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Studs and duds from Giants' Week 8 loss to Steelers

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The New York Giants and primetime football simply don't mix and that trend stayed true on Monday night as Big Blue fell to the Pittsburgh Steelers, 26-18, in a game they arguably could have won.

Penalties and poor officiating will be a topic of conversation throughout the week but may be overshadowed by what appears to be growing frustration between head coach Brian Daboll and quarterback Daniel Jones. Also bubbling to the top is the rapid decline of second-year cornerback Deonte Banks.

With the loss, the Giants fall to 2-6 and their season is all but over before Halloween. Again.

Here's a quick look at the studs and duds (and studly duds) from Monday's loss:

STUD: RB Tyrone Tracy Jr.

PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA - OCTOBER 28: Tyrone Tracy Jr. #29 of the New York Giants celebrates a touchdown with Darius Slayton #86 and John Michael Schmitz Jr. #61 during the fourth quarter against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Acrisure Stadium on October 28, 2024 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA - OCTOBER 28: Tyrone Tracy Jr. #29 of the New York Giants celebrates a touchdown with Darius Slayton #86 and John Michael Schmitz Jr. #61 during the fourth quarter against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Acrisure Stadium on October 28, 2024 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images)

The Giants have clearly found their new RB1 and no matter what happens next season, you can cross that need off the list. Rookie Tyrone Tracy Jr. shined again, this time amassing 150 yards on 22 touches, including a 45-yard touchdown run to get the Giants back into the game. He'll need to improve his pass protection and blitz pickup, but that will come with experience.

DUD: CB Deonte Banks

PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA - OCTOBER 28: George Pickens #14 of the Pittsburgh Steelers avoids a tackle from Deonte Banks #3 of the New York Giants during the second quarter at Acrisure Stadium on October 28, 2024 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA - OCTOBER 28: George Pickens #14 of the Pittsburgh Steelers avoids a tackle from Deonte Banks #3 of the New York Giants during the second quarter at Acrisure Stadium on October 28, 2024 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)

While the rookie shined, the second-year cornerback did not. Although Deonte Banks avoided the egregious non-effort plays that have plagued him throughout the season, his actual effort did not yield any better results. He was beaten on what should have been a touchdown by George Pickens, which drew the ire of nose tackle Dexter Lawrence, and was later benched after completely whiffing on Steelers running back Najee Harris.

STUD: LB Azeez Ojulari

New York Giants linebacker Azeez Ojulari (51), New York Giants defensive tackle Rakeem Nunez-Roches (93) and the rest of Big Blue were all smiles as they beat the Philadelphia Eagles, 27-10, Sunday, January 7, 2024. Kevin R. Wexler / USA TODAY NETWORK
New York Giants linebacker Azeez Ojulari (51), New York Giants defensive tackle Rakeem Nunez-Roches (93) and the rest of Big Blue were all smiles as they beat the Philadelphia Eagles, 27-10, Sunday, January 7, 2024. Kevin R. Wexler / USA TODAY NETWORK

With the NFL trade deadline rapidly approaching, linebacker Azeez Ojulari is raising his level of play and increasing his value. He's been a stud pass rusher in the absence of Kayvon Thibodeaux, recording another 2.0 sacks on Monday night to go along with seven tackles (three solo, two for a loss) and two QB hits. Ojulari now has 5.0 sacks over the past three weeks.

He's still not a good run defender, however.

DUD: Head coach Brian Daboll

Oct 28, 2024; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; New York Giants head coach Brian Daboll (left) reacts to down judge Brian Sakowski (112) against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the second quarter at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
Oct 28, 2024; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; New York Giants head coach Brian Daboll (left) reacts to down judge Brian Sakowski (112) against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the second quarter at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

Some fans will take issue with Brian Daboll's inclusion here and insist everything that goes wrong falls squarely and solely on the shoulders of Daniel Jones. They don't. The bottom line is that Daboll leads an undisciplined team (11 penalties in Week 8) and his play-calling is subpar. What even was that two-point conversion attempt? Forget the fact that they shouldn't have gone for it (analytics be damned), the actual play design was embarrassingly bad. After the game, Daboll said his team needs to "grow up." Perhaps that's true, but that comes from the top down. Sounds like a leadership problem.

STUD: WR Darius Slayton

PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA - OCTOBER 28: Darius Slayton #86 of the New York Giants makes a catch in front of Donte Jackson #26 of the Pittsburgh Steelers during the second quarter at Acrisure Stadium on October 28, 2024 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA - OCTOBER 28: Darius Slayton #86 of the New York Giants makes a catch in front of Donte Jackson #26 of the Pittsburgh Steelers during the second quarter at Acrisure Stadium on October 28, 2024 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images)

Wide receiver Darius Slayton does occasionally have some drop issues (we're not faulting him for one on MNF), but he's solid and consistent. He's arguably one of the NFL's best receivers that no one thinks is any good. He hauled in four passes for 108 yards against the Steelers, including one for 43 yards and another for 36 yards. He would have had a fifth catch but Jones threw it high and Slayton had the ball immediately knocked out of his hands.

DUD: CB Andru Phillips

Oct 28, 2024; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Calvin Austin III (19) scores a touchdown on a twenty-nine yard pass reception behind New York Giants cornerback Dru Phillips (22) during the fourth quarter at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
Oct 28, 2024; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Calvin Austin III (19) scores a touchdown on a twenty-nine yard pass reception behind New York Giants cornerback Dru Phillips (22) during the fourth quarter at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

Rookie cornerback Andru Phillips has been a stud this season and will be a stud in the NFL, but Monday night was his worst performance. He surrender seven receptions on seven targets for 125 yards and one long touchdown. He wasn't helped by the safeties, who appeared out of position more often than not, nor was he helped by his fellow cornerbacks. Banks was benched and Nick McCloud surrendered at least four receptions for 60-plus yards.

STUDLY DUD: QB Daniel Jones

PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA - OCTOBER 28: Daniel Jones #8 of the New York Giants throws a pass during the first quarter against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Acrisure Stadium on October 28, 2024 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA - OCTOBER 28: Daniel Jones #8 of the New York Giants throws a pass during the first quarter against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Acrisure Stadium on October 28, 2024 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images)

We can already hear the screeching. I know, I know... We've reached the point where anything not entirely negative about Daniel Jones is perceived as an apologist's take. Blah blah.

To be transparent, there was Bad Daniel at times on Monday night. Failing to motion tight end Theo Johnson and adjust the protection before getting strip-sacked by T.J. Watt was bad. The aforementioned throw to Darius Slayton was bad. The interception to end the game on an overthrown pass when Johnson was streaking over the middle of the field was bad.

Jones also made several impressive throws to Slayton deep, Johnson over the middle, and a touchdown to tight end Chris Manhertz that was called back due to a Malik Nabers penalty. Per the usual, he played tough and with emotion, and gave the Giants everything he had.

Unfortunately for Jones, he started seeing ghosts again and had lapses in self-trust (ex. the Slayton throw). Everything he has is not enough to overcome the negatives.

More STUDS:

Oct 28, 2024; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; New York Giants linebacker Bobby Okereke (58) recovers a fumble by Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson (3) during the fourth quarter at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
Oct 28, 2024; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; New York Giants linebacker Bobby Okereke (58) recovers a fumble by Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson (3) during the fourth quarter at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
  • LB Bobby Okereke

  • TE Theo Johnson

  • LB Brian Burns

  • NT Dexter Lawrence

  • K Greg Joseph

  • WR Ihmir Smith-Marsette

More DUDS:

PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA - OCTOBER 28: Van Jefferson #11 of the Pittsburgh Steelers is tackled by Nick McCloud #44 and Bobby Okereke #58 of the New York Giants during the second quarter at Acrisure Stadium on October 28, 2024 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA - OCTOBER 28: Van Jefferson #11 of the Pittsburgh Steelers is tackled by Nick McCloud #44 and Bobby Okereke #58 of the New York Giants during the second quarter at Acrisure Stadium on October 28, 2024 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)
  • CB Nick McCloud

  • DT Rakeem Nunez-Roches

  • DL D.J. Davidson

  • S Jason Pinnock

  • S Tyler Nubin

This article originally appeared on Giants Wire: Studs and duds from Giants' Week 8 loss to Steelers