THE STORYLINE:
The unexpected and uplifting upset victory over the Philadelphia has been a shot in the arm to a fan base that sorely needed it. New York Giants fans have been downright giddy for more than a week due to the long layoff. The national media has also fed this positivity with endless clickbait stories on the team’s young guns – Jaxson Dart and Cam Skattebo. Some have even mentioned the P-word (playoffs).
Whoa! Not to rain on anyone’s parade, but everyone needs to calm the (blank) down. The Giants won a game. Even normal bad teams pull off upsets all of the time. Giants fans aren’t used to this because the team has been beyond bad, especially in their own division. But one game does not mean the team has turned the corner. What will tell us that is when the Giants begin to string together wins and approach a .500 record.
Be cautiously optimistic, but keep you guard up.
THE INJURY REPORT:
- WR Darius Slayton (hamstring – doubtful)
- OC John Michael Schmitz (concussion – out)
- DL D.J. Davidson (knee – probable)
- DE/OLB Chauncey Golston (neck – doubtful)
- OLB Abdul Carter (hamstring – questionable)
- OLB Victor Dimukeje (pec – questionable)
- ILB Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles (hamstring – out)
- ILB Swayze Bozeman (ankle – out)
- WR Jalin Hyatt (ankle – probable)
- RT Jermaine Eluemunor (shoulder/back – probable)
- DL Roy Robertson-Harris (knee – probable)
- CB Paulson Adebo (shoulder – probable)
- S Dane Belton (neck – probable)
GIANTS ON OFFENSE:
I’m still not quite sure how the Giants scored 34 points on the Eagles with this group of wide receivers, but make no mistake about it, the Giants still have the worst wide receiving corps in the NFL. Jaxson Dart and any scheming can only do so much. At some point, talent wins out. It appears the Giants are trying to add a veteran receiver by trade, but I hope Joe Schoen does not mortgage next year’s draft to do so.
Sticking with the wide receivers for a moment, regardless of the team’s final W-L record, they will have to make a decision on Wan’Dale Robinson, who will be a free agent. He’s had his moments this year, including last Thursday. But he’s also left us wanting more. The final 11 games are huge for him. With Darius Slayton ($36 million) out again, Dart will be left with Robinson, Lil’Jordan Humphrey, Jalin Hyatt (dealing with an ankle), and Beaux Collins.
Enter the Denver Broncos and their 2nd-rated defense (6th against the run, 3rd against the pass). Most importantly, they are allowing only 15.8 points per game.
The undermanned New York receivers will have to deal with a talented and cocky Denver defensive backfield that plays a ton of man coverage and is not afraid to do so. They believe they can lockdown even the best receiving groups. The headliner is obviously Pat Surtain. Making matters worse is a dangerous pass rush, not only in terms of talent, but scheme. The Broncos play a lot of games up front with stunts and twists. They also will blitz. Twelve players on their roster have a sack, with edge rushers Nik Bonitto (8 sacks) and Jonathon Cooper (4.5) leading the way. They can cover and get after the passer, a deadly combination.
The Giants will likely once again have to focus on running the ball with Dart and Skattebo, as well as using the tight ends and backs in the passing game. The problem is the Broncos are allowing less than 90 rushing yards per game.
Don’t expect the Giants to score many points. They need to protect the football, convert on their opportunities, and hope the defense and special teams come up with strong efforts to assist them.
GIANTS ON DEFENSE:
To have a chance in this game, the New York defense needs to come up with a big effort. Denver has been middle-of-the-pack on offense, averaging under 22 points per game. They have had more success running the ball (130 yards per game) than throwing. Second-year quarterback Bo Nix has been OK, but not stellar. His favorite targets are his receivers – Courtland Sutton, Tony Franklin, and Marvin Mims – and our old friend Evan Engram at tight end. Rookie running back R.J. Harvey is also dynamite in the open field as a runner and receiver. All five players have scored TDs via the pass with Sutton leading the team with three scores.
The feature running back is J.K. Dobbins, backed up by Harvey. The two are averaging close to five yards per carry.
The strength of the New York defense through six games is what we expected it would be – the outside edge pass rush. When the Giants can stop the run (like they did against the Eagles), and get after the passer, good things happen. But what we have also seen is that when the Giants’ defense forces more than one turnover, the team wins. When they do not, the team loses. The Giants have forced five turnovers this year and four of them have come in the team’s two wins.
What we need to see is if the Giants continue to tighten up their coverage. They were pretty lax against the Saints, but more aggressive against the Eagles.
GIANTS ON SPECIAL TEAMS:
As frustrated as fans were with Graham Gano’s injuries, he was pretty reliable. Jude McAtamney missed an extra point last Thursday. That said, New York’s special teams have been playing pretty well lately and actually out-played a strong Philadelphia unit.
QUOTES:
Brian Daboll on Denver’s defense: “(Broncos defensive coordinator) Vance Joseph is really coaching incredible football right now. Pressuring the quarterback, first in the red zone, first and third down, can play a variety of things. There are a lot of really good players. One of the best defenses in the league, coached well, and tough to block. Just held a team to under 90 yards of offense. So, tremendous challenge with that defense.”
THE FINAL WORD:
The Broncos are heavily favored to win this game and they should be. One of the top defenses in the NFL will be facing a rookie QB with little help at receiver. And playing in Denver is always a bitch. Don’t be surprised to see Dart take a step backwards against this opponent. Denver should be able to easily man up against New York’s receivers and concentrate on Dart and Skattebo running the football. Also, don’t lose sight of the fact that Denver is a better coached team on both sides of the ball. And despite the mini-bye week for the Giants, they did not get very healthy over the break and actually suffered additional injuries (Carter).
One thing that may be going for the Giants is Denver is coming back from a long trip to Europe, and playing a team they don’t have much respect for (there was some trash talking this week). But the Giants offense is going to need help from the defense and special teams.