CLEVELAND — Just two plays into Sunday’s game, the New York Giants found themselves facing an early test. A fumbled kickoff and a touchdown on the very first play from scrimmage had them reeling. But instead of panicking, they drew on a newfound mantra: “Let’s go out there and have fun.”
This carefree attitude, adopted by several defensive players, proved to be the key to their 21-15 win over the Cleveland Browns. It’s a mindset they plan to carry into Thursday night’s matchup against the Dallas Cowboys. Go out, play freely, and don’t let mistakes get in the way.
Safety Jason Pinnock said the approach originated with the players and was later endorsed by coach Brian Daboll. It quickly spread throughout the locker room and facility, becoming a team-wide philosophy.
“I think it started last week as a defense, but this week we responded well to all the adversity that was going on throughout the game,” said defensive captain Dexter Lawrence II. “It’s going to be that way every game, and I think it’s the good teams that respond well to adversity.”
Coach Daboll praised his team’s “resiliency” after the game, citing their ability to bounce back from setbacks as a key factor in their victory. This “competitive stamina” will be crucial in getting through the ups and downs of a long NFL season.
The Giants were in dire need of a win after being blown out in Week 1 and letting their Week 2 game slip away. They couldn’t afford to let self-doubt creep in, especially with a tough matchup against the Cowboys looming. The Giants have lost 13 of their last 14 games against Dallas.
Instead, they chose to focus on picking themselves up, dusting themselves off, and correcting their mistakes. This mentality, emphasized by Daboll throughout the week, helped them establish a winner’s mindset.
When things go awry on Thursday, the Giants will need to take each mishap in stride, rather than letting it snowball into something bigger. They proved they could do just that against the Browns, bouncing back from a bad start to take a 21-7 lead into halftime.
The Giants’ defense dominated up front, pressuring the quarterback relentlessly and racking up eight sacks and 17 quarterback hits. Nine different players had at least half a sack, showcasing the unit’s potential.
“The mindset this game was just going out there and having fun, enjoying every moment that you have, and having intense focus every single snap,” Lawrence said.
The Giants will need to maintain this approach if they hope to flip the script on the Cowboys, who boast a top-10 offense despite their early-season struggles.
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