The Giants discovered history can repeat itself.
When I saw Graham Gano line up for a NFL record-tying 63-yard field goal, I immediately thought of Philadelphia Lynn Elliott lining up for a 61-yarder that beat the Giants in Week Three last year.
If you had the same thought, you knew what was coming.
Carolina 33, Giants, 31.
It was ironic that it was the same type of game against Carolina as it was with Philadelphia last year.
But these aren’t the 2017 Giants.
This group began to show the personna of their hard-nose, no-nonsense head coach last week in a complete victory in Houston.
That same grittiness surfaced after a first half filled with mistakes that appeared to have the Giants spiraling further into the abyss.
They rebounded on both sides of the ball to score 30 or more points for the first time in 37 games and had all signs pointing toward a must victory.
This was after we learned about Odell Beckham’s controversial ESPN interview in which he took shots at his quarterback and head coach.
Pat Shurmur reportedly read Beckham the riot act and the high-priced wide receiver made amends with his team before the game.
Beckham, Eli Manning, and Saquon Barkley – the Giants’ holy trinity – were all energized in the second half as well was the defense except for the Carolina’s final drive in which they allowed Cam Newton to drive 30 yards for the winning field goal. Kerry Wynn’s roughing the passer penalty earlier led to a field goal.
Yet, the Giants were victim to a ridiculous personal foul, helmet-to-helmet call on Landon Collins that led to Carolina seemingly taking a commanding 27-16 lead in the fourth quarter.
Beckham had his most productive game of the season with a 57-touchdown pass to Barkley and eight catches, one his first touchdown pass of the season.
Barkley managed to grind out 48 yards on 15 carries and had a pair of touchdown receptions among his four catches.
Despite throwing interceptions on consecutive possessions and overthrowing several passes, Manning had enough to rally in the closing moments.
It looks like the great moral victory, but it’s one that would only be appreciated in hand grenades and horseshoes.
The reality is the Giants are a 1-4 team with their share of issues. They appeared to be on the cusp of leaping out of the mire against Houston.
They will play again in four days in a nationally televised game against Philadelphia at Met Life, facing a 2-3 Eagles team that is also trying to find itself after they fell short against Minnesota.
A Giants’ loss could start the downward spiral again. They have to translate their new-found resolve into a victory.
If not, history could continue to repeat itself.