The New York Giants were nearly blown out at home against the New Orleans Saints, but ultimately lost 34-27. It was an odd game, though; New York dominated much of the first half and seemed in control, up 10-0, but a Charlie Jones fumble allowed the Saints to tie the game heading into halftime.
The Giants surrendered 34 consecutive points, Jameis Winston threw two interceptions and was benched for J.J. McCarthy, and the Giants struggled on the ground all game. It was a humbling loss to a 1-4 team,
albeit the Giants and McCarthy made it interesting down the stretch of the game. Here are the immediate positional grades following the loss.
Quarterback
Winston and the Giants’ offense were adequate in the first half, other than their run game, but a second-half collapse led to a J.J. McCarthy finish. Winston threw two interceptions and finished 14 of 26 for 152 yards with one passing touchdown to Tyrone Tracy Jr. and a pair of interceptions. Winston was sacked four times.
McCarthy entered the game and threw an interception. He was targeting Malachi Fields and expected him to sit, but the rookie pivoted outward. McCarthy, however, led a comeback effort and got the score to one possession after being down 34-10 in the fourth quarter. McCarthy was impressive and went 11 of 21 for 243 yards with a touchdown. New York turned the football over on downs with twelve seconds left at the New Orleans 14-yard line. McCarthy did a good job, but the Giants couldn’t pull off the comeback. We only saw the J.J. package once while Winston was still in the game.
Grade: B
Running back
The Giants running back conversation was lively all week, and it was Najee Harris who drew the start. New York rotated backs all game, but it was Tyrone Tracy Jr. who made his presence felt early. He caught a pass in the flat and outran Pete Werner for a 17-yard touchdown on third-and-seven. Tracy Jr. had the Giants’ fourth-quarter rushing touchdown too. He also had a couple of key blocks in pass protection, including on the 20-yard drag completion to Malik Nabers on second-and-fifteen. He did, though, take a false start penalty on third-and-8.
Devin Singletary had four rushes for 14 yards, Tracy had six for 18 yards, and Najee Harris had two yards on four rushes. Cam Skattebo did not record a carry in the game.
Overall, the Giants’ rushing attack was nonexistent. Cam Skattebo didn’t receive a carry, and none of the backs could get anything going. The blocking is poor, and the rushing attack is unimpressive.
Grade: C-
Wide receiver
Malik Nabers is a stud — “hey, Nick…tell me something I don’t know!?“ Nabers made a clutch 46-yard catch off impressive pocket maneuvering by J.J. McCarthy. The Giants, perhaps, should have kicked a field goal after the catch, instead of burning valuable time when they were down by 10, but I digress. Nabers finished with 12 catches on 15 targets for 165 yards. Charlie Jones caught two passes for 66 yards, including an impressive tap and secure 49-yard catch in the Giants’ comeback effort. Malachi Fields caught two passes for 19 yards. Darnell Mooney had a 20-yard rush, and he left the game with an injury.
Overall, the Giants received the same from their wide receiver corps — a lot of Nabers with small contributions from the other receivers. Nabers is elite, but the Giants got to get more players involved when the opposing team removes Nabers and Likely with double teams.
Grade: B+
Tight end
Isaiah Likely caught six of 11 targets for 99 yards with a touchdown in comeback mode. Likely is a major part of the Giants’ offense, and he consistently makes plays in the short and intermediate parts of the field. He also secured an important two-point conversion in comeback mode. He is very good. Thomas Fidone II played for Theo Johnson, who missed the game with a neck injury. He took a penalty and was not targeted. Chris Manhertz is a blocking asset, but, again, was not targeted.
Grade: A
Offensive line
The Giants offensive line can’t run block. It’s been bad for weeks. The pass protection had its losses too throughout the game. Marcus Mbow received the start for the injured Jermaine Eleumunor. Jon Ruyan struggled with power again. Francis Mauigoa was beaten badly for a sack that was negated by a roughing the passer penalty; Mauigoa also took a holding penalty on third-and-eight that offset an offside penalty. Marcus Mbow was thrown to the turf against Cam Jordan on one rep, and he then took a bad false start when the Giants were in field goal range late in the fourth quarter.
Grade: D-
Defensive line
D.J. Reader continues to be an absolute stud for the Giants – an excellent free agent addition who has secured the Giants’ run defense on the inside. The Giants defense stifled the Saints offense in the first half. The second-half collapse was not on the defense, per se, but they broke in the second half. Shelby Harris was fine from what I saw, and Darius Alexander made the tackle on Kendre Miller’s third-and-five rush, which allowed the Giants’ offense to have a game-tying opportunity.
Grade: B
Edge
Abdul Carter is a menace for opposing offensive tackles. He drew an important holding penalty that stalled the Saints’ second drive, and he is so quick to win on high-side rushes. The pass rush was harassing when coupled with the blitz in the first half, albeit Shough was not sacked. Still, the pass rush was negated once the game got out of hand.
Kayvon Thibodeaux hit Shough on second down, which resulted in a roughing the passer penalty on the Saints’ first drive of the second half; this extended the momentum that the Saints had after the end of the first half debacle. Thibodeaux continues to do his job, but he struggles to generate pressure.
Grade: C+
Linebacker
Arvell Reese shocks grown men with his strength. He met a climbing offensive lineman in space and put him on his rear end, which resulted in the lineman knocking the Saints’ ball carrier down. Reese is the real deal, and he is constantly around the football. Reese helped Jason Pinnock force a late fourth-quarter fumble. Tremaine Edmunds led the team with 12 tackles. He is good to have as a Giant.
Grade: B+
Cornerback
Tae Banks and Greg Newsome II are thriving in this heavy-pressure system. The quick outlets for Tyler Shough were not available for easy completions for much of the first half; quick curls were promptly clamped down on, and throwing windows were tight for the second-year quarterback all game. Banks did, however, take a pass interference that was declined in the third quarter. Newsome II exited the game with a concussion and he was replaced by Nic Jones.
Jones took a defensive hands to the face in the second half and was then beat by Chris Olave for a dagger touchdown early in the fourth quarter. Dru Phillips helped to make a big tackle near the sidelines, while being blocked, which resulted in a converted 51-yard field goal by Daniel Carlson.
Grade: B
Safety
Jevon Holland continued to be all around the football; he made plays in coverage and around the line of scrimmage, specifically the designed QB keeper that lost the Saints four yards near the goal line. He added a PBU too. Holland played well but did have a missed tackle on Alvin Kamara’s 31-yard touchdown, as did Jason Pinnock.
Pinnock and Ar’Darius Washington were involved on the exotic pressure packages for New York, which was impactful in the first half. Pinnock did, however, help to dislodge a fumble late in the game.
Grade: B+
Special teams
Dominic Zvada made a 34-yard field goal and then booted a 41-yarder that made the game one score late. Jordan Stout averaged 54 yards on his five punts – he is a stud. However, the special teams were to blame for the turnaround; Charlie Jones fumbled the football on a kickoff with just over a minute in the first half, which allowed the Saints to tie the game heading into halftime. This came directly after the defense forced a 58-yard field goal. The Giants’ kick coverage allowed the Saints to start their fourth possession at the Saints’ 44-yard line. Ar’Darius Washington took a bad illegal block in the back penalty on the punt return at the end of the game.It was a game to forget for Chris Horton’s unit.
Grade: D-
