The Giants have made an art of losing in heartbreaking, last second fashion this season, and they were right back at it this afternoon with a heartbreaking, last second loss to the undefeated Carolina Panthers 38-35.
Giants would have one of the NFL's best records if games were 59 minutes long. Unfortunately...
— Clyde Haberman (@ClydeHaberman) December 20, 2015
It was a messy, nasty game in which one of the Giants' star players had a meltdown in front of our eyes, and the team came back from a 28 point deficit in the second half only to lose as the clock wound down. Even the fans were tearing themselves apart, fighting each other in the bathroom of MetLife Stadium:
OMG BATHROOM STALL FIGHT! NEW JERSEY IS AMAZING! pic.twitter.com/vZCc6qOSuN
— Andrew (@awbatchelor) December 20, 2015
More Bathroom Fight 2015. A Giants V Giants battle. pic.twitter.com/xm0Qysx0Ti
— Andrew (@awbatchelor) December 20, 2015
At least one guy decided to just pee in a corner while the others resolved their differences:
That dude in the corner? Yea. He's peeing. New Jersey's finest. pic.twitter.com/Y3qnMXY9gv
— Andrew (@awbatchelor) December 20, 2015
As for that player meltdown: star receiver Odell Beckham Jr. was matched up with Josh Norman, arguably the best corner in the game this season, and the two were going at it from the start. The fierce competition clearly affected both players: they each received unnecessary roughness penalties, and Beckham Jr. had more drops today than he did all last season.
I don’t think I’ve ever seen two players lose their minds the way Beckham/Norman have today. There’s still a full quarter of this left.
— Alex Navarro (@alex_navarro) December 20, 2015
Josh Norman is in OBJ's head and picking out furniture pic.twitter.com/2s5TpxrfOi
— The Cauldron (@TheCauldron) December 20, 2015
No, seriously, does OBJ have more personal fouls than catches?
— Isaac (@WorldofIsaac) December 20, 2015
This is so embarrassing by the officials in the Panthers-Giants who have allowed all of these illegal plays to stand.
— Jason Smith (@howaboutafresca) December 20, 2015
Things reached an ugly peak when Beckham Jr. came after Norman with a headshot.
— Shea Serrano (@SheaSerrano) December 20, 2015
when twitter (not to mention eagles fans AND giants fans, to boot) is in agreement, you know something's up pic.twitter.com/H39Qp34L9B
— Josh Sternberg (@joshsternberg) December 20, 2015
what Odell did was not just dirty, but incredibly dangerous. No way he should avoid league discipline. https://t.co/woWOmXpiHs
— Kenny Ducey (@KennyDucey) December 20, 2015
I've never seen anything like this Beckham-Norman double meltdown - it's out of playoff hockey or something.
— Bill Simmons (@BillSimmons) December 20, 2015
Odell Beckham=further proof u should not be aloud to be in any commercials until your rookie contract is over. Hes embarassing his sponsors
— PFTCommenter (@PFTCommenter) December 20, 2015
Beckham Jr. somewhat redeemed himself in the eyes of Giants fans with two big catches on the Giants' final drive of the game, including the game-tying touchdown. He celebrated that touchdown with, as Deadspin put it, "an Allen Iverson stepover on Josh Norman."
OBJ steps over Josh Norman while Iverson steps over Tyronn Lue https://t.co/3Ut27G0r8Z
— The Cauldron (@TheCauldron) December 20, 2015
Unfortunately, the Giants left a minute and a half on the clock, and the Panthers were able to push downfield far enough for a last second field goal. At least Giants fans were mostly prepared for that.
The Giants are going to take the lead, then blow it in the final minute some way none of us had ever thought of before.
— Bart Hubbuch (@BartHubbuch) December 20, 2015
Congrats, Giants. You've been trying all season long, and you finally did it. You discovered the most excruciating way to lose.
— Dan Amira (@DanAmira) December 20, 2015
Norman seems to be handling everything maturely as well:
Josh Norman on Odell "F--- him. He's a B***! Screw him and his whole set up"#NYGvsCAR
— Steve Overmyer (@OvermyerTV) December 20, 2015
At least the Jets are still having fun.
Jets are my new faves pic.twitter.com/CFZClZxLIO
— Eric Edholm (@Eric_Edholm) December 20, 2015