EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — When the Giants (4-13) performed the Washington Football Team (7-10) at MetLife Stadium on Sunday, each already having been eradicated from the N.F.L. playoffs, was it potential to seek out magnificence and that means — or, no less than, heat — in a sport with so little at stake?
Pregame
Billy Price, the Giants heart, tucked his cellphone into the padding across the objective submit and began to stretch. On his headphones he listened to Def Leppard.
Other Giant linemen, with comparable thigh-size triceps and waist-size thighs, stretched close by. Korey Cunningham did so on his again whereas listening to gospel music. Steam rose from his head.
Above the empty MetLife Stadium stands, the sky was sludge-gray. The occasional aircraft slid overhead. For a second it appeared that blue sky may break by the grey, but it surely didn’t. The punters, kickers and lengthy snappers took to the sector for his or her observe, then all the remainder of the gamers. Fans crammed the stadium (type of). The sport started.
First Quarter
The climate was bleak, and so was the Giants’ offense. Saquon Barkley, the star operating again, saved getting stuffed. When he got here to the sideline he wrapped himself in a blue cape. With all of the Giants’ punting, that occurred a lot. Cape on, cape off, cape on.
2021 N.F.L. Season News and Analysis
- N.F.L. Coach Firings: This yr, Brian Flores, Matt Nagy and Mike Zimmer all discovered themselves out of a job, becoming a member of Vic Fangio of the Broncos, who was dismissed a day earlier than.
- Last-Second Drama: The Raiders outlasted the Chargers in extra time, sliding into the playoffs and eliminating their division rival.
- Week 18 Takeaways: What we discovered from the ultimate video games of the common season.
- Searching for Joy in East Rutherford, N.J.: An illustrated look on the chilly, moist Giants loss to the Washington Football Team.
Second Quarter
Line decide Mark Stewart didn’t put on gloves (in the low season he’s a rancher in Nebraska). He stared down the road of scrimmage, legs vast. Sometimes he shuffled sideways, generally he blew his whistle, or flipped the ball to the opposite sport officers. His ears began to show pink.
On the bench, the Giants’ offense huddled over pill computer systems with their coaches. The bench was heated; rubber ducts shook and hummed behind it. The offense headed to the sector, ran a couple of performs, punted, got here again. Boos began to rain down. Rain began to rain down.
Lunchtime! In Parking Lot G, sea gulls cleaned up after the tailgaters. Sometimes they took to the air and circled above the stadium (in Section 334 there could have been extra birds than followers). Sea gulls are completely suited to Sunday’s climate, with feathers that preserve the moist off, and environment friendly warmth circulation. But sufficient about sea gulls! Back to the inaction on the sector.
Third Quarter
The Giants quarterback was intercepted by the Washington security, who returned the ball for a landing. Fans began making solutions to the Giants, ones that may’t be printed right here. Then the referee introduced: “No. 79 is eligible.” He introduced this once more, and followers laughed. The eighth time he made the announcement, the group roared. It was the largest cheer of the day: NUMBER 79 IS ELIGIBLE!
A soggy day turned soggier. Dank, chilly. On the Washington sideline, fullback Alex Armah spun on a small stationary bike to maintain his legs heat. Armah seemed like a teenager on a tricycle. Then, fast, off the bike and again in the sport.
Fourth Quarter
All day, Casey Kreiter had been excellent. Kreiter is the Giants’ lengthy snapper, and probably the greatest in the N.F.L. In pregame he ran across the subject with a kidlike smile on his face. During the sport he was all enterprise. Keeping his palms heat, peering again between his legs, zipping the ball with accuracy, then blocking. There’s a lot to be mentioned for doing one factor effectively (versus, say, the Giants’ basic supervisor). His job completed, he stood alone on the sideline.
And then, with a sputter, the sport was over. After one final Giants interception, the gamers from each groups gathered at midfield. While it was the top of a sorry season, there was actual camaraderie right here, and shared respect.
Kreiter, the lengthy snapper, caught up with a Washington lineman. They performed at Iowa collectively. As they gave one another thumping hugs, and headed again to their heat locker rooms, a lone piece of trash blew throughout the chilly, laborious turf.
Elisha Cooper is an writer and illustrator of kids’s books.
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