2021 NFL Power Rankings, Week 4: Rams claim top spot, Steelers and Bears plummet

Just going down the box score without looking at the final tally, you’d have to think that the New York Giants emerged victorious at home over the Atlanta Falcons as both teams entered this game with a winless record.

Joe Judge’s team had more first downs, more total yards, a better yards per play average, the same number of turnovers (1), and even saw running back Saquon Barkley find the end zone for a rushing score for the first time since 2019. That all seems like things broke the Giants’ way.

But they didn’t. New York dropped to 0-3 with a 17-14 loss as Younghoe Koo kicked a game-winner as time expired.

All told, most of this game was incredibly ugly because, as it turns out, it was two bad teams in a war of attrition. However, it often seems that the G-Men find themselves in these situations and then can’t convert. After scoring a touchdown and two-point conversion early in the fourth quarter, they allowed the Falcons to go on an almost-nine-minute drive and tie the game up.

New York’s offense then shot themselves in the foot with a sack-fumble that killed a drive, thus setting up Atlanta’s game-winning drive in 1:50. Until the Giants show that they won’t botch close games, it’s going to be hard to buy into the positive things that are there with Daniel Jones and more.