How the Giants got off to fast start

The Giants.com crew reacts to Sunday’s victory over the Panthers as the team begins the season 2-0:

John Schmeelk: The Giants have done something this year they have been poor at the last few of seasons: win close games late. Spare the one red zone interception from Week 1, the Giants have avoided the critical mistakes on late game drives that have often seized losses from the jaws of victory.

They have also made the plays they needed to in order to win games late. Whether it is Gano’s 56 yard field goal this week, Jones’ scramble to keep the Panthers off the field for a final possession, or the red zone touchdown or subsequent two-point conversion in Week 1 against the Titans, the have made critical plays late in games. The Giants have outscored opponents 7-3 in the final two minutes of the first and second halves this season after being historically bad in those situations last year.

The Giants are doing the little things to win football games. With such small margins involved, can that be sustained over a 17 game season? It remains to be seen. But what we do know is that the Giants are winning the games they were failing to win the last few seasons. There’s no better way to start than 2-0.

Dan Salomone: Brian Daboll will be the first one to say his team has been far from perfect in its perfect 2-0 start, but we’re starting to witness his vision for the Giants. The head coach has provided glimpses into his mind during postgame press conferences, none more poignant than when he said “what we want for the entire organization is to not be afraid of failure.”

A week after he asked the sideline about going for the gutsy two-point conversion attempt – to which they responded “F yeah” – Daboll once again put the game in the hands of his players against Carolina.

“Dabs looked at me, and he kind of just said, ‘Go out,'” kicker Graham Gano recalled of his 56-yard, go-ahead field goal with 3:34 left in the game. “And he said, ‘Hey, can you make this?’ I looked over, and I laughed. I got out there and I was like, ‘Man this is a long one. And the wind is blowing our way.'”

Then when they got the ball back, the Giants faced a 3rd-and-6 at their 40 with Carolina punted with 1:50 remaining. They needed just one more first down to seal the victory, and Daniel Jones delivered with an 11-yard scramble on a play that had multiple options.

“We talked about it, and [offensive coordinator/play-caller] Mike [Kafka] recommended that play,” Daboll said. “It was a naked play, so…