The Giants' Greg Joseph thrives under pressure, kicking five field goals

Brian Daboll got his wish, but the Giants still lost.

Greg Joseph, who Daboll said was starting his second game as the Giants' weak-handed kicker this week, made all five of his field goals in a 20-15 loss to the Cowboys on Thursday.

Unlike two weeks ago when the Giants lost to the Commanders, not all field goals exceeded multiple touchdowns.

After missing a 48-yard field goal before the final two minutes that could have ended the win against the Browns, Joseph found himself in the hot seat.

Daboll initially didn't want to commit to him (or not commit to him) at the start of the week.

But the Giants guaranteed Joseph three weeks of salary by signing him off the Lions' practice squad, and it's clear they don't yet trust rookie Jude McAtamney, who is on their practice squad.

“The most important thing is that the team wins, which we didn’t do tonight,” Joseph said. “One kick doesn’t define me. It never will. Cheer up, onto the next one, quick reminder.”

Daboll's high expectations for kickers are no joke.

When asked by Giants.com if there was a minimum field goal percentage he would accept as a kicker, Daboll said: “I would like to hit all of our field goals. Take advantage of every scoring opportunity we have.”

Well then.

Joseph's shots of 52, 41, 38, 22 and 42 yards allowed the Giants to save several points from four long drives of at least 11 plays each.

Even Cowboys kicker Brandon Aubrey, who launched a 60-yarder and started his career 16-for-16 from beyond 50 yards, had to be impressed.

“I just feel like I have to be Greg Joseph,” Joseph said. “They did a great job letting me know who I am, what I stand for and how I work. I won't change that. Process trumps results.”

The biggest decision Daboll faced was whether to keep the offense on the field for a fourth-and-goal from the 3-yard line on the first possession of the third quarter.

It looked like he was considering it four-down territory when he called for a run on second-and-goal from the 10, but Daboll was uncharacteristically conservative, cutting the deficit from 14-9 to 14- 12.

“I’m just locked in this moment,” Joseph said. “If they call the field goal, it’s my job to make the kick.”

Joseph, an 82 percent kicker throughout his career, was added after the Giants lost to the Commanders in Week 2 because they had a non-emergency when the already-injured Graham Gano injured his hamstring in the opener.

The Giants allowed two PATs, including one that could have opened a four-point lead in the fourth quarter and a possible 40-yard field goal just before the two-minute warning.

The Commanders won 21:18 with seven field goals.

Joseph has at least shown that the Giants don't need to be in this situation again while Gano is on injured reserve.