Giants never recover from Brian Daboll’s early fourth down gamble

PHILADELPHIA — Giants rookie head coach Brian Daboll inexplicably went for it on 4th and 8 from the Eagles’ 40-yard line in the first quarter, trailing 7-0, after a Haason Reddick sack of Daniel Jones.

Reddick sacked Jones on fourth down, too. Jalen Hurts and the Eagles’ offense went right back downfield for a second touchdown, and the Giants never recovered.

Daboll set the tone for this encouraging Giants season by going for 2 and getting it to win the Giants’ Week 1 visit to the Tennessee Titans in Nashville.

[ Pat Leonard: The Giants had an encouraging season, but they have a lot of work to do ]

But there is a time and place for everything, and despite the Eagles’ offense clearly humming on the game’s opening touchdown drive, Daboll gave the ball right back to them on a short field to bury his team in a two-touchdown hole.

Then, contrary to that aggressive mindset, Daboll punted on 4th and 6 from his own 42-yard line while trailing 28-7 with 13:21 to play in the fourth quarter.

[ Giants no match for Jalen Hurts, Eagles as Big Blue season ends with crushing 38-7 loss in Philly ]

All of the Giants players will take lessons from this beatdown in South Philadelphia — including their first-year head coach.