WHAT WE LEARNED ABOUT THE OFFENSE
Four-fifths of the Giants’ starting offensive line has stayed the same for eight weeks. The only exception is at left tackle, where there has been a void to fill after Andrew Thomas was placed on injured reserve after a season-ending foot surgery. Joshua Ezeudu manned the position last week, but newcomer Chris Hubbard took over on Monday night.
Signed off the 49ers’ practice squad on Oct. 18, the 6-foot-4 and 295-pound Hubbard had exactly 100 games of NFL experience entering Monday, including six in the postseason. He played his first four seasons with the Steelers (2014-2017), the next five with the Browns (2018-2022), and one with the Titans (2023). Hubbard had started 58 games, 51 of which were at right tackle.
The Giants ran the ball three consecutive times for 11 yards and a first down to start the game, opening an opportunity for Daniel Jones to hit Darius Slayton for a 43-yard pass. It was the longest completion of the season for the Giants, whose longest play of the previous two weeks – run or pass – had been 15 yards.
Slayton also had a 36-yard reception as he finished with 108 yards on four catches.
Rookie Tyrone Tracy Jr. made his fourth consecutive start and led the team with 20 carries for a career-high 145 yards, including a 45-yard touchdown run (Giants’ longest play of the season).
The Giants gained 183 yards in the first half – 64 yards more than they had in all of Week 7 – but settled for three field goals. Overall, they went 0-3 in the red zone.
A week after they allowed a season-high eight sacks, the Giants gave up four on Monday night, including a strip-sack by T.J. Watt that the former Defensive Player of the Year also recovered late in the game. The Steelers then sealed the deal with an interception in the final minute of the game.
The Giants committed 11 penalties for 65 yards.
