Ben McAdoo Criticizes Eli Manning For ‘Sloppy Play’ In Giants’ Loss To Lions

The New York Giants (0-2) suffered a crushing 24-10 home loss to the Detroit Lions on Monday night, and coach Ben McAdoo said Eli Manning was primarily to blame for the defeat.

Giants vs. Lions Score and recap

“Sloppy quarterback play,” McAdoo said. “Quarterback and the center need to be on the same page there. We’ve got to get the ball snapped.”

The Lions (2-0) sacked Manning five times and the Giants quarterback also threw one interception to Tahir Whitehead early in the second quarter. One of Manning’s other big mistakes came with 5:20 remaining in the third quarter, on a fourth-and-goal from the Detroit 2-yard line. McAdoo signaled to go for it on fourth down, but the play clock expired before the ball was snapped and New York received a five-yard, delay-of-game penalty.

“Because we have a veteran quarterback who has played a lot of football,” McAdoo continued when asked why he didn’t use one of his remaining time outs. “I expect us to get the ball snapped. Usually the clock goes from three, two, one, zero. Once it hits zero, they look at the ball, then look at the clock. Usually we have a tick once it hits zero to get the ball snapped without being a delay of game. I thought we had a chance to get it off.”

After the penalty was assessed, the Giants scored a 25-yard field goal to trail 17-10.

“Well, I can play better,” Manning said of his performance. “So, I’ve got to find ways to play better and get some completions, convert on third down. That’s a quarterback’s job. He’s got to find ways to move the offense and move the ball and score touchdowns. So, we’re not doing that enough.”

Manning finished 22 for 32 for 239 yards, while Detroit quarterback Matthew Stafford was 15 for 21 for 122 yards. Stafford threw two touchdowns, first a 27-yard pass to Marvin Jones with 4 minutes left in the first quarter to put the Lions up 7-0, then a go-ahead 7-yarder to Eric Ebron in the second. Matt Prater successfully converted an impressive 56-yard field goal that bounced off the crossbar to give Detroit a 17-7 lead at halftime.

Rookie tight end Evan Engram — a first-round draft pick from Ole Miss — scored the Giants’ only touchdown — the first of his NFL career — to tie it 7-7 at the start of the second quarter by catching an 18-yard pass from Manning. However, Engram was called for unsportsmanlike conduct for a seemingly obscene gesture. This allowed the Lions to get the ball at the Giants 45 after the kickoff went out of bounds and Stafford drove them for a second touchdown.

Rookie Aldrick Rosas made a 25-yard field goal for the Giants early in the second half

 Rookie Lions cornerback Jamal Agnew — a University of San Diego product — scored his first NFL touchdown by returning Brad Wing’s punt for 88 yards early in the fourth quarter to seal the victory.

Agnew’s punt-return TD is the fifth-longest in Lions history.

 Odell Beckham Jr., a three-time Pro Bowl wideout who missed the Giants’ season opener due to an ankle sprain, returned but only made four catches for 36 yards in limited action. This time, New York was missing a key player on defense: cornerback Janoris Jenkins, who sat out with an ankle/hand injury. Eli Apple filled in at cornerback for the Giants. The hosts were also missing linebacker B.J. Goodson with a lower leg injury.

The Giants held a halftime ceremony to celebrate the 10th anniversary of their 2007 Super Bowl championship team. Coach Tom Coughlin and Hall of Famer Michael Strahan brought the Lombardi Trophy onto the field. New York defeated the previously undefeated New England Patriots in that title game.

The Giants next visit the Philadelphia Eagles (1-1) on Sunday, when the Lions host the Atlanta Falcons (2-0).

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – SEPTEMBER 18: Eli Manning #10 of the New York Giants hands off the ball to Shane Vereen #34 against the Detroit Lions during their game at MetLife Stadium on September 18, 2017 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)