The New York Giants' season got off to a seemingly familiar start: Having numerous offensive issues that sink the team, losing 21-6 against the Washington Commanders. For a team that scored more than 30 points in each preseason game, this is the third consecutive season they have not scored a touchdown in the first week. It seems as if reality came crashing in hard and unveiled the team to be far more incomplete than previously thought.

There were several issues on both offense and defense, from the lack of the running game to Russell Wilson missing receivers frequently. Of course, Week 1 is usually a tune-up game and it’s far too early to hit the panic button on the season. But Sunday’s game suggests fans shouldn’t be too optimistic about the trajectory of this team just yet.

Lack of Running Game Poses Significant Challenge

The elephant in the room on offense isn’t so much the lack of a sturdy quarterback, but rather a running game to help elevate the playbook. In 23 rushing attempts, the team only managed 74 rushing yards, with more than half coming from the quarterback on unplanned scrambles. Tyrone Tracy Jr. proved ineffective and Cam Skattebo had issues getting out of the backfield. 

It’s abundantly clear that the team misses Saquon Barkley and his dynamic rushing abilities. A running back by committee approach won’t do much damage in this league with three backs that are not able to find holes and break away tackles. But the lack of a running game not only exposes the lack of depth and skill in the field, but also continued issues on the offensive line.

Will the Offensive Line Ever Get Fixed?

Holes not only continue to exist on the team’s offensive line, but seem to have gotten worse with each passing season. The team was left without star left tackle Andrew Thomas, recovering from offseason foot surgery, forcing James Hudson III to start. He was awful, surrendering eight pressures on 45 different pass plays, per PFF. The others played somewhat better, but not by much.

When taking into account all of the dropbacks, Wilson was pressured in nearly half of them with six total hits. It got so bad that even Malik Nabers wasn’t able to unlock his deep-threat potential, with only one 20+ yard pass being thrown the entire game. That could explain why his completion chart looked so spotty on Sunday.

Wilson was sacked twice and essentially had to run for his life on Sunday, while the running game was made worse. If there are going to be any major changes during the 2026 offseason, it’s going to have to start on the offensive line. How this has been allowed to continue season after season is baffling in its own right.

Defense Offers Some Silver Linings

One area of good news for the Giants after another disappointing opening: The defense is showing some areas of life. Getting the bad out of the way, the team surrendered more than 400 yards overall, including 220 yards on the ground. There is a serious concern that the 3-4 defense is lacking up front and will allow multiple triple-digit running games over the season. 

The linebacker corps seems to be fine, with the Brian Burns, Abdul Carter, and Kayvon Thibodeaux trio combining for three sacks, four total QB hits, and three tackles for loss. It was enough to have Jayden Daniels run for his life in the pocket as well, but for nearly 70 yards on 11 attempts. The team also had some effectiveness in the secondary, deflecting three passes and bringing Daniels’ completion rate to 65%. 

Panic or Relax?

It’s easy to panic, but it’s far too early to throw any major red flags in the air just yet. It’s the first week, and it can also take some time for starters, especially those who didn’t play at all in the preseason, to get up to 100%. Plus, they’re still sixteen games this season, so who knows what will happen going forward?

With that being said, there are clear concerns the team must address quickly to avoid having another lost season. Constant neglect on the offensive line and the lack of seeking out a dynamic running back in free agency or the draft could cost this team in the long run. Brian Daboll and Joe Schoen must remember that their jobs are likely on the line here, so they have to start acting like it.