Malik Nabers Sounds Off After Giants’ Blowout Loss: What’s Next for New York?
It’s been a rough season for the New York Giants, and Sunday’s 30-7 blowout loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers only added fuel to the fire. Rookie wide receiver Malik Nabers didn’t hold back his frustration after the game, calling out the team’s effort and questioning the game plan. His comments have sparked a wave of reactions, and now head coach Brian Daboll is left to address the fallout.
Let’s set the scene: The Giants, coming off their bye week, were expected to show some fight against a Buccaneers team that had lost four straight games. Instead, they were outgained 450-245 and found themselves down 30-0 before finally putting points on the board. For a team that’s now 2-9 and riding a six-game losing streak, the frustration is boiling over—and Nabers is making sure his voice is heard.
Nabers’ Frustration Boils Over
After the game, Nabers didn’t mince words. “Go out there first, second quarter, don’t get the ball,” he said. “Start getting targets at the end. I mean, can’t do that. Start getting the ball when it’s 30-0. What do you want me to do?”
The rookie wideout finished the game with six catches on nine targets for 64 yards—all of which came in the second half. His frustration was clear, and when asked why he wasn’t involved earlier, Nabers simply said, “I don’t know. Talk to Daboll about that.”
Head coach Brian Daboll addressed the situation on Monday, saying he had spoken with Nabers both Sunday night and Monday morning. “He’s a very competitive individual,” Daboll said during a conference call. “Again, you want to get the ball in his hands, and I got to do a better job of getting the ball in his hands early. He’s a smart young guy that’s very competitive. And again, when you lose like that, it’s a frustrating thing. But we’ve had good communication as we always have.”
Team Effort Under Fire
Nabers wasn’t the only one voicing concerns. Veteran offensive lineman Jermaine Eluemunor questioned whether everyone on the team was giving 100%, while defensive captain Dexter Lawrence II echoed Nabers’ sentiment, calling the team’s effort “soft.”
Daboll, however, pushed back on those claims. “The guys played hard. They played with effort,” he said. “Just didn’t do enough.”
Still, the optics aren’t great for a team that’s already made headlines this season for benching and eventually releasing quarterback Daniel Jones. Sunday’s starter, Tommy DeVito, took a beating, leaving the game briefly after a hard hit before returning to take another one. Despite his obvious discomfort, Daboll said he’s “hopeful” DeVito will be ready to start Thursday’s Thanksgiving matchup against the Dallas Cowboys. “I’m anticipating he’ll be ready to go,” Daboll said.
What’s Really Going On?
For Nabers, the quarterback situation isn’t the root of the problem. “Obviously, it ain’t the quarterback,” he said. “Same outcome we had with [Jones] at quarterback. Take a look. Take a look. It ain’t the quarterback.”
So, what is the issue? Nabers doesn’t have the answer. “I don’t know. Everyone knows better than me. I don’t know. Honestly, I don’t know what it is,” he said. “I know I’m tired of losing.”
Key Takeaways
Here’s what we know:
- The Giants are now 2-9 and have lost six straight games.
- They were outgained 450-245 in Sunday’s loss to the Buccaneers.
- Malik Nabers finished with six catches for 64 yards, all in the second half.
- Head coach Brian Daboll has taken responsibility for not getting Nabers involved earlier.
- The team’s effort and game plan are under scrutiny from both players and fans.
With a short week ahead and a Thanksgiving showdown against the Cowboys looming, the Giants have little time to regroup. Can Daboll and his team turn things around, or will the frustrations continue to mount? One thing’s for sure: All eyes will be on Malik Nabers and the Giants this Thursday.
Originally Written by: Jordan Raanan
