5 reasons why the Giants lost 26-18 against Steelers in Week 8 MNF showdown
The Steelers defeated the Giants in Week 8 of the 2024 NFL football season to leave both teams trending in opposite directions. Their win-loss records and positions are complete mirror images. Pittsburgh is now 6-2 and sits atop a competitive AFC North, with the Ravens one game behind. New York is 2-6 and bottom of the NFC East and do not look like they will make the postseason.
It was a chastening loss for the Giants and the Steelers completed a week feeling high, especially after Baltimore's loss against Cleveland earlier. This is why the game went the way it did.
5 reasons why the Giants lost against the Steelers
#5 - Brian Daboll's gameday decisions leave a lot to be desired
Mike Vrable was the NFL Coach of the Year in 2021. He followed that up with two losing seasons and was unceremoniously cut at the end of it. He is still looking for a job even though he had a legitimate excuse that the Tennessee Titans' executive team made a mistake in letting their star offensive weapon, A.J. Brown, leave.
It seems Brian Daboll is also following the same path. He was the NFL Coach of the Year in 2022 and followed that up with a losing season in 2023. Unless there are some drastic changes, the same outcome is expected to repeat this year. Even he can complain that the Giants' general management made a mistake in failing to bring back Saquon Barkley.
However, that cannot disguise some of his own failings, one of which was particularly apparent in this game. After New York had scored a touchdown to bring the score to 23-15, a one-point conversion would have made it a single-score game. Instead, he opted for a failed two-point conversion.
Perhaps he did not have the confidence in his offense that they could score another touchdown and wanted to reduce the arrears to a more manageable six points, which could have been covered with two field goals. It was a gamble, though, and it completely backfired.
#4 - Steelers coaching genius extends to special teams coordinator Danny Smith
On the other side of the ball, there was a clear coaching philosophy on display. Mike Tomlin has never had a losing season and it is because he gets his players performing at their highest level on any given game day.
That extends to all facets of the game and special teams coordinator Danny Smith is cut from the same cloth. The Steelers have been the most successful team blocking field goals this season. Even though they could not get one against the Giants, they showed up when it mattered with a punt return touchdown by Calvin Austin.
Danny Smith was seen pumping his fist on the sideline after seeing the successful play. The score was 9-9 at that point and no team had successfully ventured into the endzone. It changed the narrative and outcome of the game.
#3 - Daniel Jones keeps struggling, especially in the red zone
Daniel Jones finished with 264 yards, no passing touchdowns, an interception, and a 72.7 passer rating. It was another performance likely to give his critics more ammunition. The Giants scored their touchdown on a long rush by Tyrone Tracy Jr. as the quarterback struggled repeatedly to close drives in the red zone. The one time he did in the first half, it was brought back for an illegal shift.
Even in the second half, Daniel Jones twice had the opportunity to be a game-winner. Russell Wilson fumbled and lost the ball with more than four minutes remaining in the fourth quarter and all the Giants quarterback could do was return the favor to the Steelers. He was strip-sacked by T.J. Watt on the next drive.
However, Pittsburgh had to punt it away to give the New York offense another chance to win the game. Instead of leading a methodical drive down the field, Daniel Jones threw an interception to end the game.
#2 - Russell Wilson is finding his groove
When Mike Tomlin decided that Russell Wilson would become the starter immediately after his return from injury, many observers were questioning the decision. However, the Steelers quarterback has now repaid his head coach's faith in consecutive games against the Jets and the Giants.
Aside from an ugly fumble late in the game, he was very good, finishing with a 114.9 passer rating. Two touchdown passes to George Pickens were overruled due to a penalty and the receiver stepping out of bounds. However, he still scored a touchdown in the second half, did not throw an interception, and recorded 278 passing yards.
Beyond the stats, his complete demeanor was impressive. He made two deep throws, once on a third-and-long, to set up a touchdown and a field goal and commanded the offense with authority.
#1 - T.J. Watt and Steelers defense are still the difference-maker
However, the reason the Steelers remain a fearsome team is because of their defense. Alex Highsmith stopped the two-point conversion dead, as we have mentioned above. The beating heart of this unit is T.J. Watt, though, and he showed his value in the fourth quarter.
After Russell Wilson had fumbled the ball and given the Giants an opportunity to tie the game, the linebacker first sacked Daniel Jones, then dislodged the ball, and scooped up possession to save the Steelers' quarterback's blushes. He did it all in one swift movement and it was a thing of beauty.
If the Steelers compete for the Super Bowl this season, and there is no reason why they should not given they lead the AFC North over the Baltimore Ravens, their defense will have a critical role to play.