LANDOVER, Maryland – Once again, the Giants were disappointed because they were not prepared for the worst-case scenario.

Kicker Graham Gano, who entered Sunday’s game with a groin injury, injured his hamstring while attempting a touchdown-saving tackle on the game’s first play. The decision not to have a safety available cost the Giants at least three — maybe as many as six — points in a 21-18 walk-off loss to the Commanders.

“We thought Graham would be OK,” head coach Brian Daboll said. “He didn’t hurt his groin. He hurt his thigh.”

Sure, but isn’t there a situation where resting the groin can lead to a thigh injury?

“I’m not a doctor,” said Daboll.

“Groin and thigh muscles are completely different things,” says Dr. David Chao, former chief physician of the Chargers who now heads the Sports Injury Center.

“It’s very difficult for a kicker to play with a groin injury – almost impossible if it’s his kicking leg. But there’s no question that injuries lead to more injuries and you’re more likely to get injured. Based on my 17 years of experience as the NFL’s chief medical officer, it’s risky to let kickers play who aren’t 100 percent, especially kickers with a lower-body muscle injury, because only one of them is active.”

It was a mess that could have easily been prevented and felt like déjà vu for the Giants.

Gano was placed on the injured list after Saturday’s walk-through, but the Giants opted not to promote rookie Jude McAtamney from the practice squad in case Gano got injured or to take over kickoffs and ease Gano’s workload.

It seemed as if Gano had struggled with his pre-game warm-up and had abandoned his practice.

“I don’t think I missed many field goals in warm-ups. Just bad luck,” said Gano, who spoke of his first hamstring injury. “My groin was what it was. Everyone struggles with something in warm-ups. My hamstring was fine.”

Due to a holding penalty, Austin Ekeler’s kickoff return was not scored – the Commanders later settled for a field goal – but there was no time jump.

In other words, the Giants still lost Gano and had to ask punter Jamie Gillan, who made 1 of 2 field goals in his career, to pull double duty.

After Gillan missed a PAT, Daboll abandoned this plan, even though the circumstances actually only justified one point.

The Giants tried (and failed) two-point conversions after building a 12-9 lead and again when building a 18-15 lead.

The Giants could have extended the game to 2-0 with a converted PAT with 11:35 minutes left, but Daniel Jones’ incomplete pass to Darius Slayton left that door open.

Gillan then committed a landing zone violation on the kickoff, which gave him a drive from the 40-yard line that ended in a field goal to tie the game.

“I liked our game,” said Daboll. “I felt comfortable with what we did.”

Worst of all, the Giants had to attempt a fourth and three just before the two-minute warning instead of attempting a 40-yard field goal to tie the game.

Malik Nabers dropped the pass at the end of a dynamic play.

“I’m not looking for excuses,” said Daboll. “All decisions that are made are mine.”

Just last week, the Giants relied on injured Gunner Olszewski to return punts, even though he seemed hampered after suffering a groin injury in training camp.

Olszewski re-injured his groin during pregame warmups and Slayton dropped the ball on a punt return when he was forced into a role he has trained for years but rarely has to fill during games.

Just last season, the previously reliable Gano had problems kicking due to a knee injury.

He missed a field goal in a win over Washington, and made just one of three field goals in an overtime loss to the Jets. Shortly before he was suspended for the rest of the season, he missed a chip shot that nearly secured the win in regulation time.

“I think Graham would have been good,” Daboll said, “if he hadn’t pulled his thigh.”