The Giants' offense has sputtered to start their 2018 campaign, even with new pieces on the roster. Rookie RB Saquon Barkley is the biggest fresh face of them all, with players like G Will Hernandez and LT Nate Solder behind him. 

However, Big Blue is facing the same problems it did last season. First and foremost, the "revamped" offensive line hasn't paid any dividends yet as it looks to be the same lackluster group of old. But, even with all their struggles, veteran QB Eli Manning isn't off the hook. 

The Giants' line play forces Manning to roam outside of the pocket, and throw on the run. But Manning can't scramble with quickness when things go awry, making him to either take a sack or force a ball where it shouldn't go. There is also the fact that he is 37, and descending into the final years of his career...

The Giants' rebuilt (save for Ereck Flowers) offensive line has been a mess during the first two weeks, but Eli Manning said the Giants being 0-2 is on everyone, calling it a "combination of stuff."

"There was nothing that we didn't have an answer for," he said Monday. "Enough things might mess up a little bit, it's a combination of everybody, it's not just the offensive line. When sacks are happening obviously the offensive line gets blamed most of the time but that's not necessarily the case. You got running backs, you got quarterbacks, you got receivers, everybody plays a part in that.''

Manning's point isn't completely off base...

Being inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame is a blessing, but some of those enshrined want more than their bust, ring, and gold jacket. 

In a letter addressed to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, NFLPA Executive Director DeMaurice Smith, and Pro Football Hall of Fame President C. David Baker, Eric Dickerson -- the chairman of the newly-assembled Hall of Fame Board -- sent out demands that includes "health insurance and an annual salary for all Hall of Famers that includes a share of league revenue."

"They see us honored and mythologized before games and at halftime, and it would be reasonable if they thought life was good for us," Dickerson wrote. "But on balance, it's not. As a group we are struggling with sever health and financial problems. To build this game, we sacrificed our bodies. In many cases, and despite the fact that we were led to believe otherwise, we sacrificed our minds."

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The Giants' entire offseason plan was built around the premise that Eli Manning had "years" left as a productive, and maybe even an elite, starting quarterback. That's why the Giants went into win-now mode, believing they had the quarterback to lead them on a championship run in the next two years.

Two games later, it sure looks like their plan was flawed -- that they were much farther away from contention than they ever imagined. But Manning doesn't deserve the blame for that...

After a loss in Dallas last night, the Giants have once again started their season 0-2. It is the fifth time in six years that this has occurred for Big Blue. 

But Giants S Landon Collins is sure things are going to turn around. Collins tweeted out a message for all those doubting the Giants already, saying the team is willing to put in the work to figure things out and bounce back. 

CLICK BELOW TO SEE THE TWEET

Giants C Jon Halapio suffered fractures to his lower leg and ankle during last night's game against the Cowboys, the team announced Monday. Though it hasn't been officially announced, the expectation is Halapio will be out for the rest of the season. 

Halapio got crushed underneath the line during a run play, and was in clear pain on the turf. John Greco had to come in for him after he was carted off the field in an aircast. 

Ralph Vacchiano | Facebook | Twitter | Archive: The Giants' offensive line is so bad and so thin, the loss of any player is significant. But center is such a key position, this might be a really big blow.

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The Giants are a team in crisis at 0-2 after a miserable, 20-13 loss in Dallas on Sunday night. And they're back to their same old offensive problems.

Here's a look at how their specific position groups played on Sunday night...

This isn't how the Giants wanted to start their season again, but nonetheless, they finds themselves 0-2 for the third straight year after a loss to the Cowboys Sunday night. 

It has been the norm for the Giants of late. How many times have they started the season on the wrong note? 

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The Giants were so sure that a healthy Odell Beckham Jr., a rebuilt offensive line and the addition of Saquon Barkley would be enough to wake them out of their years-long offensive nightmare.

Two games into the season, it looks like they may have been wrong. Really wrong.

Their offense was absolutely pathetic on Sunday night in a 20-13 loss to the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium. They barely got anything going either on the ground or in the air. They hardly even threatened to score any points until the game was basically over. And if it weren't for Barkley (14 catches for 80 yards, 11 rushes for 28 yards), they would've spent the game looking like they were standing still.

Giants rookie running back Saquon Barkley was New York's leading rusher and receiver in Sunday's 20-13 loss to the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium.

Barkley finished with 28 rushing yards on 11 carries and 80 receiving yards on 14 receptions, the most in a game in franchise history, as the Giants fell to 0-2 for the second straight season.

Through their first two games of the season, the Giants have scored just 31 points and totaled 579 yards and two touchdowns. Barkley, alone, has accounted for one of the touchdowns and 236 total yards (or 41 percent of New York's total offense).

The Giants started the season 0-2 for the second straight season with a 20-13 loss to the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday at AT&T Stadium.

New York was outgained 299-254 as Odell Beckham Jr. was held to four catches for 50 yards and the team was limited to just 35 yards on the ground.

Eli Manning was sacked six times for 59 yards and lost a fumble, while Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott threw for 160 yards and a touchdown and ran for 46 yards.

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THE GAME

The Giants (0-1) at the Dallas Cowboys (0-1) at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Tex., on Sunday, Sept. 16 at 8:20 p.m. ET.

THE WEATHER

A warm day with temperatures near 90 should cool off into the upper 70s by kickoff. Whether that matters or not depends on whether Jerry Jones has the roof open or closed.

WHAT IT MEANS

Did somebody say "Must win"? OK, I did. Since 1990, there have been 231 teams that have started the season 0-2 and only 28 of them (12 percent) made the playoffs. Those are not good odds for the loser of this game. And yes, yes, the Giants did it in 2007. We all remember that. But that's the exception, not the rule. The reality is that whoever loses this game will be in a suddenly quick hole after opening the season with dreams of competing for the NFC East title. If either the Redskins or Eagles win (they're both 1-0) that hole is going to feel very deep, too.

What is the path for the Giants +3 this weekend?

Pat Mayo says that it's all about slowing down Ezekiel Elliott and exploiting the Dallas defense in a way that they couldn't against Jacksonville in Week 1

Giants QB Eli Manning has a new head coach and a clean slate this season, but he is eager to show the team that he can still perform at a high level as starting quarterback.

"I want to prove them right," Manning said in an interview with Tyler Dunne of Bleacher Report. "That they did make the right decision. I think it's still about keeping the focus on my jobs, my assignments, going out there and playing well, getting the game plan and being a good leader for this group."

Manning is likely feeling more comfortable under coach Pat Shurmur, as well. Backup quarterback Kyle Lauletta explained that Manning was forced by coach Ben McAdoo to change his footwork last season, which could have pushed Manning outside of his comfort zone. This season, he is going back to his original plan.

 Giants LB Olivier Vernon (ankle) has been ruled out for Sunday night's game against the Cowboys in Dallas.

Head coach Pat Shurmur said the Giants are hopeful Vernon will be able to return next week. 

New York doesn't have any players listed as doubtful, and LB Tae Davis (hamstring) is questionable.

Cowboys QB Dak Prescott fired back at Giants S Landon Collins a day after Collins said keeping the ball in Prescott's hands would give Big Blue a better shot at winning.

"Challenge accepted," Prescott told reporters on Thursday. "Challenge accepted."

Collins said Wednesday that the team needs to focus on stopping explosive running back Ezekiel Elliott on Sunday night against the Cowboys. And as far as Prescott? Not so much...

Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. knew rookie running back Saquon Barkley's 68-yard touchdown run was a long time coming, even if last Sunday's 20-15 loss to the Jaguars was his NFL debut.

And now, Barkley has his souvenir ball ... again.

Beckham posted a video earlier in the week of him jokingly stealing Barkley's first touchdown ball in the locker room, and admitted the ball is back where it should be: in Barkley's possession.

Shaquille O'Neal was so dominant at basketball in his day that, sometimes, teams would just give up trying to defend him and voluntarily force him to the free throw line all game. The tactic was soon branded "Hack-A-Shaq".

In a different sport, Giants dominant WR Odell Beckham understands the treatment. The explosive receiver twice forced blatant defensive pass interference calls against the Jaguars, potentially saving touchdowns but giving the Giants first downs. Bechkam compared it to what O'Neal had to deal with.

"Like 'Hack-A-Shaq?' That's fine," Beckham said Thursday.

Two of the NFL's premier young running backs will face off on Sunday night in Dallas during primetime with the country watching.

The Giants face the Cowboys and the biggest storyline is Saquon Barkley vs. Zeke Elliot. Barkley is looking forward to lining up against the Cowboys star and the pair have been in contact this season. What have they been talking about?

"He texted me saying congratulations on the touchdown run and the start of the season," Barkley said Thursday. He continued to add that they haven't discussed Sunday's matchup much. "No, not really, not really. Obviously it's a grind week. He's over there preparing to win this game, I'm preparing to win the game for my team, but tremendous, wish him the best of luck to a great dude."

Giants WR Sterling Shepard (back) returned to practice Thursday as the team prepares for Sunday night's game against the Cowboys in Dallas.

CB Janoris Jenkins left the team facility without participating due to what the Giants said was a family issue -- though the issue was not related to his brother, who was charged with aggravated manslaughter in July, according to Pat Leonard of the Daily News.

LB Tae Davis (hamstring) and RB Wayne Gallman (knee) were limited for a second straight day, while LB Olivier Vernon did not participate. 

Giants rookie RB Saquon Barkley had himself a solid debut this past Sunday with 106 rushing yards and his first career touchdown run. But, when it comes to New York rookies, it was Jets QB Sam Darnold that got the most attention. 

Darnold led the Jets to a rout of the Lions on Monday night, and it brought about the conversation of the Giants passing on the 21-year-old signal caller to take Barkley in this year's Draft. Some believed the Giants should have gone after a quarterback with the veteran Eli Manning winding down his career. 

However, GM Dave Gettleman proved the Giants are in win-now mode by taking Barkley. And S Landon Collins believes that was the better pick anyway. 

The Giants didn't see the season opener result they wanted witha 20-15 loss at home against the Jaguars on Sunday. But they can't dwell on that as they look ahead to a tough road matchup against their heated rival -- Dallas Cowboys. 

The Cowboys also suffered a Week 1 loss, so both teams will be looking to rebound on Sunday Night Football. Head coach Pat Shurmur as well as S Landon Collins and QB Eli Manning discuss their matchup against the Cowboys, and how they can get that first win of the season...

Giants WR Sterling Shepard was limited at practice Wednesday due to a back issue as the team prepares for Sunday night's game against the Cowboys in Dallas.

LB Tae Davis (hamstring) and RB Wayne Gallman (knee) were also limited, while LB Olivier Vernon (ankle) returned to practice.

For the Cowboys, C Travis Frederick (illness), DE Randy Gregory (concussion), DT Datone Jones (knee), DE DeMarcus Lawrence (groin), and S Xavier Woods (hamstring) were all out. 

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Ereck Flowers had all sorts of problems with defensive end Calais Campbell and the rest of the Jacksonville Jaguars defense on Sunday.

Unfortunately for the Giants and their beleaguered right tackle, it's only going to get worse.

That's because the parade of pass rushers the 24-year-old Flowers will have to face in the coming weeks is frightening. In order, he'll see Dallas' DeMarcus Lawrence, Houston's J.J. Watt, New Orleans' Cameron Jordan, Carolina's Julius Peppers, Philly's Brandon Graham, Atlanta's Vic Beasley and Washington's Ryan Kerrigan.

Here are the key takeaways from Giants head coach Pat Shurmur's Wednesday press conference...

On the status of Olivier Vernon:

"OV will be out there running around today, so you'll get a chance to see for yourselves. We'll see. He's making good progress, he's going to do more this week than he did last week and we're hopeful that he'll be back soon."

It's been months since Saquon Barkley heard his name called by the Giants in the 2018 NFL Draft. He has been through training camp and broke out his first highlight-reel play for his first career NFL touchdown on Sunday against the Jaguars. 

But flashbacks will come for the 21-year-old this Sunday night when he travels back to Dallas to face the Cowboys for his first taste of the heated rivalry. The Draft took place in AT&T Stadium, and when Barkley donned his new NFL jersey through its halls, he heard Cowboys fans shout, "We'll see you back here soon!"

"That is when it hit me," Barkley told Newsday's Tom Rock.

Giants OLB Olivier Vernon will return to practice on Wednesday, coach Pat Shurmur said on WFAN.

Vernon missed the team's season opener against the Jaguars with a sprained ankle.

"He'll be out there this week," Shurmur said on WFAN. "He's getting closer. He's a fast healer, from what I'm told, and he's going to be at practice [Wednesday] and throughout."

Former Giants DE and Hall of Famer Michael Strahan never had the thought to kneel during the national anthem during his playing days. But, with that narrative in the league today, he does have an idea as to what he would do if he still strapped on his pads. 

Making an appearance on "The Ellen Show" with Ellen DeGeneres, Strahan was questioned if he would kneel or not, and he thinks the answer would have been yes. 

"You know, I don't know," Strahan said at first. "I think I would have, I think I would have."

As if breaking multiple tackles in his 68-yard touchdown run wasn't impressive enough, Giants rookie running back Saquon Barkley has another accomplishment.

The No. 2 pick out of Penn State was named the most elusive running back in Week 1, according to Pro Football Focus.

PFF measures elusive rating to determine which players are the most difficult to tackle. It takes missed tackles, total number of touches and yards per carry after contact into account, and Barkley's long touchdown run was a big proponent in that.

Here are the key takeaways from Giants head coach Pat Shurmur's Monday press conference...

On the job status of Ereck Flowers, who Shurmur did not contemplate moving on Sunday:

"Like I said, he's like every player. I think I know where you're going with this, he's like every player. He had a lot of really good plays and he had a couple that he'd like to have back. ... He had the tripping penalty and then on the hold, and that happens frequently, the quarterback scrambled, which was good, and unfortunately there's times when those holds occur. That was the gist of it the first drive. ... He's like every player. Again, he had a lot of really good reps and he had a couple he'd like to have back. He's going to work to get better just like every player."

Ereck Flowers did not acquit himself well against the Jaguars during the Giants' Week 1 loss, in what was his first regular season game after switching from left tackle to right tackle. And fans are not hiding their feelings.

"Ereck Flowers is a soon-to-be free agent, American football offensive tackle currently playing for the New York Giants of the National Football League," is what his Wikipedia entry (which has since been edited back) read after the game. Hat tip to reddit user Syckological...

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EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Saquon Barkley's debut didn't get off to a flying start. On his first two NFL carries, he couldn't even break the line of scrimmage. He did nothing of note in the first half at all.

Yet somehow there was a feeling that something was different. Somehow, watching Barkley, everyone knew.

"I mean, I knew right away," said Jaguars defensive end Calais Campbell, who helped tackle Barkley for no gain on the rookie's first run. "The first run and the first couple of times I tackled him, I said, 'This kid has something.'"

Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. said he has a new outlook on the game of football after he missed most of last season with a fractured ankle.

"I'm just in a different place," Beckham said after he recorded 11 catches for 111 yards in Sunday's 20-15 loss to the Jaguars at MetLife Stadium. "Once you see everything flash before you, and you don't know if you ae going to be the same person again, you don't know if football is going to be the same again, I got a different perspective."

Beckham, the star Giants receiver who signed a $95 million contract extension prior to the season to become the highest-paid wide receiver in the league, repeated how he spent night after night praying to get back onto the field for a game for the first time since Week 5 last year.

That he did.

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EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- The Giants have a $95 million wide receiver, a running back they took second overall in the NFL draft and a franchise quarterback they believe can still play for "years." They also have a tight end they took in the first round a year ago and another receiver they took in the second round in 2016.

Those are a lot of talented weapons they've invested in heavily.

And once again, it looks like any potential they have is going to be crushed behind a crumbling offensive line.

The Giants had to settle for three field goals and were unable to take advantage of a scoring opportunity inside two minutes in a 20-15 loss to the Jaguars on Sunday afternoon. >> Box score

Down by five inside two minutes, Eli Manning led the Giants' offense down the field, but ulitmately a dropped pass by Sterling Shepard and a turnover on downs doomed the Giants' drive.

New York's defense managed to quickly stop the Jaguars to set up another potential final drive for the Manning and the offense, but Kaelin Clay muffed a punt with less than a minute remaining in the fourth to seal the win for Jacksonville.

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EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - The Giants spent the summer dreaming about what a healthy Odell Beckham could do for their offense when paired with Saquon Barkley and Evan Engram and Sterling Shepard and a revived Eli Manning.

But it looks like the fix to their offensive problems isn't going to be as quick as they hoped.

The Giants' offense was surprisingly ugly in its debut under new coach Pat Shurmur on Sunday.

Giants rookie RB Saquon Barkley sprinted down the right sideline for 68 yards to score his first NFL touchdown against the Jaguars on Sunday at MetLife Stadium.

Click below to watch the video

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The Giants have only been to the playoffs once since their last Super Bowl championship, now seven seasons ago, and that trip didn't turn out well at all. They are intent on going back and lasting a little while sometime in the final few years of Eli Manning's career.

Will it be this year? The Giants believe they are loaded for a run and they are counting on a return to the postseason.

Here's a look at whether their postseason dreams are actually a realistic goal.

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EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - When training camp opened back in July, John Mara was admittedly still stuck in a "nightmare". It had been nearly seven months since the Giants had ended their disastrous 3-13 season. But the memories were still painfully fresh.

"I haven't gotten over last season quite yet," he said. "I have to be honest about it -- I did not see it coming. I felt very good this time last year. I think most of you predicted that we were going to have a great season, some of you even predicted we'd go to the Super Bowl. I wasn't quite buying into that but I certainly did not see 3-13 coming.

Giants coach Pat Shurmur confirmed on Friday that both OLB Olivier Vernon and ILB Tae Davis will miss the season opener on Sunday.

Vernon has been dealing with an ankle issue, while Davis has been missing practice with a hamstring injury. Vernon will be the biggest loss, though, as his 6.5 sacks were the highest total among any Giant on the roster last season. 

In turn, it will be rookie OLB Lorenzo Carter and OLB Connor Barwin to split time on the field. Barwin is ready to fill the void for Vernon, and hopefully make a major impact. 

The Giants open the 2018 season as home underdogs to the Jacksonville Jaguars at MetLife Stadium.

Adam Levitan thinks that the line is at 3 because of the "massive" coaching upgrade the Giants got this offseason and that Eli Manning's splits with and without Odell Beckham are absolutely drastic, really, really massive."

Levitan added that right now "the sharp money, the big money and sophisticated betters are mostly on the Giants so far."

One of the biggest matchups to watch in the Giants Week 1 opener against the Jaguars is the battle between WR Odell Beckham Jr. and CB Jalen Ramsey. That is why it's worth nothing that Ramsey was an addition to the Jags' injury report after practice Thursday. 

According to Jagaurs PR director Tad Dickman, Ramsey was limited in practice with an ankle injury. No injury occurred during practice, but there is some soreness that led to the limited reps. 

It is too early to tell, but if Ramsey can't take the MetLife Stadium field, it would kill the anticipation to see Beckham's toughest matchup yet. The 25-year-old star receiver talked about Ramsey after practice Wednesday, calling him one of the best -- if not the best -- cornerback in the game. 

Giants OLB Olivier Vernon was a non-participant at practice yet again on Thursday, as he continues to deal with his high left ankle sprain. 

Vernon told the Daily News' Pat Leonard on Wednesday that he "feels better than last week," but has yet to see the practice field. The Giants will have to put an injury designation on the linebacker if he doesn't see the field on Friday. 

Head coach Pat Shurmur doesn't know what to expect from Vernon. 

The Giants over/under for the 2018 season is 6.5 wins and Pat Mayo of the DraftKing Sportsbook Minute says that betters have been "smashing" the over.

Why have been betters "smashing" the over:

• Drafting Saquon Barkley
• Getting a healthy Odell Beckham Jr. back
• Upgrade at coach in Pat Shurmur
• "Vastly improved" offensive line
• Playing a last place schedule
• Games against the AFC South

Giants special teams coordinator Thomas McGaughey revealed he has been dealing with a form of cancer since the offseason, he told reporters on Thursday.

McGaughey, who is in his second year leading special teams, has been able to undergo his chemotherapy treatments and return work on a regular basis. 

This is the second Giants employee to receive the awful news of a cancer diagnosis. GM Dave Gettleman revealed his lymphoma diagnosis on June 5 that shocked the Giants' locker room and the NFL world alike. Luckily, the 67-year-old learned that his cancer was in remission at the end of July. 

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The Giants may have made a mistake when they cut Davis Webb, and they might be making a mistake by making Alex Tanney their backup quarterback. But the truth is, neither move really matters.

Because if Eli Manning gets hurt, the Giants are screwed.

That's nothing new, either, because too often over the years the Giants have approached their backup quarterback spot as if they're expecting Manning to be immortal, not as if they tempting fate with an aging quarterback who is overdue to get hurt. With a few notable exceptions over the last 15 seasons, the Giants have rarely had a backup quarterback that would've made anyone feel comfortable if he suddenly had to play.

It's Year 3 for Giants WR Sterling Shepard, and though many look at that as the "breakout season," the 24-year-old has much to play for than just his stat line.

For one, Shepard is expected to play a vital role in reviving the Giants after their abysmal 3-13 season last year. He had to be the team's leading receiver when Odell Beckham Jr. and Brandon Marshall went down with season-ending injuries in Week 5, and the injury bug even plagued him a bit as he missed five games as well.

Moving on this year is what the Giants aim to do with a new regime in place, but Shepard doesn't want to erase it entirely from his mind. It's the perfect motivation...

Giants WR Odell Beckham Jr. will step on the field for his first game since Week 5 of last season this Sunday. And there is no easing him back into his role considering his matchup: Jaguars CB Jalen Ramsey. 

Ramsey is arguably the best cornerback in the NFL, and has a knack for getting under his opponent's skin with trash talk. He recently went after several players around the league, including Giants QB Eli Manning, in an exclusive with GQ magazine. 

Beckham has an obvious past with trash-talking corners, more specifically Josh Norman. They literally went head-to-head two years ago at MetLife Stadium as both players focused more on fighting than the game itself...

Limited in the preseason, Saquon Barkley will finally have his chance to shine and believes "anybody in their right mind that knows sports" can see Big Blue has "the pieces to be great."

"I think this season could be a special season," the Penn State product told SNY while discussing the "honor" of being part of Pepsi's Rookie of The Year campaign TV commercial.

In a wide-ranging interview, Barkley opened up about preparing for his regular season debut, dealing with fame, routinely challenging teammates to "Rock, Paper, Scissors," why he'd want a career like Kobe Bryant and more, ahead of his regular season debut 1 p.m. Sunday against the Jaguars.