Geoff Schwartz
(Photo by Rich Kane/Icon Sportswire/Corbis via Getty Images)

The Giants struggled in their preseason opener on Thursday, but former offensive lineman Geoff Schwartz believes there’s an explanation.

Former Giants offensive lineman Geoff Schwartz has a theory as to why the New York Giants looked a little out of sorts in the preseason opener against the Cleveland Browns on Thursday.

Though things got off to a roaring start, with highly touted rookie Saquon Barkley breaking loose for a 39-yard gain to unofficially open his NFL career, the Giants mostly struggled for the remainder of the game on both sides of the ball. They tallied just 10 points on the evening, their lone touchdown set up by a Cleveland turnover deep in their own territory. They also earned just 15 first downs on the evening, not counting four obtained by Cleveland penalties.

Things were slightly better defensively, holding the Browns to 50 yards on 33 rushing attempts, but allowed three different Browns quarterbacks, including veteran free agent starter Tyrod Taylor and first overall draft pick Baker Mayfield, to throw for 322 yards and three scores en route to a 20-10 win

Though results of preseason games are typically forgotten mere minutes after the regular season opens, some legions of Giants fans instantly voiced their sense of worry on social media, but Schwartz, a Giant during the 2014 and 2015 seasons, urged fans to relax.

Schwartz, 32, retired last year, his otherwise solid NFL career hampered by injuries. He has since made a name for himself as an NFL analyst, appearing on SiriusXM Satellite Radio, ESPN Radio, and SB Nation, among others. Previously a member of the Panthers, Vikings, and Chiefs as well, Schwartz kept a close eye on this week’s opening preseason action. He kept a close watch on the Giants’ offensive workings on Thursday.

At the end of it all, Schwartz gave everyone a not so subtle reminder about the general frivolousness of preseason football.

The Giants return to preseason action on Friday against another one of Schwartz’s former teams, the Lions (7:00 p.m., WNBC).

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