**Giants’ Heartbreaking Overtime Loss to Panthers Sparks Controversy and Concern**

In a surprising twist, "Kudos and Wet Willies," traditionally showcased post-game, appears early here at Big Blue View. This timely release offers an in-depth look at the New York Giants’ agonizing 20-17 overtime loss to the Carolina Panthers in Munich on Sunday.

Brian Burns, an exceptional edge defender, brought his A-game against his former team. Displaying his prowess from the start, Burns recorded a sack on Carolina's second offensive play and maintained pressure throughout the game. He finished with nine tackles, two for loss, a quarterback hit, and a career-high seven pressures—creating pressure on 28% of his rush attempts. Despite his impressive stats over six seasons, Burns has yet to play on a team with a winning record, a testament to his enduring talent in less-than-ideal team situations.

Jalin Hyatt leveraged his chance, stepping in for the concussed Darius Slayton. Hyatt caught all four of his targets for 39 yards, significantly contributing to the Giants' game-tying drive. He also coaxed a crucial 43-yard defensive pass interference penalty on the game's first play. Evan Neal, in his first significant action of 2024, showed promise at the right tackle position. Neal allowed just one pressure on 41 pass-block snaps, marking a career-low pressure rate of 2.4%. His presence also bolstered the Giants’ run game against Carolina.

Conversely, Daniel Jones had a rough outing. Completing 22 of 37 passes for 194 yards with two interceptions, Jones' performance was lackluster at best. Despite a brief resurgence late in the game, his overall contribution was insufficient to save the Giants. Jones’ first-half struggles included a 6 of 14 completion rate for 54 yards and an interception, with the Giants trailing 10-0 at halftime. By Jones' fourth-worst performance this season, as per the QB+ Metric, his future as the starting quarterback is uncertain with Drew Lock potentially stepping in post the Giants' bye week.

Head coach Brian Daboll finds himself under scrutiny with the Giants standing at 2-8 for the second consecutive season. Following a disheartening loss to the Panthers, a team deemed the underdog, the Giants now hold the undesirable title of Worst Team in Football and are positioned for the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. Although Daboll cannot be directly blamed for every on-field mistake, the results in a performance-driven league speak volumes. Co-owner John Mara has previously endorsed Daboll and GM Joe Schoen, indicating no imminent changes despite the team's struggles.

The Giants' defense continued to falter, particularly against the run. Entering the game allowing a league-worst 5.2 yards per carry, they gave up 188 yards on 32 carries to the Panthers, including standout performances by Chuba Hubbard and Bryce Young. Graham Gano’s missed 43-yard field goal in the second quarter further compounded the team's woes, overshadowing his game-tying kick in regulation.

Rookie running back Tyrone Tracy had a commendable day, with 103 rushing yards and a touchdown. However, his critical mistakes—a fumble leading to Carolina’s winning points in overtime and a dropped pass resulting in an interception—cost the Giants dearly.

As the Giants head into their bye week, significant soul-searching awaits, with a pressing need to address both on-field performance and strategic direction.