MUNICH, GER. – The game, played on a global stage in Munich, Germany, was the Giants’ first ever franchise regular-season game in Germany. But rather than showcasing their potential, the Giants’ performance in front of an international audience was a far cry from what fans had hoped for.
The New York Giants will enter their bye week with a deflating 20-17 overtime loss to the Carolina Panthers, marking yet another painful chapter in what has been a brutal season.
In what was a slow and uninspiring game between two struggling teams, the Giants were unable to seize control, ultimately falling to a Panthers squad that, on paper, was considered one of the worst in the NFL.
With the loss, the Giants dropped to 2-8, continuing a disappointing trend of missed opportunities, sloppy mistakes, and questionable decision-making.
A Slow Start and Missed Opportunities
The Allianz Arena crowd, which was lively and festive thanks to beer and John Denver’s “Country Roads,” was treated to a game that lacked the excitement that typically accompanies international games.
The first half was sluggish, as both teams struggled to move the ball effectively.
The Panthers struck first with a touchdown in the first quarter. Bryce Young, Carolina’s young quarterback, found tight end Ja’Tavion Sanders in the end zone for a 10-yard score, giving the Panthers a 7-0 lead.
Carolina extended its advantage early in the second quarter with a field goal, but the Giants had a chance to respond.
However, kicker Graham Gano missed a 43-yard field goal attempt that could have put New York on the scoreboard. This miss was a harbinger of the Giants’ inability to capitalize on scoring opportunities throughout the game.
Late in the second quarter, the Giants had another opportunity to cut into the Panthers’ lead when they managed to drive the ball into the red zone.
But on a critical third-down play, Daniel Jones threw an interception. The ball was tipped by linebacker Jadeveon Clowney, who had his hand in disrupting Jones’ pass. The interception was just another example of the Giants’ inability to take advantage of their chances in a game that was begging for someone to seize control.
False Hopes
Coming out of halftime, the Giants showed some signs of life. They were down 10-0 at the start of the second half, but New York wasted no time making an impact.
On the first play of the third quarter, rookie running back Tyrone Tracy Jr. broke free for a 32-yard touchdown run, cutting the Panthers’ lead to 10-7.
The Giants appeared poised to make a run at the game. But as quickly as they gained momentum, the Panthers struck back.
Carolina engineered an impressive 80-yard drive, capped off by a 1-yard touchdown run by Chuba Hubbard, extending their lead to 17-7.
Once again, the Giants were unable to sustain any momentum. Despite Tracy’s impressive run, the Giants’ offense struggled to keep pace, and their defense was porous, especially against Hubbard, who ran for a total of 153 yards on the day.
New York continued to struggle, both in moving the ball downfield and in protecting their quarterback.
The offensive line was inconsistent, with new starters filling in due to injuries, and the Giants’ receivers, particularly without Darius Slayton, who was out due to concussion protocol, could not make the plays when needed.
Rookie wideout Jalin Hyatt did his best, drawing a 43-yard pass interference penalty early in the game, but the Giants could not convert on the opportunities.
A Last-Minute Hope and Overtime Heartbreak
As the game progressed, it seemed the Giants were running out of time and options. However, the team managed to keep fighting.
In the fourth quarter, after the Panthers fumbled the ball on a hit by rookie Dru Phillips, the Giants recovered and gained possession on the Carolina 22-yard line with just under eight minutes left.
With the game still hanging in the balance, this was New York’s best chance to tie the game or even take the lead.
Jones led the offense down the field, but once again, the Giants’ inability to execute in the red zone reared its ugly head.
After a 2-yard loss on a pass play to Malik Nabers, the Giants faced a third-and-7 on the 8-yard line.
Jones threw a short 1-yard pass to Tracy, who had it in his hands but lost control after a hit from linebacker Josey Jewell. The turnover was another devastating blow for the Giants, and they had to settle for a final push with just over two minutes left.
With no timeouts remaining, Jones went to work, completing eight short passes to set up Gano for a 42-yard field goal.
Gano, who had struggled earlier in the game, nailed the kick, tying the game at 17 and sending it into overtime
It was a brief moment of redemption for Gano, and for a moment, it felt like the Giants had found a way to extend their life in the game.
But overtime quickly turned into disaster. On the very first play of the extra period, the Giants’ rookie running back, Tyrone Tracy Jr., fumbled the ball after a short run.
Panthers linebacker Josey Jewell recovered it on the Giants’ 23-yard line. With the ball in ideal field position, the Panthers did not waste the opportunity.
A quick and efficient drive ended with Eddy Pineiro nailing a 36-yard field goal to end the game, and the Panthers claimed a 20-17 victory.
What Went Wrong?
The loss to Carolina highlighted many of the issues that have plagued the Giants throughout the season.
First and foremost was the continued struggles of quarterback Daniel Jones. While he didn’t turn the ball over as much as he had in previous games, his performance still left much to be desired.
Jones finished the game with 190 yards on 22-of-37 passing, but two interceptions and a series of missed opportunities in critical moments again proved costly for the Giants.
Jones’ lack of consistency and his failure to execute in the red zone—combined with missed field goals and turnovers—sunk the Giants’ chances.
While Jones did run for a touchdown and led the offense on a late drive to tie the game, his overall performance was another glaring reminder that the Giants’ future at the quarterback position is uncertain.
The Road Ahead
With the loss, the Giants now sit at 2-8 and are in danger of falling into a deeper spiral.
Head coach Brian Daboll’s team, which entered the season with hope after a playoff appearance last year, now faces a long and difficult road ahead.
There have already been calls for change, and while team owner John Mara has stated that he does not anticipate changes to the coaching staff or front office this season, the Giants will have a lot to evaluate during their bye week.
The team’s struggles have also led to questions about Daniel Jones’ future with the organization.
While there’s still time for Jones to prove himself, the continued poor play and mounting losses make it increasingly likely that the Giants will look to the 2025 NFL Draft for a new long-term solution at quarterback
With the Giants now holding the second overall pick, their draft strategy will be under heavy scrutiny, as they’ll need to make a decision about whether to stick with Jones or find a new face of the franchise.
A Fading Team on a Global Stage
For the Giants, playing in Munich was an opportunity to showcase their talents to an international audience.
Unfortunately, the game was more about mistakes and missed opportunities than it was about football.
As the NFL continues to grow its international presence, one can only hope that future games will feature more competitive matchups than the one the Giants offered up in Germany.
As for New York, their focus should shift to fixing their internal issues, evaluating their quarterback situation, and hoping that next season will be better. With their playoff hopes dashed and the season slipping away, the Giants will have to look ahead to the future—one that may involve significant changes both on the field and in the front office.