#Giants report card: It’s a mixed bag

Offense

Daniel Jones (26 of 41, 279 yards, 2 TDs, 2 INTs) at times was really good but critical errors were fatal. He needs to clean it up. Have to say it: Saquon Barkley was not good. Missed a blitz pickup early in the fourth quarter, resulting in a sack. Never got anything going in the run game (15-6, no misprint) — with no help from his blockers. He did catch six passes for 60 yards. Evan Engram dropped the first pass thrown his way, missed a block and then cut off his route near the end zone on the first series. Yuck. Darius Slayton (6-102, 2 TDs) looks like the Giants best receiver. RT Cam Fleming struggled vs. LB Bud Dupree and C Nick Gates had a rough debut. Totaling 29 rushing yards leads to losing every time. This is a hellacious Steelers defense.

Grade: C-minus

Defense

Good early, worse late. Heat on Ben Roethlisberger (21 of 32, 208 yards, 3 TDs) early, not so much late. Strong against the run early, not so much late. Sense a pattern here? A QB hit by Leonard Williams led to a Roethlisberger overthrow on third down. Bennie Snell took over for injured James Conner and ran for 113 yards. Work in the secondary was so-so. Isaac Yiadom and James Bradberry beaten for touchdowns. Still too much ground given up by Corey Ballentine. A turnover or two would have helped. Sacks from Williams and Dexter Lawrence.

Grade: C

Special teams

Devante Downs recovered a muffed punt to give the Giants the ball on the Pittsburgh 3-yard line in the first quarter. Jabrill Peppers had a tackle-breaking 20-yard punt return and fielded a punt on a bounce — gaining hidden yardage that makes a difference. Graham Gano made his only field-goal attempt, from 21 yards. Coverage unit gave up a 33-yard kickoff return to open the second half. Riley Dixon was solid, as usual, but could have driven a few of his punts deeper.

Grade: B

Coaching

On his first big decision, Joe Judge on third-and-goal from the 2-yard line opted to kick a field goal in the first quarter. His team looked organized and played relatively cleanly (four penalties for 25 yards). Turning things around is not going to be easy. Offensive coordinator Jason Garrett learned the hard way he no longer has that great Dallas offensive line to lean on. As promised, Patrick Graham shuffled players in and out on defense and at times had no down linemen on the line of scrimmage.

Grade: C