After a one-point loss to the New York Giants and rookie quarterback Daniel Jones on Sunday, Bruce Arians spoke to the media on Monday.

Arians highlighted the production from the offense, the lackluster play of the defense — following a great performance in Carolina — and the last-second miss from kicker Matt Gay that ended the game.

(Opening Statement)
“Nothing really changed after watching the film. Defensively, I thought our front seven played extremely well, obviously Shaq [Barrett] had a big game. Our back end probably had their worst game of the year and it was as simple of a plan as it could be. We lost leverage, didn’t line up properly a couple of times and gave them huge plays that shouldn’t have been made. We’ll get it corrected. Offensively, that was probably as good of a half as we could play, and a solid fourth quarter. In the third quarter we just didn’t convert third downs that were very manageable so that’s something we’ll address. Running the ball inside the five was another key. In the kicking game, I was very disappointed. We had opportunities for punt returns and just didn’t do a great job of blocking their gunners and we have to do a better job of getting more physical out there in our vice because we had opportunities to get the ball inside the 50 a couple of times on punt returns and didn’t get it. As far as the kick, when you look at it, we substituted, they substituted late, the umpire is standing over the ball, I’m not using a timeout at that point in time, the play is not going to get run. So we took the penalty, moved the ball over and he’s got to make that kick and we don’t get it done. Everyone feels a whole lot better if he makes that kick but that’s part of it. We’ll bounce back and be ready to go Wednesday.”

(On what allowed Daniel Jones to score the last touchdown)
“Yeah, we ran a stunt inside and Vita [Vea] went all the way over the top and Ndamukong Suh doesn’t get across the middle to stop the quarterback.”

(On if that’s just on bad execution)
“That’s just feeling like he could get around another block. He was making good penetration so he went one gap wider and Suh didn’t get across his face and we had everybody’s back turned, doubling all the receivers.”

(On if there was any mentality differences coming out in the first half and the second half)
“Defensively we gave up a touchdown and a field goal in the first two possessions of the game and the half, so we didn’t come out, especially in the secondary, ready to play either time. Offensively we were ready to go.”

(On if the comeback can be attributed to being a young team)
“That’s a good excuse, I don’t like excuses. We talked about it at halftime, I did a lot of screaming. I’m a little horse because of halftime, for that reason, and it just didn’t get done.”

(On if the Giants changed their gameplan when Saquon Barkley went out)
“You don’t ever not want a great player out there, but they were going to throw the ball anyway. They were down, they’re weren’t going to run the ball that much, they were not having any success so it’s just a matter of our secondary covering them and we didn’t get it done.”

(On if the third down play by the goal line was a read option)
“It was a run-pass option. We had a run, pass and quarterback option. [Jameis Winston] made the right decision, we just didn’t get it blocked properly on the front side. In Byron’s defense too, when you run the ball that well, six plays and you go 50 yards, you’re going to run it again. I picked that play, I should have stayed out of it.”

(On the thought of throwing it in the end zone)
“You never know what coverage you’re getting so it would have to be an audible, which was part of the RPO, but the RPO wasn’t set up for that.”

(On what the Giants changed in coverage in the second half)
“I think we just ran the ball a lot more. When we threw it it was pretty successful, we had a 40-yard pass and another 30-yard pass. The running game became very successful so that’s what we’re going to stick with.”

(On taking the delay of game penalty before Gay’s kick)
“It wasn’t a matter of intentionally taking the penalty. When we run our guys out, they get to substitute, so the umpire is standing over the ball and the clock is going five, four, three… and I’m not going to waste a timeout and then have 13 seconds. We didn’t go out there to intentionally take a penalty but when I saw the umpire standing over the ball, the last thing I wanted was a 10-second runoff or confusion. Set it up, put it in the middle of the field and kick an extra point.

K Matt Gay – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

(On if he still felt confident in Gay heading into that kick)
“He had just made five in a row, so yeah, we felt very, very comfortable.”

(On the blocked extra point)
“They got some penetration over our guard and it was a low kick because he kicked the first one so high he tried to kick the next one low, being a rookie. Just hit it.”

(On if that distance has been trouble for him)
“That and the right hash. That’s where, when you chart him back all the way through, those short kicks on the right hash. So we moved it to the middle for him.”

(On fixing that issue)
“Go out there and kick the s*** out of it from the right hash until you’re comfortable and he’s been doing that. He’s been doing it really well.

(On avoiding it becoming a mental issue, given what’s happened in the past with kickers)
“That’s one of those glass-half-empty things, that history s***. This is a new team, this is our team, just go kick.”

(On what he says to fans who are mad at Gay)
“You paid your money, say whatever you’re going to say. He isn’t going anywhere.”

(On if there was a coverage bust on the long gain during the Giants’ final drive)
“For 40 yards? Yes. And the coaches are screaming the play from the sideline. That’s disappointing.”

(On if he believes in curses, specifically with kicking)
“No, no. It’s just finding a way to win games. We found a way to win in Carolina, we didn’t find a way to win against San Francisco, we didn’t find a way to win against New York. Well we found a way, we just didn’t get it done. You can’t say enough about the two-minute drive to get him there. That’s getting lost, Mike [Evans’] day is getting lost, Shaq’s day is getting lost, all because we missed a kick. There was some great performances and there were some poor ones too, and the kicker was one of those poor ones.”

(On if he expected Barrett to have these performances coming in one a one-year deal)
“I don’t think anyone could totally realize that would happen but you saw things on tape and he was going to get opportunities so he’s made the most of them.”

(On the combination between interior pressure and Barrett’s performance)
“Normally if the quarterback is back there jacking the ball off and he gets a sack then it’s coverage, but he’s getting some quick sacks, he’s whipping guys fast and that’s all him. He’s got a good delayed move and he’s got a nice toolbox of moves and as teams get used to him and see him, I think he’s got a few more that we haven’t even seen yet. Carl [Nassib] is starting to do a good job but we’re getting some good interior pressure. Kevin [Minter] had some good blitzes up the middle that pushed him out to him so yeah, it’s a combination but he’s whipping his guy enough times.”

(On if that comes from the talent Barrett’s played around in Denver)
“Yeah, he’s studied other guys and he’s got his own moves but you need to have three or four if you’re going to be elite and he’s showing it.”

(On the message to the team coming back into the building)
“We had our best practice of the year last Tuesday and I expect to have a better one Wednesday.”

(On Jason Pierre-Paul)
“He’s just progressing right on time. He’s been in and out a bunch”

(On passing more in the red zone)
“Inside the 10-yard line we have to do a better job throwing the football. At the 20, we’re scoring a lot of touchdowns but inside the 10, where we were pretty good, we’ve gotten average real fast. So we had some runs we liked. Could it be conservative? Not if it’s just a run, but there’s always an RPO involved.”

(On what he wants the team to learn from this loss)
“You learn a hell of a lot more by almost losing than you do losing.”