The New York Giants' defense got off to a solid start under first-year coordinator Dennard Wilson this summer. They were ranked the best defense in the NFL's three-game preseason schedule.
The #Giants had the No. 1 overall defense in the preseason - 1st against the pass, 5th vs the run.
— John Fennelly (@John_Fennelly) August 31, 2026
They allowed just 22 points over the three games.
They also did it without ILB Tremaine Edmunds and 2/3 of their starting D-line (DJ Reader, Shelby Harris) playing a single down.
Few are giving credence to the achievement because many starters on opposing teams did not play, and the three teams the Giants played -- Minnesota, Miami, and the Jets -- don't have very good offenses.
Not the point. The Giants didn't play many of their defensive starters, either. It's
the system that matters. Wilson has installed a new defense, and it has caught on regardless of the personnel on the field.
The Giants allowed just 159.7 yards of offense -- 77.3 rushing and 82.3 passing -- per game. They allowed 7.3 points per contest and won the possession battle 33:07 minutes to 22:53 minutes per game. They also held opponents to a third-down conversion rate of 27 percent.
While the offensive stars ate up all the scenery this training camp, the defense quietly stole the show.
This article originally appeared on Giants Wire: New York Giants had NFL's top-rated defense during preseason
