LANDOVER, Md. \u2014 After an eight-month layoff, the Giants played their 18th game of the 2024 Season That Everyone Wants To Forget, and it went just as poorly as most of the others.<\/p>\n
Wait a second.<\/p>\n
Sunday was supposed to mark the start of a new season \u2014 and new era \u2014 with positive vibes and an upgraded roster? <\/p>\n
You could have fooled the fans watching the Giants lose 21-6 to the Commanders.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a new season,\u201d head coach Brian Daboll said, \u201cbut it does hurt. No question about that.\u201d<\/p>\n
Russell Wilson and the Giants dropped the season opener against the Commanders on Sept. 7, 2025. JASON SZENES FOR NY POST<\/p>\n
The offense still gained just 231 yards, converted only 4-of-16 third downs, made scoring touchdowns look impossible and relied on bailout kicks from Graham Gano.<\/p>\n
With stud left tackle Andrew Thomas sidelined<\/a>, the blocking still caved in around a quarterback (Russell Wilson) who was hit eight times. <\/p>\n Fill-in starter James Hudson III wasn\u2019t the only one to blame.<\/p>\n And the defense still couldn\u2019t force a takeaway and never got to fully display its pass-rushing identity because it was gashed by the run.<\/p>\n All the same old problems need correcting headed toward a virtual must-win road game against the Cowboys.<\/p>\n \u201cMy confidence isn\u2019t wavering from one game,\u201d said Brian Burns, who had two sacks. \u201cI still have a lot of confidence in this team. It\u2019s one game. Not going to let that turn into two.\u201d<\/p>\n This was Wilson\u2019s first regular-season game with the Giants. Getty Images<\/p>\n The Giants are 0-1 for the eighth time in nine years \u2014 and none of those Week 1 losses gave way to a playoff berth. <\/p>\n One year ago, it led to the misery of a 3-14 finish.<\/p>\n \u201cWe have to be urgent, because if we let this linger like we did last year, we\u2019ll be 3-14 again,\u201d right tackle Jermaine Eluemunor said, \u201cand I\u2019m damn sure not going to accept that. That sucked last year.\u201d<\/p>\n Russell Wilson looked to make a pass against the Commanders before being sacked. Bonnie Cash\/UPI\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n Wilson did not look like the advertised cure-all for an offense that finished No. 31 in scoring last season, yet still brought back 10 of 11 starters while replacing one below-average quarterback \u2014 at least until Daniel Jones blew up Sunday with the Colts<\/a> \u2014 with another at this late stage of his great career.<\/p>\n What Wilson looked like in going 17-for-37 for 168 yards is a tentative quarterback who couldn\u2019t capitalize on the doorstep.<\/p>\n The Giants ran 13 red-zone plays \u2014 12 of which were called passes \u2014 and scored three points. <\/p>\n Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels is entering his second season in the league. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect<\/p>\n Play-caller Mike Kafka seemed to abandon the run as his three backs produced 15 carries for 30 yards.<\/p>\n \u201cThe game was simple in that we didn\u2019t convert in the red zone,\u201d Wilson said. \u201cWhen the ball is on the 1-, 2-yard line, we have to score. They stopped us. That changes the entire complexion of the game.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Despite having a Jaxson Dart package of plays installed in the game plan, Daboll said that he never considered turning to the rookie who aced every preseason test.<\/p>\n \u201cWe were right there until the end,\u201d Daboll said. \u201cIt\u2019s a collective deal. We can all do better.\u201d<\/p>\n The Commanders begin the 2025 season at 1-0. Bonnie Cash\/UPI\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n One eyesore epitome of the offense came when trailing 7-0 in the second quarter: The Giants ran seven plays inside the 8-yard line but couldn\u2019t score a touchdown.<\/p>\n