Frustrations show on Giants sideline during another pathetic blowout loss to Dallas Cowboys

ARLINGTON, Tex. — Brian Daboll set an inept tone for another embarrassing loss with a panic move on Sunday’s first play of scrimmage in a 49-17 laugher against the Dallas Cowboys.

Daboll threw his red flag on the ground to challenge that Cowboys receiver Brandin Cooks had fumbled after his first down catch. But a replay on Dallas’ enormous Jumbotron clearly and quickly showed Cooks was down.

Daboll tried to pick up the red flag and rescind his challenge, telling the referee “never mind.” But that’s not how the NFL works. The official announced he was charging the Giants for the timeout anyway.

So then Daboll said fine, review the play. But everyone knew it wasn’t a fumble, and that’s what the video showed.

This is how a scoreless game already feels like a blowout loss before a team even scores a point.

These are the kind of game management gaffes that have piled up this season on top of poor roster management to create one of the most disappointing seasons in this franchise’s history.

The Giants (2-8) have no chance in these games. They were outgained an astounding 640 to 172 in Sunday’s loss.

They lost their two head-to-head games against the Cowboys (6-3) this season by a combined score of 89-17. Daboll is now 2-7-1 against NFC East teams in his two years, with the two wins and tie all coming against Washington.

And frustrations are boiling over.

Sunday’s FOX broadcast pointed out several instances of discord on the Giants’ sideline during the blowout.

There was an “animated discussion” between Saquon Barkley and Daboll in the first half.

There was a long conversation between Daboll and defensive coordinator Wink Martindale that started late in the second quarter and continued out of the locker room after halftime.

And there were frustrations between wide receivers Darius Slayton and Sterling Shepard in the third quarter.

This came one week after safety Xavier McKinney vented about coaches’ poor communication with team leaders after the team’s 30-6 Week 9 loss to the Raiders in Las Vegas.

While Daboll’s team continued melting down in Texas, though, FOX analyst Greg Olsen interestingly preached that Joe Schoen and Daboll are unquestionably the GM and coach of this team’s future.

Olsen said there was no legitimacy to any noise about their jobs being in jeopardy, and he said this season’s scores and results aren’t what matter because this year is an “evaluation process” of what players should be a part of this team in the future.

“The coach of the year doesn’t forget how to coach in one offseason,” play-by-play man Kevin Burkhardt said.

This was an interesting window perhaps into the organization’s preferred narrative and vision for the immediate future.

The problem was that the scenes on the field and the sideline told a completely different story about the efficiency and promise of this current operation.

Also, try telling the players what Olsen said — the same players who were talking “Super Bowl” before the season, had high hopes to build on last season’s playoff berth and Wild Card win, and are now seeing the rug pulled out from under them.

Start with the non-stop injuries: edge Kayvon Thibodeaux (concussion), wideout Jalin Hyatt (concussion), corner Deonte Banks (ankle) and corner Cor’Dale Flott (shoulder) all went down in defeat. Left tackle Andrew Thomas fortunately returned from an early left knee injury.

Continue with the Tommy DeVito-led offense.

Daboll and offensive coordinator Mike Kafka had the ball on 4th & 2 trailing 7-0 after a Cor’Dale Flott interception, and they called a handoff to Saquon Barkley up the middle for no gain up and a turnover on downs.

Dak Prescott then marched 96 yards for his second of four touchdown passes in the game for a 14-0 lead, and the rout was on.

Prescott only played three quarters and finished 26-of-35 for 404 yards, four touchdown passes, a rushing touchdown and a pick before Cooper Rush replaced him for the fourth.

Martindale’s defense managed a fourth-and-goal stop on the game’s first possession and two interceptions from Flott and Darnay Holmes. But the dam broke.

Brandin Cooks had 173 receiving yards and a touchdown. CeeDee Lamb had 165 total yards and two touchdowns.

Six Cowboys players scored a touchdown in the game, the most in Dallas’ franchise history.

There is just nothing to say at this point. And it is hard to imagine how the players are going to get through their final seven games.