Grades from the Giants’ 38-13 NFC wild-card loss to the Packers on Sunday:
Offense
Tons of yards and completed passes early, but it was empty production. Odell Beckham Jr. dropped two passes in the first quarter, including what should have been a touchdown that went right through his outstretched arms. Rookie Sterling Shepard also had an early drop in the end zone. Ereck Flowers was being Ereck Flowers on a brutal pass-protection set that got Eli Manning (23 for 44, 299 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT) nailed by Julius Peppers. Flowers also was called for a false start. Little-used Tavarres King made the most of his chance with a 41-yard TD catch. Same old same old for this unit.
Grade: F
Defense
Giving up a last-second Hail Mary is inexcusable. Eli Apple, Leon Hall and Landon Collins allowed Randall Cobb to get behind them at the back of the end zone. Can’t happen. Good stuff early, but in the end, Aaron Rodgers was way too tough. Losing Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie to a thigh injury in the first quarter was a killer. Leon Hall knocked WR Jordy Nelson out of the game in the second quarter with a helmet-to-the-ribs shot. Trevin Wade, subbing for DRC, was toasted by Randall Cobb on a 30-yard TD.
Grade: C-
Special teams
Terrible work here. Wow, was that a dumb move by Bobby Rainey fielding a kickoff headed out of bounds and then falling out of bounds himself on the 3-yard line. What on earth was he thinking? The gaffe handed the Packers three points. Brad Wing’s first punt pinned the Packers on their 6-yard line, but then he had two poor, short line-drive kicks. Dwayne Harris had a 31-yard kickoff return late in the second quarter. A short pop-up kickoff by Robbie Gould was returned 33 yards by Jeff Janis. Later, Christine Michael had a 31-yard kickoff return. Micah Hyde had a 23-yard punt return.
Grade: F
Coaching
The Achilles heel of the Giants — their shoddy offense — falls at the feet of Ben McAdoo, who could not sustain anything in his first playoff game. McAdoo’s team was uber loose leading up to the game, but this was a poor showing. What the heck was McAdoo thinking calling to give the ball to little Bobby Rainey on third-and-1 late in the first half instead of bigger Paul Perkins or Rashad Jennings? Bad job. Steve Spagnuolo has done great work with the defense, but his line could not get near Aaron Rodgers.
Grade: D