The Giants seemingly did enough good things — particularly on offense — to win Sunday’s game against the Packers.
They rushed for 142 yards on 38 carries, with Tyrone Tracy Jr. gaining 88 yards on 19 carries and Devin Singletary adding 44 yards and two touchdowns on 14 carries.
Isaiah Hodgins, a former Giants receiver they re-signed off the Steelers practice squad Thursday, led the team with 57 yards on five receptions.
“Isaiah, man, I’m so proud of him stepping up on a short week, short notice, coming in on a Thursday and being a huge part of the offense, critical fourth downs, critical third downs, critical blocks on the perimeter,’’ Giants interim head coach Mike Kafka said. “This guy just stepped up. I’m super proud of him and happy we have him.’’
Singletary said he was “very proud’’ of the offensive line for its push in the running game.
“The big guys up front, they were moving guys,’’ he said. “Me and Trace, all we had to do was run. Even the receivers got in on it, the tight ends got in on all the dirty work, so that was big for us today.’’
Rookie QB Jaxson Dart, who didn’t play because he’s in concussion protocol, spent time on the field with his teammates before the game.
Asked if that was a sign that Dart will be back for next Sunday’s game in Detroit, Kafka said, “I don’t want to get too far ahead on that. I know he’s still in the protocol, so we’ll just kind of play it as the protocol goes.’’
… Kafka revealed that he planned to go for the two-point conversion and the win if the Giants, who were trailing 27-20, scored on their final drive.
Giants edge rusher Brian Burns had two more sacks Sunday and has a career-high 13 for the season. He trails only Cleveland’s Myles Garrett for the most in the league.
“It means something to me,’’ Burns said. “But not right now. But it’s cool.’’
Burns was without defensive linemate Kayvon Thibodeaux, who sat out with a shoulder injury.
“Thibs does bring a different energy to the defense,’’ Burns said. “I can speak for that, because he’s in my [D-line] room.’’
Kicking was an issue all day with gusty winds. Packers backup kicker Lucas Havrisik missed two PATs filling in for injured Brandon McManus. Giants kicker Younghoe Koo had a PAT taken off the board after the Giants tied the game at 13-13 because of a chop-block penalty called on Austin Schlottmann. That made the retry a 48-yarder and Koo missed wide left.
Other than Thibodeaux, the Giants were without starters WR Darius Slayton (hamstring), safety Tyler Nubin (neck), DT Rakeem Nunez-Roches (toe).
