would have happened? Is there any reason to believe that all of a sudden, when they needed it most, Daniel Jones and the offense were going to string together a bunch of positive plays, or maybe one big play, to get the job done and win a game they all needed so badly? Stuff happens, of course, but the answer is … no.There is no reason to believe Jones and Co.

would have unlocked some secret formula to actually complete a pass of more than 15 yards.And so, when Pinnock did not get the ball, the Giants were doomed.

On the very next snap, Brown raced untouched 30 yards for the game-sealing touchdown, the Giants were on the wrong end of a 17-7 loss that once again showcased their ongoing inability to score enough, no matter how well their defense plays. “Well, again, you’re not happy with the result, and you’re not happy with the points,’’ head coach Brian Daboll said Monday. “Our inability, I would say, this game, to generate explosive plays, whether that’s through the run or through the air is not where I want it to be right now.So, we’ll keep doing it.

Keep calling them.’’ Daboll as the play-caller sent in four deep shots for Jones.There was a crossing route by Wan...