The New York Giants become the 1972 Miami Dolphins in these “meaningless” games down the stretch of the season. It’s only meaningless in the sense of the mission – get to the playoffs and WIN! Still, the game meant
a lot for draft position and it does mean something for the players; it’s just very Giants like to win games when the team is out of contention, which ultimately affects what fans are forced to care about now – the draft.
Nevertheless, New York found its way into their fourth win to conclude a very disappointing season. The Giants had 380 yards of total offense ,and Mike Kafka dove into his bag of tricks with several unconventional plays, most of which were successful or just failed due to execution errors. It’s good to see Jaxson Dart win, and it’s nice to beat Dallas, but the ramifications of a win like this are yet to be fully understood. Here are the FINAL grades of the 2025 season for a Giants’ individual game.
Quarterback
Jaxson Dart went 22/32 for 230 yards and two touchdowns with five carries for 32 yards on the ground. He was sacked four times in the game. Dart played well with a few high-level anticipatory throws with touch. The Cowboys’ defense improved from Week 2, but the Giants’ offense took advantage and looked like the best team in the league in another end-of-season victory when the draft was the leading storyline. Still, it’s good to see the rookie quarterback finish strong.
Grade: A
Running Back
Tyrone Tracy Jr. continued to play well, other than the fumble. He forced missed tackles and showcased his vision and acceleration that maximized his blocks. Tracy Jr. became the first Giants’ individual rusher to eclipse 100 yards on the ground since 2023; he finished with 18 carries for 103 yards (5.7 per carry) with eight catches for 56 yards and an impressive score up the seam. His 159 total yards gives him 1,028 yards from scrimmage on the season, backing up last year’s 1,123 total yards from scrimmage.
Devin Singletary also found paydirt and added 26 yards on nine carries. Singletary also converted a two-point conversion on a pass to Darius Slayton.
Grade: A+
Wide Receiver
Gunner Olszewski was the catalyst for the Giants’ passing attack, with several important catches throughout the game. He finished with eight catches for 102 yards on nine targets. Olszewski, who worked a lot with Jaxson Dart in training camp, earned extra snaps with Wan’Dale Robinson out of the game.
Darius Slayton was flagged for an offensive-pass-interference penalty that negated a 72-yard touchdown. He does push-off. Slayton secured four catches for 34 yards on nine targets, and also caught a two-point conversion from Devin Singletary. Isaiah Hodgins failed to catch his pair of targets. The Giants’ receivers did block well in the run game.
Grade: B+
Tight End
Daniel Bellinger’s 29-yard tight end screen touchdown gave the Giants the lead right before halftime; that play was on a third-and-sixteen. He had several other clutch plays, including an excellent adjustment on a second-and-seven throw that extended a drive and led to a field goal. On that same drive, Chris Manhertz was beaten badly by Jadeveon Clowney on a second-down goal-line rush that pushed the Giants backward.
We were close – SO CLOSE – to a Chris Manhertz touchdown on an end-around pass by Olszewski, who rushed the throw to a wide open Manhertz, and he decked it.
Grade: A
Offensive Line
Jadeveon Clowney’s name was announced early and often for the Dallas Cowboys. Clowney beat Jermaine Eluemunor for a third-down sack that led to Ben Saul’s second field goal. Eluemunor was also flagged for illegal man downfield, but it was declined. Eluemunor has been culpable for several flags and mistakes in recent weeks.
Overall, the Giants’ offensive line provided time for Dart and opened up holes for Tracy Jr. Greg Van Roten showed fire throughout the game, and he had several key blocks in the run game. Marcus Mbow wasn’t perfect – and had his losses – but he didn’t appear terrible.
Grade: A
Defensive Line
Dexter Lawrence hardly played in the game. The Giants’ run defense was on skates for most of the game between the twenties. Roy Robertson-Harris, Elijah Chatman, and Darius Alexander struggled to keep lanes tight and the run defense, overall, was consistent with its performance for much of the season. New York did slow down the run after Dak Prescott was benched for Joe Milton. They finished with 143 yards and two rushing touchdowns on the ground.
Grade: C
EDGE
The Giants were unable to sack either Dak Prescott or Joe Milton III. Brian Burns was dinged up in the game and Dallas’ passing attack was quick for much of the game, which limited New York’s ability to get home. Abdul Carter had some quick wins, and Chancey Gholston had some quality plays in the run game. Still, the EDGE group didn’t have its typical profound impact through statistics, but they did their job.
Grade: B
Linebacker
A fumble was gifted to the Giants on the Cowboys’ first drive; Bobby Okereke was sent by Charlie Bullen on a blitz that disguised its intentions until the last season. Dak Prescott slipped and Okereke found the present laying in front of him. Okereke also undercut a Joe Milton pass in zone coverage for an interception.
Darius Muasau forced an almost fumble that was ruled an incomplete pass, and was then challenged by Mike Kafka, but the play was upheld; regardless, good play by the second-year linebacker to force the ball away from Jake Ferguson. Still, the run defense was terrible, again, which isn’t all on the linebackers, but fault fell in many places. Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles saw the field as well, and he delivered some hard hits.
Grade: A
Cornerback
Paulson Adebo had a tough task against George Pickens and CeeDee Lamb. Adebo executed an excellent technique against Pickens on a goal-line fade that forced a Brandon Aubrey field goal in the first quarter. Tae Banks continues to be an embarrassment who avoids contact in run defense. Banks was benched for Rico Payton in the second quarter, which is the correct move; the Banks should be closed on defense and only open on special teams. Payton then had a big PBU on the fourth-down goal-line play against George Pickens. Payton left the second half with a concussion after recording seven tackles. Dru Phillips had a massive TFL in the game and continues to be an asset in the run game.
Grade: B+
Safety
Dane Belton finished with 13 tackles and was all over the field. Raheem Layne made a few big hits as well and finished with four total tackles. It is difficult to see the impact of the safeties on the broadcast tape.
Grade: B
Special Teams
Replay assist for the WIN! Jamie Gillan’s first punt was pinned down at the one-yard line by the Giants’ coverage team. Tae Banks continued to showcase his talents as a kick-returner. Kick coverage fractured on an 84-yard KaVontae Turpin return that was stopped, somehow, by Art Green. Ben Sauls converted all four of his field goals, and the Giants may have found themselves a kicker, finally!
Grade: B+
