The New York Giants lost their first game of the 2024 season, 28-6, to the Minnesota Vikings on a beautiful late summer Sunday afternoon at MetLife Stadium.
It’s the tagline most sports shows throw at you on Monday mornings, but the reality is much less sterile.
The Giants were terrible. Yes, the Vikings beat them, but they beat themselves equally. Penalties, turnovers, missed plays, and just plain unimaginative, uninspired play ruled the day.
The fans booed and had every right to. The real deciding moment came late in the third quarter when they started to leave the field. That’s when they knew the game was decided.
Good news. The weather is nice and there won’t be any traffic on the way out… . pic.twitter.com/0TLEwZzJpB
— BigBlueVCR (@BigBlueVCR) September 8, 2024
#giants Fans leave the season opener with 4:22 left in the third quarter after Daniel Jones picks up his sixth pic.twitter.com/U1v3tkswfb
— Ryan Dunleavy (@rydunleavy) September 8, 2024
Quarterback Daniel Jones, who missed two-thirds of last season with an injury, played typical Jones-style, including a torn ACL. He was constantly pressured, took a lot of hits (12 total), and threw two painful interceptions. His rust was obvious, but no one could take encouragement from what they saw.
“I think it’s our job to give them something to cheer for, to do well and execute. We take it seriously. They expect us to do well, they expect us to do well. We have to do that,” Jones told reporters after the game.
But Giants fans went beyond frustration and took their actions to the extreme, waiting an hour after Sunday’s game to boo Jones as he headed to his car.
Danny Penis after the game!! @awthentik @Barstoolsports @marshalgreen_ @NYG Daily @NYC_1Ts @realmaceblack pic.twitter.com/ADvVBYvYme
— RUgiants (@RUgiants) September 9, 2024
It was a very sad moment for the fans, because they expressed their frustration so excessively.
“It’s completely wrong and I wouldn’t be surprised to see fans no longer allowed in that area as some people felt the need to taunt him while he waited for him to go home.” Posted on X by veteran beat writer Art Stapleton.. “He’s a big boy. He can handle it. But that’s not the point.
“That won’t happen again this year because fans will be streaming videos and the NFL will likely have security in that area, so they won’t be allowed in.
Unfortunately, that’s the reaction that will come out.”
After the game, Giants co-owner John Mara showed up, and he wasn’t in a chatty mood as the team’s 100th season began with a bang.
Mara would have been furious after watching Saquaon Barkley light up the Eagles’ scoreboard on Friday night and seeing his team completely fail after an emotional 100th anniversary celebration.
And of course, he watched as fans booed and left early in Week 1 of the season and Vikings fans chanted “SKOL” in half-empty stadiums.
Let’s also not forget that while Sam Dalnold, who was ousted from the Jets, burned up the secondary, completing 19 of 24 passes, Jones looked like a confused rookie.
Many fear that a long year lies ahead. Mara may not be as patient as she has been in the past few years.
