EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – Dane Belton had three takeaways in the Giants' loss to the Los Angeles Rams, but a play on which he didn't touch the ball might have been his most impressive.

Early in the third quarter, rookie wideout Puka Nacua caught a Matthew Stafford pass on the right side, escaped a tackle attempt by Adoree' Jackson, and took off down the sideline. Belton lined up in the center of the field at the Rams' 34-yard line, 16 yards from the line of scrimmage. At the snap, he moved up to the 26, outside of the offense's left hashmark. As soon as Nacua began sprinting, so did Belton, who cut across the field and pushed Nacua out of bounds at the Giants' two.

The completion gained 80 yards and the Rams scored a touchdown on the next play, but that didn't diminish Belton's extraordinary effort, which coach Brian Daboll lauded on a Zoom call with reporters this morning.

"I know he had the turnovers, but the one play that I was really impressed with is the play that they broke out for the long gain on the hitch route," Daboll said. "His chase, to run down there and to finish, he showed some good long speed. Running to the ball when you think a guy might score, I just thought the effort he had on that play was indicative of what the young man is about."

Belton is also about finding and securing the ball. He recovered a fumble on a kickoff on his very first NFL play as a rookie in 2022. He intercepts passes in practice.

But Belton has had few opportunities this season because the two starting safeties, Xavier McKinney and Jason Pinnock, had missed a combined six snaps – all Pinnock's – entering the game yesterday. Pinnock hurt his foot early in the game and didn't return. On came Belton, who played a season-high 46 defensive snaps.

Belton again demonstrated that he's a ball magnet, intercepting two Stafford passes and recovering a fumble by Demarcus Robinson. His second pick set up Mason Crosby's 32-yard field goal that lifted the Giants to within 20-19 early in the fourth quarter.

Belton is one of five players with a team-leading two interceptions. He also has 23 defensive tackles (13 solo) and four special teams tackles.

"I just want to take advantage of my opportunities whenever they come," Belton said. "I feel like I want to stay ready no matter what. I feel that I know that I can play at this level in this league and be successful. When I have my opportunities, it's just about going out there and showing them."

In two seasons, Belton has four interceptions and three fumble recoveries. How does the ball keep finding him?

"It's a mix of some things; sometimes, you just get lucky," Belton said. "It's just about the film study and the coaches letting you know of things throughout the week and little tips and things like that. It's a combination of everything. You just have to go out there and apply it to the field and catch the football."

As a rookie, Belton played 390 defensive snaps and started five games. This season, he has played 231 snaps and started one game.

"It has been tough knowing that (McKinney and Pinnock seldom leave the field)," Belton said. "I know that I can play at this level. It's nothing against those guys that are coaching or anything, it's just the opportunities. It has been tough this year knowing that I can go out there and help the team, but at the same time, it's a game plan and they are going to put the best plan out there. Like I said, I'm just staying ready. It's tough mentally, but that's what we do as professionals; being able to go to practice every day, practice hard, and work on things that you need to work on, and just when the opportunity comes, you take advantage of it."

Just as Belton did yesterday.

*Daboll said Tyre Phillips, who started nine of the last 10 games at right tackle, tore a quad tendon, an injury that will require surgery. Matt Peart, who stepped in yesterday when Phillips left the game, will likely start the season finale Sunday against Philadelphia.

*Daboll was asked why Gunner Olszewski was able to return a punt 94 yards for a touchdown. It was the Giants' longest punt return in 95 years.

"We got some good blocks on their gunners and then Gunner got into that mix, did a great job of really securing the football," Daboll said. "Two hands on it, spun out of it and kind of reset where he was going, and we had a whole wall in front of him, but it starts with blocking the gunners and the ball security because he got into that mix and spun out and had a good finish."

*Daboll reiterated what he said postgame about the draw play to Saquon Barkley that lost two yards on the Giants' final series – that ended with Mason Crosby coming up short on a 54-yard field goal attempt to give the Giants the lead with 30 seconds remaining.

"Look, I'd like to have that one back," Daboll said. "So, like I said yesterday, not much to add to it. I'd like to have that one back."