Giants-Ravens: Corey Webster, Defense Burned in Blowout Loss

For the second straight week, the Giants forgot they had a football game to play on Sunday. The Ravens exploited the Giants’ defense for a 33-14 blowout victory.

And Corey Webster was one of the main defensive culprits for the Giants.

Play after play, Joe Flacco found Torrey Smith on Webster’s side. Granted, Flacco made some great throws, but for the guy who is supposed to be the Giants’ best cornerback, Webster was downright terrible.

But it wasn’t just Webster. The entire defense broke down all over the field, especially on third down. Rather than giving the Giants’ offense a chance to get back in the game, Big Blue’s defense consistently allowed Flacco and the Ravens to convert on third downs.

Baltimore was 1-of-12 on third-down plays last week against the Denver Broncos, but this week the Ravens converted on 11-of-17 third downs, which is unheard of.

Sure, Justin Tuck and Prince Amukamara didn’t play and Chase Blackburn and Chris Canty missed time with injury, but Perry Fewell needs to make an adjustment to get his defense off the field.

The game was ugly from the very beginning, and the Giants allowed 289 yards in the first half – the most yardage allowed in any half this season. Baltimore followed that up with a 244-total yard performance in the second half.

The Ravens had four drives of 10-plus plays after coming into the game last in the NFL in that statistics. Two of the first four Ravens’ drives went for 10-plus plays, and the Ravens had their longest drive of the season in both number of plays and time – 16-play, 7:57 drive.

The middle of the field was wide open all game, and Flacco consistently found his targets. He finished with 309 yards and two touchdowns on 25-of-36 passing. Ray Rice also had a big day with 158 total yards on 30 touches, and Bernard Pierce rushed for 123 yards on 14 carries.

Anquan Boldin caught seven passes for 93 yards, while Smith added five catches for 88 yards.

Again, the Giants’ defensive front put no pressure on an opposing quarterback. What was supposed to be this team’s strength has turned into one of its many weaknesses. Missed tackles all over the field also did not help the Giants’ defensive cause.

While the Giants’ offense has been inept these past two weeks, the defense has been just as bad. The past two weeks, the Giants have been outscored 67-14.

Though the Giants are not technically out of the playoff picture following the loss, it’s not looking good. To make the playoffs, the Giants of course have to beat the Eagles; the Redskins must defeat the Cowboys, giving them the NFC East crown; the Bears must lose to the Lions; and the Vikings must lose to the Packers. Big Blue would then get in as a wild card.

But based on this team’s defensive play (and offensive play for that matter), they do not deserve to be in the playoffs.

Follow Jim Mancari on Twitter @JMMancari.