Trade Evan Engram now: The Giants’ disappointing tight end has to go | Politi’s 5 observations

If you are a Giants fan, you probably allowed yourself a rare hopeful moment during this awful period in franchise history. The ball was in the air, the target was wide open, and all Evan Engram had to do to ice the Giants second victory of the season was … catch … the … damn … ball.

Daniel Jones had delivered a near perfect pass — and, to be clear, the word “near” is only in this sentence because it was a just few inches off target. But it was a beautiful play from a quarterback who, for the most part, played a fine game.

A reliable playmaker makes that catch. A good tight end cradles that pass in his arms and, when he does, the Giants are celebrating their second win of the season.

Engram? He extended his hands just enough for the ball to bounce off his fingertips and hit the ground. The effort was, in a word, pathetic.

There are plenty of reasons the Giants lost to the Eagles on Thursday night, 22-21, to fall to 1-6 on the season. The defense failed to protect an 11-point fourth-quarter lead. The offense committed three more turnovers, including two from Jones.

But none of that matters if, on third and seven from the Giants 47 with 2:09 to go, Engram makes a catch that he absolutely, positively had to make. It’s really that simple.

“It sucks not making that play,” Engram said in a postgame Zoom call with reporters. “It’s not a good feeling not making that play and possibly putting that game on ice.”

This is not an overreaction: GM Dave Gettleman needs to get Engram off this team. The days of waiting for him to fulfill his potential are over. He is another first-round bust from a team that has had plenty. Will a contender be willing to trade a late-round pick for him? Maybe not.

It doesn’t matter. He has to go. Sooner than later.

Here are five observations from Giants-Eagles:

1. WHAT. A. DRIVE.

Even after Eagles failed to score on a fourth and goal play in the fourth quarter, the situation still wasn’t optimal for the Giants. They took over on their own 3-yard line, having done little positive in the second half that didn’t involve Daniel Jones’ surprisingly fast feet.

Then, when it matter, they put together their best drive of the season. The 15-play, 97-yard drive was a thing of beauty, milking 7:50 off the clock before Jones found Sterling Shepard in the end zone to give his team an 11-point lead.

The breakdown: 10 passes and five runs, and the biggest play was Jones impossibly avoiding a sack to find running back Wayne Gallman for a seven-yard gain on a play that should have been seven-yard loss. This was Jones’ best drive of the season, and it isn’t even close.

2. IT WAS UGLY, BUT BEAUTIFUL

Okay, all right, everyone make your jokes now.

Jones didn’t score on his 80-yard run in the third quarter. That doesn’t mean it wasn’t a thing of beauty for the Giants, who somehow have become more reliant on their quarterback’s legs than his arm. Hey, if it ain’t, uh, broke …

Jason Garrett has taken some heat early in his first season as Giants offensive coordinator (and some more is common in this column). But give him credit for drawing up plays to take advantage of Jones’ running ability, which is the one bright spot from this offense through seven games this season. The question remains: Can they take advantage of it and keep Jones healthy?

3. THIS TURNOVER ISN’T ON JONES

Daniel Jones has, for good reason, absorbed plenty of criticism for his inability to protect the football so far in his NFL career — and that narrative isn’t about to change any time soon. But, on his second quarter interception, he might be third in line on the list of people to blame.

Start with Engram. The pass was a bullet but it hit the tight end in his hands, and instead of a catch, the ball bounced high in the air to allow Eagles safety Jalen Mills to make a diving interception. But even had Engram caught it, this wouldn’t have been a first down on third and seven. The play call from Jason Garrett was the real culprit here.

4. FINALLY, TATE IS GREAT

I unloaded on the Giants’ lack of playmakers last week, noting that for a $10-million cap hit, Golden Tate has been a major disappointment. It is hard to reach any other conclusion given that his biggest “contribution” to the team this season was a postgame altercation with Rams defensive back Jalen Ramsey.

But his first-quarter touchdown reception was a dominant play. He ripped the ball away from Eagles cornerback Cre’Von LeBlanc — who was in perfect position on the play — and backpedalled into the end zone for a 39-yard touchdown score. But did he have to shadow box the Eagles logo on the goal post stanchion?

5. NOT SO SPECIAL

The Giants’ first punt of the game was … interesting.

Joe Judge, the former special teams coach, at first left his offense on the field but then rushed it off for the punt team late in the play clock. The quick change, clearly deliberate, caught the Eagles flat footed as they tried to adjust.

The confusion worked to the Giants’ advantage. As punter Riley Dixon lined up to take the snap, he noticed that gunner Corey Ballentine was completely uncovered to his left. The problem: Ballentine himself didn’t seem to notice — or, at least, he never looked back at Dixon before the ball was snapped.

Dixon could have thrown it underhand for a first down and even a decent pass would have likely turned into a Giants touchdown. Instead, he had no choice but to punt, and the Giants missed a big early opportunity.

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Steve Politi may be reached at spoliti@njadvancemedia.com.

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